Paragraph 33.1

The Bodies of Men after Death return to Dust, and see Corruption; but their Souls (which neither die or sleep) having an immortal Subsistence, immediately^a return to God who gave them: 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^b Glory, waiting for the full Redemption of their Bodies; and the Souls of the Wicked are cast into Hell, where they remain in Torment and utter Darkness, reserved to^c the Judgment of the Great Day; besides these two Places, for Souls separated from their Bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.^d

1. a. Genesis 3:19; Acts 13:36

   Genesis 3:19

   ^3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

   ^3:19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground-because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return."

   Acts 13:36

   ^13:36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

   ^13:36 For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. His body was buried with his fathers and saw decay.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

2. b. Ecclesiastes 12:7

   Ecclesiastes 12:7

   ^12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

   ^12:7 before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

3. c. Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6, 8; Philippians 1:23; Hebrews 12:23

   Luke 23:43

   ^23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

   ^23:43 And Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

   2 Corinthians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 5:6; 2 Corinthians 5:8

   ^5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ^5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: ^5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

   ^5:1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ^5:6 Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. ^5:8 We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

   Philippians 1:23

   ^1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

   ^1:23 I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.

   Hebrews 12:23

   ^12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

   ^12:23 in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

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4. d. Jude 6–7; 1 Peter 3:19; Luke 16:23–24

   Jude 1:6–7

   ^1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. ^1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

   ^1:6 And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling-these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great day. ^1:7 In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.

   1 Peter 3:19

   ^3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

   ^3:19 in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison

   Luke 16:23–24

   ^16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. ^16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

   ^16:23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side. ^16:24 So he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.'

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