Intermediate State
The existence that begins at death has a name. It is called the Intermediate State because it comes between life and the final destination. It is a time period and a place. The time period ends with either the resurrection at the Second Coming or Judgment Day. This article covers that period and the place of that existence.
We refer to the intermediate state as a period of time. It's important to understand, though, that time or at least the perception of time may be very different from ours.
There is very strong Biblical support for the existence of the Intermediate State and that will be quoted in this article.
Sheol - The Place of the Dead
In the Old Testament, there is a place where the spirits of the dead go. It is called Sheol. It isn't clear from the Old Testament what happens there or after that. It is clear from some Old Testament books like Job that some people had a good understanding of Sheol and the afterlife, but that couldn't have come from earlier books of the Bible.
Some people say that the word Sheol only refers to the grave or to a symbolism of death. That isn't correct though. Here is a sampling of verses that make it clear the authors believed it was a real place.
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven. (Isaiah 7:11)
Sheol from beneath is excited over you to meet you when you come; It arouses for you the spirits of the dead, all the leaders of the earth; It raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones. (Isaiah 14:9)
For a fire is kindled in My anger, and burns to the lowest part of Sheol (Deuteronomy 32:22)
Nevertheless you [Satan] will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit. (Isaiah 14:15)
Notice that Sheol has a pit, recess, or "lowest part". We'll see that referred to in New Testament verses as well.But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me. (Psalm 49:15) (later we'll see Paul saying almost the same thing)
Strong's Concordance, the standard reference for Bible word meanings, also views Sheol as a real place.
The Greek translation of the Old Testament (LXX) doesn't use the word Sheol. Instead it uses the word Hades, which is the place of the dead from Greek mythology. Hades also became the name of the god who ruled over it. Hades, if it existed, would be very different from Sheol though. About the only thing they have in common is that all the dead go there.Sheol: underworld (place to which people descend at death)
The Greek New Testament also uses "Hades" instead of "Sheol." In addition to that, it uses descriptive names like Abyss (deep (bottomless) pit) and Chasm (deep crack or groove) to refer to the chasm in Sheol. The English translations use lots of other descriptive names.
The New Testament also shows Sheol / Hades to be a place and not a concept.
The dead are, very plainly, in Sheol / Hades and taken from there for judgment.And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds (Revelation 20:13)
Most English translations of the Bible translate the Greek word "Hades" into the word "Hell." That word comes from the Old German religion, prior to Christianity. In that religion it was the place of the dead and there was a goddess who ruled over it.
Also, I was stunned by a recent article published by Zondervan, a major Bible publisher. The article, "The Intermediate State: What the Bible Tells Us", says "The words Sheol and Hades refer to the abode of the dead."This is stunning because a major Bible publisher is risking its future sales by directly contradicting what the vast majority of Christians believe - that they go to Heaven or Hell immediately at death.
Paul in the Place of the Dead
Paul speaks about where he expects to be at the time of the resurrection.
In the verse above, notice that Paul expects to be among the dead at the time of the resurrection. In that translation it isn't as clear as it could be. Other English translations do say "from among the dead" or "from the place of the dead." Neither God nor the grave can be considered the place where the dead are.[…] in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:11 - NASB)
When looking at the Greek, it is clear this is a reference to a place and some English translations translate it that way. There are 4 occurrences of this phrase, Romans 6:9, Philippians 3:11 (used above), 2 Timothy 2:8, Hebrews 13:20. In each of these, the direct translation is "out from Nekron." where Nekron is the Greek word for dead. The Greek word translated as "out from" always refers to something being taken outside of something it was in. Therefore, here it means there is a place where the dead are inside.
Because most Christians don't know of an intermediate place, some translators, though they can see that this "out from" shows there is a place of the dead, reject that idea. Instead they choose to translate it only as "the dead" as NASB does above. Some paraphrases go so far as to say "in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life."
