The Intermediate State

1. By what figure does the Bible represent death?

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him,” I Thessalonians 4:13, 14.

NOTE: When one is sound asleep, he is wholly lost to consciousness; time goes on unmeasured, and the functions of the mental organs are suspended for the time being.

2. Where do the dead sleep?

“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,” Daniel 12:2.

3. How long will they continue to sleep in the dust of the ground?

“So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep,” Job 14:12.

4. What does Job say he will wait for?

“If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come,” verse 14.

5. Where will he wait for this change?

“If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness,” Job 17:13.

6. While in this condition, what does one know of those he has left behind?

“His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them,” Job 14:21.

7. In what condition are the thoughts of the dead?

“His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish,” Psalm 146:4.

8. Do the dead know anything?

“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten,” Ecclesiastes 9:5.

9. Do they have any love, hatred, or envy?

“Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in any thing that is done under the sun,” Ecclesiastes 9:6.

10. Are the dead able to praise the Lord?

“The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence,” Psalm 115:17.

11. Is there any remembrance of God while in the hands of the enemy death?

“For in death there is no remembrance of Thee: in the grave who shall give Thee thanks?” Psalm 6:5.

12. Did David ascend into the heavens?

“For David is not ascended into the heavens “ Acts 2:34.

13. With what one thing will David be satisfied?

“As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness,” Psalm 17:15.

14. If the dead will never be raised, what would be the result?

“For if the dead rise not, then is Christ not raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished,” I Corinthians 15:16-18.

15. Is there a promise of a resurrection of the dead?

“Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead,” Isaiah 26:19.

“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,” I Corinthians 15:52.

16. When does the resurrection of the righteous take place?

“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,” I Thessalonians 4:16.

The leaflets in autumn may wither and fade,

The forest be naked and bare _

The friends of our youth in the grave may be laid,

And we may be laid with them there;

But the winter will pass, and the spring will return

And the forest again will be green,

And the faithful who sleep in death’s mouldering urn

Will arise and in glory be seen.

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By JSD-COG|2016-02-21T16:50:48+03:00February 14th, 2016|The Bible Home Instructor|0 Comments

About the Author: JSD-COG

Terms & Conditions

Introduction: Each group member that joins agrees to abide by and defend the guiding principles shared below. We do this in order to make everyone feel welcome, but in particular, to level the playing field. When the playing field is uneven, the road tends to be bumpy and steep. The group was created specifically to create an environment where everyone can be free to

a) Debate spiritual issues of concern,
b) Share own knowledge
c) Learn from others.

We do this fully aware that some of us do not have such opportunities in the churches or congregations they come from. In fact most churches or congregations avoid teaching the Scriptures and worse, some teach wrong doctrines.

In short, here are the core principles by which members are expected to abide, defend and to promote:
1. Members join in their individual and private capacity, i.e. no one may represent their church or assembly.

2. No member may use his/her title to intimidate/bully or impose views on others – the idea is to share knowledge, not to tell others what to know or think.

3. None of the members claim to be experts on religious or any topic discussed on this platform. We aim to share the little we know for the mutual benefit of everyone.

4. All members are expected to participate actively so that there is joint ownership of the outcomes of the discussions.

5. No member may discriminate against any other member on any grounds, including race, gender, age, religion, nationality, etc.

6. Members have the right to propose a topic or ask questions. However, questions must be relevant to the topic being discussed at the time. New topics should only be proposed when the current topic is formally closed or has become stagnant.

7. Members accept to be addressed as brother or sister without any intention to disrespect anyone. Mutual respect is expected and implied in all interactions in this platform.

8. Membership in this group is open to everyone irrespective of the denomination, race, gender, age, nationality, title, etc.

9. Members accept that, from time-to-time, we may need to call one another to order should members digress from the topic or create other problems. This is necessary so that we maintain order and ensure progress in line with the mandate of the group.

10. Members who deliberately undermine the group principles and show no repentance after attempts to correct them maybe sanctioned by the group administrator by way of suspension or permanent expulsion from the group.

11. Given that this is an international platform, members are requested to use and stick to English as language for the purposes of discussions and questions.

12. From Friday evening until Monday evening, the group takes a break from discussing formal topics. In this time, members are free to share none topical issues of common interest, e.g. messages, warnings, information of common interest, etc.

13. No internal issues that are specific to a particular church or congregation may be shared, e.g. members from a particular church or congregation discussing issues that are not of common interest to the group unless it’s an open invite to everyone the group in general. Otherwise, such issues should be handled offline between the individuals involved.

14. Although not desirable for the group, members are free to peacefully exit the group at any point in time when they feel like doing so.

15. The group principles are subject to review from time-to-time through the group administrator.

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JERUSALEM 7TH DAY CHURCH OF GOD

The Intermediate State