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Web transcription of the official 2026 PDF, with links (Crown & Covenant Publications), or the unchanged file. Where they differ, the PDF governs.Transcribed from the official 2026 PDF, with links (or the unchanged file). Where they differ, the PDF governs.

Contents

Chapter 32. Of the State of Men After Death, And the Resurrection of the Dead

(Larger Catechism: 84-87; Shorter Catechism: 37-38)

Confession of Faith

1CF 32.1

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. Beside these two places, for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.

Gen. 3:19; Acts 13:36; Luke 23:43; Eccl. 12:7; Heb. 12:23; 2 Cor. 5:1, 6, 8; Phil. 1:23 with Acts 3:21 and Eph. 4:10; Luke 16:23-24; Acts 1:25; Jude 1:6-7; 1 Pet. 3:19.

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Testimony 32.1 to 32.4

2CF 32.2

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 selfsame bodies and none other, although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls for ever.

1 Thess. 4:17; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; Job 19:26-27; 1 Cor. 15:42-44.

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Testimony 32.5

3CF 32.3

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.

Acts 24:15; John 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:43; Phil. 3:21.

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Testimony

With Confession 32.1

1T 32.1

God has appointed to every man the time when he shall leave this world.

Ps. 39:4-5; Eccl. 3:2; Ps. 139:16.

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2T 32.2

We reject the idea of inactivity of the soul between death and resurrection called “soul sleep.”

Eccl. 12:7; 2 Cor. 5:1-9.

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3T 32.3

We reject the teaching that there is a “second chance” of salvation after death.

Luke 16:22-26; Heb. 9:27; 2 Cor. 6:2; John 5:28-29; 2 Pet. 2:9.

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4T 32.4

We reject the teaching that there is a purgatory, where souls must be purified before entering heaven.

Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:6, 8; Phil. 1:23.

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With Confession 32.2

5T 32.5

We reject the idea that the soul at death is, or can be, reincarnated in another human or animal form.

Eccl. 12:7; Heb. 9:27.

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Connections

Connections · CF 32.1

Printed beside

Of the State of Men After Death, And the Resurrection of the Dead

Cited at the chapter head

Index entries citing this

Index: DEATH State of believers immediately after
Index: GLORY Immediately after death
Index: HEAVEN The state of the blessed
Index: HELL The state of the damned
Index: HOLINESS Made perfectly holy in heaven
Index: IMAGE OF GOD Fully perfected in heaven
Index: INTERMEDIATE STATE For believers and unbelievers
Index: PUNISHMENT Of the wicked
Index: PURGATORY Scripture acknowledges no such place
Index: RIGHTEOUSNESS Their state immediately after death
Index: SANCTIFICATION Made perfect at death
Index: SIN Punishment in the world to come
Index: SOUL State of soul when separate from the body
Index: WICKED After death

Proof texts

Genesis 3:19
KJV
Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
also cited by 1
- LC 141
Acts 13:36
KJV
Acts 13:36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
Luke 23:43
KJV
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
also cited by 6
Ecclesiastes 12:7
KJV
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
also cited by 4
Hebrews 12:23
KJV
Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
also cited by 5
2 Corinthians 5:1
KJV
2 Corinthians 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.
also cited by 2
- LC 86
- SC 37
2 Corinthians 5:6
KJV
2 Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
also cited by 3
2 Corinthians 5:8
KJV
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
also cited by 3
Philippians 1:23
KJV
Philippians 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
also cited by 4
Acts 3:21
KJV
Acts 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
also cited by 4
Ephesians 4:10
KJV
Ephesians 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
also cited by 2
- LC 53
- LC 86
Luke 16:23-24
KJV
Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
also cited by 1
- LC 86
Acts 1:25
KJV
Acts 1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
also cited by 1
- LC 86
Jude 1:6-7
KJV
Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
also cited by 2
- LC 86
- LC 88
1 Peter 3:19
KJV
1 Peter 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

References

none

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Chapter 32. Of the State of Men After Death, And the Resurrection of the Dead

Confession of Faith

Testimony

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