Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they no longer have a reward [here], for the memory of them is forgotten. |
Bible Question: What about Ps 16:3,4 and in John 11:11 where Jesus tell the people that Lazarus is asleep, meaning dead. I would think that Lazarus would say something if he was called back down to this earth after he had been in heaven for 3 days. And John 5: 28, 29. Psalm 115:17 – the dead do not praise God, i would think that the dead would praise God if they were in heaven. What do you think about these verses? Please let me know. |
Bible Answer: Greetings "Here I am Lord", Death in the Old Testament is described as "sleep" (Daniel 12:2), which is a metaphor, meaning that the dead will someday "wake up" from their temporary condition and go on to an eternal state - "some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Dan. 12:2). Other Old Testament writers also describe death as not being the end of existence. Some describe it euphemistically as a reunion with one's ancestors (Gen. 15:5; 35:29; 1 Kings 2:10). Likewise, in the New Testament, Paul also reflects this same view that death is a temporary condition (Eph. 5:14; 1 Thess. 4:13-14). You stated, "the dead do not praise God, I would think that the dead would praise God if they were in heaven." Hosea 13:14 says that the Lord will redeem His faithful people from death. Isaiah promised that God will "swallow up death forever" (Isaiah 25:8). Jeremiah gave hope by reminding his listeners of God's mercies, which are "new every morning." One can "hope in Him," because salvation is from the Lord (Lam. 3:22-27). Paul echos Hosea's taunt of death (Hosea 13:14) in 1 Cor. 15:55-57. And John the apostle forsaw the end of death in Revelation 21. Because Christ offers everlasting life in His presence to those who believe in Him (John 11:25-26), Christians can sing songs of hope and praise, even in the face of death. And when Christ died, He made it possible for those who die who have faith in Him to be present with Him in heaven (Luke 23:43). And all those who die in His name will be with Him after they die (2 Cor. 5:6,8), and we will recognize our loved ones in heaven (1 Thess. 4:13-17; Gen. 15:5; 35:29; 1 Kings 2:10; 2 Sam. 12:23; Matt. 17:1-8; Luke 16:19-31). Blessings to you, Makarios |