Ecclesiastes 9:6, commentary and pictures

Also their love and hatred and envy perish at death, and all thought and feeling end, so death is an unconscious silent sleep with no further part in anything done under the sun. The dead know nothing of life on earth and do not watch the living, sharing neither in the joys nor the sorrows of those dearest to them. They rest in the grave without sense of passing time until the resurrection, rather than going at once to reward or punishment. This is shown when Lazarus came forth with no experience of the time he was dead to report and no scenes after death to describe. The verse therefore shuts out the claim that the dead return as spirits to speak or act among the living or to give knowledge of earthly affairs. Apparent messages and appearances from departed loved ones are a soul-destroying deception carried on by Satan through evil spirits impersonating the dead, and all seeking of such visitants is forbidden by God.

Unconscious Sleep in Death

Also their love and their hatred and their envy perish at death, and with them all thoughts and affections come to an end. The dead have no more portion forever in anything done under the sun, sharing no awareness and taking no part in earthly life. Death is an unconscious, silent and inactive sleep in the grave, not a continuation of conscious life.

The dead know nothing of earthly life and do not observe the living. They know nothing of the joys or sorrows of those dearest to them on earth. They have no pain and no joy, for death is not continued life in misery.

They rest in the grave without sense of passing time until the resurrection, asleep and thinking of nothing. They do not receive reward or punishment immediately at death, nor do they praise God in heaven. Their hope of life again depends on the resurrection, when the righteous awaken and receive immortality.

Lazarus had no experience of the time he was dead and no account of scenes after death to report. After being raised he could testify only to Christ's power. In the grave a person cannot choose good or evil; thoughts perish and the character formed during life remains unchanged. Although the dead have no further part in affairs carried on under the sun, the example they set and the words they spoke can endure through time and eternity, and the lasting value of their work is measured by God rather than by human recognition during life.

Rejecting Communication with Dead

The verse rules out the claim that the dead become spirits who watch events on earth, return to the living, speak to them, or act among them, for their love and hatred and envy have perished and they have no more share in anything done under the sun. They do not know what happens among the living and do not communicate with them, take no further part in earthly life, and no longer act in the affairs of the living. Their thoughts and affections have ended, so communion between the dead and the living is impossible and claims that departed loved ones communicate with people are deception.

The dead cannot give information about earthly affairs or perform wonders for friends on earth, so communication with the dead is ruled out as a source of knowledge about what happens under the sun. They do not know what is happening on earth, know nothing of the joys or sorrows of those still living, and have no continuing share in what is done here.

Apparent messages and appearances from departed loved ones are a soul-destroying deception at war with Scripture, not the dead returning or speaking through mediums. They are carried out by Satan through evil spirits, by deceptive evil angels, and by spirits of devils impersonating the dead. The verse condemns the foundation of Spiritualism and proves pretended communication with the dead impossible and deceptive, so all seeking of such visitants is expressly forbidden by God.