What happens to the righteous when they die? (2)

Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-11

Continuing short considerations of answers to this question that would seem to be easily denied by those who study the Bible, consider …

o   Mormons teach that there are three possible heavens for those who are not annihilated.  Telestial heaven is for unbelievers, blatant sinners who occupy after a one thousand year detour in hell, an apparent confusion of the abyss for Satan during the Kingdom of Christ with the lake of fire (Rev. 20:1-3,11-15).  Terrestrial heaven is for good and honorable people, those who dies without the law or who were not valiant in the testimony of Jesus.  Celestial heaven is for baptized Mormons, the faithful.  Only in 1 Cor. 15:40-42 are there references to terrestrial and celestial where they refer to bodies, not heavens or kingdoms.  The reference to a third heaven (2 Cor. 12:2) is better understood to refer to the atmospheric heaven (clouds, birds; Deut. 11:11; 3:28), the planetary heaven (planets, stars; Gen. 1:1; 2:1) and the paradise heaven (the dwelling place of God; 1 Kings 8:39,43,49).  Mormons, of course, are not bound to the Bible for their answers as they claim other sources of truth, including the current leadership of the church.

There are some (Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses), including some who claim to be evangelical in their doctrine, who answer our question with a doctrine of soul sleep.  That is they would teach that the righteous, upon death, enter into a literal sleep of death, waiting the resurrection when they will be awakened.  

o   They refer to many passages in Scripture that speak of death as sleep (e.g. Psalm 90:5; 1 Cor. 15:51; Acts 7:60; 1 Thess. 4:13). 

o   Further, they would argue the Scriptures teach that the righteous are in an unconscious state after departing this life and body, including passages that refer to the grave as a place where no one can praise God (e.g. Psa. 6:5; 30:9; 115:17; 146:4; Eccl. 9:10; Isa. 38:18-19). 

o   They further argue that judgment must precede the bliss or torment of the life after this earthly life.  For example, why are some surprised about their judgment if they’ve already experienced it in the time between death and resurrection (Matt. 7:22f).  Other passage include Matt. 25:37-39,44; John 5:29; 2 Cor. 5:10; and Rev. 20:12f.

o   They ask why those raised from the dead (e.g. Lazarus) never tell of the other side.  They conclude they were asleep, not aware of the experience.

o   Lastly they argue that human experience demands a united body and spirit.  If one lies in the grace, the other must be there as well.

These may seem to be compelling arguments.  Study the passages they use.  In our next post we will consider answers to these arguments and then explain why 2 Cor. 5:8 indicates absent from the body is present with the Lord.