Of the State of Man after Death and of the Resurrection of the Dead

31.1. Of the State of Man after Death and of the Resurrection of the Dead

The Bodies of Men after Death return to dust, and see corruption; but their Souls (which neither die nor sleep) having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them: the Souls of the Righteous being then made perfect in holyness, are received into paradise where they are with Christ, and behold the face of God, in light and glory; waiting for the full Redemption of their Bodies; and the souls of the wicked, are cast into hell; where they remain in torment and utter darkness, reserved to the judgement of the great day; besides these two places for Souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.

Proof texts

Genesis 3:19 — [19] By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Acts 13:36 — [36] For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption,
Ecclesiastes 12:7 — [7] and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Luke 23:43 — [43] And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
2 Corinthians 5:1, 6, 8 — [1] For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [6] So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, [8] Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
Philippians 1:23 — [23] I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
Hebrews 12:23 — [23] and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
Jude 6, 7 — [6] And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day — [7] just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
1 Peter 3:19 — [19] in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison,
Luke 16:23, 24 — [23] and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. [24] And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’

For discussion

The Assembly cited Genesis 3:19 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
10 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
WSC Q37 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
WSC Q38 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q37 · WSC Q38 · WLC Q82 · WCF 32.1 · BC 9.1 · BC 9.2 · SD 31.1

31.2. Of the State of Man after Death and of the Resurrection of the Dead

At the last day such of the Saints as are found alive shall not sleep but be changed; and all the dead shall be raised up with the self same bodies, and none other; although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their Souls for ever.

Proof texts

1 Corinthians 15:51, 52 — [51] Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 — [17] Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
Job 19:26, 27 — [26] And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, [27] whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!
1 Corinthians 15:42, 43 — [42] So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. [43] It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.

For discussion

The Assembly cited 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
4 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
WSC Q37 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
WSC Q38 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q37 · WSC Q38 · WLC Q82 · WCF 32.1 · BC 9.1 · BC 9.2 · SD 31.1

31.3. Of the State of Man after Death and of the Resurrection of the Dead

The bodies of the unjust shall by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonour; the bodies of the just by his spirit unto honour, and be made conformable to his own glorious Body.

Proof texts

Acts 24:15 — [15] having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
John 5:28, 29 — [28] Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice [29] and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
Philippians 3:21 — [21] who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

For discussion

The Assembly cited Acts 24:15 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
3 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
WSC Q37 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
WSC Q38 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q37 · WSC Q38 · WLC Q82 · WCF 32.1 · BC 9.1 · BC 9.2 · SD 31.1