Some Questions
Why do we, that support the position that the departed are sleeping, have to constantly be defensive while those who believe the spirits are frolicking in heaven are never called upon to defend their position. We are always on the defensive, here we will assume the role of the prosecution.
Here are some verses, here are 10 questions:
The dead are most times referred to as sleeping and occasionally as dead.
I and II Kings describes the kings as sleeping after they died. This happens a multitude of times.
Here is one example:
1Ki. 2:10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.
Yet Acts 13:36 says:
For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
1. So what part of David fell asleep and what part saw corruption?
Psalm 6:4-5
Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.
For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
2. Explain these verses?
Matthew says this:
Mat. 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose.
John said this:
John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Paul writes this:
1Cor. 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
Peter prophesied this:
2Pet. 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
Daniel records this:
Dan. 12:2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
3. Why doesn't scripture ever say that these departed will come from heaven or hell?
Psa. 6:4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.
Psa. 6:5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?Psa.. 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Isa. 26:19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
1Cor. 15:6 After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1Cor. 15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. (NASB)
1Cor. 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Th. 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Eph. 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
4. If the dead are not asleep, if they are awake and conscious, then why do the scriptures always say the dead will awake and arise from sleep?
Paul and the apostles went about preaching the resurrection of the dead:
Acts 4:2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
Acts 17:32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
Acts 23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
Acts 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Rom. 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
1Cor. 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Cor. 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
Heb. 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
5. Where does it say Paul, or anyone, preached or taught about going to heaven?
The Thessalonians were concerned that some of them were dying before the Lord returned.
1Th. 4:13 But 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.
They must have been in sorrow over these departed as Paul describes them as having no hope.
It appears that the remaining Christians thought that the dead had perished? Paul evidently did not teach them they went to heaven after they died These poor Thessalonians sure didn’t understand this "going to heaven" doctrine.
1Th. 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
When Christ returns, then the dead will awake and return with Christ. This verse says that those "which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." It does NOT say that those in heaven will God bring with him.
1Th. 4:15 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 them which are asleep.
Paul describes two classes of people; those that are alive and those that are asleep.
1Th. 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
After describing how the dead will be raised from sleep then Paul says:
1Th. 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
6. Why didn't Paul teach the Thessalonians about "going to heaven" or comfort them with that doctrine?
The scriptures teach that the righteous will have a reward when Christ returns.
Isa. 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.Isa. 62:11 Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
Mat. 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Luke 14:14 ...for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
Phi. 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Phi. 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Phi. 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.1Thes. 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
2Tim. 4:8 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.
Rev. 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
7. Where does it teach that the saved will be rewarded when they go to heaven?
The righteous and the wicked will be judged when Christ returns:
Psa. 75:2 When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.Joel 3:12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
Mic. 4:3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day
Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Rom. 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
1Cor. 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
2Tim. 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2Tim. 4:8 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.
Rev. 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Alice in Wonderland: "First the execution and then the trial."
8. How can the righteous and the wicked be assigned to heaven or hell before they are judged?
1Thes. 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
9. What do you think of a teaching or doctrine that diminishes this hope, this joy?
Tit. 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
What do you think of a doctrine that makes some Christians completely forget this hope, completely ignore the second coming of Christ?
Deu 31:16, 1Sa 2:6, 2Sa 7:12, 1Ki 1:21, 1Ki 2:10, 1Ki 11:21, 1Ki 11:43, 1Ki 14:20, 1Ki 14:31, 1Ki 15:8
, 1Ki 15:24, 1Ki 16:6, 1Ki 16:28, 1Ki 22:40, 1Ki 22:50, 2Ki 4:31, 2Ki 8:24, 2Ki 10:35, 2Ki 13:9, 2Ki 13:13, 2Ki 14:16, 2Ki 14:22. 2Ki 14:29, 2Ki 15:7, 2Ki 15:22, 2Ki 15:38, 2Ki 16:20, 2Ki 20:21, 2Ki 21:18, 2Ki 24:6, 2Ch 9:31, 2Ch 12:16, 2Ch 14:1, 2Ch 16:13, 2Ch 26:2, 2Ch 26:23, 2Ch 27:9, 2Ch 28:27, 2Ch 32:33, 2Ch 33:20, Job 3:13, Job 3:17, Job 7:21, Psa 4:8, Psa 6:5, Psa 13:3, Psa 17:15, Psa, 30:9, Psa 39:13, Psa 71:20, Psa 90:5, Psa 115:17, Psa 143:3, Psa 146:2-4, Ecc 9:10, Isa 26:19, Jer 51:57, Lam 3:6, Dan 12:2, Dan 12:13, Mat 9:24, Mat 27:52, Mar 4:27, Mar 5:39, Mar 12:25, Luk 8:52, Jon 5:28, Jon 6:39-40, Jon 6:44, Joh 11:11, Joh 11:24, Jon 12:48, Act 7:60, Act 13:36, Rom 13:11, 1Co 11:30, 1Co 15:6, 1Co 15:18, 1Co 15:20, 1Co 15:51, Eph 5:14, 1Th 4:13, 1Th 4:14, 1Th 4:15, 1Th 4:16, 1Th 5:10, Jam 4:14, 2Pe 3:4, Rev 6:11.
10. How many times must scripture declare that the dead are asleep, have ended all life, and will awake when Christ returns before Christians will believe it?