Bodily resurrection; differing intermediate states
The named historic confessions affirm bodily resurrection. Westminster XXXII teaches conscious souls awaiting reunion with their bodies. Adventist Belief 26 instead teaches unconscious rest until resurrection, with the righteous raised at Christ's return and the unrighteous after the millennium. Belief 27 describes the final end of sin. These differences should not be flattened into one Protestant timeline. The Wesleyan Church Articles 20–22 affirm conscious personal existence after death and bodily resurrection. Assemblies of God Fundamental Truths 13–16 place believers’ resurrection at Christ’s coming and affirm his thousand-year earthly reign before final judgment and new creation. Rethinking Hell affirms resurrection of saved and lost while allowing differing intermediate-state accounts.
Scripture
- 1 Corinthians 15:35-58 — Resurrection involves transformed bodily life.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 — Paul consoles believers with Christ's return and resurrection hope.
- Revelation 20:1-15 — A key passage for disagreement about the millennium and final judgment.
Primary sources
Westminster distinguishes the surviving soul with this phrase:
Westminster XXXII.1 teaches that souls neither die nor sleep after bodily death.
souls, which neither die nor sleep
Passage context and translation
The Reformed confession distinguishes surviving souls from bodies that return to dust and awaits bodily reunion. This directly differs from Adventist Belief 26.
Before the excerpt
Context summary: The sentence begins by describing the bodies' corruption after death.
After the excerpt
Context summary: It describes souls returning to God and the righteous awaiting redemption of their bodies.
The official Adventist statement supplies the contrasting account:
Adventist Belief 26 instead teaches unconscious death until resurrection.
Until that day death is an unconscious state for all people.
Passage context and translation
This sentence belongs to the official Belief 26 block, not the article's further explanatory commentary. It directly contrasts with Westminster XXXII.1.
Before the excerpt
Context summary: The belief names God alone as immortal and promises eternal life to the redeemed.
After the excerpt
Context summary: It describes Christ's coming, glorification of the righteous, and the later resurrection of the unrighteous.
Sources and further reading
- 1 Corinthians 15:35–58 · KJV
- Assemblies of God · Fundamental Truths 5 and 13–16
- Church of England · Book of Common Prayer · Athanasian Creed
- Reformed · Westminster Confession XXXII · OPC
- Rethinking Hell · Statement on Evangelical Conditionalism
- Seventh-day Adventist · Fundamental Belief 26
- Seventh-day Adventist · Fundamental Belief 27
- The Wesleyan Church · Articles of Religion 8, 11–13, 20–22