The condition of the soul between death and the resurrection is a thing which I have never been able to solve satisfactorily. I sometimes think we are not intended to solve the mystery.
If it were left to our wisdom to "solve," it would remain a mystery for ever; but "those things which are revealed belong unto us and our children;" and the state of the dead is one concerning which God has taken pains to give us special information. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13 we read: "I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
Since God, who inspired the words of Paul, does not wish us to be ignorant on the subject, it is evident that we may understand it by simply giving heed to His Word. So we read further: "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent ["precede" RV] them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)
Notice that "the dead in Christ" are said to be "asleep." When Stephen was stoned by the priestly mob, "He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep." (Acts 7:60)
That leaves us in no doubt as to the condition of the dead. We well know that sound sleep is a condition of utter unconsciousness. The one who is asleep takes no note of the passing time. One may awake after half-an-hour's sleep, and think that he has slept hours; and on the other hand a night's sleep may seem but as a moment. The sleeper is totally unconscious of everything that is going on around him; and so a sleep, in which there is breath left in the body, is used as a perfect representation of death, in which the breath has departed.
What more need be said? It is evident that those who are asleep are not singing praises. They are not with the Lord; for it is not till the Lord descends from heaven with a shout, and the trump of God, that they are raised, and, with those who have remained alive until the Lord's coming, are taken to be with the Lord. "So shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
How? By the resurrection of the sleeping saints, and the translation of the living, at the second coming of Christ.
As a matter of fact there is no "mystery" whatever about the state of the dead. We are unfortunately too familiar with death not to have had ocular demonstration of the fact that the condition of the dead is in every respect the exact opposite of that of the living. But there is a mystery connected with them nevertheless, and that is the giving of life to them again. This is set forth in the following words, which further emphasize the fact that the dead are not now with the Lord, but are in the dust of the earth: "Behold, I show 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." (1 Corinthians 15:51-54)
It may be asked, "What difference does it make what the condition of the dead is, or what we believe about it? How can our belief about this matter affect our lives as Christians?"
Whether we know what difference it makes, or not, it is evident that it is important for us to know the truth, else Inspiration would not express such solicitude that we should not remain ignorant. Only those things are unimportant, of which the Scripture says nothing; everything revealed in the Bible is of the utmost importance.
The reason given for telling us about those that are asleep, is that we should not sorrow as those who have no hope. "The righteous has hope in his death," (Proverbs 14:32) and this hope is the resurrection at the coming of Christ. Note that all depends upon the coming of the Lord. If He were not coming, there would be no hope for those who have fallen asleep, nor for the living either, for that matter. "If the dead rise not, ... Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." (1 Corinthians 15:16,18)
There is one reason why we should know the truth, and that is, in order that we may not be led astray by lying spirits. The spirits personate dead men, and come with messages to their friends.
There is the most abundant and conclusive evidence that these Spiritualist manifestations are of a supernatural character; and those who believe that their dead friends are in heaven, or who are in doubt as to their condition, can easily be made to believe that the communications purporting to come from them are messages direct from heaven.
It has often been the case that men have been led to abandon their faith in Christ, through giving heed to these "seducing spirits;" (1 Timothy 4:1) for when men are in doubt on one item of revelation, it is easy to lead them to doubt others.
But one who is instructed in the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make us "wise unto salvation," (2 Timothy 3:15) and who holds to them, cannot be deceived by any pretended communications from the dead, no matter what "tests" the spirits may give. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable and necessary. (2 Timothy 3:16)
One more item is worthy of special note in the comfort which the Apostle Paul gives to the sorrowing ones. They are not to sorrow as those that have no hope, because God will bring the sleeping ones from the grave. But when he comes to the grand climax, after stating that when the Lord descends the dead shall rise first, and then we shall be "caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air," (1 Thessalonians 4:17) it is not said, "and so shall we ever be together;" but, "so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
That is the "blessed hope" (Titus 2:13) above all others. It is the being with
Him that makes it possible for friends to be united; for apart from Him there is nothing. There is no real friendship or relationship even in this world, except in Christ; there can be no perfect union except in Him. In Him all fullness dwells; in Him all relationship is summed up.
This is what makes the loss of all things, and even of friends, endurable; for He is the same, and His years do not fail. (Hebrews 1:12) Though we lose everything, yet in Him we have everything; and so, when in the world to come we rejoice at the meeting with friends, it will be known and recognized that the love of each is but a branch from the mighty stream flowing from the heart of Christ.--Present Truth, April 10, 1902.