King David believed the dead were in their graves and not in Heaven praising the Lord. He said, “It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to silence; it is we [the living] who extol the Lord.” (Psalm 115:17,18, insertion mine.) The apostle Peter also confirmed this point. On the day of Pentecost he spoke about King David saying, “Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day…For David did not ascend to heaven…” (Acts 2:29,34)

Solomon leaves no room for doubt regarding this topic. He explains the state of man in death very clearly. He said that the dead are unaware of anything that occurs on Earth. He wrote, “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten. Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5,6)

Jesus Called Death “Sleep”

Many Christians do not correctly understand man’s condition in death. More than 50 times in the New Testament, death is called sleep. There are two reasons for this: First, death is actually like a sleep. (See John 11:11-14.) There is no awareness in death (or during a good night’s sleep). Second, the first death is temporary (just as sleep is temporary), whereas the second death lasts forever. When Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha died, Jesus referred to Lazarus’ death as sleep. (John 11.) Why did Jesus refer to Lazarus as being asleep? For an obvious reason – the death that Lazarus experienced was temporary, just like sleep is temporary. When we sleep deeply, we are unaware of our surroundings. However, sleep does not last forever. Think of the “resurrection” as a powerful awakening. Every person who lives and dies will live again and God will awaken from his or her sleep everyone who dies in one of two resurrections. The Bible indicates there are two resurrections – one for the saints and the other for the wicked. The first resurrection occurs at the Second Coming. This means there will be a judgment of human beings prior to the Second Coming, because Jesus will decide who is righteous and who is not before He comes. Therefore, those judged to be righteous would be resurrected at the Second Coming. (1 Thessalonians 4:16) The people judged to be wicked would be resurrected at the end of the millennium. (Revelation 20:5)

This is a critical point: Natural death (the first death) is not the penalty for sin. Natural death comes as a consequence of being separated from the Tree of Life. The penalty for sin, however, is death by execution and God will implement the penalty for sin at the end of the millennium. (Revelation 20:14,15) Once the distinction between these two deaths is understood, it becomes clear why no one could be burning in hell right now. The second death by execution has not been implemented! The penalty for sin has not been imposed on anyone except Jesus and that happened when He died on Calvary. When Jesus died on the cross, He suffered the penalty for our sins, namely, death by execution.

Did Jesus Preach to the Spirits in Hell?

The following text is sometimes offered as a proof text showing that Jesus preached to the souls of dead people after He died on the cross. 1 Peter 3:18-20 says, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.” Did Jesus preach to the spirits of the antediluvians after He died on the cross? If Jesus did this, what did He offer them? Did Jesus grant them a pardon for their rebellion or did He shake a divine finger at them and say, “Eternal hell is the reward you deserve – you vile unbelievers?” Is it possible to escape from hell after being sent there? Did Jesus release any hostages from hell? Id so, where is the evidence? Since hell is believed to be the worst possible torture chamber ever devised, would repentance come from a contrite heart or would charbroiled sinner say anything in order to get relief from anguish? Although most Christians believe the soul remains alive after death, they generally reject the second chance theory for salvation after death, believing that matters pertaining to our eternal reward are determined during our present life on Earth.

So, what does Peter say in this text? Peter teaches that the same Holy Spirit that attempted to bring the antediluvians to their senses before the flood brought Jesus to life. Notice what the Lord told Noah in Genesis 6:3, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever.” I think most people would agree that if possible for a person to be physically alive but spiritually dead. (Romans 8:10) Peter says that Jesus was physically put to death in the body, but made alive by the same Spirit that tried to save the antediluvians. Because of decadence and rebellion against God, the antediluvians were dead in the Spirit. Since they were not willing to allow the Spirit to, lead them onto the ark, they drowned when the flood came.

The context of 1 Peter 3 and 4 shows that Peter is not saying that Jesus preached to imprisoned antediluvians during the time He was dead. In fact, in the verses that follow Peter flips the topic 180 degrees by saying that people who are “alive in the Spirit” are dead to debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and idolatry – the very conditions that caused the antediluvian’s destruction. Peter concludes by saying, “They [those dead to the Holy Spirit] think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they have to give an account to him who is ready to judge the living and those who are now dead [to spiritual matters], so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but [change their ways and] live according to god in regard to the spirit.” (1 Peter 4:4-6, insertion mine.)

