If Death Is a Dreamless Sleep, How Can Life Be Resumed?
Is there life beyond the grave? This is a question that has been much debated for many generations, and from many varying standpoints. The operations of nature afford no affirmative answer to the inquiry, but bear positive negative testimony. In fact, every rule of logic is against it. Must one therefore conclude that the few short, disappointing years of human life tell the story of eternity's plan in behalf of man — a creature so highly endowed with comprehensive and inventive faculties as to rank far in advance of every other class of animated beings?
This problem is one that an ancient patriarch debated with much clearness. His observation taught him that a man's days were few, and filled with anxiety and care, after which he was cut down, to appear no more among his kind. The great question was next presented, What becomes of him? Was he left as a thing to be forgotten forever? Even the root life of a dumb tree might replace the first growth, hewn down by the woodman's ax; but nothing of the kind was observable regarding the noble structure of man. When cut down in death, his life is entirely snuffed out, so that no spark is left from which to kindle anew the man that once was.
Can Life Be Resumed After Death?
AFTER viewing the question from many angles, and finding that in some way man had forfeited the last element of life, which nature affords even to the plants of the forest, he concludes that if man does live after passing off the human stage, it must be through some power outside of himself. So, after asking direct the question, "If a man die, shall he live?" his faith settles the point, and he quietly says, as though talking with God: "All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer Thee." Job 14: 1-15.
From "Miss. Review of World"
There is, in fact, no other method by which man can be made to live, after having once yielded up life. Sin having entered his system, he is deprived of the power of life; because the sin he permitted to find entrance within, became the "sting" of death in the fullest sense (1 Cor. 15: 56), thus executing the fiat of Heaven, "In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Gen. 2: 17.
The apostle fully recognized this point, and was therefore led to say emphatically, "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6: 23. Had man not sinned, the element of continued life would have been his forever; but since that privilege was forfeited, life after death can be resumed only as a gift of God through Jesus Christ.
Death a Dreamless Sleep
DEATH has ever been recognized as a dreamless sleep, from which none have ever awakened except through a special dispensation of God's grace. More than this, no one who is born into this world has any prospect of perpetuated life beyond the grave except by virtue of the added life of Jesus Christ. True, Enoch passed on to eternal bliss, because "God took him." Gen. 5: 24. Elijah reached the undying state by ascending to the presence of God in a "chariot of fire" specially prepared for his conveyance thither. 2 Kings 2: 11. Moses also took bodily flight from the valley over against Beth-peor, upon being raised from the dead by Michael, who is Christ. Compare Deut. 34: 6 and Jude 9 with Dan. 12: 1; 1 Thess. 4: 16; and John 5: 28.
But from the words of Christ to Nicodemus, it is clear that all these had received that life which is more than human; for in that interview, He plainly stated that "except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3: 3. This requirement demands that a new life, one that has never suffered the taint of sin, shall, in some mysterious way, known only to the Founder of redemption, be transfused into the needy human soul, in order to restore it to the standing of God's image, which was lost by sin.
This can come only from Him who has "life in Himself" to bestow, and thus become the "everlasting Father" to those who receive Him and His power of eternal life. This done, and though one yields up the human life which sin demands, the hour comes when "all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth." John 5: 28, 29.
Will Come from Their Dusty Beds
IN view of this positive assertion by the Giver of life for the reward of faith, an inspired apostle attempts to reveal the time and manner of such an event. Writing to a people who seemed to be troubled about the future of deceased friends, he says: "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." 1 Thess. 4: 13, 14.
This seems a most natural conclusion when one stops a moment to think of it; for as Jesus has "the power of an endless life" (Heb. 7: 16), being "made higher than the heavens" (verses 25, 26), and therefore "continuing ever," because, as the Son of God, "it was not possible that He should be holden" in death (Acts 2: 24), is it not plain that those who are His by faith, and who are to be forever with Him and behold His glory (John 17: 24), should also be raised from the dead, as was He who is their everlasting Father?
This scripture is not intended to convey the idea that those of whom the apostle speaks are already in heaven, and will come from there with Him to earth; but that as He was brought from the grave by the voice of God, so all who share His life by faith, will also be brought forth from their dusty beds after the same manner.
This thought is confirmed by what immediately follows in the divine exhortation. Thus we read: "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 [or go before] them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself [not a substitute] 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." 1 Thess. 4: 15, 16.
His Voice Penetrates the Tomb
So those who "sleep in Jesus" cannot be forgotten, from the fact that His sheep hear His voice at that time as well as when they listened to it amid the dead issues of human pilgrimage.12John 5: 25-29. Quickening power is in that triumphant voice as it penetrates the vaults of the sleeping ones, and they respond to its demands as in former times. But those who turned a deaf ear to its earlier entreaties, will be heedless to its summons now.
But happy are they whose senses are thus quickened by the trump attending the advent of our Lord. These are borne aloft by strong angels to the welcoming arms of Jesus (Matt. 24: 31), who sits in midheaven. They will hear His invitation, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matt. 25: 34.
This gracious benefaction extends not only to those who have awakened from their long sleep to the realization of their hope, but it includes as well those who live to witness the Lord's descent from heaven, and exclaim with ecstatic joy at the sight: "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation" (Isa. 25: 9); for these, with the others, are "caught up" "to meet the Lord in the air."
But the best of this prospect is that all who have part in this last-day demonstration will "ever be with the Lord," and be permitted to bask in the sunshine of His eternal glory. Matt. 13: 43. Believing this, why should not one be able to comfort others with such a hope? There can be no other so thrillingly satisfying as this.
