THE INTERMEDIATE STATE AFTER DEATH

THE INTERMEDIATE STATE

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Intermediate State Definition: That Period of Existence Between Physical Death and the Resur­rection

• Proof of such a State: Revealed in those passages which refer to the Resur­rection as a future event associated with the Second Coming of Christ.

1 Thess. 4:13-17  "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
1 Cor. 15:51-54 "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."
2 Tim. 2:18 "Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some."

• Theological Errors which Eliminate the Intermediate State

Those who deny the resurrection of the body. They do believe in existence in a state of life after death. This life is not very well defined.

       --Modern Liberalism

 

Those who argue for some kind of resurrection at Death. --Lyman Abbott

 

•  Intermediate State - a Matter of Deep Interest to Most Men 

Why?

(1) Universality of Death. Every day 100,000 people die. The great question goes up, where have they gone? Human Philosophy can give arguments for a future life, but only divine revelation can give any hope for a life after death.

 

(2) Traditional Religious beliefs.

  

(3) Speculations of moral philosophy.

  

Kant says that without immortality you can't have mortality.

 

• We shall take the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ as the dividing line between the Old Testament and New Testament situations.

Why? The Resurrection of Christ changed the status of the Righteous