THE DOCTOR'S DILEMMA by D. T. T.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 2, 1876

FromThe Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 9.

THE DOCTOR'S DILEMMA.

By D. T. T.

DURING the summer of 187—, I met a friendly clergyman, Rev. A. W., on board the steamboat on lake C——, when the conversation, cordially opened between us, presently ran on to the discussion of the state of the dead by the Methodist ministers of New York city, in which Doctor True had openly advocated the doctrine of the sleep of the dead. My friend—an ardent Methodist and a presiding elder—strongly dissented from an unconscious death-sleep before entering upon a celestial life. He gave his reasons, running over and quoting the scriptures usually supposed to sustain the consciousness of man in death. He believed the pious dead were now with Christ in Heaven—it must be so, he affirmed. “Well,” said I, when he was through, “whatever be the condition of the dead, we must concede that the Scriptures teach their detention in what is by the pen of inspiration denominated Hades; this abode, place, or state, being constantly referred to both in the Old and the New Testament as the abode of all the dead, both good and bad. Can’t we agree here?” Eld. W. was a D. D., He paused to refresh his learning and memory, then immediately added, “Yes, that is true; it is the general receptacle of the dead.” “Very well,” I replied. “Then, doctor, will you please inform me how the pious dead can now be with Christ in Heaven? Are Hades and Heaven the same? Is Christ now in Hades?” My opponent in an instant dropped his head, turned on his heel, and, without saying a word, walked thoughtfully to the other end of the cabin. Our conversation was not resumed.

His dilemma was complete, and there was no way to extricate himself from it. Unquestionably all created things die in Hades. It is even deadlier than Thanatos. Only once the omnipotent Spirit is declared to be present in that dismal abode. Ps. 139: 6. I take this as asserting God’s power over it, and as a pledge of the resurrection of its captives. Rev. 20: 13. “The gates of Hades shall not prevail against” the elect. Matt. 16: 18. God took his Son out of Hades. Acts 2: 27, 31, 32. God will take his church out of Hades. But as Christ went to Hades in death, but escaped from it as from a dungeon at his resurrection, and after, and not till after, went to his Father in Heaven, a whole solid acre of doctors of divinity could not tell how the dead can be in Hades and yet be with Christ in Heaven at the same time. The fact is, even the pious dead are yet held in the hadean prison, and will be until the Lord comes again.—D. T. T., in Bible Banner.