Question: What happens to the believer when he dies before the Lord returns?

Question

If believers go to be with Christ immediately at death how can they be raised to meet Him in the air at His coming?

Answer

It is important ever to gird up the loins of our minds and to be sober in our thinking on divine matters. As to the believer’s spirit he is “with Christ” immediately upon his death. As to his body it is in the grave. When the Lord comes to the air the spirit will be re-united with the body and the person, possessing both, will rise to meet the Lord in the air in a glorified body (Phil. 3. 21). Thus, at present the departed saint is “with Christ” in a disembodied state. Later he will be “with Christ” in an embodied state.