FAQ - DEATH
What does this mean: "Blessed are the
dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from
their labors; but their works follow with them?"--`Rev. 14:13`. How can the dead
continue their works when there is no consciousness, wisdom or knowledge in the grave?
`Ecc. 9:10`. (M.J.E.)
<ANSWER>--Addressing the members of the Church of Christ, the followers of
the Lord Jesus, the Apostle says "Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in
God." (`Col. 3:3`.) From the Divine viewpoint, so far as the earthly existence is
concerned, these are reckoned dead, and alive as new creatures in Christ. It is these dead
who die in the Lord. Theirs is a sacrificial death, and they die daily `1 Cor. 15:31`),
until they have finished the dying process in actual death. But now, from a certain time,
those of this class who die, in place of sleeping in the tomb, at the moment of death
enter into the glorious heavenly state where their works will continue with them. St. Paul
refers to this very matter when he says, "Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not
all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the
last trump." (`1 Cor. 15:51,52`). From henceforth, from that time, we understand the
Scriptures to teach, the Lord's people have entered at once into their reward.
How shall we understand the Savior's words --"Let the dead bury their
dead?" (`Mat. 8:21,22`.)
<ANSWER>--When our first parent, father Adam, disobeyed the Divine commands
the death sentence passed upon him, and in the legal sense and from the Creator's
standpoint, he was dead although he lived for nine hundred and thirty years afterwards.
The dying process began and was consummated when Adam passed into the tomb. The entire
race was involved with Adam in this death sentence, as the Scriptures declare--"As by
one man sin entered into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all
men." As in Adam all die" (`Rom. 5:12`; `1 Cor. 15:22`). From this view of the
matter we may understand the Lord's word, "Let the dead (the legally dead) bury their
dead (the actually dead)." It is because all were condemned to death in Adam that all
will be made alive in Christ (see `Rom. 5:18,19`). Corroborating the words of the Lord
Jesus the Apostle says, "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus
judge that if one died for all then were all dead" (`2 Cor. 5:14`). Jesus, in the
laying down of His life, was giving Himself "a ransom for all" --those under the
sentence of death and those who have entered into the great prison house of death, the
tomb.
Here is a Scripture that is confusing. If you can explain it I will be very
thankful to you. It reads, "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made
alive."--`1 Cor. 15:22`. What is the meaning of the latter part?
<ANSWER>--The correct translation of this text is thus: "As in Adam
all die, even so all in Christ shall be made alive." Adam by disobedience brought
death upon himself, and all his children being then in his loins all inherited death. The
redemption price for Adam and all his race has been provided through the death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. In due time Christ will offer to Adam and all his children,
all the human family, life eternal. This offer will come to the world in the reverse
order, however, the last being first and the first (Adam) being last. All after coming to
a knowledge of the truth concerning the redemptive work of Christ, who accept Christ and
obey him will be made alive. Accepting Christ and obeying Christ in the sense that they
will became the children of Christ. Those who refuse to came into Christ will not receive
eternal life, but will suffer eternal destruction. Christ is the Great Life Giver of the
human race, and during His reign he will offer to all, life as a free gift, and those
accepting it upon the terms offered will come up to full and perfect life.
If Moses and Elijah were actually dead, how could they appear on the Mount of
Transfiguration with our Lord Jesus? (`Mat. 17:1-3`.)
<ANSWER>--While Moses and Elijah both passed from the scene of earth's
experiences under peculiar and mysterious circumstances, yet we are assured that both
died. (`Deut. 34:5`; `Heb. 11:13`.) The Scriptures everywhere represent the dead as being
in a condition of unconsciousness, "asleep" in the tomb, the grave--"The
dead know not anything," for there is no wisdom, nor device, nor knowledge in the
grave whither thou goeth" (`Eccl 9:5,10`). We must carefully examine the text under
consideration, for the true meaning, recognizing that all of the expressions of the
inspired Scriptures are in complete harmony. The ninth verse of this same chapter explains
the matter, where we note the words of the Master- -"Tell the vision to no man."
What the Apostle saw therefore was merely a "vision" of Moses and Elijah with
the Lord, just as St. John on the Isle of Patmos saw visions of beasts, angels, etc., and
not actual things themselves. Moses surely had not been resurrected and made perfect at
that time, for we are informed that our Lord Jesus was the first to rise from the dead and
be glorified. Note also the Apostle Paul's words in `Heb. 11:39,40` where he sets forth
that Moses and the other ancient worthies of the past have yet to be made perfect by those
of the church class when glorified in the heavenly Kingdom with Christ.
