The term "disembodied" is not the usual one for a study of this phase of eschatology. The customary term is "intermediate," a term accurately used insofar as it describes a state which is between the natural body before death and the spiritual body after the resurrection. It is purposely avoided in this treatment because of the suggestion that the state described is something of a halfway ground between one state and another. In a sense, perhaps, that is true, but the term has led to unfortunate inductions and suggestions on the part of those who have considered it.
The eternal state is to be a bodily state (spiritual body) just as the present state is a bodily state (physical body). The term "disembodied" is used to described that state of spiritual existence which the individual experiences in the interim between his death and his resurrection. Comparison of the two terms will reveal that "disembodied" is between "intermediate" as a description of that state.
The term "state" has been used all through the history of Christian doctrine. It is considered a better descriptive term than "place" for two reasons. It avoids the idea of material which is associated with the word "place" without taking away any of the reality of being. Then, too, it avoids the suggestion of "halfway house" between this world and the eternal one.
By "disembodied state," then, is meant the conscious existence of both the righteous and the wicked after death and prior to the resurrection. The New Testament affirms such a state. In this the spirit is without a body, yet for the righteous it is a state of conscious joy and blessedness, while for the wicked it is a state of conscious suffering.
It must be granted that the New Testament references to such a state are not numerous. They are, however, clear and sufficient when considered in the light of scripture references on other subjects. We do well to look through the windows that are available, however small they may be. They neither solve all the problems nor give all the answers to curious minds, however sincere.
This disembodied state may be recognized by implication, but implication that is inescapable, on the basis of the Scriptures which have to do with death and the resurrection. The New Testament teaches that at death the body returns to the earth, and the spirit enters into a state of conscious existence either in blessedness or suffering. The New Testament also teaches that the body will be raised and transformed at the resurrection when Christ returns to the earth. If these two propositions are taught in the New Testament, it follows that there is a disembodied state of conscious existence of the spirit between the two events, death and resurrection. Some type of life or existence in this interim is theologically inescapable. What is the nature of that state? It seems wise to divide the answer to the question, considering first the passages relating to the righteous and then relating to the unrighteous.
The Righteous
It has been observed in the previous chapter that at death bodily activity cease and the body begins the process of decay which is inherent in its nature. It has also been observed that the spirit enters into a conscious state of existence. It is the nature of this state which must now be studied.
WITH GOD- The disembodied righteous are with God. The statement of Ecclesiastes 12:7 that the spirit returns to God who gave it finds repetition in the New Testament passages. In Philippians 1:23 Paul spoke of departing to be with Christ. He was referring to his dilemma as he faced the prospect of death. He realized that to continue this life means much hardship, but to close this life meant department to the immediate presence of Christ.
The same idea is voiced in 2 Corinthians 5:8, where Paul spoke of being away from the body and at home with the Lord. He understood that at death he would give up his bodily existence and enter into the immediate presence of the Lord. This passage will be discussed one day. For present purposes it is sufficient to see its reflection of Paul's assurance that not even death could separate him from his Lord.
In Luke 23:43 Jesus assured the penitent thief, "Today you will be with me in paradise." In 16:22 the expression "carried to Abraham's bosom" is clearly a descriptive term referring to the state of blessedness in the presence of God. No greater joy could be contemplated by a good Hebrew than to be clasped to the bosom of Abraham, the father of the race.
Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:14 stated in connection with the Lord's return that God will bring with him (Christ) those who have fallen asleep. Many other implications are to be found in these passages, but the emphasis here is that the righteous enter immediately at death into the presence of God.
IN PARADISE- The disembodied righteous are in paradise. The word "paradise" is a transliteration of the Greek word. Most authorities hold that the word is of Persian origin; some suggest an Armenian origin. In every Non-Biblical usage it refers to a garden or park, a place of beauty and enjoyment. The Septuagint translators used the term to represent the garden of Eden in Genesis 2:8. The earliest record of the word in Greek indicates a garden. This same connotation is found in numerous references in Non-Biblical papyri.
The word is found three times in the New Testament. In Luke 23:43 Jesus assured the penitent thief, "Today you will be with me in paradise." Wherever Jesus went at death, the thief went with him. The term "paradise" is used to describe that blessed experience. In 2 Corinthians 12:4 Paul described an experience in which he was "caught up into paradise." No other indication of the place is given unless the term "paradise" is to be understood as a parallel to "the third heaven" in verse 2. Whenever it was, it afforded Paul an experience by way of revelation. The things he experienced were of such exalted nature that he was not permitted to make them known to men.
In Revelation 2:7 the one who overcome is assured that the living Christ will grant him the privilege of eating of the tree of life "which is in the paradise of God." Although the term "paradise" is not used in Revelation 22:1-2, it is likely that the idea is the same. In this passage the tree of life is seen beside the river of the water of life, and the total picture is of a paradise or garden.
These references appear to indicate that paradise is where God dwells. It needs to be positionized no further than that. The indication is, too, that at death the righteous go immediately to be with God in paradise-into a state of Blessedness in God's presence.
ALIVE AND CONSCIOUS- The disembodied righteous are alive and conscious. While the New Testament teaches a disembodied state during the interim between death and the resurrection, it nowhere leaves the idea that this is a state of suspended animation or of unconsciousness. Several passages aid in understanding this point.
In Matthew 22:32 Jesus told the Sadducees that God is the God of the living. His statement was made in reference to the words addressed to Moses at the burning bush, "I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Jesus interpreted the statement to mean that God was saying "Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob died long ago, but they are still alive." There is no indication that a state of unconsciousness was meant.
Jesus said, in John 11:26, "whoever lives and believes in me will never die." He was not speaking of the experience of physical death. He was saying that physical death did not bring about a cessation of conscious existence and fellowship with Christ. Likewise, in Luke 16:22-23 Jesus represented Lazarus as alive and conscious "in Abraham's bosom" immediately after death.
Paul in Philippians 1:23 found this disembodied state to be a far better one than the bodily state which he was experiencing at the time. His mind flashed back over the years of his missionary travel. That travel had resulted in arrest and years of imprisonment in Jerusalem, Caesarea, and Rome. As he wrote from his prison in Rome, he considered the two prospects before him. Release from prison meant further service of the type previously experienced. Death meant the cessation of the hardship of this life and entrance into the immediate presence and fellowship of his Lord. Of the two, Paul found the second to be far better. It is extremely doubtful that he would have felt this way about it had he looked upon it as a state of unconsciousness. To see it, however, as a state of conscious existence in the presence of the Lord was a glorious prospect.
AT REST-The disembodied righteous are at rest. Rest statement is based on the words of Revelation 14:13, "Blessed indeed, "says the spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.'" The idea involved in the term "rest" is that of being refreshed after toil. Those who die in the Lord are described as being in a blessed state because they enter upon an experience of enjoyment as they are refreshed after the toil of this life. More than that, their work does not stop when they die. It keeps working effectively to that day when the books shall be opened (Revelation 20:12).
Thank You
See You, Other Time
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