Name: William Dortman
Question: Hi Brandon. I am somewhat confused about the resurrection. Specifically, what happens to our consciousness between death of our physical body, and the resurrection at our Lord’s 2nd coming.
Most churches teach we immediately go to the Lord in spirit and then come back with him to get joined with our bodies. Others teach that we “sleep” until Christ’s return and are then awakened to be with him. Both have various verses and stories in the Bible to back them up. Any clarification would be greatly appreciated… Thank you, Bill
Answer: Great question and concern Bill.
This is what the Bible says…
“…to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 5:8
When we pass away, we return to God.
There’s no delay or intermission, we just return to Him, and we occupy our Heavenly body. The same body people will inherit on earth when our Lord Jesus Christ returns, (1 Corinthians 15:35-55).
There’s more…
“…the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
Ecclesiastes 12:7
Once we pass away, our spirit returns to God who created it.
That seems pretty clear.
A lot of the church confusion you mentioned stems from the symbolic meaning of the word “sleep,” and how it’s used in Scripture. The Bible doesn’t contradict itself though, so we know we return to God at death.
In fact, in Heaven right now, there are “souls” under the altar of God, (Revelation 6:9).
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In Revelation 22:9, John talks with an Angel who was one of the prophets that lived on earth. Jesus even spoke with the “spirits in prison,” who are people that have already passed on, but were not found worthy.
So clearly, the resurrection occurs once we pass away.
Now, not everyone will return to earth with Jesus when He returns. Only those “sleep” in Jesus.
There’s one more thing I want to mention…
In Luke 20:36, Jesus explained, once we pass away and return to God, there is no marriage in Heaven.
This is important, as,
“Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels.”
Once we pass on, we are in Heaven, in an incorruptible Heavenly body, and we become, one of the Angels in Heaven, (1 Corinthians 15:44).
The more we study, the more it all comes together.
I have several studies on this subject that I would love for you to read, you can find them here.
- Where Do We Go When We Die?
- When Will There Be A Resurrection Of The Dead?
- Did Jesus Preach To The Spirits In Prison?
Also, give the topic of death a read, there’s a lot more.
