p. 13 | Death-What Is It? by Wm. Sheldon

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jan 4, 1877

Death—What Is It?

By Wm. Sheldon

We talk about death, and read about it, in the Bible, and also witness its devastation in our midst; yet there is a kind of theology passing current as orthodox faith, averring that in reality there is no death—that what is called death is simply a separation of the soul from the body. This is a rather bold assumption, for it is only an assumption with not a shadow of proof; but let us see if it will not cringe when put to the test.

1. If death really signifies a separation of the soul from the body, this definition will make sense when used as a substitute for death in these scriptures: “He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from separating from the body.” “The wages of sin is a separation of the soul from the body.” “Which is the second separation of the soul from the body.” “Sin came into the world, and a separation of the soul from the body by sin.” The last enemy that shall be destroyed is a separation of the soul from the body.” “And there shall be no more separation of the soul from the body.” How do the advocates of the no-death theory like their own definition of death, when tried?

2. Isaiah said to Hezekiah: “Thou shalt die, and not live.” Isa. 38 : 1. So, to die, really means that one shall “not live.” To say, “Thy soul shall separate from the body, and not live,” would be as bad as to have it die with the body.

3. Solomon, in speaking of man and beast, says: “As the one dieth, so dieth the other.” So if the death of the beast is real, then man’s death is of the same nature, for they die alike. Death is the extinction of life; and with this view, the resurrection is indispensably necessary.—Wm. Sheldon.