What then happens to those who die? Where are they?

This text is from a transcript of a talk by David Gooding, entitled ‘Four Journeys to Jerusalem’ (2009).

Where are believers who die? I think it would be wise, at least for myself, to cling to the phraseology of Scripture. I am of the simple minded, and that is what I do. We can start with the dying thief: 'Today you shall be with me . . .' (see Luke 23:43). He doesn't say to the dying thief: 'Today, your body will be put into the common pit, but your soul will be with me'; or 'your spirit will be with me'. He doesn't trouble to define it further. He says, 'Today, you will be with me.'

When Paul comes to talk about this matter in Philippians, he speaks of having the desire to 'depart and be with Christ' (Philippians 1:23). Notice the phraseology: 'to be with Christ'. I shall be with Christ, he is saying.

In 2 Corinthians 5, he says that, in this body we are absent from the Lord (though we know the Lord is with us in another sense) but in this body we are absent from the Lord. But absent from the body, we shall be present with the Lord. It doesn't say that 'my soul will be present with the Lord'. It just says, 'I shall be with the Lord' (see 2 Corinthians 5:1–9).

The word he uses is a word you would use nowadays of a commercial traveller: 'He is away from home in London. He might be in a very posh hotel (he probably is because he's on office expenses), but he's away from home, and now he's looking forward to getting back to be with his wife and children.' And they are the kind of words that Paul uses in Greek. In this body, we are away from home: present in the body, therefore absent from the Lord. Absent from the body, we are present with the Lord.

And Peter says, 'I am telling you these things, and really shaking you up, and I'm going to make sure that you remember it when I'm gone, for I must shortly . . .' Now, listen to him: 'I must shortly put off this tabernacle', as the Lord Jesus had shown him (see 2 Peter 1:14 RV). This body is a tabernacle, a tent. Paul uses the same idea in 2 Corinthians 5: 'If this tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building' (see 2 Corinthians 5:1 RV). A tabernacle, or a tent, is easily collapsible. And starting from the top down, some of us give evidence that the old tabernacle is wearing out, and soon it will be collapsed. Listen to Peter talking: 'I must put off this tabernacle. I shall go out and be with the Lord.'

So, to answer your question, I would simply reply: We shall be with Christ. That is far better, anyway (see Philippians 1:23).