The state of the dead
There are numerous references in the Bible strongly suggesting the inaccuracy of the doctrine of soul-sleep and also the traditional Adventist view of Hell. Here, we will examine some of the passages that jumped out at me regarding these issues.
NIV: Mt 22:32
31 But about the resurrection of the dead�have you not read what God said to you, 32 �I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob�? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."
Here is evidence suggesting that we are consciously taken to Heaven upon our death. Taking Jesus� argument one logical step further, if soul-sleep were valid, then God would still have needed to say either "I was the God..." or "I will be the God..." If Jesus uses this argument to prove that there is a resurrection, then it seems likely from the grammar used that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are now in His presence.
Furthermore, Jesus says "He is not the God of the dead but of the living." If there be a soul-sleep, then He would again be the God of the dead�until they were resurrected, when He could resume being "the God of the living!"
NIV: Lk 16:19-31
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man�s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.22
"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham�s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in [immediate and continuing] torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, �Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.�25
"But Abraham replied, �Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.�27
"He answered, �Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father�s house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.�29
"Abraham replied, �They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.�30
"�No, father Abraham,� he said, �but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.�31
"He said to him, �If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.�"I see no feasible way of arguing one�s way out of the truth in this matter. One of the last possible stunts I can see Jesus pulling is to use bad theology and doctrine to make a point! If Jesus Himself describes the afterlife in this manner, then I believe it is incumbent upon me to accept it at face value�unless there is some biblical reason not to�and there isn�t, as far as I can see.
This passage very clearly establishes the biblical position of an immediate ascension to Heaven (or Abraham�s bosom prior to Christ�s resurrection) upon the death of the saints. Jesus is telling a story (differentiated by some from a parable because He used names) about two men who die and are taken to their rightful reward. The rich man is sent to hell because of his lack of concern for the needs of his fellow men (let that be a stern warning). He asks Abraham to send Lazarus to his brothers to warn them�so they have gone to their respective places while the rich man�s brothers are still alive upon the earth!
Also, the rich man is begging Abraham to send Lazarus to come and ease his agony�indicating an immediate and enduring period of misery. As contrary as this runs to my deeply entrenched system of beliefs, it is terribly important not to just discard this passage because it does not happen to fit with my established pattern of thinking. These are Jesus� own words here!
NIV: 2 Co 5:6-9
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
This passage certainly seems clear and definite that there is no middle ground�if we are absent from the body, then we are at home with the Lord. There is no interim period of "resting in the ground" suggested. Where it says we are "away from the body and at home with the Lord" cannot, I think, possibly be referring to after the resurrection�then we will have our new, perfect, resurrection bodies. That could not be referred to as being "away from the body"!
Also, "So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it." If we merely sleep in the ground after we die, there can certainly and absolutely be no pleasing (or displeasing for that matter) the Lord. Only the neutrality of non-existence. We can only perform acts and deeds, make decisions, show love and adoration when we are conscious! But this text clearly suggests an ability to please the Lord�even when we are dead, or away from the body.
NIV: 1 Th 4:13,14
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
In spite of the metaphor does this indicate non-soul sleep? How can Jesus bring people with Him whose totalities (except their breath) lie in the ground of the earth He is returning to?
NIV: Philipians 1:20-25
20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
I don�t know how anything could be more clear from this passage than the certain fact that Paul looked forward to dying...so that he could go�immediately�to be with Christ! This passage cannot be referring to Christ�s return and the resurrection, as there would then be no "choice" involved�no decision to be distressed over. He declares he was torn between his duty to stay and help the fledgling church and his burning desire to depart so that he could see and be with his Saviour!
"I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far".
I do not think any sane person, unless life was nothing but sheer torture, would ever feel that to merely decompose in the ground while sleeping the years away could be "better by far" than living�even just in this life. Paul had much to live for here. He was doing a tremendous work and seeing so much fruit from his labours. That must have been a blessed existence! Sure, he had more than his share of trials and problems�but I cannot believe he would have preferred oblivion to his earthly life. No, it must have been the grander and higher calling of seeing Jesus and personally fellowshipping with his Redeemer that were tugging at Paul�s loyalties.