The intermediate state of humanity is not only controversial but different points of view exist within most Christian communities. The intermediate state is known as the “state of the human person after death and before the resurrection.”1 This essay examines the intermediate state from the Church of Latter-day Saints’ viewpoint and its variations from orthodox Christianity. Moreover, this writer will put forth alterations one might expect in the impact of these various views on the hope or trust that may comfort the Christian believer who is facing death and its aftermath.
Mormonism
Although Mormons consider themselves Christian, many mainstream denominations do not recognize the Mormon faith as kinsmen. Their views on death, although similar in many ways to orthodox Christianity, branch out into the bizarre once one drills down into deeper Mormonism theology.
Looking at death in the Later-Day Saints tradition, from the onset, looks closely related to Christian New Testament doctrine. “From a Mormon perspective, there is no death and there are no dead. When things die, they do not cease to be; they merely cease to be in this world. Life goes on. Death is a transition, a change in assignment, a transfer to another realm.”2 These sentiments can easily be compared to similar passages in the Epistles:
“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent, we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee (2 Corinthians 5:1-5 ESV).” 3
However, a further look into Mormon doctrine reveals that the intermediate state leads to multiple heavens (or Kingdoms) where eternity is lived out and salvation is earned. Depending on how they were in mortality, Mormons teach that the person goes into a temporary state of two possible places, paradise or spirit prison.4 “This is a temporary state, with the soul moving to one of the three kingdoms of glory after the final judgment takes place at the end of the millennium.”5 This clearly splits with most orthodox Christian traditions and creates an almost unitarian view where everyone, regardless of life choices has a chance of salvation in the afterlife. Ironically it does hold similarities to the Roman Catholic view of purgatory.
Comparing Views
It is conceivable to write and research endlessly about the varying views and doctrine of the intermediate state that affect one thanatology; however, it would be best to compare a Christian view with the non-believing view to help reconcile these two.
Helping others cope with death and dying is integral to the Christian faith. As a pastor or chaplain, sometimes it becomes necessary to deal with the death and dying of those bereft of religious truth and saving faith. This becomes much more difficult a task in that “although Scripture teaches us little about the state of unbelievers between death and the final judgment, the prevailing view since the time of Augustine has been that the souls of unbelievers proceed immediately to a place of conscious punishment upon death.”6 Death and dying are hard enough to handle without the concept of eternal fire and damnation. This is, to this writer, the most important understanding of death and dying; helping those understand the afterlife and the consequences of not believing. Those who fail to believe in Christ and his victory over death at the cross are the crux of the problem when dealing with death and dying.
Ralph Cunningham makes a controversial case against the intermediate state of non-believers from the biblical text. He concludes:
“The Bible actually teaches very little about the intermediate state of unbelievers, but what it does teach seems to indicate that the souls of unbelievers reside in Sheol where they continue in a somnolent, coma-like existence, trapped until the time of the Parousia. This understanding of the intermediate state is entirely consistent with Scripture’s teaching about the final judgment because it provides no indication that unbelievers will receive any insight into the outcome of judgment before the final judgment itself.”7
I found this to be the more compelling, and frankly most gracious, view toward non-believers about death and dying. From this standpoint; “If unbelievers are punished immediately upon death they are being punished before judgment. This is problematic for our conception of God’s justice which is not only done but seen to be done (Matt. 25;32; Luke 12:2-3; Rom. 2:5; 3:25-26; 1 Cor. 4:5).”8 Traditional orthodox (or reformed positions) have non-believers experiencing multiple punishments for their lack of faith. This intern renders scripture where the judged are shocked or surprised at their judgment philosophically illogical. Moreover, in dealing with concepts of judgment and eternal damnation concerning the dead or dying, it halts imagery of the recently deceased as writhing in torment or punishment, even if that fate is inevitable.
Conclusion
The greatest takeaway from postulating the many variations and doctrines of the intermediate state can be summed up in one passage from the Apostle Paul: “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV). This was first pronounced by the Prophet Isaiah (cf. 64:4) and holds true through today. All the theories, doctrines, and postulations are just fallible men attempting to explain the unexplainable. We only find out this truth when death overcomes us in this lifetime. That is why the teachings of Jesus Christ over death are so important to anyone studying thanatology. Various theologies of intermediate state are useful to those counseling the dying or grieving but without salvation rooted in truth, they serve little purpose but to assuage temporal feelings.
Bibliography
Cunnington, Ralph. “A Re-Examination of the Intermediate State of Unbelievers.” The Evangelical Quarterly 82, no. 3 (July 2010): 215–37. https://su.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0001795487&site=eds-live.
Helm, Paul. Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI, MI: Baker, 1988.
Johnson, Eric. “Intermediate State.” Mormonism Research Ministry, 2019. https://www.mrm.org/intermediate-state-doctrine.
Millet, Robert L., and Shon Hopkin. Mormonism: A Guide for the Perplexed. Guides for the Perplexed. EBSCOhost. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2015. https://su.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1030758&site=eds-live.
Footnotes:
1 Paul Helm, “Intermediate State,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 1043.
2 Robert L. Millet and Shon Hopkin, Mormonism: A Guide for the Perplexed, Guides for the Perplexed (EBSCOhost; London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2015), https://su.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1030758&site=eds-live, 65.
3 Unless otherwise noted, all scripture is taken from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.
4 Eric Johnson, “Intermediate State,” Mormonism Research Ministry, 2019, https://www.mrm.org/intermediate-state-doctrine.
5 Eric Johnson, “Intermediate State,” Mormonism Research Ministry, 2019, https://www.mrm.org/intermediate-state-doctrine.
6 Ralph Cunnington, “A Re-Examination of the Intermediate State of Unbelievers,” The Evangelical Quarterly 82, no. 3 (July 2010): pp. 215-237, https://su.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0001795487&site=eds-live.
7 Ibid.
8 Ralph Cunnington, “A Re-Examination of the Intermediate State of Unbelievers,” The Evangelical Quarterly 82, no. 3 (July 2010): pp. 215-237, https://su.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0001795487&site=eds-live.
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