Bible Readings — Bible Questions Answered

Thoughts and Feelings of the Dead

What does one in this condition know about his family? BR-ASI9 348.8

“His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.” Job 14:21. BR-ASI9 348.9

What becomes of man’s thoughts at death? BR-ASI9 348.10

“His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth, in that very day his thoughts perish.” Psalm 146:4. BR-ASI9 348.11

Do the dead know anything? BR-ASI9 348.12

“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything.” Ecclesiastes 9:5. BR-ASI9 348.13

Do they take any part in earthly things? BR-ASI9 348.14

“Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 9:6. BR-ASI9 348.15

Note.—In death one loses the attributes of mind—love, hatred, envy, etc. Thus it is plain that his thoughts have perished, and that he can have nothing more to do with the things of this world. But if, as taught by some, man’s powers of thought continue after death, he lives; and if he lives, he must be somewhere. Where is he? Is he in heaven, or in hell? If he goes to either place at death, what then is the need of a future judgment, or of a resurrection, or of the second coming of Christ? If men go to their reward at death, before the judgment takes place, then their rewards precede their awards. BR-ASI9 348.16

How much does one know of God when dead? BR-ASI9 349.1

“For in death there is no remembrance of Thee.” Psalm 6:5. BR-ASI9 349.2

Note.—As already seen, the Bible everywhere represents the dead as asleep, with not even a remembrance of God. If they were in heaven or hell, would Jesus have said, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth”? John 11:11. If so, calling him to life was really robbing him of the bliss of heaven that rightly belonged to him. BR-ASI9 349.3