Jesus in Sheol / Hades
Most traditional Christians cannot correctly answer the question, "where did Jesus' spirit go when he died?". The reason for this is that they expect to go to Heaven, so they assume that Jesus spirit must have gone there as well. Also, their understanding of Hell makes it inconceivable that he went there.
When Jesus died his spirit went to Sheol / Hades.
The first reference in those verses to Hades is a quote from King David's Old Testament prophecy (Psalms 16:10), where it says "Sheol". In the next reference to Hades he explains the meaning of that prophecy.Because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. […] 29 Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. (Acts 2:27-31)
Not only did Jesus go to Sheol, he wasn't alone.
Most translations use the word prison here instead of Sheol or Hades. That pictures Sheol as a place that holds spirits and allows no escape.Because the Messiah died […], and he died in body and lived in his Spirit. 19 And he preached to those souls who were held in Sheol, 20 these who from the first were not convinced in the days of Noah (1 Peter 3:18-20)
We see here that Jesus was in Sheol / Hades and that it is a real place with other spirits there.
The CoG7 view is that the spirit becomes unconscious after death. We see here, though, that Jesus is preaching to some of them. If they were not conscious how was it possible for Jesus to preach to them?
This is more evidence that the word Sheol does not refer to the grave.
Naked
Paul talks about an intermediate state between death and the resurrection. He refers to that state symbolically as "naked" where people were previously clothed with mortal bodies and later will be clothed with immortal bodies but currently have no body.
He says he doesn't want to be "found naked" and hints at the shame of being found naked in this life. He would rather go directly from one body to the next, at the resurrection, he says. If he was unconscious in the intermediate (naked) state, it wouldn't make any difference. Who could be ashamed while unconscious? So he must expect to be conscious in the intermediate state.For concerning this also we are made to groan, and we long to wear our house that is from Heaven, 3 if also whenever we are clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For as we are now in this house, we are made to groan by its weight, and we do not want to strip it off, but to put on over it, that its mortality may be swallowed up by life. (2 Corinthians 5:2-4)
Lazarus and the Rich Man
One of the most detailed descriptions of Sheol comes from Jesus but most people reject it or twist it because it doesn't match what they want to believe.
This verse explicitly says this is happening in Sheol, Hades, or Hell depending on the translation. We also see common characteristics of Sheol that we've heard before. All the dead go there, a pit or a chasm, different experiences (good or bad).But that poor man died and Angels brought him to the Bosom of Abraham. And the rich man also died and he was buried. 23 And suffering in Sheol, he lifted up his eyes from afar off and he saw Abraham, and Lazar in his bosom (Luke 16:22-23)
Where it says the Rich man "lifted up his eyes" it probably means that he looked away from his condition for a moment to see Abraham and Lazarus.
Some people say there is nothing more to the 13 verses (v19-31) of this story than the prophecy "when Jesus is raised from the dead, the Jews still will not believe him." It is beyond reason to believe that this story, with all its length and detail, has no more to say than that. If that is all there is to it, Jesus could have shortened it to this, "Oh you of little faith, even if a man will arise from the dead you will not believe him."
This story makes many other points and presents various challenges:
- The Rich Man's life of self indulgence resulted in an immediate after-life of torment
- Lazarus' life resulted in him having "water" and being separated from the Rich Man and comforted
- What do the flames represent?
- What does water represent?
- Have we heard of that abyss elsewhere?
- If the Rich Man's body is dead (and his brain) how does he remember his brothers?
- Why do angels need to carry Lazarus across the abyss? Why does he start on the Rich Man's side?
- How do the angels know who should be taken to the other side
- Why the Bosom of Abraham and not Moses?
- … and more
It should also be noted that this story is not a parable. A parable uses one thing to represent another thing to hide the meaning of the parable. This story does not. This story also uses a person's name. No parable does that. This story is either an example or a description of a literal event.
Where is Paradise?
