The Beacon Lights Staff asked me to write an article on death, and they included a list of questions that they would like answered in the article. Because of the importance of the questions and the length required to answer them, I have chosen to answer them in a question and answer format. The first of these follow:
Question: Do we realize we are dead when we die?
Answer: The Lord in His words to the repentant thief, teaches us that upon death one passes immediately to the state of conscious glory as His children. “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” This of course, means that we know that we have died and have entered the glorious presence and into the blessed fellowship of our covenant God. And to so know we have died (upon our death) is a matter of unspeakable joy for God’s child-for death has no sting! “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death where is thy sting?” I Corinthians 15:54-55. This question in this text requires the answer of the child of God, “There is none.”
Further the Lord teaches us in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus found in Luke 16:19-31, that the elect upon death are received consciously in glory, as well as the wicked upon death enter a state of conscious anguish and torment in hell. Verse 24, “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”
So indeed man consciously realizes his death!
Question: Do we then know that our loved ones are sorrowing over our death?
Answer: A teaching of the parable quoted above is that there is a conscious activity of the dead in knowing what still takes place in the history of God’s creation. Further we read, that the saints in heaven await with prayer the day of judgment and final deliverance of the body of Christ in its fulness, Revelation 6:10, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on earth?” And upon seeing God unfold His merciful salvation of the church and the judgment of Satan at the cross and in the resurrection and ascension of Christ, the saints cry out in heaven: “Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10.
However, the saints in heaven never observe that which takes place on earth in any way that brings to them tears or sadness, etc. Their sorrowing is over! “For the lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17. This is perfect in glory. Thus the suffering of the saints on earth does not cause the saints in heaven to weep for they know fully the victory in Christ.
Still further, we must remember that our earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved, that we might be clothed upon with that house not made with hands reserved in heaven for the saints in Christ, cf. II Corinthians 5:1ff. This results not only in the wonder that the old man of sin is put away, but also that our earthly ties and bonds are dissolved, and that we enter in and continue in that perfected and everlasting fellowship of our spiritual covenant bond with God in Christ. And we rejoice in the salvation of the saints and the church. Our joy is there in God’s just judgment of the wicked and the salvation of the body of Christ.
Understand the saints in heaven know too that the loved ones in Christ also are given to understand death and glory through death. Thus they are not left in sorrow, but by grace continue to walk the pilgrims journey-til God be pleased to bring them also to heaven. Our consolation is in Christ crucified and raised!
Question: Two types of death-is there such a thing as a true death-that is dying and then having a doctor or someone revive your life-bring you back into this world?
Answer: At the outset, we must answer that there has been such a happening. We are reminded immediately of the miracles recorded in Scripture of this happening. For example the son of the widow of Zarephath died and was restored to life by God through the means of Elijah. This is recorded in I Kings 17:17ff. Also we are all aware of the raising of Lazarus by Jesus after Lazarus had been dead four days. cf. John 11. In connection with these recorded instances in Scripture, we must remember these were miracles which drew attention to the miracle of miracles-God come in the flesh to deliver His people from the bondage and death of sin. These occasions were Divine dispensations of God to reveal His wondrous and gracious salvation in Christ. They were then Divine exceptions to the usual working of God in His creation.
However, your question has to do with the present day and is really the question: do such things take place today? We are aware that there have been instances when some of the vital life signs (medically speaking) have stopped, and then through the means of a doctor, etc. and by using various techniques, a person once again gained these vital life signs and continued to live. Technically by some medical signs, the person was “dead”; however, life had not departed in actual fact, and in truth the life still continued. We never read of raising someone from the dead after he was in the grave four days, nor even hours after one was pronounced dead!
But in this connection, even the very fact that man is “able to bring one back from the brink of death,” (that man is able to restore these life signs through modern technology) is quite a thing. One may even say, it is a wonder. But remember, that even this possibility is given by God. And often is given today for the hardening of the wicked. It is like the Scriptural example of the magicians who were able to duplicate the first three wonders of God brought to pass through the means of the rod of Moses and Aaron in Egypt. But they were limited by God and could go no further, and through it all Pharaoh’s heart was hardened so that he would not let Israel go. This unto his damnation and destruction and unto the glory of God when He passed just judgment upon Pharaoh and Egypt.
Further we know our Lord instructs: so shall it be in the last days before His coming again. Man is given a limited power to do wonders that God’s purpose of readying this wicked world for final judgment be accomplished. These wonders are those of science and medicine, etc. for the large part. And Satan uses them to deceive the church, if it were possible to destroy her. But God who governs all things, uses them for the hardening of a world that ripens in sin for judgment. Hence, in God’s Word, we read, “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:22-24.
It is for this reason, too, that it is good that we study the Scriptures concerning such a topic as death, which you have brought up in this series of questions. They make us consider God’s purpose with all things, and that, that we might be watchful in these last days. We have three more questions related to death. These will be considered next month the Lord willing. In the meantime, if you have any further questions concerning these matters, please write.