Overview

As the Confession nears its end, it turns to last things. This chapter confesses the immortality of the soul, the intermediate state (the righteous with Christ, the wicked in torment, with no third place), and the bodily resurrection of all the dead at the last day — the same bodies raised, the just unto honor, the unjust unto dishonor.

The Confession, Section by Section

32.1 — Death and the intermediate state

The bodies of men, after death, return to dust, and see corruption: but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies: and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day. Besides these two places, for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“…and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” (Eccl. 12:7, ESV)

“…today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43, ESV)

“…my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” (Phil. 1:23, ESV)

Further proofs: Luke 16:23–24; 2 Cor. 5:1, 6, 8; Heb. 12:23; Acts 1:25; Jude 6–7; 1 Pet. 3:19.

Exposition: At death the body decays but the soul, immortal, “neither die[s] nor sleep[s].” The righteous are immediately “received into the highest heavens” to behold God’s face — “made perfect in holiness” at once (the completion of sanctification, ch. 13) — while awaiting their bodies’ resurrection. The wicked go to torment. Crucially, “besides these two places… the Scripture acknowledgeth none” — a pointed denial of purgatory and of any limbo or soul-sleep. To die in Christ is to be “with Christ,” “far better,” at once.

32.2–32.3 — The resurrection of the dead

At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed: and all the dead shall be raised up, with the self-same bodies, and none other, although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls for ever.

The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonour: the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honour; and be made conformable to his own glorious body.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed… For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.” (1 Cor. 15:51–53, ESV)

“…an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28–29, ESV)

Further proofs: 1 Thess. 4:17; Job 19:26–27; 1 Cor. 15:42–44; Phil. 3:21; Acts 24:15; Dan. 12:2.

Exposition: At the last day there is a bodily resurrection of all the dead — “the self-same bodies, and none other,” though gloriously transformed (“different qualities”). The living are “changed.” The just are raised “unto honour… conformable to his own glorious body” (Phil. 3:21); the unjust “unto dishonour” and judgment. Christian hope is not escape from the body but its redemption — the resurrection of the body, as the creed confesses.

Doctrinal Summary

At death the body returns to dust while the immortal soul, neither dying nor sleeping, goes immediately either to be with Christ in glory (the righteous, made perfect in holiness) or to torment (the wicked) — there being no third place, against purgatory and soul-sleep. At the last day all the dead will be raised in their own bodies, transformed and reunited to their souls forever: the just unto honor, conformed to Christ’s glorious body; the unjust unto dishonor and judgment.

Connections

• WLC Q84–86 — the estate of believers and the wicked at death; the communion in glory at the resurrection; what shall be the estate of the wicked at the day of judgment.
• WSC Q37–38 — “The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves till the resurrection”; the benefits believers receive from Christ at the resurrection.
• WCF 13 (sanctification — completed at death), WCF 33 (the last judgment, which follows the resurrection), WCF 8 (Christ raised, the firstfruits and pattern).
• Loci: Eschatology (the intermediate state; the resurrection of the body); personal eschatology.

Pastoral & Practical Significance

This chapter is profound comfort for the dying and the bereaved. For the believer, death is not annihilation, nor a long unconscious sleep, nor a frightening detour through purgatory: it is to “depart and be with Christ,” immediately, made perfect in holiness, beholding the face of God. The sting is drawn (1 Cor. 15:55). And the hope is greater still — not a disembodied eternity, but the resurrection of the very body, transformed and conformed to Christ’s glorious body, reunited to the soul forever. This dignifies the body (it will be raised, not discarded) and grounds Christian grief in hope: “we do not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13). When you stand at a believer’s grave, you stand at a place of temporary rest, awaiting the trumpet. The same chapter sobers us, too: there is no second chance after death, and the wicked face torment and a resurrection unto judgment. So it presses the living to be ready, in Christ, before that day.

For Reflection

• Does the promise of being “with Christ” immediately at death change how I face my own mortality and the loss of loved ones in Christ?
• Christian hope is the resurrection of the body, not escape from it. How does that shape my view of the body and of eternity?
• There is no third place after death. How does that sober urgency shape my concern for those not yet in Christ?