Rich Man – Poor Man

In Luke 16: 19-31, Jesus told the story of a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. Many people today use this story to confirm the doctrine of an eternally burning hell. Here is the story:

“Here was a rich man who was dressed 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 died and was buried. In hell, 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 fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from here to us.’ He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let them be 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.’”

When telling this parable, Jesus addressed two theological issues that the Sadducees and Pharisees often debated. The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection (they were “sad you see”), but the Pharisees believed in the resurrection and the mention of this topic would start a hotly contested debate. Paul used this contentious subject to cleverly distract his accusers so he could escape with his life! (See Acts 23:8,9.) The doctrine of prosperity was a second theological issue hotly debated between these two sects of Jews. The Sadducees believed that wealth and prosperity were physical signs of God’s approval and poverty was a terrible curse for wrongdoing. (People today still debate this doctrine.) In other words, poor people were gross sinners because the absence of prosperity proved they were under God’s condemnation. (See Deuteronomy 28)

Jesus’ use of this parable about a rich man and a poor man allowed Him to cleverly merge these two issues together. Jesus’ purpose was to present a larger truth that is found at the end of the story. In the parable, the rich man represents the self-centered, richly blessed nation of Israel God had given them every blessing and instead of sharing God’s blessings, they appropriated the blessings of God to themselves. The beggar, Lazarus, represents the impoverished Gentiles, who had received only a few spiritual crumbs from the bountiful table of the Jews. Notice how Jesus reversed the rewards in the next life. The beggar 9the Gentile) goes to Heaven, but the rich man (the Jew) is sent to hell. From the rich man cries out for relief to Abraham, the exalted grandfather of Israel who was residing in Heaven. Abraham explains the justice is being served and the time has come for the poor to be blessed and the rich to suffer. When the rich man realizes his fate, he wants to warn his brothers about hell, but Abraham refuses to release Lazarus (the Gentile) from Heaven to help them. Abraham rebukes the rich man (the Jew) in hell says, “Your brothers have Moses and the Prophets [the Scriptures]; let them listen to them.” But, the rich man pleads, “If someone [like Lazarus is resurrected] from the dead [and he] goes to them [the Jews], they will repent.” (Luke 16:29,30)

Do Dead Souls Talk Back?

The concept of dead people living in Heaven or hell after they die opens a door for communications with the dead. (Leviticus 19:31; 20:6; Deuteronomy 18:10,11; Isaiah 8:19) The reason is simple. The state of man in death is as a sleep; man knows nothing. (Ecclesiastes 9:5,6) Therefore, God forbids any communication with spirits or with the spirits of the deceased because demons can masquerade as deceased people. When a person communicates first hand with a loved one that is deceased, the power of deception is as good as it gets. Demons know us well. Because they observe and study our behavior, demons can speak about personal matters that are surprisingly accurate and true. Their sole objective is to lead us into rebellion against God.

A few years ago, a lady I know began communicating with her deceased mother through a medium. At first, she was skeptical that communication with her deceased mother was even possible. However, depressed and lonely for her mother’s company, she decided to give it a try. During the séance she asked a question that only her mother could correctly answer. When the voice speaking through the medium gave the correct answer, she was overwhelmed with the thought that she was truly in her mother’s presence. Do not be like Eve and underestimate the power of demonic deception. I have found that once a person communicates with a deceased loved one Scripture no longer seems convincing. The delusion is that powerful! People who communicate with spirits or “channels” for spirits have real encounters. The experience is just as real as two people speaking to each other. King Saul visited the witch of Endor and he had a real encounter with a demon that pretended to be Samuel! So, beware of demons. They can and do talk back! (See 1 Samuel 28 and Matthew 8: 28:34.)

