p. 657 | Are the Dead Conscious? by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 10, 1913

Are the Dead Conscious?

By F. M. W.

THIS is the question raised by a correspondent of the Sunday School Times, as published in that paper of May 3. The writer asks, “Can we know whether people who die in the Christian faith go to be with Christ at once, or whether they are at rest, as in a sound sleep, till the Lord comes and the dead in Christ shall rise first?” The editor, usually so clear in his exegesis when replying to questions from his readers, in our judgment utterly misapprehends the teaching of the Scripture on this subject. He teaches that at death the righteous go to their eternal reward, basing his argument upon such incidents as the conversation between Christ and the thief on the cross, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, etc., and discounting the plain, obvious teaching of the Word of Truth as found in the positive teaching which it gives on this question.

The Bible clearly teaches,—

1. That man possesses a nature inherently sinful and dying, and that far from possessing immortality here, this condition is set before him as something to be sought for. Rom. 2:6, 7.

2. That immortality is inherently possessed only by God. 1 Tim. 6:15, 16.

3. That for man immortality is brought to light through the gospel. 2 Tim. 1:16.

4. That as the result of seeking after immortality through complying with the provisions of God’s grace and the acceptance of the life of the Lord Jesus Christ through faith, immortality is bestowed on the saints at the end of the world, at the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 15:51-55; 1 Thess. 4:16-18.

5. The Scriptures teach further that the resurrection at the last day is absolutely essential to the salvation of God’s people. 1 Cor. 15:16-18.

6. The finally impenitent, having rejected the provision made for their escape from sin and death, are destroyed in the fires of the last day. Matt. 3:12; Mal. 4:1-3.

7. The contrast in the destinies of the human family is not drawn between eternal life in glory and eternal life in suffering. It is clearly made between life and death. Rom. 6:23.

Life is the gift of God. No man can earn it. It does not come by inheritance. It is bestowed as the free gift of the grace of God upon his believing, obedient children. Contrast with this the fate of the impenitent who are paid the wage they earn. They receive death for their portion. Having failed to receive the life of God, which is in Christ Jesus, they are deprived of natural life forever, and cessation of existence is their portion.

This view of the question magnifies the merits of the sacrifice and offering of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without that sacrifice the human family was doomed to utter extinction. Adam and his posterity would have gone down to a death that knew no awakening. Christ by his sacrifice frees the whole human family from the Adamic death. In the final resurrection every man shall arise to receive the reward of the deeds which he has done here in this world. Upon the wicked the second death is visited. This is the judgment of God as the penalty for their personal sins. The righteous, having accepted the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, are saved from the results of their own transgressions, and live in him and with him through all eternity.

This is the plain, direct, positive teaching of the Scriptures of Truth. Every passage which, standing by itself, might be considered in any sense ambiguous or of doubtful meaning, reasonably harmonizes with this positive teaching. This view makes of the plan of salvation and the Word of Truth one harmonious whole. The view taught by the Sunday School Times makes the Scriptures contradict themselves, demerits the sacrifice of our divine Lord, and makes of no consequence the final resurrection and judgment. It is better to believe God than to put confidence in the theories of men.

F. M. W.