What is the intermediate state?

Answer

The “intermediate state” is a theological concept that speculates about what kind of body, if any, believers in heaven have while they await their physical bodies to be resurrected. The Bible is clear that deceased believers are with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8;Philippians 1:23). It also states that the resurrection of believers has not yet occurred, indicating that the bodies of deceased believers are still in the grave (1 Corinthians 15:50-54;1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). Therefore, the question of the intermediate state revolves around whether believers in heaven are given temporary physical bodies until the resurrection or if they exist in a spiritual/non-corporeal form until then.

The Bible does not provide a great amount of detail regarding the intermediate state. The only Scripture that specifically, albeit indirectly, addresses the issue is Revelation 6:9, “… I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.” In this verse, John is granted a vision of those who will be martyred because of their faith in the end times. These believers are depicted under God’s altar in heaven and are referred to as “souls.” Therefore, based on this verse, if there is a biblical explanation for the intermediate state, it appears that believers in heaven are in a spiritual/non-corporeal form until the resurrection.

The ultimate heaven that awaits believers is the New Heavens and New Earth.

(Revelation 21-22). Heaven will indeed be a physical place. Our physical bodies will be resurrected and glorified, made perfectly fit for eternity on the New Earth. Currently, heaven is a spiritual realm. It would seem, then, that there would be no need for temporary physical bodies if believers are in a spiritual heaven. Whatever the intermediate state is, we can rest assured that believers in heaven are perfectly content, enjoying the glories of heaven and worshiping the majesty of the Lord.