The New Testament only refers to Paradise as a place twice. Both are shown in the sections below. It isn't clear from those two, though, where Paradise fits in with Sheol, Heaven, and Earth.
We've already discussed that the Bible never says we will go to Heaven. We also know from Paul that Paradise is not Heaven, because he describes them as separate places. Therefore most people think that Paradise is another name for the part of Sheol where the angels carried Lazarus, a place of comfort and plenty.
Conscious in Paradise
Jesus said to the thief on the cross, I will be with you in Paradise, meaning they will see or know each other is there.
For them to know each other is there, they must both be conscious. Jesus is probably saying "Paradise" instead of "Sheol" to make it clear that they will both be on the good side of Sheol as a result of the thief's confession. Jesus would not have said the same to the other thief, who was going to be on the bad side.But Yeshua said to him, "Amen, I say to you that today you shall be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)
Some people try to explain that Jesus doesn't mean he will see him "today" but that he will see him in Paradise, on the New Earth after the judgment. Even if that is the case, we know Jesus would see him before judgment day, at the Resurrection. So this cannot be a reference to the New Earth. Also, Paradise cannot be in Heaven, and it isn't on Earth during the millennial reign. Thus there is no other place than Sheol for it.
Also, we have already seen that Jesus' spirit went to Sheol when he died and that the thief's spirit would have gone there as well. So they would have been with each other there.
Paul in Paradise and the Third Heaven
The Corinthian Church has become arrogant about their spiritual gifts and Paul, reluctantly, must boast about his gifts, to put the Corinthians back in their place. In the process, he teaches us.
It is necessary to boast, but it is not beneficial, for I myself come to visions and revelations of Our Lord. 2 I knew a man in the Messiah more than 14 years ago, whether in the body or without the body, I do not know, God himself knows, who was snatched up unto the third Heaven. 3And I knew this man, if in a body or if without the body, I do not know, God himself knows, 4 who was snatched up to Paradise and heard words that are unspeakable, because it is not authorized for a man to speak them. (2 Corinthians 12:1-4)
Of the things that Paul lists here that show he is an apostle, the best evidence is that he was entrusted with words that he would never be allowed to speak. Who among us could confidently say that we would never reveal those words? That there would never be a time when we would use them to impress someone? God trusts those who are trustworthy and he knows who they are.
Traditional Christians argue that the Luke 16 account of the Rich Man and Lazarus uses the word Paradise as a synonym for Heaven. These verses show that to be wrong.In context, Paul is trying to show all the revelations he has been given. Therefore he wants a big list to make his point. If Paradise means the same thing as Third Heaven, he is trying to deceive his listeners by listing the same event twice to get more credibility. He wouldn't do that. Therefore, he is describing two separate events.
They are also separate places. One time Paul goes to the Third Heaven, where God is, and the other time he goes to Paradise.
Demons Know About Sheol
While Jesus is casting out a demon, the demon reveals his knowledge of Sheol.
Tit-for-Tat TormentBut Yeshua asked him, "What is your name?" But he said to him, "Legion", because many demons had entered him. 31 And they were begging him that he would not command them to enter the abyss. (Luke 8:30-31)
The apostle Peter refers to a time when the torment we now go through in this life will become the fate of the unbelievers after death.
Peter's audience would have understood torment in a way that we don't. They would have understood the torment we experience as our bodies try to deceive us, and we receive the occasional comment, disrespect, or unfair treatment. They also lived with the knowledge that they could be beaten, imprisoned, and executed.Also he delivered righteous Lot who suffered the indignity and the abominable way of life of those who were lawless, 8 For while seeing and hearing, the righteous man dwelling among them from day to day, his righteous soul was tormented by lawless deeds, 9 The lord Yahweh knows to deliver from suffering those who reverence him, but he keeps the evil for the day of judgment while they are being tormented (2 Peter 2:7-9)
This verse says that the evil dead are being tormented while they wait for judgment day. This agrees with the after-death existence of the Rich Man above.
