Eternal State
We believe when a Christian dies, his or her body goes to the grave while spirit and 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 with their glorified bodies to be with the Lord forever (1 Thess. 4:16-18). We believe in the bodily resurrection of the believer and unbeliever (2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:11-15). The believer will rise to everlasting life and blessing while the unbeliever will be “punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and the majesty of His power.” (2 Thess. 1:9 NIV; Mark 9:47,48). We believe it is God’s role to be the Judge, not ours.
