Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov/65

Contributor - Rev. J. Bekkering

Title - Where is the Soul After Death ?

Topic - After Life

According to Hebrews 9 : 27 "it is appointed unto men once to die". This is the one "exit" from which there is no escape. But the Gospel of Christ is a Source of great comfort - not only in life, but also in death - for it is Christianity and Christianity alone that assures us that those who die in the Lord, do not cease living when that strange event, which we call death occurs. The Bible teaches that as the believer in Christ leaves this earthly life, his heart may be full of hope that he wilt, at once, walk on the streets of the Heavenly City and behold The King in all His beauty. (See also Lords Day 22 of the Heidelberg- Catechism.) Now the Bible makes clear two things: first: that at death there is a reparation between the body and the soul - the body returns to the dust from whence it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it. And second: that in due time the body shall be raised from the grave. In this meditation however, we are concerned with the question: where and in what condition will the spirit be during the interval between death and the resurrections The body is in the grave but where is the soul?

There are many different views on this question. Some hold that when this earthly tabernacle is destroyed the soul too, will perish. This view is held by those who reject the Bible they believe, in other words that we die just like the animals of the field they say: death will end all and that there is nothing beyond the present life. Mott people will agree however that such a view is hollow and empty. The Blessed Bible tells us that the spirit continues to live after physical death has taken place. In Ecclesiastes 12 : 7 we read, "that the spirit shall return to God who gave it". So, one thing is made sure by the inspired Word of God that, wherever the soul is after death, it is not dead! There are also those, who believe that, when a man dies his body returns to the dust and that his soul enters into a state of sleep from which it will not be awakened until the trumpet shall have sounded at which time the soul will be re-united with the body. This is called the theory of the "sleep of the soul". This belief is based noon the fact that the Bible speaks of death under the figure of "sleep". When Stephen was stoned we read that "he fell asleep". Paul speaks about those who are "asleep". However it is quite evident from the Scriptures that the phrase "asleep in Jesus", is figurative. Nowhere is death described as a state of unconsciousness. It is unreasonable to suppose that for age's and ages the soul should be dead and only come to life when it re-enters the resurrected body. ]If that would be the case, the soul of our forefathers like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would now be in darkness, as if their soul was non-existent. When the apostle Paul said: "blessed are the dead who die in the Lord - does that mean that our departed ones have entered upon a gloomy sleep? Of course not - The Bible teaches that the soul is conscious while the body sleeps in the grave. Paul speak" about "departing this life and to be with Christ". He says death would be gain to him because he would be immediately in the presence of Christ. Now if death was followed by a long period of 'unconsciousness then a speedy death would be of no gain. So you see Paul's words absolutely refute the idea of the sleep of the soul. It is plain from the Word of God that the day of death is the day of commencement of the blessed life beyond the grave. Remember the words Jesus spoke to the penitent thief beside Him on the cross: Verily, 11 say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise." Yes, Christ comforted the dying thief with the blessed thought that in a little while he would exchange the agonies of the cross for the glories of Heaven. Paul writes: "We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved - we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens." The comfort in these words is this: If one house fails, another is provided which the soul enters at once. Paul says with confidence: that "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord". I cannot find a more beautiful statement proving that the spirit, the soul, survives the body and enters into a state of bliss. Absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Lazarus died and was at once carried unto Abraham's bosom. When life expired, he did not fall into a long sleep, he did not go into the fires of Purgatory, but he was at once in Heaven. May this be a source of rich comfort to all of us!

Please click the "Back" button of your browser to return to previous page.