The Dead—Their Present and Future.
By R. S. WEBBER
“But man dieth and wasteth away; yea man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?” Job 14:10. THE condition of the dead is a question about which there is much contention, but we think the Bible is very clear upon the subject. In verses 11 and 12 of the chapter above cited, Job further says: “As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up, so man lieth down and riseth not; till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake nor be raised out of their sleep.” This is a plain reference to the “day of the Lord,” mentioned in 2 Pet. 3:10, when “the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.” Job argues that, if he had died in infancy, he should “have lain still and been quiet.” Chap. 3:11–13. And who would have been his companions? “Then had I been at rest with kings and counselors of the earth, . . . or with princes that had gold, . . . and there the weary be at rest. There the prisoners rest together. . . . The small and great are there.” Verses 13–19. This would have been the result had he died as soon as born. How would it be now? would he go to Heaven? “Now shall I sleep in the dust, and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.” Chap. 7:21. But we have still further testimony to the same effect: “All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come.” And again, “If I wait, the grave is mine house, I have made my bed in the darkness.” Chap. 17:15. But what about the future? “If a man die, shall he live again?” This is Job’s question, and let him answer it himself: “Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee; thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.” Chap. 14:15. “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though, after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” Chap. 19:25, 29. This testimony agrees with John 5:28, 29, which are the words of the Redeemer himself. But many say that the dead are conscious, and know more than when they were alive; that they visit their friends, and are interested in things transpiring on earth. In this they make themselves wiser than Job or Solomon. Job’s testimony has been given, and Solomon says, “The dead know not anything. . . . Also their love, and their hatred; and their envy is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.” Eccl. 9:5, 6. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest.” Verse 10. And David says that “in death there is no remembrance of thee.” Ps. 6:5. “The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.” Ps. 115:17. And in Ps. 146 we are given the reason: “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth, in that very day his thoughts perish.” When a man’s thoughts are perished, he certainly cannot praise God. David is not praising God; he is asleep. 1 Kings 2:9, 10; Acts 13:36. He has “not ascended51into the Heavens.” Acts 2:3, 4. Many of the saints are asleep in the dust of the earth, but they will live and come forth from the dust. Dan. 12:4. When Stephen was stoned he did not go to Heaven, but fell asleep. Acts 7:60. The babes that Herod slew in Bethlehem are not in Heaven; Heaven is not “the land of the enemy.” Jer. 31:16, 17. Lazarus did not go to Heaven when he died; he was put into a tomb, whence the Saviour called him to life again. John 11:41–44. Jesus had plainly said, “Lazarus is dead,” verse 14; and both his sisters were of the same opinion, verses 21, 32. The apostles are not in Heaven, for Jesus told them that where he was going they could not come. John 8:21; 13:33. This troubled their hearts, but he assured them that after he had prepared a place for them, he would come again and take them unto himself. Chap. 14:1–3. See also, 1 Thess. 4:16. Then they will receive their reward. Luke 14:14; Rev. 11:18; 22:12, 14. Then they will live forevermore, and walk the golden streets of the New Jerusalem. No death can enter there, and tear again our loved ones from our side. There will be no more sorrow nor crying; but the righteous will walk beside the river of life, and pluck fruit from the tree of life. There they will sing beneath Eden’s happy bowers. Man will stand in his primitive glory, and the earth shall bloom again in its pristine beauty. “Fly swifter round, ye wheels of time,
And bring the welcome day.” Richmond, Me. R. S. WEBBER.