Revelation 6:9-11

THE INTERMEDIATE STATE

‘And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain.… And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that thy should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.’

Revelation 6:9

Our Church, while refusing to give an opinion on matters not revealed in the Bible, leaves a very wide margin for the belief of individual members. All that is stipulated for is that we should honestly believe all that Holy Scripture tells us, and not make anything a matter of faith which, however probable it may be in itself, is not found therein. This leaves us a very wide margin for belief; and such margins should not be narrowed, provided that these two restrictions be observed.

(1) That we believe and accept all that Holy Scripture reveals to us of the state of the blessed dead, which of course means that we hold nothing inconsistent with what is revealed; and

(2) That whatever our private and lawful beliefs beyond this may be, we are not to force them upon others, or make them a cause of difference with others who think differently. This is the old Church rule: In necessary matters, unity; in doubtful and uncertain questions, liberty; in all things, charity.

With regard to the state of the blessed dead, they are blessed, for they are in the presence of the Lord; they are at rest, for their warfare is past and their final happiness secure.

Do we know anything more? I think so.

I. The blessed dead are in an intermediate and imperfect state, waiting for their final consummation and bliss.

II. The blessed dead have at least some knowledge of what goes on on earth.

III. The blessed dead are living the life of intercessory prayer—prayer for all God’s family in heaven and earth, and specially for those who are still in their trial state.