Following on from the topic “The State of the dead – Conscious or Asleep” which looked to show that man is an integrated whole consisting only of flesh and blood. He was dust and God inspired that dust and he became a living soul. He is not consisting of a physical body possessed by an immortal metaphysical soul. Rather he dies and the breath inspiring his body returns to God who will put it back at the end of the age when the dead are resurrected either to life or to destruction.
There are however a few passages in scripture that would suggest otherwise if one reads them with a particular theological view point. This section “the state of the dead – Common objections” is intended to exhibit the intended reading of those passages, creating a unified doctrine with the rest of scripture.
In this teaching the following objections are discussed, 1. Saul talking to dead Samuel 2. God of the living Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, 3. Paul wishing to be absent from the body and present with the Lord, 4. The souls of martyrs under the altar 5. Luke 16 – The rich man and Lazarus, 6. Moses and Elijah at the transfiguration, 7. Jesus and the Thief on the cross, and 8. Jesus preaching to the breaths in prison
1. Saul talking to dead Samuel – 1 Samuel 28-31
Séance forbidden by God – Leviticus 20:6
All pagan worship and practices are offered to demons – Lev. 17:7; Deut. 32:17; 1 Cor. 10:20-22; Rev. 9:20
2. God of the living Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - Matthew 22:23-32/Mark 12:18-27/Luke 20:27-38
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are dead – Gen. 25:8; Gen. 35:29; Gen. 49:33
3. Paul wishing to be absent from the body and present with the Lord – 2 Corinthians 4:7-5:11
4. The souls of martyrs under the altar
Soul = Blood – Genesis 9:3-4;
Blood for atonement - Leviticus 17:10-14, Deuteronomy 12:23-25
Blood sprinkled on mercy seat and poured under the altar – Leviticus 4:7,18,25,30,34; 5:9; 8:9; 9:9
Cry for justice – Gen. 4:10-11, Luke 11:50-51, Hebrews 12:24,
5. Luke 16:19-31 – The rich man and Lazarus
Warning to religious leaders – Matthew 21; Isaiah 5; Psalm 80
Rich man (Levitical priesthood) in purple and fine linen – Mark 15:17, Exodus 39:27-29
Lazarus (Jesus) – Psalm 22:16-19; 40:6-17
Destruction of Levitical priesthood – Isaiah 50:6-7
Jesus a poor homeless beggar - 2 Corinthians 8:9; Matthew 8:20
Jesus bore diseases and infirmities – Matthew 8:16-17
Dogs (Sympathetic gentiles) – Matthew 15:22-28
Jesus ascension to Heaven (Lazarus carried to Abraham’s bosom) – Acts 1:9-11
Abraham’s Bosom – Genesis 16:5; Genesis 17
Rich man died and in torment (Levitical priesthood destroyed) – Matthew 23:37-24:2; Luke 19:41-44; Luke 21:20-24; Luke 23:26-31; Deut. 32:19-22; Isaiah 28-29; Isaiah 50:11; Malachi 1:6-3:12
Five brothers of Levi – Genesis 30
Lack of belief should one (Christ) rise from the dead – John 14:19-20; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
Literal interpretation contradicts Job 21:22-30 and Rev 20:11-15
6. Moses and Elijah at the transfiguration – Matthew 16:27-17:13/ Mark 8:38-9:13/ Luke 9:26-36
In glory, the resurrection – John 7:39; Romans 8:18-19; 1 Corinthians 15:43; and Colossians 3:4
A vision “hórama” – Acts 10 (Peter’s vision); Acts 16 (Paul’s vision of Macedonia call); Acts 9 (Ananias vision of the Lord)
Fulfillment of prophecies – Psalm 2; 2 Pet. 1:16-19
7. Jesus and the Thief on the cross – Luke 23:39-43
Paradise literally garden – Genesis 2:9, Isaiah 51:3, Rev 2:7
8. Jesus preaching to the breaths in prison – Acts 2:27, Ephesians 4:7-10 and 1 Peter 3:17-22
Angels in prison – 2 Peter 2:4
The dead know nothing – Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 and verse 10
