1) The bodies of men after death return to dust, and
see corruption;a but their souls, which neither
die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return
to God who gave them.b The souls of the
righteous being then made perfect in holiness, are received into
paradise, where they are with Christ, and behold the face of God
in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their
bodies;c and the souls of the wicked are cast
into hell; where they remain in torment and utter darkness,
reserved to the judgment of the great day;d
besides these two places, for souls separated from their bodies,
the Scripture acknowledgeth none.
(a Genesis
3:19, Acts
13:36; b Ecclesiastes 12:7;
c Luke
23:43, 2
Corinthians 5:1,6,8, Philippians 1:23, Hebrews 12:23;
d Jude
6,7, 1
Peter 3:19, Luke
16:23,24)
2) At the last day, such of the saints as are found
alive, shall not sleep, but be changed;e and
all the dead shall be raised up with the selfsame bodies, and
none other;f although with different qualities,
which shall be united again to their souls
forever.g
(e 1
Corinthians 15:51,52, 1
Thessalonians 4:17; f Job
19:26,27; g 1
Corinthians 15:42,43)
3) The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of
Christ, be raised to dishonour; the bodies of the just, by his
Spirit, unto honour, and be made conformable to his own glorious
body.h
(h Acts
24:15, John
5:28,29, Philippians 3:21)