What is the State of the Christian Immediately After Death?

Dear ..... (Australia)

Among the many theories concerning the afterlife are Purgatory, and Soul-Sleep. Roman Catholicism teaches that in Purgatory the individual is "purged" and made fit for heaven. The idea of Soul-sleep is that after death the soul sleeps (is unconscious) until the resurrection. This however is a misunderstanding of the use of the term "sleep" in Scripture which refers only to the physical body (I Thess 4:14; Acts 7:60 etc.). Seventh Day Adventists also use Ecclesiastes 9:5 to speak of Soul-Sleep, but the context is clear that the writer is speaking of things temporal and tangible; the dead know nothing "of these things as the living do." This is clearly the comparison he is making. There are certain things about Heaven that we will not know until we get there, but the true believer in Christ can be assured that when he dies he goes directly into the presence of God to be with Christ (Luke 23:39-43). There is no need of Purgatory if faith lays hold of Christ as the complete salvation without works. And there is every indication of optimism that the vital and conscious presence of Christ is ours in death. This is why there is no sting in death nor fear of the grave. On the cross, Christ commended his soul to the Father in Heaven and the believing thief went to be with him that same day. Paul also was clear in where he would be immediately after death. "...Absent from the body and to be present with the Lord." (II Corinthians 5:8). In Luke 16:19-31 we have a very clear picture of what happens immediately after death; it is either Heaven or Hell. The rich man, who died without Christ, "was buried and in hell he lifted up his eyes being in torment." There is no lapse in time here in these events. Lazarus went immediately to be in the bosom of Abraham which is another clear indication that Old Testament Saints (cf. II Kings 2:11) and New Testament saints are not separated in death; they have the same Saviour, the same salvation and the same destiny.

I trust this helps and gives you an assured hope in Christ's full and free salvation.

Aaron