Article 31

Of the death of the body and the resurrection of the dead we confess: that in the beginning man was created immortal, but that through the envy of the devil and the sin of our first parents death came into the world. And as through the sin of Adam all men became sinful in him, so also through him all men became subject to bodily death; so that as a consequence it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment; since this sinful, corruptible flesh and blood cannot inherit the eternal, incorruptible kingdom, but must be renewed and glorified through death and the resurrection, by the power of God.

And just as, when a man falls into a deep sleep, his heart, soul or spirit does not sleep entirely, as the body does, so also the spirit or soul of man does not die or fall asleep with the body, but is and remains an immortal spirit. This is why temporal death is called a sleep in the Scriptures, and the resurrection of the dead an awakening from this sleep of death.

And as a sleeping man cannot receive and enjoy any good gifts, either in the soul or in the body, much less any punishment, pain and torment, unless he has first been awakened from his sleep; so also believers cannot receive the perfect heavenly existence, nor unbelievers the eternal death or the pain of hell, either in the soul or in the body, unless they have first been awakened from the sleep of death, and have arisen, through the coming of Christ.

Until this last day of judgment the souls of believers are waiting in the hands of God, under the altar of Christ, to receive then, in their souls and bodies, the rewards promised them. So also the souls of unbelievers are reserved to be punished, after the day of judgment, in their souls and bodies.

And as through the sin and transgression of Adam death came upon all men, so also the resurrection of the dead came upon all men through the Savior Jesus Christ; so that, as in the springtime the sun, through its glorious radiance and brightness, draws forth from the earth all sweet scented herbs, as well as thistles and thorns, which are rejected and reserved for the fire; so also shall Christ Jesus, the true Sun of righteousness, in this great last day and hour, through His glorious coming and appearing in the clouds of heaven, draw forth from the earth, and cause to arise, all men, the wicked and the pious; so that this great God, through His power and commanding voice, by which He spoke in the beginning: Let heaven and earth be made, and His word was immediately a perfect work; and who created all visible things out of that which was invisible, and made man of the dust of the ground; this same God shall, through His unchangeable power and almighty word, in the last day call all men who have been changed into dust and earth, and have been consumed by fire, birds, and fishes, from the dust, and cause each to rise with his own body, flesh, and bones, with which they have served either their Creator or sin. [n556-1]

And as a woman in labor, when her hour has come, cannot hold back, but hurries to deliver the fruit of her womb, so also in this last hour shall death, earth, or hell and sea hurry to deliver up the great number of the dead which in them have become dust and ashes, and have passed away. These shall all arise, with their own bodies, incorruptible, which shall again be united with the soul and spirit, which through death had been separated from the body, and had remained immortal. At that time the pious shall be glorified and changed from the mortal and corruptible into the immortal and incorruptible, from the weak and frail into the strong and glorious, being made like the angels of God, and like the glorious body of Christ. So also shall those who live and remain at this sudden second coming of Christ from heaven be changed and glorified after the image of Christ.

Of the first or temporal death, which came by the first transgression, read: "For you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Genesis 3, verse 19; Genesis 25, verse 33.

"And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment." Hebrews 9, verse 27.

"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead." First Corinthians 15, verse 21.

"For God did not make death, neither does he take pleasure in the destruction of the living." Wisdom of Solomon 1, verse 13.

"Nevertheless, through the envy of the devil death came into the world." Wisdom of Solomon 2, verse 24; Romans 5, verse 12.

How at the second coming of Christ the dead shall rise through Christ, read: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first." First Thessalonians 4, verse 16.

"Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth: those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation." John 5, verses 28 and 29.

"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold." Job 19, verses 25 to 27.

Read also: Isaiah 26, verse 19; Daniel 12, verse 13; Matthew 22, verse 31; Luke 20, verse 35; John 6, verse 40; John 11, verse 25; First Corinthians 15 throughout; Psalm 90, verse 3.

How in the resurrection of the dead men's vile bodies shall be glorified, read: "In the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven." Matthew 22, verse 30.

"For our conversation is in heaven, from where also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like his glorious body, according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things to himself." Philippians 3, verses 20 and 21; First Corinthians 15, verses 42 and 53.