If the dead are asleep in the graves awaiting the time of the resurrection at
Christ's second coming, when all who are in their graves shall be awakened and shall come
forth, as the Scriptures affirm; how shall we understand the experiences of some who, at
the time of their departure from this life, see heavenly visions of angels, and hear
strains of celestial music? (W.E.D.)
<ANSWER>--As it is emphatically set forth throughout the entire Scriptures
that the dead are "asleep" "in their graves" and that "the dead
know not anything," "for there is neither wisdom, nor device, nor knowledge in
the grave whither thou goest"; and that all will remain in this sleep of death until
the awakening time, when "all who are in their graves shall come forth at the voice
of the Son of Man"; we must conclude that the dying ones did not enter at once into
heaven; and that what they saw was not an actual glimpse of celestial glories, but merely
a phantasmagoria induced by an excited condition of the imaginative powers of the mind,
with a correspondingly dormant state of the reasoning faculties. The Lord Jesus declared
at His first advent that no one had ascended into Heaven; and the Apostle says that the
sleeping ones will be awakened and changed at the second advent.-- See `John 3:13`; `1
Cor. 15:51,52`.
Will you kindly explain the words of the Apostle as found in `1 Pet. 4:6`? Who
were the dead that the Gospel was preached to? And when and by whom? How will they be
judged in the flesh and live to God in the spirit? (J.P.H.)
<ANSWER>--In the `preceding verses` the Apostles says "Speaking evil
of you who shall give an account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the
dead." From these words it is manifest that he is addressing the followers of Christ
who have became dead to the things of the world and alive to the heavenly or spiritual
things. The Apostle continues with this thought, saying that it is for this reason
(because we who are dead to the world and alive toward God are being called out now, as
the Lord's elect class, therefore) the Gospel is preached to us who are judges as in the
flesh, like all other men, the Lord may judge us in the spirit, begotten to a newness of
life. These spiritual new creatures have their judgment time in this present life and are
judged in the flesh with its weakness and blemishes inherited from Adam.
God said to Adam, "In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely
die." How can you harmonize this with the record that "all the days that Adam
lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died?"-- `Gen. 2:17`; `Gen 5:5`.
<ANSWER>--St. Peter gives us the key to this question in his declaration,
"One day with the Lord is as a thousand years" (`2 Pet. 3:8`). Father Adam began
to die as soon as he was cut off from the privileges of the garden of Eden; for while he
was living therein he had the Divine permission to freely eat of the trees of the
garden--with a single exception-- and he was sustained by their life-giving fruit; but
after his disobedience he was thrust out into the unprepared earth, and Cherubim with a
flaming sword kept the pathway to Eden that he might not return thither to partake further
of its sustaining fruit, but should die, in harmony with the sentence. "In the day
that thou eateth thereof, thou shalt surely die" (`Gen. 2:17`). The dying there
began, and continued gradually for nine hundred and thirty years, until life was
extinct--Adam was dead. This all took place within a thousand year day.
Is there any difference between death and annihilation?
<ANSWER>--In the Scriptures we find that there are two kinds of death
mentioned; the Adamic condition of death, and the "Second Death." The first
could not properly be termed annihilation, as the Lord has arranged that all who have died
because of Adam's sin (the whole world of mankind) are to be released from this sentence
of death and awakened at the time of Christ's second coming. These, from the Bible
standpoint, have merely been "asleep." Jesus Christ by the grace of God tasted
death for every man," and therefore the entire race will be awakened from the tomb.
(`John 5:28,29`.) During the reign of Christ and His Bride, the Church, who then will
judge or try the world, if any continue in apposition to God's law of righteousness, and
love, and justice, they will go into the "Second Death." This condition of death
is annihilation. "They shall suffer everlasting destruction from the presence of the
Lord." "But these, as natural brute beasts, shall utterly perish in their own
corruption."--`Obadiah 16`; `2 Thess. 1:9`; `2 Pet. 2:12`.
What is death?
