Expert: Sal - 8/17/2007

Question
Hi Sal, You answered a question from Gerald regarding the differences of beliefs of Catholics and 7th Day Adventists. In your answer, you said you have information regarding the incorrectness of the 7th Day Adventists beliefs about the true Sabbath day, the dead sleeping; etc. I am interested in reading the information you have so that I can get a better understanding about why the beliefs of Adventists are not correct, or true. My email address is kenrudge@yahoo.com. I hope you will sent me this information.
God Bless You,
Ken

Answer
Dear Ken:

Here are some biblical passages that disprove the SDA doctrine of "Soul Sleep".


In the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) we read of the dead being conscious. In the face of this obvious contradiction to their theology, the SDA claim that this story is a parable; therefore, they do not have to consider what Jesus says as literally true. Even if one accepts this story as a parable, does it follow that one can dismiss what it says? The answer is: no. In what other parable does our Lord use a falsehood to teach truth? The answer is: none. So whether this story is a parable or not the fact remains that Jesus speaks of the dead as conscious, and he never used a falsehood to teach a truth.  

Another passage that shows that Jesus believed that the dead were conscious is found in the story of the Good Thief (Luke 23:39-43). Jesus indicates the consciousness of the dead with his statement, “I assure you: this day you will be with me in paradise” (v. 43). So strong and clear is this statement of our Lord that the SDA tries to manipulate the very words of our Lord. They make a slight, but important change. “I assure you today: you will be with me in paradise.”  It may be informative to know that no Bible scholar translates v. 43 in that manner. Firstly, it would be ridiculous of our Lord to be informing the Good Thief that he was speaking to him this day! Secondly, Jesus uses the phrase, “I assure you” (also translated as “Verily, verily”, “Truly, truly”, or “Amen, amen”) over 70 times in the gospels. Never once does he add to the phrase what day it is that he is speaking. He always uses the phrase followed by a promise or statement of fact. Therefore, the SDA has no legitimate grounds for changing the traditional rendering of this passage.

The two greatest Apostles, Peter and Paul, both believed in the consciousness of the dead. St. Peter tells us what Jesus did while his body lay in the tomb.

“He was put to death as far as earthly existence goes, but was given life in the realm of the spirit. It was in the spirit also that he went to preach to the spirits in prison” (I Peter 3:18b-19).

Peter relates that Jesus went to preach the gospel to those spirits in Hades who had died before his saving ministry began (see also 4:6). St. Paul believed that he would be with the Lord upon death. “I repeat, we are full of confidence and would much rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (II Corinthians 5:7). The nonsense of the SDA’s position on soul sleep is highlighted by: “If on the other hand, I am to go on living in the flesh, that means productive toil for me-and I do not know which I prefer. I am strongly attracted by both; I long to be freed from this life and be with Christ, for this is a far better thing, yet it is more urgent that I remain alive for your sakes” (Philipians 1:22-24).

Could anyone truly believe that St. Paul would consider it “ a far better thing” to be unconscious rather than to be preaching the saving message of his Lord? St. Paul is clear that he believed that upon death one would be “ at home with the Lord” not unconscious.

Even in the Old Testament that did not have the complete revelation (see Hebrews 1:1-2) we still see indications of knowledge of the consciousness of the dead. Isaiah relates how the dead in Hades react to the death of the King of Babylon. “The nether world below is all astir preparing for your coming…All of them speak out and say to you, ‘You too have become weak like us, you are the same as we’” (Isaiah 14:9-10).   Ezekiel relates a similar scene, “Then from the midst of the nether world, the mighty warriors shall speak to Egypt” (Ezekiel 32:20). Further, he tells us that the deceased Pharaoh sees and is comforted (v. 31).

An amazingly clear account of the consciousness of the dead occurs in I Samuel 28. Here the deceased Samuel appears to King Saul. This passage is so clearly opposed to the SDA position that they have taken to saying that Samuel really wasn’t Samuel, but a demon. The text, however, does not even remotely support such an interpretation. The inspired author is extremely clear in his belief that Samuel was Samuel. For example, “When the woman saw Samuel…” (v. 12), “Samuel then said…” (v. 15), “To this Samuel said…” (v. 16), and “…shaken by Samuel’s message” (v. 20). Since the inspired author is so clear we dare not hold a contrary opinion.

A later writer commenting on I Samuel 28 wrote, “Even while he (Samuel) lay buried, his guidance was sought, he made known to the king (Saul) his fate, and from the grave he raised his voice as a prophet, to put an end to wickedness” (Sirach 46:20).

One more passage which disproves Soul Sleep is Matthew 17:1-8. Here Jesus appears on the Mount of Transfiguration speaking to Elijah and Moses. While Elijah may not have died (see II Kings 2:11; I Maccabees 2:58), Moses certainly did. “So there, in the land of Moab, Moses, the servant of the Lord, died…” (Deuteronomy 34:5). Yet we read, “Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them conversing with him” (Matthew 17:3). Once again the evidence is so strong against them that the SDA church resorts to an illogical, unbiblical attempt to keep their doctrine. They state that Moses must have been resurrected! This is nowhere found in the Bible.

I believe that these passages make it abundantly clear that the Bible doesn’t support the SDA doctrine of Soul Sleep. If I can be of further help please did not hesitate to ask.

God Bless You,
Sal