II Corinthians
Verses 6 through 8 of II Corinthians 5 are the most quoted verses to prove the departed are awake, alive and rejoicing in heaven. Let's look at them:
2Cor. 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
But those verses begin with the word "Therefore." So, THEREFORE, let's examine what Paul wrote just before those verses in II Corinthians.
In chapter 1 he writes:
2Co 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
2Co 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
God, who raises the dead, he trusts to deliver him. How? Of course, in the resurrection on the last day. He expects to be delivered by the resurrection. And he continues:
2Co 1:14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Paul will rejoice with and over the Corinthians – when – when he goes to heaven, right?
NO! “In the day of the Lord Jesus” when the saints are resurrected.
2Co 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
Paul expects to be presented to the Lord on that day, the day of the resurrection
Now we return to chapter 5. This is the chapter from which verses 5-8 supposedly “prove” the dead go to heaven in a conscious state. Please keep in mind the few verses from chapters 1 and 2 that we have already reviewed’ Paul has said God raises the dead. He looks forward to the resurrection on the last day, he will rejoice on that day.
2Co 5:1 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.
2Co 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
Paul is saying that his earthly body will be dissolved that the house (his resurrected body) built by God in heaven will be presented to him. Notice it is a house (resurrected body) FROM heaven, not IN heaven. And when did Paul expect this house from heaven to be given to him. Of course, as he previously stated in this letter, on the day of the Lord Jesus when the dead are raised. He says he “groans” for this new body.
Now we come to verses 6 - 8. The two preceding verses should also be considered.
From what Paul has just previously said about the resurrection, the day of the Lord, his rejoicing on that day, his being clothed with a resurrected body from heaven, can you honesty suggest that by saying he looks forward to being absent from his present body and being with Christ means he expects to go to heaven? He says “absent from the body.” That body he just said would be dissolved. “To be present with the Lord,” not in heaven but in his new tabernacle, his new body that he just previously said he groaned for.
As noted previously, these verses begin with “Therefore…” In other words, because of his expectation of the resurrection in a new body he wishes to be present with the Lord. You cannot separate them. The “Therefore” requires that consideration be given to what has been previously stated.
2Co 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
These are verses 9 and 10 that come immediately after the verse 8. When shall we appear before the judgment seat of Christ? When Christ returns, raises our bodies, judges us and establishes His Kingdom. Verse 10 proves that verses (6-8) are referring to the return of the Lord and His execution of justice and rewards.
2Tim 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
There is another aspect to these verses. Paul has said he wished to be clothed with a new tabernacle, that he would rather be present with the Lord than in his present body. The moment after Paul dies the next thing of which he will be conscious is the return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and the gathering of the saints.
Paul wrote a similar statement in Romans 8:23
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
He again uses the word "groan" for the redemption of his body. The resurrection of the dead.
So, in summary, what has Paul said in II Corinthians?
God raises the dead (1:9) and by this he hopes to be delivered.
He will be rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus (1:14).When the dead are resurrected Paul and the other saints will be presented to Christ (4:14).
Paul likens his body to a tabernacle (5:1).
Paul groans, he yearns, to have a new house (tabernacle - new body) from heaven (5:2)
and also in Romans 8:23.Therefore, while Paul is in his present body he is not with the Lord (5:6) and so
Paul wants to be absent from his body and present with the Lord (5:8).
Paul theme through his letters and in his teachings in the book of Acts is always consistent. He looks for the return of Christ and the resurrection of the dead. To those still alive he looks for the Rapture of the Church. It is the Rapture he has in mind when he writes "...absent from the body and present with the Lord."
In all humility I would suggest that those who use these few verses (2 Cor. 5:6-8) to "prove" the dead are conscious in heaven are twisting the scriptures.