By Gary Ray Branscome
Although
the Bible focuses the attention of believers on Christ, while looking forward
to the Day of Judgment and the promise of eternal life, it says comparatively little
about the state of blessedness that believers enjoy immediately after death.
The Bible speaks of believers waiting “eagerly for the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ” (1Corinthians 1:7). It also reminds us that Christ “will
transform our vile bodies, and make them like His glorified body”
(Philippians
Nevertheless, the Bible does speak of the condition of souls after
death. The words, “He [Christ] also proclaimed His victory to the spirits in
prison,” describe the souls of the wicked and unbelieving as being in
“prison” (1Peter 3:19). The words, “I am tormented in this flame,” tell
us that they suffer torment (Luke 16:24). And, the words, “Into hell, into
the fire that shall never be put out,” tell us that there will be no end to
their torment (Mark
On
the other hand, the Bible assures us that the souls of the godly are in God’s
hand. At death, Stephen cried out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,”
(Acts 7:59). At death Jesus cried out, “Father, into your hands I commend my
spirit,” (Luke 23:46). Paul said, “I desire to depart, and to be with
Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:23). And, Christ said to the
thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke
23:43). In the Book of Revelation we read, “Blessed are the dead who die in
the Lord” (Rev. 14:13). The psalmist writes, “At your right hand there
are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11). Jesus prayed, “Father, I also
want those, whom you have given me, to be with me where I am; and to see my
glory” (John 17:24). And, Paul writes, “I reckon that the sufferings of
this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be
revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). Therefore, because the souls of those who
have died in faith are with God, the words, “The dead do not praise the LORD,”
are speaking of unbelievers, or bodies in the grave, not the souls of believers
(Psalm 6:5 and 115:17). As it is written, “I heard the voice of a great
multitude in heaven, shouting, Hallelujah” (Revelation 19:1).
The Bible tells us that “The righteous”
are “taken away from the evil to come” (Isaiah 57:1). And, the words, “You
are our Father, even though Abraham does not know us,” make it clear that
those who have passed on are not even aware of us, or of all of the wickedness
and misery going on in this world (Isaiah 63:16). Those who deny this truth in
order to justify prayer to the saints are not only engaging in an idolatrous
practice, but such behavior borders on an attempt to contact the dead which
Scripture clearly forbids. As it is written, “There shall not be found among
you any one who… talks with those who are dead, for all that do such things are
abomination unto the LORD” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
Some see the appearance of Moses and Elijah at
the transfiguration of Christ, or the appearance of "Samuel" at Endor as an exception to this rule (Matthew 17:3; 1Samuel
28:11-16). However, that is not necessarily the case. There is much we do not
understand, and it would be wrong to just let our imaginations run wild. There
is nothing in the account of Christ’s transfiguration to indicate that Moses
and Elijah were aware of the apostles, much less of anything else going on in
the world at that time. And, what the witch saw at Endor
may have been a vision of Samuel, rather than Samuel himself. That is indicated
by the fact that Saul could not see Samuel. Furthermore, the message Saul
received was clearly one of condemnation. Therefore, because Scripture is the
source and standard of our faith, we should never interpret unclear passages to
contradict its clear condemnation of those who attempt to contact the dead
(Isaiah
Between death and resurrection, all souls exist in one of two states;
the state of being forgiven, or the state of being unforgiven.
The words, “Today you will be with me in paradise,” tell us that those
who die forgiven experience the joy and light of God’s presence (Luke 23:43).
While the words, “Throw him into outer darkness; where there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth,” tell us that those who die without forgiveness will
experience the horror and torment of hell (Matthew 22:13). Since these souls
are no longer in the physical realm, the idea of them residing in physical
places is unrealistic. Christ said that He was going to “prepare a place for” us,
and we will be with Him “in paradise,” but idle speculation about the nature of
such a place will not give us any facts beyond what is plainly stated in
Scripture. Furthermore, the words, “Where their worm does not die, and the
fire is never put out,” make it clear that there is no forgiveness after
death (Mark 9:48). Therefore, when Christ, “preached to the spirits in prison,”
He was not offering them forgiveness, but proclaiming His victory as the Greek
word kerusso indicates, and as the context
shows (1Peter 3:19).
The claim that Old Testament saints could not get into heaven because
Christ had not yet obtained forgiveness, flies in the face of all that the Old
Testament says about forgiveness. As it is written, “The Lord our God is
merciful and forgives,” (Daniel 9:9). “The sin which he has done shall
be forgiven him” (Leviticus 19:22). “You have forgiven the iniquity of
your people,” (Psalm 85:2). Just as God is not limited by time, the
forgiveness that He has provided for us is not limited by time. In fact,
because it is forgiveness and forgiveness alone that makes us righteous in the
sight of God, without forgiveness Abraham’s faith could never have been counted
to Him for righteousness (Galatians 3:6).
Likewise,
the claim that infants that die without baptism are kept in “limbo” unable to
enter either heaven or hell is not taught anywhere in Scripture, but is just a
figment of someone’s imagination. The words, “The wicked are estranged from
the womb,” apply to all who die without forgiveness. While the words, “As
the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the babe leapt in my womb for joy,”
tell us that God is able to impart faith [and thus joy in the presence of the
Lord] to the smallest of infants (Luke 1:42-44). “The LORD’S hand is not
shortened, that it cannot save;” (Isaiah 59:1). Therefore, instead of
professing ourselves to be wise, we need to admit our ignorance while trusting
infants to God and His justice.
The
words, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one who
believes,” tell us that it is the forgiveness that is ours in Christ, not
the law, that makes us righteous in the sight of God (Romans 10:4). And, the
words, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us of all sin,” tell
us that all of our sin is completely removed by Christ’s sacrifice and atoning
death on our behalf (1John 1:7). For that reason the claim that Christ’s death
is not sufficient to pay for some sins, or that those who are guilty must atone
for those sins by suffering in purgatory is not only unscriptural, it is
anti-Christian. Worse yet, because it offers the guilty a false hope it is a
false gospel. And, the words, “If anyone preaches any gospel to you other
than the one you received, let him be accursed,” tell us that all who teach
it are under God’s curse.