IS DEATH A PROMOTION? by W. N. G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 7, 1900

IS DEATH A PROMOTION?

By W. N. G.

THE marvelous growth of Spiritualism is easily accounted for when we read such sentences as the following, in a popular Christian journal:—

The tender sympathy of a large circle of white-ribboners and personal friends in this land and in others, is extended to — , whose eldest son, — , has recently been translated to the heavenly home.

The obituary article from which this expression is taken is headed 'Promoted.' The question arises, Is death a promotion? We find these definitions in the 'Standard Dictionary':—

Promote. 1. To cause to move forward toward some desired end; contribute to the development, establishment, increase, or influence of; foster; further; forward; encourage; advance; as to promote a business enterprise. 2. To advance to a higher position, grade, or rank; raise to greater dignity or honor; elevate; exalt; prefer; as to promote a pupil to a higher class.

Death. 1. Cessation of physical life. (1) The total and permanent cessation of the functions or vital actions of an organism, as in the complete stoppage of the functions of the brain and the organs of respiration and circulation. (2) Such cessation in any of the parts of an organism or in its ultimate structural elements. . . . 2. The final extinction or destruction of anything; decay; destruction; a figurative use; as the death of friendship.

A comparison of these definitions shows nothing synonymous in promotion and death. One would not think of killing a business enterprise in order to promote it; nor would he think of taking the life of a pupil in order to promote him to a higher class. The death of friendship would not be deemed a promotion of friendship. But let us note the use of the words in the Scriptures.

When King Balak solicited the prophet Balaam to curse Israel, he said, 'I will promote thee unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me.' Num. 22:17. Did the king mean that he would put the prophet to death? Balaam failed to earn his promotion, because the Lord would not allow him to curse Israel. But some time afterward, when the Israelites fought the Midianites, Balaam was slain. Was he then promoted?

In the obituary sentence we have quoted, the individual spoken of is said to have been 'translated to the heavenly home.' But further on in the article we learn that he died and was buried. Now the Scripture says that 'Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him.' Heb. 11:5. Also Elijah, when he was translated, was taken up alive, bodily, in a whirlwind, in plain view of his servant and successor, Elisha. 2 Kings 2:9-12.

When David died, he was not promoted, nor translated. See Peter's testimony on the day of Pentecost, under the influence of that great outpouring of the Holy Spirit: 'Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day.' Acts 2:29. 'For David is not ascended into the heavens.' Verse 34. When nearing the close of his life, David said, 'I go the way of all the earth.' 1 Kings 2:1, 2. Are all 'promoted,' or 'translated to the heavenly home,' when they die? The record further says, 'So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.' Verse 10. But this testimony concerning David does not indicate that he was lost, and therefore was in a state of conscious existence somewhere else. The 'last words of David' were words of faith and hope. 2 Sam. 23:1-7.

Even Jesus Christ was not 'promoted' when He died. This event was the very depth of His humiliation. 'Being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.' Phil. 2:8. True, for this cause 'God hath highly exalted Him' (verse 9); but it was by a resurrection from the dead, and not by a 'translation' in death. While He was dead, He was in Joseph's tomb. John 19:41.

This doctrine of promotion, or translation, or any conscious existence at all in death, is the root and ground of all the delusions and vagaries of Modern Spiritualism. The Scriptures teach that 'the dead know not anything;' that 'their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished.' Eccl. 9:5, 6. They also teach that the hope of the Gospel is the resurrection of the dead. 'For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order; Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming. Then cometh the end.' 1 Cor. 15:21-24. This shows that, as in the case of the Master, the exaltation (the promotion) comes to the righteous after the resurrection, at the coming of the Lord in glory. '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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.' 1 Thess. 4:16-18. Yes, these are the words with which to comfort Christians who have lost Christian sons, and not the words of false comfort, based upon the erroneous doctrines of Spiritualism.

In harmony with the doctrine here enunciated, Paul gives his experience and his faith when nearing his execution: 'I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.' 2 Tim. 4:6-8. W. N. G.