The Intermediate State: What Happens When We Die?
The question of what transpires immediately after death has captivated humanity for millennia. For the Christian, the Bible provides clear, comforting, and sobering answers concerning the "intermediate state"—that period between our physical death and the bodily resurrection at Christ's return. This is not the final, eternal state, but a temporary dwelling place. It is crucial to understand that the intermediate state is neither annihilation nor an unconscious "soul sleep," but a conscious existence, vastly different for the redeemed and the unredeemed.
For Believers: Immediate Presence with Christ
For those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, death is not an ending but a transition into the immediate presence of the Lord. The Apostle Paul expresses this profound truth in 2 Corinthians 5:8:
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
This verse unequivocally states that to be "absent from the body" is to be "present with the Lord." There is no delay, no period of unconsciousness. Paul further articulates this desire in Philippians 1:23, stating, "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better." His longing was for immediate communion with his Saviour upon death.
Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself confirmed this reality to the penitent thief on the cross. As the thief cried out for remembrance, Jesus responded:
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
The word "paradise" here refers to the abode of the blessed, the heavenly realm where God dwells. This immediate promise of fellowship with Christ upon death offers immense comfort and assurance to believers. It signifies a conscious, joyful existence in the Lord's presence, awaiting the future resurrection and glorification of the body.
For Unbelievers: Conscious Torment
While believers enter into paradise, the scriptures also paint a stark picture for those who die outside of Christ. The intermediate state for the unregenerate is one of conscious suffering and separation from God. The most vivid portrayal of this is found in Jesus' own parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31.
In this account, both men die. Lazarus, the poor beggar, is carried by angels to "Abraham's bosom" (a Jewish idiom for paradise), while the rich man finds himself in "hell," or Hades, a term for the abode of the dead.
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
The rich man is clearly conscious. He is in "torments," he can see, he can speak, and he remembers his earthly life and his living brothers. He pleads for relief, even a drop of water, and expresses concern for his family, demonstrating continued awareness and memory. This passage refutes any notion of unconsciousness or annihilation for the wicked after death. It reveals a state of immediate, conscious suffering and regret, a precursor to the final judgment.
Refuting "Soul Sleep" and Annihilationism
Some theological views propose that the soul enters an unconscious state ("soul sleep") or ceases to exist ("annihilationism") upon death. However, the KJV Bible consistently refutes these ideas.
Regarding "soul sleep," proponents often misinterpret passages that describe death as "sleep" (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). However, in context, "sleep" is a metaphor for the physical body's rest, awaiting resurrection. It does not imply an unconscious soul. The very concept of being "absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8) directly contradicts soul sleep, as presence with Christ implies consciousness.
Furthermore, the souls of martyrs are depicted as conscious under the altar in Revelation 6:9-11, crying out to God, demonstrating their continued awareness and longing for justice. The rich man in Luke 16:19-31 serves as undeniable proof against unconsciousness for the wicked.
Annihilationism, the belief that the wicked are utterly destroyed after death, is also contrary to scripture. The Bible speaks of "everlasting punishment" (Matthew 25:46) and the "smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever" (Revelation 14:11). These descriptions imply eternal, conscious suffering, not cessation of existence. The rich man's ongoing torment in Hades is a clear example of conscious existence for the lost in the intermediate state, which foreshadows the eternal lake of fire.
The Intermediate State is Not the Final State
It is vital to distinguish the intermediate state from the ultimate, eternal state. The intermediate state is temporary, a holding place until the resurrection of all the dead and the final judgment. The Bible teaches that there will be a bodily resurrection for both the just and the unjust.
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
For believers, this means their spirits, already with Christ in paradise, will be reunited with their glorified, resurrected bodies, perfectly suited for eternity in the New Heavens and New Earth (Revelation 21:1-4). For unbelievers, their spirits, currently in conscious torment in Hades, will be reunited with their resurrected bodies to stand before the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). After this judgment, they will be cast into the lake of fire, which is the "second death" (Revelation 20:14), where their conscious torment will continue eternally.
The intermediate state, therefore, serves as a waiting period, ensuring that "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). It is a conscious continuation of one's spiritual trajectory established in life.
Comfort for Believers and Warning for Unbelievers
Understanding the intermediate state provides both profound comfort and urgent warning:
The Bible's teaching on the intermediate state underscores the profound significance of our choices in this life. Our eternal destiny is sealed at the moment of death, determining whether we enter into the joy of our Lord or into a realm of conscious sorrow, awaiting final judgment. May we all heed the biblical truth and find our hope in the finished work of Jesus Christ.