Death and the Intermediate State
The Intermediate State
Between Death and Resurrection
Description
Between death and the final resurrection, the souls of believers are made perfect in holiness and enter into the presence of Christ in heaven. This is the intermediate state—conscious blessedness awaiting the resurrection of the body. The souls under the altar cry out to God, showing conscious awareness. Paradise is where the departed righteous dwell with Christ. Abraham's bosom depicts the comfort of the righteous dead. While the body sleeps in the grave, the spirit returns to God who gave it. This state, though blessed, is incomplete—we await the redemption of our bodies and the consummation of all things.
Key Verses
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments.
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.