Do the Dead Live Again?
By Earle Albert Rowell
"If a man die, shall he live again?" Job 14:14. This is the query that has agitated the minds of men from time immemorial, and is looming larger in the problems of to-day than any other question. It is right that man should ask concerning his future, that he should seek an answer; and it is meet that he be answered. The science of Aristotle, the speculations of Socrates, and the philosophy of Plato were all devoted to create in the hearts of men a belief in their own natural immortality. Going down the scale from philosophers and scientists of all ages to the ignorant, we find a common belief everywhere prevalent, that man has a spirit which leaves the body immediately after death and lives forever either upon this earth or somewhere else. Descending to the lowest level of human life, we still find in the savage breast of the cannibal a belief similar to that of Plato, only different in degree, lower in conception. Down through the forty centuries of history has rung the swelling chorus of mankind's growing and now well-nigh universal belief in the continued existence of the human spirit immediately after death. From the snow-capped peaks of the sky-piercing Alps to the arid wastes of Sahara's burning sands, heathen and Jews, infidels and Christian Scientists, papists and pantheists, Spiritualists and Protestants, have with pen and voice been proclaiming far and wide, "Thou shalt not surely die." Belief Does Not Make It True
Because a thing has always been the accepted belief of mankind in general, is not only no proof that it is true, but is not even good evidence. For fifty centuries or more nothing was more firmly believed or was considered more thoroly established, by philosopher and idiot, king and slave, millionaire and beggar, than that the earth was flat and was circled by the sun. But to-day there is scarce an urchin of eight, or a drunkard rolling spurned and forgotten in a wayside gutter, who does not know better. Unanimity of belief, then, counts for nothing, and should have no weight when we come to investigate the subject upon its own merits; but we should "prove all things; hold fast that which is good." The Christian does this by going to "the Sacred Writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Every scripture is inspired of God, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work." 2 Tim. 3:15-17, A.R.V., margin. Jesus said, "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures." Matt. 22:29. Error, then, comes from ignorance of the Bible. Since we proved, in the previous article, that Spiritualism, even taken on its own claims, left us tangled in a maze of uncertainty and lost in the labyrinth of their multiplying contradictions and deceptions, we will now briefly consider from the Bible standpoint the subject of the condition and future of the dead. Shall the Dead Live Again?
If so, when? Immediately, or far in the future? Turning to 1 Thess. 4:13-18, we find some clear statements right on these questions: "I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Paul considers the understanding of this so important that he adds, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." Several events are linked here in the very closest manner. Note that the coming of Christ is in no quiet manner, "as when a soul slips out into the unknown," but is not only with a shout and the voice of the Archangel, but with the trump of God, and then "the dead in Christ shall rise first." Also note the fact that the only ones to be raised from the dead at this time are "the dead in Christ." These, with the living righteous, are changed and caught up in the air to meet the Lord, and then "they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power." Rev. 20:4-6. If there is a first resurrection, there must be a second. And since only the "blessed and holy" have a part in the first, it follows conclusively that the second consists of the unholy, who eventually suffer the "second death;" for since it expressly states that the holy do not, it implies that the unholy do. But let us read on a little further: "And when the thousand years are expired, . . . I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; . . . and the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell [the grave] delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell [the grave] were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." Rev. 20:7-15. Seeing that the dead, both good and bad, live again in the future, let us push our inquiry a step further, and determine the condition of the dead all the time previous to their resurrection. Out of the superabundance of texts on this subject, scattered in profusion from Genesis to Revelation, it is hard to choose; but we will have to content ourselves with a very few of the clearest and most direct: "For in death there is no remembrance of Thee: in the grave who shall give Thee thanks?" Ps. 6:5. And still further: "The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence." Ps. 115:17. This excludes not only the wicked, but the righteous as well, from praising the Lord in death. It is certainly absurd to suppose that if the righteous were alive and in a more glorious state than on earth, they would not praise God. We are also told why they can not praise Him: "For the grave can not praise Thee, death can not celebrate Thee: they that go down into the pit can not hope for Thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do