THE PENALTY OF THE LAW

“God said to Adam, “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Gen 2:17)  If the soul is immortal, then God did not mean what he said, because an immortal creature could not be put to death.

Was this announced penalty of the law to apply to the body only, or to the soul?

Some contend that the body died and the soul continued to live, but the Bible answers (Ezek 18:4) “The soul that sins, it shall die, and again, in Psa 89:48, “What man is he that lives and shall not see death, shall he deliver his soul from the grave?”

MAN NOT IMMORTAL

Man is a soul. Man dies, therefore the soul dies. There is a distinction between eternal life and immortal life. A creature may live eternally and yet not be immortal. Immortality means that quality of life not subject to cessation; means that the creature cannot die and that even God has not the power to destroy such a one.

Has God power to destroy the soul?

Jesus answers ‘Fear him who is able to destroy soul and body, but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.’ (Matt 10:28)

Can a soul that is destroyed in hell still have consciousness?

Impossible! There is not one Scripture text which says, man processes an immortal soul.

THE DEAD UNCONSCIOUS

We have shown that man is a soul; that man-soul is subject to death; that it would be impossible for a dead soul or being to be conscious while dead. Now we offer some corroborative Scriptural proof establishing this fact beyond the question of a doubt, and we believe to the complete satisfaction of every one who believes the Bible.

Of course many chose not to take God’s word on it and continue to believe Satan’s lie.

THE DEAD ARE WITHOUT MEMORY

When a man dies, according to the Bible, he ceases to remember, nor can he give praise to God.

“For in death there is no remembrance of you; in the grave who will give you thanks?” (Psa 6:5).

“Will you work wonders for the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise you? Selah shall your lovingkindness be declared in the grave or your faithfulness in the place of destruction? Shall your wonders be known in the dark and your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?” (Psa 88:10-12)

If these Scriptures be true, then the dead could not be conscious.

THE DEAD SPEAK NOT

They also cease speaking. “The dead do not praise the Lord, nor any who go down into silence.” (Psa 115:17)

THE DEAD NEITHER BREATHE, THINK, FEEL

“You hide your face, they are troubled; you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.” (Psa 104:29)

“His breath goes forth, he returns to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” (Psa 146:4)

A person that cannot think and who knows nothing could not be conscious; neither could such an one feel. As an illustration, a man goes to the hospital to submit to a serious operation. Before the surgeon begins to use the knife he puts his patient under the influence of an anesthetic for the express purpose of producing unconsciousness, because he does not wish the patient to feel and thereby suffer pain of the operation.

THE DEAD CEASE TO HATE

“Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun.” (Eccl 9:6)

“For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.” (Eccl 9:5)

The dead stop working; there is no more device and no more scheming. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.” (Eccl 9:10)

We submit that when a man reaches the point where he cannot remember; cannot give thanks; cannot speak; cannot breathe; does not think; has no feeling; neither loves nor hates or envies; does not work; and knows not anything, he must be actually and completely dead, therefore unconscious.

Thus completely destroying the erroneous idea that the “Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus” is to be taken as a literal statement of facts rather than as the figurative illustration in which it was intended.

PERISHED

According to Young’s concordance, to perish means to be destroyed; to be cut off; to cease to exist. Therefore, a creature that has perished cannot be conscious anywhere.

Does man perish when he dies?

Let the Scriptures answer.

“For he sees wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; He is like the beasts that perish.” (Psa 49:10-12)

Continued with next post.