Section 3B of Preface: The Souls of the Dead

How long will our souls be in Sheol/Hades?

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep*, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NAS)

* In scripture, sleep often refers (as in this case) to those who have died.

"But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living." Matthew 22:31-32 (NAS)

"...and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Luke 14:14 (NAS)

"Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His (Jesus') voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil to a resurrection of judgment." John 5:28-29 (NAS)

"Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." John 11:24 (NAS)

"But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law, and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." Acts 24:14-15 (NAS)

"Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection..." Romans 6:4-5 (NAS)

"Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?" 1 Corinthians 15:12 (NAS)

"For since by a man (Adam) came death, by a man (Jesus) also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death." 1 Corinthians 15:21-26 (NAS)

"...in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." Philippians 3:11 (NAS)

 "And He answered and said, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. Therefore just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear."  Matthew 13:37-43 (NAS)

Question:

According to the above scriptures, when we die...how long will our souls be in this place of the dead?

1. Forever.
2. Until Jesus comes again...then the dead in Christ and those not in Christ are raised from the dead...and the judgment begins.
3. For 1000 years.