What Kind of Thoughts Exist in the Dead?
Some people claim to have briefly “died” and been to heaven or to have seen glimpses of heaven after a near death experience. We will assume that most people who share such experiences are sincere. That being said, does the Bible give us any insight into this issue?
Ecclesiastes 9:5, “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.” (NKJV).
King Solomon is stating that one should use his time wisely in this life. Therefore, men should make the best of the life we have been given. Thanks to Jesus there is a coming resurrection of the dead. The dead will live again but the Bible says the dead know nothing until that time.
Ecclesiastes 9:9-10, “Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. 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.”
In this book of wisdom and poetic advice, Solomon directs us to try and enjoy our lives because we will have no consciousness, work, or any activity while in the grave. Does this advice agree with other parts of God’s Holy Word? Yes, it does.
Psalms 146:3-5, “Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans perish. Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God.”
The dead have no plans because they have no consciousness. But any hope we have in the after life rests with the God of Jacob, the God of the Old Testament, the God of the Bible.
Psalms 115:17, “The dead do not praise the LORD, nor any who go down into silence.”
The dead are in a state of silence. They are not having vivid visions of heaven according to what we learn from the Bible.
The Dead Are Asleep Until God Resurrects Them
The theme of the New Testament and gospel of Jesus is the resurrection. Jesus talked about the resurrection of the dead constantly with His followers, so much that it was common knowledge. Note what His followers said when Lazarus was raised from the dead.
John 11:23-24, “Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to Him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’’’
Martha knew the teachings of Christ well enough to know that her brother, a true believer, would be brought back to life and awakened in the resurrection at the second coming of Jesus. She knew this core message of the gospel regarding the Messiah’s future kingdom and raising up of believers to glory. Jesus goes on further to link His entire message to the resurrection of the dead.
John 11:25-26, “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’”
Jesus of Nazareth is the resurrection. His message is all about gaining eternal life––through Him––and many will be raised from the dead into glory. Believers will be awakened from their spiritual sleep when Jesus returns in glory and splendor. Wow! True believers and martyrs are sleeping during this period, awaiting that glorious day.
Acts 7:59-60, “And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
The state of the dead is sleep. They are not aware of anything going on around them until they are raised up by God. Line Upon Line has other programs about these topics for more details. Therefore it can be concluded that those who experience vivid memories of bright lights and heaven must have had dramatic dreams based on their expectations!
Normally people have dreams related to their concerns and the pressures they are under. We can only imagine that if one is in a hospital, facing death, that they would have dreams about what they thought the afterlife should include while under anesthesia. When awakened after a few minutes of no heartbeat, one might have a memory of vivid dreams related to the after life. The Bible is clear, the dead are asleep and know nothing.
True Believers Are Awakened From Sleep to Glory
The Bible is full of prophecies about the righteous being raised from the dead to receive glory. The book of Revelation describes how followers of Jesus will reign with Him. They will help Him create a paradise on this earth during the millennium. (Note Rev. 5:10) Furthermore, the prophet Daniel remarks on what awaits us as true believers.
Daniel 12:1-3, “At that time…. Every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
Now, in this life is the work of the church to help turn people to righteousness? Believers who repent and learn to love God will have their names written in the book of life. Those people will be raised to shine and glow with glory at the end of this age. Paul also encouraged believers with the same message.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, “…concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus…those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”
The Apostle Paul explains that those still alive at the return of Jesus will not precede those who have fallen asleep. They rise first, then those remaining will be raised to glory. Further, King David, a man after God’s own heart, is also asleep in the grave, NOT having heavenly visions. Remember, David’s descendant is Jesus the Messiah, so if anyone were seeing glory right after death it would be David.
Acts 13:35-37, “Therefore He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’ For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.”
Jesus is the only one yet raised from the dead to spiritual glory, and is the first of the first fruits to God. All others are asleep awaiting glory to come.
1 Corinthians 15:13-14, “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.”
1 Corinthians 15:19, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”
1 Corinthians 15:51-52, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
True believers should put their focus on being ready, whenever we pass away, to remain in Christ so we won’t have to just dream of glory but really inherit it thanks to Jesus OUR SAVIOR.
Philippians 3:10-11, “…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
By any means, we must stay with the Son of God, Jesus, until the end!