<ANSWER>--Death is the cessation of life; the cutting off of the great privilege or
boon of living. It signifies annihilation so far as the being or intelligence is
concerned. Death, as it now reigns in the world, and to which the entire human family is
subjected, is, however, not annihilation, simply because our Creator has graciously
provided a recovery from it. The basis for that recovery was laid in the death of our
Redeemer--"the just for the unjust" (`1 Pet. 3:18`). The time for the recovery
will be in the Resurrection Day, the Last Day, the seventh thousand-year-period from the
creation of man. During Messiah's reign of a thousand years he will recover Adam and all
his race from the effects of the first transgression, giving them life again. That is to
say, the privilege of attaining to everlasting life and perfection will be placed within
the reach of Adam and all of his race, and only by the wilful rejection of the grace of
God will any fail to attain to this life. Such as wilfully and deliberately reject the
grace of God, are represented by the Scriptures as dying the Second Death. That will be
annihilation, or eternal death- -extinction as brute beasts--because no provision has been
made for the recovery or succor of such (`2 Pet. 2:12`).
If a man has lived a sinful life, committed murder and robbed the widows and
orphans, etc., and then at the last moment, with his dying breath, confesses his sins and
accepts Christ as his Savior, will he not go immediately to Heaven and be with the Lord in
glory? (W.S.)
<ANSWER>--When we think of the vast numbers of vicious, depraved
characters, hardened criminals, convicts, etc., who at the solicitation of clergymen and
religious devotees have "made their peace with God" at the last moment before
being ushered into eternity by electrocution or by dying a natural death, we wonder that
intelligent people would for an instant entertain the idea that these had all entered into
Heaven! Is it possible that the saintly followers of Jesus, who walked the narrow way of
self-sacrifice, suffering and death, and who developed characters of love and kindness and
goodness--that these saintly few, for the saints are very few, when they reach Heaven,
will find it crowded with the lowest scum of the earth! Much confusion of thought in this
connection has resulted from the misapplication of the Savior's words addressed to the
dying thief upon the cross. By placing the comma where it properly belongs after the word
"today," the meaning of the Lord's words is clear. The thief did not go to
heaven, or to Paradise that day; but went into the tomb there to remain until the Kingdom
of Christ is set up at the Lord's second coming, when Paradise will be restored. Not only
this thief, but the other thief as well, may then receive eternal life on the terms of
obedience to the Divine Laws of justice and love. Failing in this, they will die the
Second Death.
"And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead which
die in the Lord from hence forth." `Rev. 14:13`. Who are the dead who die in the
Lord, and how can a dead person die? (A.C.D.)
<ANSWER>--There are three kinds of death mentioned in the Scriptures--the
Adamic death; the sacrificial death, as death of Christ; and the "second death."
The Adamic condition of death, passed upon all the human race because of Adam's
disobedience. The world of mankind may be regarded as a convict race under sentence of
death-- "As by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death
passed upon all men." (`Rom. 5:12`.) The death of Christ is different from that of
Adam and his posterity. Adam died as a convict; the Lord Jesus died, not as a convict, but
as a sacrifice for the sin of the world. His was a sacrificial death, and began at Jordan
when He presented Himself in full consecration to God, and was "finished" (`John
19:30`) when He died upon the cross, three and one-half years later. From the Divine
viewpoint, the Lord Jesus was no longer considered as a man from the time of His
consecration; but was regarded as a spiritual "new creature." He was dead
according to the flesh, and was alive according to the spirit. Thus it is with the true
followers of Christ. "As many as were baptized into Christ were baptized into His
death." (`Rom. 6:3`.) From the time of full consecration to God, these are counted as
being dead, as says the Apostle-- "Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in
God." (`Col. 3:3`.) These are the "dead who die in the Lord" --dying daily
in the Lord's service, and in the service of the truth (`1 Cor. 15:31`). See also `Rom.
6:8`; `Col. 2:23`.
In `2 Kings 22:20th` verse we read "Behold, therefore, I will gather thee
unto thy fathers, aud thou shall be gathered into thy grave in peace." Then in `2
Kings 23:29-30`, we are told that Josiah was killed at Megiddo. Please explain and
harmonize. (M.D.G.)
<ANSWER>--The promise which the Lord made to Josiah, as stated in `2 Kings
22:20`, was because of the splendid work of reformation which the king had inaugurated and
was prosecuting against the false and idolatrous religious systems that had become
established in the land, during the preceding reigns of the kings of Judah. While it is
not specifically stated that this promise was conditioned on Josiah's continued faith and
obedience to the Lord, yet we can be assured that such must have been the case, for all of
God's promises are of this nature. As Josiah did not die in peace, but was slain in
battle, we would naturally be led to examine the Scriptures to find wherein Josiah had
acted contrary to the Lord's will. The incidents narrated in the next chapter, are
described more in detail in `2 Chronicles 35th` chapter and the reason why Josiah suffered
a violent death is clearly outlined in the 20th verse. What a lesson far all--to mind
their own business and not to meddle in the affairs of others!
