1. The bodies of those who have died return to dust and undergo destruction.1 But their souls neither die nor sleep, because they have an immortal charactera, and immediately return to God who gave them.2 The souls of the righteous are then made perfect in holiness and are received into paradise. There they are with Christ and behold the face of God in light and glory while they wait for the full redemption of their bodies.3 The souls of the wicked are thrown into hell, where they remain in torment and utter darkness, reserved for the judgment of the great day.4 The Scripture recognizes no place other than these two for souls separated from their bodies.
asubsistence; i.e., souls are not subject to dissolution
1Genesis 3:19; Acts 13:36. 2Ecclesiastes 12:7. 3Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6,8; Philippians 1:23; Hebrews 12:23. 4Jude 6, 7; 1 Peter 3:19; Luke 16:23, 24.
2. At the last day, those saints who are found alive will not sleep but will be changed.5 All the dead will be raised up with the very same bodies, not different ones,6 though they will have different qualities. Their bodies will be united again to their souls forever.7
51 Corinthians 15:51, 52; 1 Thessalonians 4:17. 6Job 19:26, 27. 71 Corinthians 15:42, 43.
3. The bodies of the unjust will be raised by the power of Christ to dishonor. By his Spirit the bodies of the just will be raised to honor and will be made like Christ’s own glorious body.8
8Acts 24:15; John 5:28, 29; Philippians 3:21.
