Paul’s desire was ‘to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far’ (Phil 1:23).

That sparkling Puritan, Thomas Watson, writes:-

To a believer death is great gain. A saint can count what his losses for Christ are here—but he cannot count how great his gains are at death…Death to a believer is the daybreak of eternal brightness. To show fully what a believer’s gains are at death, would be a task too great for an angel; all hyperboles fall short of it; the reward of glory exceeds our imagination. Let me give you some dark views and imperfect lineaments only, of that infinite glory the saints shall gain at the hour of death…

1. Believers at death, shall bid an eternal farewell to all sins and troubles…I think sometimes what a happy state that will be, never to have another sinful thought, and to have a quietus from all troubles….Life begins with a cry, and ends with a groan; but at death all troubles die.

2. Believers at death, shall gain the glorious sight of God. They shall see him:

(a) Intellectually with the eyes of their mind, which divines call the beatific vision…

(b) They shall behold the glorified body of Jesus Christ; and if it be pleasant to behold the sun, how blessed a sight will it be to see Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, clothed with our human nature, shining in glory above the angels!…It will be infinitely delightful to the saints to see the amiable aspects and smiles of God’s face.

3. The saints at death shall not only have a sight of God—but shall enjoy his love. There shall be no more a veil on God’s face, nor shall his smiles be chequered with frowns—but his love shall discover itself in all its orient beauty and fragrant sweetness…

4. Believers at death shall gain a celestial palace, a house not made with hands. 2 Cor 5:5…

5. Believers at death shall gain the sweet society of glorified saints and angels…

(a) The society of the glorified saints…How delightful will it be, to be freed from all the sinful corruptions, pride, envy, passion and censoriousness, which as scars disfigured them here! In heaven there will be perfect love among the saints…If in the transfiguration Peter knew Moses and Elijah, whom he never saw before, Matt 17:3, much more, in the glorified state, will saints perfectly know one another, though they never saw each other before.

(b) The saints at death will behold the angels with the glorified eye of their understandings…When saints and angels meet and sing together in concert in the heavenly choir, what divine harmony, what joyful triumphs will there be!

6. Believers at death shall gain perfection of holiness. Here on earth, grace is but “in its cradle,” very imperfect; so that we cannot write a copy of holiness without blotting. Here on earth, believers receive but “the first fruits of the Spirit.”…They need not then pray for increase of grace; for they shall love God as much as they would love him, and as much as he desires to have them love him.

7. At death, the saints will gain a royal magnificent feast….This royal supper of the Lamb will not only satisfy hunger—but prevent it. “They shall hunger no more.” Rev 7:16. Nor can there be any surfeit at this feast, because a fresh course will be continually served. New and fresh delights will spring from God; therefore the tree of life in paradise is said to bear twelve sorts of fruit. Rev 22:2.

8. Believers at death shall gain honor and dignity; they shall reign as kings…When all worldly honor shall lie in the dust—then shall the saints’ honor remains; not one jewel shall be plucked out of their crown…Their crown fades not away. 1 Pet 5:4. As the wicked have a worm which never dies, so the elect have an unfading crown of glory….”The things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor 4:18. “At your right hand are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:2.

A Body of Divinity (emphasis added)