The Intermediate State (The state of the soul between life and death)
We believe and confess that at physical death, the body, which is from dust, is lowered into the grave, while the soul, which is from God, goes to heaven. In that world, there are two different and completely separated states: one of happiness, rest, and delight, called Paradise (Abraham’s bosom, the house in heaven, etc.), and another of punishment, torment, and suffering, called Hell (Hades, place of torment, outer darkness, the abyss, etc.).
After death, the souls of those saved and reconciled with God go to Paradise, while those of the unsaved go to Hell. Both of these soul-states are fully conscious and in expectation of judgment. They are without bodies.
The State of the Saved
Luke 16:22 “The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.”
Luke 23:43 “And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’”
2 Corinthians 5:8 “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
Revelation 6:9-11 “…I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God... Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer…”
The State of the Unsaved
Luke 16:23 “The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment…”
2 Peter 2:9 “…then the Lord knows how... to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.”
Matthew 8:12 “…while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The Coming of the Lord
We believe and confess that, according to the New Testament, our Lord Jesus Christ, who ascended to heaven, will come with glory and splendor to judge the living and the dead. His coming will be seen by all and will happen at the moment known only to God the Father. At His coming, the dead will rise, and those believers who remain alive will be changed in a moment and caught up to meet the Groom.
Acts 1:11 “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Matthew 24:30 “…they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
John 14:3 “…I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven... and we... will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…”
The Resurrection of the Dead
We believe and confess that at the Lord's coming, the dead will rise to appear before the judgment seat; the risen bodies will be changed into immortality, becoming like the Savior's risen body. With this body, eternal life will be inherited—the saved in eternal happiness and the unsaved in eternal punishment.
John 5:28-29 “…those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
1 Corinthians 15:52-53 “…the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.”
Philippians 3:21 “…who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body…”
The Final Judgment
We believe and confess that every person will be judged justly by God through the Lord Jesus Christ, to receive reward or punishment according to their way of life on earth.
Acts 17:31 “…because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed…”
2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
Revelation 20:12 “…And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”
The State After Judgment
After the judgment, the saved will inherit eternal life in heavenly happiness, and the unsaved will be cast away from the face of God into eternal torment. In these states, the entire being—both the resurrected body changed into immortality and the soul—will exist.
Acts 17:31 “…because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed…”
2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
Revelation 20:12 “…And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”
The State of the Saved
Matthew 25:46 “…but the righteous into eternal life.”
Revelation 21:3-4 “He will dwell with them, and they will be his people... He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more…”
Matthew 25:34 “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
The State of the Unsaved
Matthew 25:41 “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Revelation 21:8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless... their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Revelation 20:15 “And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”