Believers who die go immediately into the presence of the Lord in heaven, but their physical bodies remain in the grave until the resurrection.
According to the Bible and Les Feldick's teaching, at death the believer's soul and spirit immediately depart to be with Christ in heaven. However, this is an incomplete state because the body is still in the grave and awaits resurrection. The full hope of the believer is the future resurrection when body, soul, and spirit are reunited, making them complete.
2 Corinthians 5:8 — States that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, showing the immediate presence of believers with Christ after death.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 — Indicates that God will bring with Him those who have died in Jesus, connecting their present location with His return.
Romans 8:23 — Referenced by Les to show the redemption of the body as the consummation of salvation.
1 Corinthians 15:52 — Describes the moment of resurrection when the dead are raised, implying their bodies are reunited with their spirits.
The Bible indicates that at death, the believer's soul and spirit leave the body and go to be with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8 says, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." This suggests an immediate transition to Christ's presence. Also, 1 Thessalonians 4:14 states, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him," implying that the dead in Christ are with Him and will come with Him at His return. However, the Bible also teaches that the resurrection of the body is a future event. 1 Corinthians 15:52 says, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." This indicates that the bodies of believers will be raised and changed at that time. Thus, while the soul/spirit is with the Lord immediately after death, the body remains in the grave until the resurrection.
Les Feldick consistently teaches that when a believer dies, their soul and spirit immediately go to be with the Lord in heaven, but their physical body remains in the grave. He emphasizes that this is a temporary and incomplete state because God's design is for humans to be body, soul, and spirit together. Thus, the believer's soul/spirit is in heaven awaiting the resurrection day when it will be reunited with the resurrected body. He clarifies that this hope includes the rapture: at the coming of the Lord, God will bring the departed souls/spirits with Him, and they will be reunited with their resurrected bodies. Until then, they are in paradise, present with the Lord, but not in their full bodily existence. This is a key part of his teaching on the rapture and resurrection.
According to Les Feldick, immediately at death, the believer's soul and spirit go to be present with the Lord in heaven. He references 2 Corinthians 5:8, "absent from the body... present with the Lord." He also states that these departed saints are waiting for the resurrection day to be reunited with their bodies.
At death, the physical body is placed in the grave. Les Feldick teaches that the body remains in the grave and is void of the soul and spirit, which have departed to be with the Lord. The body awaits resurrection, when it will be changed and reunited with the soul and spirit.
The great hope for believers is the resurrection of the body. Les teaches that redemption is not complete until the body is raised and reunited with the soul and spirit. Romans 8:23 speaks of the redemption of our body, which Les points to as the consummation of our salvation. At the resurrection, believers will have a new body like that of the Lord Jesus after His resurrection, not the same flesh and blood but on the same order.
Old Testament Saints Await Resurrection
Les mentions that even Old Testament saints like Daniel will rest and later join those who have been resurrected, showing that resurrection is future for them as well.
Soul and Spirit Present with the Lord
Les explains that absent from the body means present with the Lord for the soul and spirit, and that God will bring those departed souls/spirits with Him at the rapture.
Reunion of Soul and Spirit with Resurrected Body
Les describes how the believer's soul and spirit are in heaven waiting for the resurrection day to be reunited with the resurrected body.
Immediate Presence with the Lord
Les emphasizes that upon death, the believer's soul and spirit immediately go into paradise and the presence of the Lord, but only in soul and spirit.
Body Void of Soul and Spirit
Les explains that at the resurrection, the body is raised, but it is still void of the soul and spirit because they were separated at death and are already in glory.
Resurrected Body Like Christ's
Les teaches that our resurrected body will not be a spirit being like angels, but a body like the Lord Jesus had after His resurrection—similar but not the same flesh and blood.
Departed Believers in Paradise
Les says that believers who have died are in paradise in the presence of God in soul and spirit, not bodily, and are waiting for the resurrection day.
Body Awaits Consummation
Les teaches that while the soul and spirit are totally redeemed, the body is waiting for the consummation of redemption, which is the resurrection.
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.
Shows that being absent from the body means being present with the Lord, indicating immediate presence after death.
1 Thessalonians 4:14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Indicates that the dead in Christ are with God and will be brought with Him at His return.
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.
Speaks of the redemption of the body as a future event, which Les ties to the resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:52: In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Describes the resurrection of the dead at the last trumpet, when bodies are raised and changed.
Yes, according to Les Feldick, the soul and spirit of a believer go immediately to be with the Lord in heaven. He cites 2 Corinthians 5:8 which says to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. However, the body remains in the grave until the resurrection.
Yes, at death the physical body is placed in the grave and remains there until the resurrection. Les Feldick teaches that the body is void of the soul and spirit, which have gone to heaven, and the body awaits the resurrection when it will be reunited with the soul and spirit.
The final state is the resurrection, when believers will receive new bodies, like the Lord Jesus after His resurrection. At that time, body, soul, and spirit will be reunited, and believers will be complete. This is the consummation of their redemption.
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