Intermediate state between death and resurrection

[taylor510ce]

Mike,

Been working on an assignment for class, and the question requires us to show a passage of scripture that seems to imply an intermediate state. I cited Revelation 6:9-10:

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

I'm not talking about Purgatory. What do you think? When we are absent from the body and with the Lord (per 2 Cor 5:8), is that a time before the resurrection?

I was also thinking about the criminal who Jesus told "today you will be with me in paradise."

Is belief in a conscious time with Christ (or apart from him) after death but before the resurrection a biblical doctrine?

[Mike Miller]

Yes. Belief in a conscious time with or without Christ after death but before the resurrection is a biblical doctrine. In addition to the biblical references you mentioned, I would also point to Philippians 1:23, Luke 16 (the story of the rich man and Lazarus), and Hebrews 12:23 (which says that when Christians worship, we come into the presence of God and "the spirits of just men made perfect"). Luke 16 is also evidence for the conscious existence of unbelievers.

At the return of Christ, the souls of believers will receive resurrection bodies and enter into eternity with Christ. Unbelievers will also be resurrected on the day of final judgment before being thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).

[Mike Miller]

One more thing. The doctrine of Purgatory is unbiblical. Not only does Hebrews 9:27 connect death with the consequences of judgment, but Matthew 25:31-46, Romans 2:5-10, and 2 Corinthians 5:10 teach that judgment is based on what happens before we die--not after. After we die, we have no further opportunities to turn to Christ. In addition, if there is a purification needed after death, then the redemptive work of Jesus must be incomplete. If Jesus' death was sufficient to pay for our sins, then no further punishment is necessary. Jesus did everything necessary to make us right with God. See 2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 53:11; Romans 8:1. Moreover, on the cross, Jesus said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). Enough said.