For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also
Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. - Philippians 1:19-26
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians1:19-26&version=NKJV
Why was Paul saying he was struggling between deciding if he wanted to live more or to die and be with the Lord more?
"For to me, to live is Christ" After thinking about this for a moment, It seems to me that Paul is referring to the concept he explains here:
For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. - Galatians 2:19-20
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians2:19-20&version=NKJV
In essence, Paul is saying that if he lives, it's Christ living through him.
"And to die is gain." So, the question I ask those who think that when we die we are unconscious is this:
What
possible gain is it to die and then be unconscious until Christ returns? It makes no sense to say "to die is gain" if there's no immediate benefit from dying. What is there to gain from dying and immediately falling unconscious until judgement day? Wouldn't it not be a gain to die and immediately be in heaven with God and loved ones who have passed away?
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For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absentfrom the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight.We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absentfrom the body and to be present with the Lord. - 2 Corinthians 5:1-8
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Corinthians5:1-8&version=NKJV
Paul here first says that "WHILE we are at home in the body we are absentfrom the Lord." While we are in the body, we are absentfrom the Lord. This is also a pretty good indication that two verses later he's not talking about our resurrected bodies, as he says "the" body, not "our" body or "a" body.
He then
immediately contrasts that with "to be absentfrom the body and to be present with the Lord." Now, while this is a slightly different sentence structure, it's the fact that he's contrasting that with what he says two verses earlier that shows what he really means, which is that "while absentfrom the body we are present with the Lord," again, for the reason that he says "the" body, instead of "our" or "a" body.
Thus de we are confident tharreō and kai would eudokeō rather mallon be away ekdēmeō from ek the ho body sōma and kai at home endēmeō with pros the ho Lord kyrios. - 2 Corinthians 5:8
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Corinthians5:8&version=MOUNCE
"Thus we are confident and would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord."
Everything about this passage just screams simultaneity.