In `Gen. 2:16,17`, we read-- "And the Lord God commanded the man saying .
. . but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the
day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." In `Gen. 3:4,5`, we read as
follows-- "And the Serpent said unto the Woman, Ye shall not surely die; for God doth
know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as
Gods, knowing good and evil." My question is: which of these statements are we to
regard as true? (I.D.)
<ANSWER>--The Apostle says that God cannot lie, and one of the ancient
writers of the Scriptures declared that "God is not a man that He should lie."
(`Titus 1:2`; `Num. 23:19`.) Our Lord, on the contrary, in speaking of Satan, the Serpent,
said-- "He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because
there is no truth in him. When he speaketh of a lie he speaketh of his own; for he is a
liar and the father of it." (`John 8:44`.) In view of these plain declarations of the
Scriptures, it would be advisable to accept the Lord's Word an the subject of death being
the penalty for disobedience. Scientists, our own senses, and the Word of God, all agree
that the dead are dead; and not alive, as Satan and all his emissaries would have us
believe. See `Rom. 3:4`.
I've always had a sneaking idea that somewhere in the subterraneum depth of my
make-up there was an immortal worm or something which could never be extinguished, and
when this tabernacle that I am inhabiting disintegrates into its original elements, this
whatever-it- may-be will pass into the great beyond, off somewhere in the realms of
boundless space. Now, what I'd like to know is: ain't there some Scriptures that proves my
idea is correct? I ain't never been able to find it myself, although my grandmother said
as how it was there. (Z.E.D.)
<ANSWER>--The Bible does not speak of the place where "their worm
shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched." (`Isa. 66:24`.) This place,
however, has reference to the Valley of Gehenna, where the refuse of the city of Jerusalem
was cast. In this valley fire and brimstone were kept burning continually. The bodies of
dead animals, and criminals who had been executed, were sometimes thrown into this place.
These would frequently lodge upon the rocks and would be consumed by worms, which were
undying until the carcasses were consumed. Thus the Prophet was forcefully picturing the
absolute destruction of the wicked, and was in no sense picturing their preservation. As
there is to be a resurrection of the dead, it follows that there must be something that is
preserved when death takes place. This "what-ever-it-may-be" is the character or
the identity, which, in the awakening, will be endowed with a new body and with life. See
`1 Cor., 15th` chapter. Scientists and Bible students have never discovered any
"immortal worms."
I have just lost a dear little girl who never was baptized. I am about mad with
grief and sorrow. Some people tell me that she is lost to all eternity and may possibly
now be writhing in eternal torture. I have called in our minister and he only shakes his
head in doubt. I have also talked with ministers of other denominations and can get no
consolation. I will appreciate it if your question box can give me a satisfactory answer.
I want God's word and no guesses if you please. (an anxious mother.)
<ANSWER>--We appreciate your sorrow and anxiety. Many mothers have been
comforted by the Lord's word found in `Jer. 31:15`. "Thus saith the Lord, A voice was
heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children, because
they were not." (They were dead, unconscious, "The dead know not
anything."--`Ecc. 9:5`.) These children of Rachel were not in eternal torment, and
there is no record of their ever having been baptized. "Thus saith the Lord, Refrain
thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears... they shall came again from the land
of the enemy." Death is always spoken of in the Bible as an enemy, and the last enemy
to be destroyed is death. (`1 Cor. 15:26`.) All the sleeping ones shall return from the
tomb, "the land of the enemy," when Christ shall come again, (`John 5:28,29`
--Revised version.)
Kindly explain the last part of the `third verse of Ecc., the eleventh
chapter`: "In the place where the tree falleth there it shall be."
<ANSWER>--We find this scripture to be in harmony with the remainder of the
Bible and as particularly expressed in the ninth chapter of this same book of
Ecclesiastes-- "for there is no work nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the
grave whither thou goest." When an individual dies- -falls as a tree in death--so
shall he remain in the same condition in which he went into the death state, even as the
tree of the forest remains at rest. According to the ideas of some good, well-meaning
people, when a man dies there is something that escapes and goes winging its flight around
through space, and, according to this theory, this intangible essence that it is liberated
from the body, is the real individuality, and thus the person is more alive than ever and
perfectly conscious. With this view in mind, and referring to the scriptures quoted in the
question, we would be forced to understand that when a tree falls it does not actually
die, but something passes from it and it is very much alive somewhere. However, there is
no such absurdity about the Bible teachings, to the effect that the dead are dead (and not
alive) and will be awakened in the morning of the resurrection.