WCF 32.2

Westminster Confession of Faith

32.2. Of the State of Man After Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead

At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed: and all the dead shall be raised up, with the selfsame bodies, and none other, although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls for ever.

Proof texts

1 Thess. 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.
1 Cor. 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.
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 Cor. 15:42, 43, 44 — [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. [44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

For discussion

The Assembly cited 1 Thess. 4:17 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 · WLC Q86 · WLC Q87 · BC 9.1 · BC 9.2 · 1689 31.1 · SC60 6.2 · IAR 9.1 · IAR 9.2 · IAR 9.3 · IAR 9.4 · SHC 9.1 · SD 31.1

Leader's notes

A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): These Sections teach — 1st. That at the last day there will be a simultaneous resurrection of all the dead, both of the just and of the unjust. 2d. That those who then remain living on the earth shall not die, but be changed. 3d. That the very same bodies that are buried in the earth shall be raised and reunited to their souls, their identity preserved, although their qualities will be changed. 4th. That the bodies of believers shall be made like Christ's glorious body — " a spiritual body." 5th. That the bodies of the reprobate shall be raised "to dishonour. 1st. At the last day there will be a simultaneous resurrection of all the dead, both of…

An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): I. Such as remain alive upon the earth at the last day shall not die. but undergo a wonderful change. This truth was first revealed to the Church in Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians (xv. 51): "Behold I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." When Christ shall descend from heaven to judge the world, some will be found alive upon the earth ; these shall not die, and sleep for a short time in the dust of the earth ; but they will experience a change equivalent to that which shall pass on those who shall then be raised from the grave; and, as we are informed, the dead saints…