Subject: An interesting discussion/question |
Bible Note: Hello Val, As I mentioned in the reply to Tamara, we all read into the Scriptures our own theology. We shouldn't, and we should all try not too. But we all do this. The sooner one realizes it, the better they become at avoiding it, but since they are human, they still will. It is impossible not to. As for the verses, there are plenty. Mostly in the OT, but a few in the NT. I know you like to do the inductive Bible study one book at a time. However, sometimes you have to step back and look at it as a whole. The OT scribes did not seem to believe in an afterlife. There are verses that due to vague translations appear to say otherwise (Ecc 12:7) but upon closer examination you find it doesn't mean afterlife in the Hebrew. Anyway, the OT writers didn't seem to believe in an afterlife. All who died (whether good or bad) went to the same place, Sheol. Which was basically just the grave. Sheol is described as a place of no knowledge, can't remember or praise God, gloom and deep shadow, disorder, where even light is like darkness, no working or planning or wisdom. By the way, in case you didn't read the post to Tamara, I don't call it soul sleep I call it death. I believe you ACTUALLY die, not just your body. When reading the OT it is apparent these guys thought the same thing. I believe you actually die...until the resurrection that is. If we don't actually die, then Satan didn't really lie to us did he (Gen 3:4)? We just live on forever somewhere else. Here are some verses to consider - Job 12:20 - Job 14:7-17 - Psalms 6:5 - Ecc 3:18-21 - Ecc 9:5 - Ecc 9:10 What is more important than what these verses say is what the rest of the OT doesn't say. It does not talk about an afterlife except for Daniel and Job. Both have an idea of time elapsing between death and resurrection. jamison |