I see your point J. But my question is, why would Paul say to be absent from the body is to be present from the Lord; Then go on to say that when Christ returns we will not only be in bodies but new incorruptible bodies 1 Cor.15:51-56? So if we shall recieve new bodies but he also says to be absent from our bodies is to be present with the Lord. doesn't that mean our spirit goes to be with the Lord. Even so in the Gospel Jesus made the point that God is the God of the living not the dead Matt 22:29-32. When he was transfigured before the Apostle's who appeared before him taling to him? We can say it was just a vision but niether the Apostles nor Christ said as such. Just something to think about.
Great points! Now lets dig in.
First you are absolutely right that our spirits will go to be with the Lord, I'm not against that, however i think it's the TIME that when our we will go to be with God.
I'll start off by quoting the text that you mentioned (1 Cor. 15:51-56). I personally LOVE this text because it lets us know what we are to expect on with the second coming of Christ.
1 Cor. 15:51-56
51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed? 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."[a]
55"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?" 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
Verse 52 stats that the dead will be raised "imperishable and we will be changed". Please note that the dead are raised changed already so if they are already in heaven why would they need to be raised changed? That method just wouldn't add up for God. For him to send his saints down from heaven back into the grave only to rise again to be with him.
Verse 51 states that we will not all sleep but will be changed however we must note that it states in verse 52 when this will happen. It is said to happen at the "last trumpet".
Now to understand the last trumpet we must dive into the book of Revelations which is filled with symbolisms which are answered through the bible as well as end time Prophecy. In Revelations there is a three-fold view of history from apostolic days until the end of time. This being the Seven Churches, the Seven Seals, and the Seven trumpets.
Rev 11:15-19
15The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,
and he will reign for ever and ever." 16And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17saying:
"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
18The nations were angry; and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your saints and those who reverence your name,
both small and great?
and for destroying those who destroy the earth."
19Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.
The sounding of the 7th trumpet is the end of this world as we know it and the second coming of Christ. Judgement begins in heaven
and in order for God to judge the dead, the dead in christ must rise first.
Now lets take a look at your mention of Matt 22:29-32 however i'm going to extend the quote back a couple of verses so we can get what Jesus was talking about
Matt 22:25-32
25Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
26Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
27And last of all the woman died also.
28Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
30For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
31But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
This all starts with the Sadducees who were trying to corner Jesus because they didn't believe in the resurrection nor life after death. This is why they ask about who's wife the woman will be after death.
So now we must look at if we as really ever die since Jesus as confirmed that there will be a resurrection. Now the question is why did he state that he is the God of the living and not the dead?
If we look at John 11:25 Jesus answers this directly for us.
John 11:25
25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Anyone that believe in Christ shall not spiritually die. So if Christ has confirmed that there will be a resurrection and has also confirmed that those that believe in him shall not die then he has stated that God is the God of those that are living (those that believe and have accepted him wether they be dead or alive).
Now as for those that don't accept him we know that their physical body and their souls shall perish in Hell.
Matthew 10:28 Jesus states
(Mat 10:28 NASB) "And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul;but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Paul clarifies the resurection for us a little bit clearer as well in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15
(1 Th 4:13 NASB) 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.
(1 Th 4:14 NASB) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
(1 Th 4:15 NASB) 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.
The dead in christ are merely sleeping awaing for Christ to return again.
