Of the State of Man after Death and Of the Resurrection of the Dead

Chapter 31 confesses what happens at death. 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 are received into paradise where they are with Christ; 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.

At the last day, all the dead shall be raised — the same bodies, though with different qualities, united again to their souls forever. 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.

The Christian’s hope is not a disembodied soul-existence but the resurrection of the body and the life of the world to come.

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For the full text of this chapter with scripture proofs, see the1689confession.com or Founders Ministries.