Except "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."
Is Jesus still in Hades? LOL.
If Jesus is in heaven, than so are deceased saints. Revelation 6:9 tells us their souls are under the alter in heaven.
Chris is the only one that is risen. Here is a short study that explains what absent from the body and present with the Lord means using scripture alone to explain it's meaning.
"As to the changing of the body. We are made like the Lord(spiritual), we are changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye. Putting off this corruptible flesh and putting on incorruption. Casting off the former man(carnal,man of flesh) and putting on the quickening spirit the second man. Because flesh and blood can never inherit the kingdom of heaven, and not just the dead are changed but everyone is changed in an instant into the new spiritual form.
The first adam was a living soul the last adam was a quickening spirit. Flesh and blood can never inherit the kingdom of heaven. We will be as the angels are in heaven. Not of Flesh but spiritual(celestial creatures). You have to remember Christ had to become flesh, he was not always a being of flesh but one of the spirit.
When Christ died he became a quickening Spirit and ministered to the other spirits that were in Prison.1 Peter 3:18-20
When Christ was risen he rose spiritually, that is why he told Mary not to touch him. John 20:17
Then when he had completed his work spiritually he said the apostles could touch him. John 20:26-27
Flesh and Blood cannot enter or inherit the kingdom of heaven.1 Cor 15:50
That is Christ became a quickening spirit. 1 Peter 3:18
Christ's original form was a spirit, that is why he had to become flesh. John 1:1-14, 1 Timothy 3:16
When Christ appeared unto Paul he appeared in the spirit not in the flesh. Acts 9:3-6, Acts 22:6-10, Acts 26:14-18
When we are in heaven we will be just as the angels are. Mat 28:28-30, Mark 12:24-25
When we are resurrected on the day of Judgment we will all be changed. 1 Cor 15:52
Some ask how the dead are raised and in what body. 1 Cor 15:35
Paul says they are fools to ask, he says that which we sow in the flesh must be quickened. 1 Cor 15:35
We are sown in a natural body(corruption). 1 Cor 15:44,43
And we are raised in a spiritual body. 1 Cor 15:44
That which comes first is the natural body of Flesh. 1 Cor 15:46-48
That which comes second is a spiritual body. 1 Cor 15:46,44-45
We are not raised in corruption. 1 Cor 15:43,50,53-54
But in incorruption. 1 Cor 15:42-46,52-54
There are bodies both terrestrial and celestial. 1 Cor 15:40
We will be raised as celestial beings, quickening spirits. 1 Cor 15:42,44-46
With the breath of life we become a living soul(Genesis 2:7) clothed in the tabernacle of Flesh(2 Cor 5:1,4). When we die our mortality/earthly tabernacle is put off(2 Cor 5:4) swallowed up in death. So while we are at home in the flesh(alive bodily) we are absent from the Lord(2 Cor 5:5-6) but after death in the flesh we are spiritual beings/living souls without bodies of flesh( 1 Cor 15:44-46) awaiting resurrection and life with Christ(2 Cor 5:6,8,9; 2 Cor 5:10).
While we are alive we are not present with God(since we are in the flesh) but when we die and become free of the earthly tabernacle, then the day of resurrection is the only thing that awaits us. We will not be with the Lord(In heaven) while in the flesh(1 Cor 15:50; 2 Cor 5:5-6) but in the spirit(1 Cor 15:42-44; 2 Cor 5:6, 8). This is the meaning Paul was speaking to.
When we die the Lord is given back the breath of life and the earthly tabernacle(our bodies of Flesh) die. We each within ourselves have our own individual spirit(Romans 8:16,23) that is different from the Lord’s breath and the Lord’s spirit.
Paul doesn't say it is at the time of our death that we come to dwell with Christ but at the resurrection. Paul says that when we die we sleep in the grave awaiting the first or second resurrection. The soul/spirit which is contained within our earthly tabernacle(body of flesh) sleeps when the breath of life is given up as it is no longer contained in a living body of flesh(earthly tabernacle) only when it is awakened by the Lord do we regain our thoughts/memories and our ability to feel.
There is no time when we cease to exist.
1. Yes Paul says that he desires to out the tabernacle of Flesh and dwell with the Lord, he knows flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven and that when he dies he will be a spirit and will be resurrected in that form. Not in the tabernacle of Flesh. He says as much here and in other chapters/books.
2. Philippians 1 speaks of Paul's desire to be with Christ after death since he knows that only in the resurrection at Christ’s coming can a person dwell with the Lord.
1 thess 4:16-17
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Yes Paul speaks of dying and being with Christ but when paired with the rest of his writings we see he means in the Resurrection.
But looking at it the way you are it contradicts the rest of Paul's writings on the subject of Resurrection and when we come to dwell with Christ, it also contradicts peter, Christ, and the Apocalypse of John. So it is apparent when looking at the full picture that Paul is referring to either the Resurrection for the time he would be with Christ.
22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
He desires to depart and die so that he can live again with Christ, when we pair this with what he said here
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
We see that Paul knows/believes that a person does not dwell with the Lord until they are resurrected
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."
2. Christ was not left in hell/hades/sheol but was resurrected on Sunday that is why we are told his soul was not left in hell and did not see corruption
24
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
27Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
this is why it is said that he is first of the first fruits of the dead
20
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's
at his coming.
Revelation 6:9 tells us that they will be under the altar in heaven, not that they are currently. And it should be noted that they are still sleeping the sleep of the first death(. This shows us that the first Resurrection of the righteous has not taken place at that time.
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them,
that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
it is not until the first Resurrection that they are raised from the dead with the rest of the righteous.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and
I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands;
and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part
in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
There are only two reserrections spoken of in scripture, only two are spoken of and both will only happen in the end when Christ returns.