Westminster Confession, Chapter 32
Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead
The bodies of men, after death, return to dust, and see corruption; but their souls (which neither die nor sleep), having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies: and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day. Besides these two places for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.
Scripture references for paragraph 1
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Genesis 3:1919By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground— because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”
Acts 13:3636For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. His body was buried with his fathers and saw decay.
Philippians 1:2323I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.
Acts 3:2121Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.
Ephesians 4:1010He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.
2 Corinthians 5:11Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
2 Corinthians 5:66Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:88We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
Hebrews 12:2323in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
Ecclesiastes 12:77before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Luke 23:4343And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Luke 16:23-2423In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.
24So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’
Acts 1:2525to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.”
1 Peter 3:1919in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison
Jude 1:6-76And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great day.
7In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.
At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed; and all the dead shall be raised up with the self-same bodies, and none other, although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls forever.
Scripture references for paragraph 2
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
1 Corinthians 15:51-5251Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—
52in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1 Thessalonians 4:1717After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.
Job 19:26-2726Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.
27I will see Him for myself; my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger. How my heart yearns within me!
1 Corinthians 15:42-4442So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable.
43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonor; the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honor, and be made conformable to his own glorious body.
Scripture references for paragraph 3
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
John 5:28-2928Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice
29and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
Acts 24:1515and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
1 Corinthians 15:4242So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable.
Philippians 3:2121who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.
Source and edition
Westminster Confession. NonlinearFruit/Creeds.json, Unlicense. Creeds.json, English transcription
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