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The Westminster Confession of Faith and Larger Catechism
1. After death the bodies of human beings decompose and return to dust,[1] but their souls, which do not die or sleep, have an immortal existence and immediately return to God who created them.[2] The souls of the righteous are then perfected in holiness and are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory and wait for the full redemption of their bodies.[3] The souls of the wicked are thrown into hell, where they remain in torment and complete darkness, set apart for the great day of judgment.[4] Scripture recognizes only these two places, and no other, for souls separated from their bodies.
[2] Lk 23:43, Eccl 12:7, Phil 1:23, 2 Cor 5:6-8.
[3] Heb 12:23, 2 Cor 5:1,6,8, Phil 1:23, Acts 3:21, Eph 4:10, 1 Jn 3:2, Lk 16:23, Rom 8:23; see under figure 2 above, Rv 7:4,15.
[4] Lk 16:23-24, Acts 1:25, Jude 6-7, 1 Pt 3:19, 2 Pt 2:9.
2. Those who are alive at the last day will not die but will be changed.[5] At that time all the dead will be raised with the very same bodies and no other than the same bodies they had before, although with different characteristics, which will be united again to their souls forever.[6]
[5] 1 Thes 4:17, 1 Cor 15:51-52.
[6] Jb 19:26-27, 1 Cor 15:42-44; see preceding context.
3. By the power of Christ the bodies of the unjust shall be raised to dishonor, but by his Spirit the bodies of the just will be raised to honor and be made according to the pattern of his own glorious body.[7]
[7] Acts 24:15, Jn 5:28-29, 1 Cor 15:42, Phil 3:21.
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