The second last line of the Apostle’s Creed says [I believe in] ‘the resurrection of the dead’. Yet what are the mechanics of how this will happen? Well according to 2 Cor 5:1-10, our soul is ripped from our body upon death. This very unnatural process was not part of God’s good creation, but is part of the punishment for sin. Our body remains on earth to be buried or cremated while our soul goes elsewhere.
Some theologians teach that the soul is in an unconscious state, called ‘soul sleep’. They claim that when we close our eyes in death, the next thing we know is we wake up and Jesus has returned. This doctrine however does not do justice to passages such as Rev 6:9-10, 2 Cor 5:8 and 2 Peter 2:9.
Rather, the souls of those who die exist in what theologians call ‘the intermediate state’. It is a bodyless, or spirit-like state that all deceased souls experience between their death and Jesus’ return. Those who died in Christ will be enjoying wonderful fellowship ‘at home with the Lord’ (2 Cor 5:8), while those who did not accept the forgiveness of sins found in Jesus will be held ‘for the day of Judgment, while continuing their punishment’ (2 Pet 2:9).
According to 1 Thess 4:13-18, when Jesus returns, he will bring with him the souls of ‘those who have fallen asleep in him’ (v. 14). Following this, Paul says ‘the dead in Christ will rise’ (v. 16), before being ‘caught up together […] in the clouds’ with those still alive upon Jesus’ return (v. 17). This means the souls of believers will somehow (God knows how) be re-united with their bodies.
Finally, 2 Cor 5:3-4 says we will be ‘clothed over’ with our heavenly bodies. We will still be recognisable, but we will never break or decay again, as our heavenly bodies are fit for eternity. What an incredible hope we have in Christ.