Sometimes, the following text is used as Bible proof that communicating with the dead is possible. At first glance, this text seems to indicate that the souls of martyrs talk with God and He responds. “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the alter the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’ Then each one of them were given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.” (Revelation 6:9-11)

Bible writers occasionally use a literary device called personification to make a point. Personification is a literary technique for giving something inanimate a lifelike quality, so that the object speaks and acts as though it were alive. For example, when Cain killed Abel, God spoke to Cain saying, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.” (Genesis 4:10) Abel’s blood did not literally “cry out” to God for justice. In stead, God used this form of personification to emphasize that Abel’s death required justice. God demanded an answer from Cain for what he had done. The shedding of innocent blood always “cries out” for justice and eventually, God’s vengeance will be served and restitution will be extracted for every wrongful death. (Jeremiah 19)

John also uses personification to convey the largest possible story with the fewest words. In Revelation 6:9-11 the blood of innocent martyrs “cries out” to God for justice, asking Him to end the senseless martyrdom occurring during the Great Tribulation. God responds by telling the martyrs to be patient. Jesus knows what He is doing. He has a larger purpose in mind and His plan must be accomplished first. He assures the martyrs of salvation and tells them to wait for His plan to be fulfilled. The martyrs are given white robes that indicate they are sealed with the righteousness of Christ. (Compare Revelation 2:10, 3:5; John 6:39; Matthew 16:25; Revelation 22:12.)

When the martyrdom of the fifth seal actually begins, the words of Revelation 6 will become very comforting to the saints. Even as the saints cry out to God for help, He has already assured them with the message written in Revelation 6:9-11. This text also reveals that there is a greater purpose that needs to be accomplished before martyrdom comes to an end. As people witness the faithfulness of the martyrs, there will be some who will finally surrender their rebellion against God. Christian history proves that no argument is more powerful or persuasive than the blood of martyrs who willingly lay down their lives for the cause of Christ.

What About Forever and Ever?

Here is another difficult Bible text: “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11) This text does not mean the wicked are burning forever and ever. Revelation 20:9 states the wicked are “devoured” at the end of the millennium. The purpose of hell fire is not eternal torment. I believe God has chosen to use fire at the end of the 1,000 years for three reasons: restitution, penalty and purification! The wicked will suffer proportionately to the deeds they refused to make right (restitution). The wicked will be put to death by fire (the penalty for sin is death by execution). Sin and its horrible consequences will be destroyed in the lake of fire and the cancer of sin will cease to exist (purification). “Whatever they plot against the Lord he will bring to an end; trouble [sin] will not come a second time.” (Nahum 1:9, insertion mine.) After purifies the Earth with fire, He will create a new Heaven and a new Earth. John says, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.” (Revelation 21:1) The smoke rising from the destruction of the wicked and the purification of the world ascends upward forever and ever- just like ordinary smoke does today.

What about Night and Day?

Let us go back to Revelation 14:10,11 and notice something else. The wicked: “will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or anyone who receives the mark of his name.” The issue we need to understand in this text concerns the lack of rest-day or night. Look again at the verse: “There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or anyone who receives the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:11) Some people use these words to indicate the wicked writhe in the flames of hell day and night forever and ever. These words, however, are not describing the experience of the wicked at the end of the 1,000 years. These words are describing the experience of the wicked during the Great Tribulation! This verse reveals the intensity of the work of the Holy Spirit does during the Great Tribulation. When the 144,000 powerfully present the gospel to everyone, people who refuse the gospel will ultimately have no choice but to submit to the devil (the Antichrist). Those who submit to the demands of the devil will not only violate their conscience; they will emotionally wrestle with every effort of the Holy Spirit puts forth. The Holy Spirit will vigorously disturb every soul who persists in rebellion in an attempt to persuade them to submit to God’s authority. (Joel 2:28-32) This is why Revelation 14:11 says, “There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his mane.” Guilt-ridden and stubborn in their rebellion against God, they will not have peace day or night because the Holy Spirit will not give up on them until God’s offer of salvation is terminated at the seventh trumpet. (See Revelation 10:7; 11:15-19; John 16:8-11.) Eventually, they will no longer hear the Holy spirit prompting their conscience and the wicked will cooperate with the Antichrist’s forces to kill and torture the saints.

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