How can dying be a gain?
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” ( Philippians 1:21 ) Although the glorious resurrection bodies that have been promised all believers must await the return of Christ, even the spirit-existence after death is better than this present life for the believer. Paul himself expressed “a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (v. 23)—“to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” ( 2 Corinthians 5:8 ). Thus, it is “gain” when a Christian dies! Since Christ, in His resurrection body, is in heaven at the right hand of the Father, the spirits of “sleeping” Christians are also there. The intermediate state is somewhat analogous to the dreaming state, in which the consciousness travels to various places and experiences while the body is asleep. In fact, death is called “sleep” for the Christian ( 1 Thessalonians 4:13 ). However, in some amazing way, these conscious spirits of believers are still distinct and recognizable. Moses and Elijah...