this day." Isa. 38:18, 19. The reason that there is no remembrance or praising of God in the grave, is that "his breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." Ps. 146:4. Then instead of being a better thinker than ever before, and coming back to instruct others, "that very day" even his thoughts PERISH. But his thoughts are not all that perish. "Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished." Eccl. 9:6.5 Any one would think it were impossible to be more clear and explicit; but the Lord foresaw the tendency to explain away the plainest statements, therefore we read further, "For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." Eccl. 9:10. It is no wonder, then, that Solomon, in view of these facts, said, "The living know that they shall die: but the dead know not ANYTHING." Eccl. 9:5. Texts could easily be indefinitely multiplied to clinch the argument; but one clear, comprehensive statement from the Sacred Writings is as conclusive to the believer in God’s Word, as a thousand. And besides, those who want further proof have only to follow out the references from the above quotations, and they will accumulate an overwhelming abundance of proof that "the dead know not anything." Not the Spirits of the Dead
Having shown that the dead are not living in any sense of the word, it is plainly impossible for them to return to communicate with the living. Hence from whatever source the communications of Spiritualism may come, they demonstrably do not come from departed friends. It remains briefly, then, to investigate their source. There are two sources from which such messages may come. First, there are "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation." Heb. 1:14. Second, there are those who are "spirits of devils, working miracles." Rev. 16:14. And they work these miracles to deceive "the whole world." Rev. 12:9. In view of these facts, it is no wonder that John counsels us to "believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1. The belief in the return of the spirits of the dead crops out in Bible characters, and they received just such communications as are flooding the world from Spiritualist mediums to-day. And in the Bible their source is always indicated as never from the dead, but as always from evil angels. Let us take, for instance, the most famous case in the Scriptures, with which all are familiar—that of Saul and the witch of Endor. "Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, . . . for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it; and inquired not of the Lord: therefore He slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David." 1 Chron. 10:13, 14. This terrible punishment of Saul should stand out as a beacon light of warning to those who have gone or who think of going to Spiritualists for communications from their departed friends; friends, as we have seen, who "know not anything." We are repeatedly warned not to use "divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord." Deut. 18:10-12. Do you want to see heaven? Then leave Spiritualism alone, for it is an abomination. "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: . . . and there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination." Rev. 21:1, 27. What, Then, Is Spiritualism?
From the above we are forced to the conclusion that modern Spiritualism is simply a revival, under a new name, of the witchcraft that is so severely condemned above. But its revival need surprise no one who is a Bible student, for it was foretold that "in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." 1 Tim. 4:1. Paul further tells us that previous to Christ’s coming the second time there will be "the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders." 2 Thess. 2:9. Likewise Christ shows that just before He comes "there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before." Matt. 24:24, 25. John brings out the same thought: "The devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth he hath but a short time." Rev. 12:12. Obviously the reason he has only a short time is because Christ is soon to come. Therefore "he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do." Rev. 13:13, 14. Many great signs and miracles that are here foretold are performed right before our eyes; and because we "know not the Scriptures," we are led astray. The very existence of Spiritualism, with all its wondrous power, is about the best proof that could be adduced of the trustworthiness and eternal authority of the Bible. For nearly two thousand years this miraculous power hardly seemed to exist, and all at once, as it were, has burst out into the full blaze of twentieth century light; and at the very time when scientific men had proved to their satisfaction that everything was operated by natural law, it has begun to work astounding miracles—miracles that are confounding and converting scientists the world over. They "do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God." Those who are looking to Spiritualism for eternal life are looking to the wrong source; they are trying to climb up "another way," forgetful of the fact that such are declared "thieves and robbers." "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life." John 3:36. Then "turn away" from the "abomination" of Spiritualism to eternal life; and "this is life eternal, that they should know Thee the only true God, and Him whom Thou didst send, even Jesus Christ." John 17:3.