Dead Or Alive After Death?

We cannot fully measure His love for us.
We cannot fully perceive the order established in His Name.
We can only glimpse.. and that glimpse is enough for us to be forever amazed and comforted.

Today, are the souls of the faithfully departed (those who have 'died') awaiting a future resurrection?

For some minds 'yes', from my mind 'no'.

Have they already spiritually resurrected?

From my mind 'yes', for some minds 'no'.

However you conclude the answers to these questions should not be reason to be divided with me or others over this topic.

Let His love bind us together.

Let our gifted faith in the risen Christ bond us together.

Let the things difficult to understand, or what some are unsure about, or popular opinions strictly argued as accurate doctrine, not be reasons for us to be divided.

Let His peace be a bridge between any walls we may perceive separating us.

As I understand what God accomplished in Christ, the dead no longer 'rest' as they did before His resurrection.

Instead, they are now alive forever in Christ.

There was a time when all mankind who existed before Christ's arrival waited in the grave (or the realm called Sheol) after they died (or when their bodies ceased to 'live' according to the flesh).

This is evidenced in Ecclesiastes when reading Solomon's eloquence concerning the spirit of man after the body 'dies'.

All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 

Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth? 

- Ecclesiastes 3: 20-21

God knows.

What did man, at this point in history, 'know' about death?

For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; 

they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten. 

- Ecclesiastes 9: 5

Once the body expires, 'hope' regarding further efforts in this world (in the flesh) is sealed.

This is what, as I understand, Solomon was speaking to.

Death's finality regarding the flesh.

The finality that all mankind experiences a fleshly death and then journeys into the unknown.

An unknown journey until Christ, that is.

When we consider the term 'dead', we may be apt to understand only a single definition.

However, there are several meanings behind the word 'death' when considering God's message to mankind.

There is the physical definition of that word (as when a flower 'dies' and its material properties break down into other things - soil and such, and the flower is forever no more).

But when it comes to mankind, there is the flesh's death while the spirit of man continues.

This is what I think Solomon mentioned as was evidenced with Samuel.

What do we learn about death regarding the flesh and the spirit of a man?

What do we learn from the experience of a king previous to Solomon regarding the flesh's death?

Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah… 

... Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” 

“Bring up Samuel,” he said... 

... The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. 

What do you see?” 

The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.” 

“What does he look like?” he asked. 

“An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said. 

Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 

Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” 

- 1 Samuel 28: 3, 11, 13-15

Here we see Samuel, somehow, 'speaking from the grave' (or Sheol) after having died according to his flesh.

To be clear, is what wicked and rebellious for Saul to meet with a medium / witch and demand she raise the spirit of the dead.

But the lesson derived from this dramatic deviation is key.

Samuel heard, spoke, and even prophesied from the realm of the 'dead'.

Is this a contradiction to what Solomon was describing regarding the dead being unable to 'hear'?

We read that Samuel, or his spirit, was conscience and 'alive' despite his body having perished.

We can understand that Samuel was physically 'dead', yet was 'somewhere' and was 'disturbed' when summoned by a medium at king Saul's request.

I think Solomon was speaking of those who die according to the flesh, but do not die according to the spirit.

There is mention of a 'second death', and although we won't get into that this moment, this should be kept in mind.

Samuel was 'dead' according to the flesh, but 'alive' (or existing) according to his spirit as we can read.

Let us take a glimpse into the New Covenant:

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. 

By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. 

And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. 

- Hebrews 11: 4

Abel existed, in the flesh, prior to Solomon.

Abel still speaks (present tense) although dead.

This passage from Hebrews 11 to 12 answers the question posed:

All these people were still living by faith when they died. 

They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth...

... These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. 

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Yeshua, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 

For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the Right Hand of the throne of God. 

Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 

- Hebrews 11: 13, 39-40; 12: 1-3

Notice how the past tense is speaking to those who died and awaited the promise.

It was only with Christ they were to be perfected.

Notice it then speaks into the present tense in identifying all of the ancients as witnesses Today.

Can the dead be a witness?

Can the dead be 'watching' and 'listening' to the goings on over the earth?

Surely only the living.

Since the Gospel depicts Christ having died, and resurrected, and now sitting on the heavenly throne, we will read elsewhere in the Testimony where Christ is now not alone in heaven.

The point stressed in this passage is not to lose heart (be doubtful), but to be faithful about the hope of life after death regardless of this world's challenges.

Many have no idea how He holds our hands.

Let us look at how Christ corrected, and clarified, the confused notions about death and resurrection:

Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, 

‘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. 

You are badly mistaken!

- Mark 12: 26-27

Here we find Christ correcting a misconception about one thing (marriage in heaven) in teaching something more profound.

Here is mentioned three people who, according to the flesh, 'died' ages ago, and yet are somehow 'alive'.

These three names were awaiting, in the Sheol, the fulfillment of the ages - Christ.

Did Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (and others) after their physical death go immediately to heaven?

Not until Christ.

No one has ever gone into heaven except the One who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him. 

- John 3: 13-15

Prior to the fulfillment that Christ accomplished, the spirits of those who died had yet to go to heaven.

What did the death and resurrection of Christ accomplish?

The promise that the faithful who previously died shall be raised to eternal life in heaven... this was the work of the Cross.

The 'work' was the ultimate cleansing of sin, purification of all things unholy, so the spirits of men, tainted by their sin, can be ushered into the realm of love, light, life, heaven.