It's important to understand that God is not actively punishing them - effectively torturing them. In fact the torment they experience is self-torment, regrets about their actions and the consequences of these actions.
For example, as a child your mother told you not to touch the stove but you did, you were burned, and will suffer the consequences. In addition to that you are tormented by the thought that you should have listened to mom and how stupid you look to everyone else. No one is torturing you, but you are tormented.
The Dead Know Nothing
The phrase "the dead know nothing" from the verses below is often used to show that the dead are unconscious during the intermediate state.
First, Ecclesiastes is a poor book to use for doctrine without very careful thought. Without that care it would lead us to "eat, drink, and be merry" all our lives.4 Anyone who is among the living has hope - even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!
5 For the living know that they will die,
but the dead know nothing;
they have no further reward,
and even their name is forgotten.
6 Their love, their hate
and their jealousy have long since vanished;
never again will they have a part
in anything that happens under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 9:4-6)
This seems to be a contradiction in the Bible. The earlier verses indicate Jesus preached to them, and expected to see the thief on the cross. There were other indications of consciousness in Sheol. The contradiction can be resolved by looking at the context of the local verses and all of the book.
That phrase, "the dead know nothing", is an odd way of saying "the dead are unconscious" or "the dead are sleeping." For example, if the police come to question you, you might say "I know nothing." That doesn't mean you know nothing about anything. It means you know nothing about the topic in question.
The central phrase in Ecclesiastes is seen over and over - "under the sun." By this it means, in the land of the living. That's what Ecclesiastes is about. That's the topic of the book - the futility of life in the land of the living.
In the context of the verses above it seems more likely the author is saying that the dead are unaware of anything that is going on with the living. This is made clear in these verses when they also say the dead have no further reward and their name is forgotten. Obviously that is only in the land of the living.
Ecclesiastes isn't about the dead but when it refers to them, the dead are described in terms of the living. Perhaps most importantly the verses above close with the line, "never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun"
Sheol Summary
This is what we have learned about Sheol - the intermediate place.
The Bible consistently depicts the realms (for lack of a better word) as a stack with an up and a down. At the top is the Third Heaven, a spirit realm. Then the realms that are physical (again we lack the words to describe some of these things). Those are the parts of the universe we see. Then comes Sheol, which is another spirit realm, not physically in the earth.
What makes this a little odd is that the earth is round. So, for someone on the other side of the earth, their up is our down. Yet God considers the realms in this up-and-down way.
Verse Summaries
- There is a place of the dead
- It is also called Sheol in Hebrew which is translated to Hades in Greek
- Also called the Abyss
- There is a pit, or chasm
- There are people there and there will be more and they are conscious
- All the spirits go there
- Paul expects to be there at the time of the resurrection
- Jesus' spirit went there when he died
- While there Jesus preached to other spirits who were there, people from before the flood
- Jesus said he would see the thief (from the cross) there
- Paul does not want to be "naked" (without any body) from the time of his death until the resurrection
- Therefore, he expects to be conscious after death through to the resurrection
- The story of Lazarus and the Rich Man describes a place like Sheol
- It claims to occur in Sheol
- All the spirits go there
- There is a pit, or chasm that divides it
- Jesus expects to be in Sheol (Paradise) and for the thief to be conscious to recognize him
- Paul says he has been to Paradise
- Demons know about Sheol and know that they can be sent there
- The unbelievers are tormented there, in exchange for the torment we receive here.
- For believers
- Separated from unbelievers
- Have "water"
- There until the Resurrection
- For unbelievers
- The unbelievers will be in Sheol until Judgment Day
- They will be tormented during that time
- They will be taken from there to the judgment
- The unbelievers will be in Sheol until Judgment Day
The CoG7 view that the spirit returns to God at death doesn't appear to match what we've seen above. Is God the "place of the dead"? This place of the dead doesn't sound like that.