Where Are the Dead?

WHAT REALLY HAPPENS AT DEATH?

What happens at death is no mystery to Jehovah, the Creator of the brain. He knows the truth, and in his Word, the Bible, he explains the condition of the dead. Its clear teaching is this:  When a person dies, he ceases to exist. Death is the opposite of life. The dead do not see or hear or think. Not even one part of us survives the death of the body. We do not possess an immortal soul or spirit.  

After Solomon observed that the living know that they will die, he wrote:  "As for the dead, the are conscious of nothing at all."  He then enlarged on that basic truth by saying that the dead can  neither love nor hate and that "there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in [the grave]."  (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10) Similarly, Psalm 146:14 says that when a man dies, "his thoughts do perish."  We are mortal and do not survive the death of our body.  The life we enjoy is like the flame of a candle.  When the flame is put out, it does not go anywhere. It is simply gone. 

WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT DEATH

Jesus Christ spoke about the condition  of the dead. He did so with regard to Lazarus, a man whom he knew well and who had died.  Jesus told his disciples: "Lazarus our friend has gone to rest."  The disciples thought that Lazarus was resting in sleep, recovering from an illness.  They were wrong. Jesus explained:  "Lazarus has died." (John 11:11-14)  Notice that Jesus compared death to rest and sleep. Lazarus was neither in heaven nor in a burning hell. He was not meeting angels nor ancestors.  Lazarus was not being reborn as  another human. He was at rest in death, as though in a deep sleep without dreams. Other scriptures also compare death to sleep. For example, when the disciple Stephen was stoned to death, the Bible says that he "fell asleep."  (Acts 7:60)  Similarly, the apostle Paul wrote about some in his day who had "fallen asleep" in death. -1 Corinthians 15:6

Was it God's original purpose for people to die?  Not at all! Jehovah made man to live forever on earth. As we learned earlier in this book, God placed the first human couple in a delightful paradise. He blessed them with perfect health.  Jehovah wanted only good for them.  Does any loving want his child to suffer the pain of old age and death?  Of course not!  Jehovah loved his children and wanted them to enjoy endless happiness on earth. Concerning humans, the Bible says:  "Time indefinite [Jehovah] has put in their heart."  (Ecclesiastes 3:11)  God created us with  the desire to live forever. and he has opened the way for that desire to be fulfilled.

Next time: Where Are the Dead?/WHY HUMANS DIE

From the book: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE REALLY TEACH?