2 Corinthians 5:1-8 KJV
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. [2] For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: [3] If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. [4] For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. [5] Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. [6] Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: [7] (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) [8] We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
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. [2] For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: [3] If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. [4] For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. [5] Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. [6] Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: [7] (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) [8] We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Paul's point was that our mortal body is burdensome and he would rather be in his new body and with the Lord. We get a new body at the resurrection, not when we die. It does not say that when we die, we are instantly with the Lord. Although, it will seem like that.
1 Corinthians 15:52-54 KJV
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
This verse tells us when we will be "present with the Lord," at the physical resurrection:
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 KJV
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The Bible teaches that the dead are asleep and unconscious while they await the physical resurrection for judgment.
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6,10 KJV
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. [6] Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. [10] Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Daniel 12:2 KJV
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Isaiah 26:14 KJV
They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.
Psalm 146:3-4 KJV
Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. [4] His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
Job 14:7-13 KJV
For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. [8] Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; [9] Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. [10] But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? [11] As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: [12] So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. [13] O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
Ezekiel 18:4 KJV
Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Psalm 78:50 KJV
He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;
Job 33:22 KJV
Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
Psalm 89:48 KJV
What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.
Psalm 115:17 KJV
The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.
John 11:11-14 KJV
These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. [12] Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. [13] Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. [14] Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
Isaiah 38:18-19 KJV
For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. [19] The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.
Many use the below passage for an objection.
Luke 23:42-43 KJV
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. [43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
"Paradise" isn't heaven here, but Christ's "kingdom" that will come at his Second Advent (Matthew 25:31, Revelation 20:4-6). Jesus spoke this unto the thief ("Verily I say TO THEE"), no one else. After the thief died, he experiences no consciousness or sense of time, so that for the thief, when he resurrects at Christ's coming, it will be the same day for his perspective.
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 KJV
For the living know that they shall die: BUT THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANY THING, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. [6] Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
The below passage is used for a common objection.
Luke 16:22-23 KJV
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also DIED, and WAS BURIED; [23] AND IN HELL HE LIFT UP HIS EYES, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
The rich man's "soul" in Luke 16 is nowhere mentioned. What is mentioned is that the same rich man who DIED and was BURIED lift up his eyes in hell. That's not an immortal soul that dies and is buried, but the physical body. This is a parable, not literal. Every time Jesus begins to say, "There was a certain man," it's always the beginning of a parable. Without exception. Jesus' parable isn't false or misleading, but patterned after a common Old Testament metaphor where dead bodies in the grave (not immortal, metaphysical souls) are personified as though alive.
Isaiah 14:9-11 KJV
Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: IT STIRRETH UP THE DEAD FOR THEE, even all the chief ones of the earth; IT HATH RAISED UP FROM THEIR THRONES all the kings of the nations. [10] ALL THEY SHALL SPEAK AND SAY UNTO THEE, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? [11] THY POMP IS BROUGHT DOWN TO THE GRAVE, and the noise of thy viols: THE WORM IS SPREAD UNDER THEE, AND THE WORMS COVER THEE.
“Another place proving that the dead have no ... feeling. There is, saith he, no duty, no science, no knowledge, no wisdom there. Solomon judgeth that the dead are asleep, and feel nothing at all. For the dead lie there, accounting neither days nor years, but when they are awaked, they shall seem to have slept scarce one minute.” -Martin Luther, Exposition of Solomon's Booke Called Ecclesiastes, page 152
