The Eternal State

The Eternal State
When a Christian dies, we believe that his or her body goes to the grave (Sheol) while spirit/soul go immediately into the presence of the Lord without any interim period (2 Cor. 5:6-9; Rev. 7:9-10). At death, the soul of the unbeliever goes into hades to await judgment day (Luke 16:19-31; Rev. 20:11-14). At the return of Christ, we believe the dead in Christ will rise, spirit and soul being reunited in their glorified body to be with the Lord forever (1 Thess. 4:16-18). We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the believer and the unbeliever (2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:11-15). The believer will rise to everlasting life and blessing while the unbeliever will rise to everlasting punishment and be “shut out from the presence of the Lord and the majesty of His power” forever (2 Thess. 1:9 NIV; Mark 9:47,48). We believe God judges the eternal destiny of people based upon their relationship with Jesus Christ.  “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).