Here we will read the first fruits of the resurrection alongside Christ:

And when Yeshua had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His Spirit. 

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 

The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. 

The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 

They came out of the tombs after Yeshua’s resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 

- Matthew 27: 50-53

Many holy people rose to life and appeared to many people.

I find this quite amazing.

It is not clearly known who in fact rose to life at that time.

I dare say all destined for heaven since Adam.

Not only among the people named in the Jewish testimonies, but also the Gentiles whose consciences were bearing witness and defend themselves (Romans 2: 12-16).

What is clear: others rose from the dead besides Christ in the 1st century as depicted in Matthew 27.

Why don't we see this miraculous reality happen every time someone with faith passes away?

To mention briefly about spiritual realities being 'manifested' or made obvious by God, let us consider how the Holy Spirit works despite man's non-cognizance of its coming and going.

Notice with every miracle Christ did, there wasn't some ethereal occurrence besides the accomplishment of the good work.

In other words, no mystical sounds, or other thing beyond the physical.

Think of how the Apostles received the Holy Spirit.

There we do read about a mystical sound (the blowing of a strong wind) and also flames alighting over their heads, and them speaking in a variety of languages the testimony of God.

It was very dramatic, as was when the first Gentiles received the Holy Spirit.

The outward manifestation was affirming God's work.

Yet consider how this dramatic display of power is not continually repeated (according to the book of Acts and elsewhere up until Today).

Why not?

God affirms His Word very clearly for all to see, and then continues to work behind the physical scenes in the spiritual realm.

God is not a showman, nor does He need to repeat Himself when establishing something, or affirming something, or providing very clear and obvious evidence of something.

So, I think, is the same regarding the resurrection of the dead.

God initiated the spiritual reality to be revealed at an instance with others besides Christ when He revived those holy people and presented them publicly.

That was enough to confirm His promise and its fulfillment to the witnesses present.

And here we read about it so we may believe.

This is how elsewhere, the fact of Christ's resurrection and the resurrection of others is clearly established.

Notice this passage from the Corinthian letter is verifying the resurrection of the dead Today:

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 

More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the dead. 

But He did not raise Him if in fact the dead are not raised. 

For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 

Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 

- 1 Corinthians 15: 12-19

Key word is 'either'.

Here we see it mention the faithful who 'die' have merely 'fallen asleep'.

This is what it 'looks' like regarding the flesh, but notice is affirms those 'asleep' have been raised regarding their spirits.

This passage responds to a contentious argument (from a place of doubt) suggesting that the faithful dead are not resurrecting (although that argument acknowledges Christ did resurrect).

Notice it affirms Christ did not resurrect alone, but so did (and continue to do) the faithfully departed.

As I previously mentioned, it seems people may have been expecting to see physical resurrections similar to seeing the Holy Spirit manifest.

Christ is our archetype regarding this life's experience and our spirit's journey... even after death.

To provide a contention to this article, I'll ask:

Is this article's teaching... a teaching that was warned about as false as mentioned here?:

Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 

Their teaching will spread like gangrene. 

Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have departed from the truth. 

They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 

Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: 

“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, 

“Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” 

- 2 Timothy 2: 16-19

It is my understanding the resurrection mentioned in 2 Timothy 2 is speaking to what is popularly defined as the rapture, or a culmination of the age(s) where a magnificent manifestation in the heavens and the earth is changed in a blink of an eye (the depictions in Revelation).

As I understand there will be (again as before) a physical and overt resurrection for all eyes to see.

A great manifestation of power from heaven through His Right Hand (Yeshua).

I think it is this 'sign' that is mentioned in 2 Timothy, not the spiritual resurrections already declared and witnessed in the Testimony we read.

So we have those who have fallen asleep (yet their spirits have risen into heaven with Christ) according to the New Covenant's promise.

This mirrors the previous covenant where the faithful physically 'died' yet their spirits continued in the Sheol while awaiting the redemption by the Great High Priest.

It seems those two individuals mentioned by name in Timothy were hurting people's faith in spreading the expectation of 'seeing' all the faithfully departed physically rising, when the fact is that Christ taught a spiritual resurrection:

But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? 

With what kind of body will they come?” 

How foolish! 

What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 

When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 

But God gives it a body as He has determined, and to each kind of seed He gives its own body. 

Not all flesh is the same: 

People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 

There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; 

but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 

The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. 

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. 

The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 

it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; 

it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 

it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. 

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 

- 1 Corinthians 15: 35-44

Thus as there is a physical death, still the spirit of a man continues to 'live'.

So also there is a fleshly / natural body and a spiritual body.

Here we conclude that a natural body is sown, yet a spiritual body is harvested.

Thus the resurrection the dearly beloved experience Today is spiritual until the 'end'.

This is where the insight into the teaching that mentions Lazarus is quite profound.

Here we find where those who are children of God go, and where the goats go:

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 

At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. 

Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 

The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. 

The rich man also died and was buried. 

In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 

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.’ 

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. 

And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 

He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. 

Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 

Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 

 ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 

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.’ 

- Luke 16: 19-31

It is my understanding this is the spiritual reality behind the physical, behind the falling asleep of the faithful.

This is the order established under the New Covenant, an order God has set in place since the resurrection of Christ.

This is the hope that has been brought near to us, that hope those prior to Christ yearned and waited for.