The Dead - Part 1

There are many scriptures that could be quoted relating to the Dead. However, there are two main beliefs among the Living about the Dead.

1st Belief
According to this belief, the Dead cannot see or feel anything as they are in a state of sleeping in graves. Those who are in this belief further believe that some of the Dead shall be raised from their state of sleeping at the second coming (second coming for rapture) of the Lord Jesus and the rest of the Dead shall be raised and judged at the final judgment (so called the White Throne Judgment).

In fact the Majority are in this belief. They quote scriptures from the Word of God to prove all of the above points.

2nd Belief
Some segments believe that certain saints have gone up to heaven after their death. But unfortunately, this 2nd belief is not based on the Word of God.

For example, we cannot find any scripture to support the belief that Mother Mary was ascended to heaven (God's dwelling place) after her death. Nevertheless, the segments, who are in the 2nd belief think that their saints have entered into heaven somehow or other. These segments further believe that these saints in heaven can intercede before God for the Living. Thus, they pray to these saints, asking them to pray to God for their deliverance and prosperity on earth.

Which belief is worthy to be believed???

Well, when we look at the first belief, we understand that this belief is stick to the point that all the dead people are in the state of sleeping in their graves. But we can quote many bible verses to prove that some souls are not in this state of sleeping. Therefore when all the scriptures about the Dead are considered, the 1st Belief is not fully biblical. 

When we look at the second belief, we can agree with the fact that some saints are not in the sate of sleeping in their graves. But still we cannot entertain the belief that these saints have gone up to Heaven - Dwelling Place of God, because of the below scripture.

John 3:13
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

According to the above verse, we can come to the conclusion that only Christ has ascended to Heaven (Dwelling Place of God) after death.

Then where are these saints, who are not sleeping in graves? - Let's look at it later... 

Further, we cannot accept the fact that saints who once died, can pray to God for us as it is not biblical.

Nevertheless, the Word of God confirms that the Living can intercede before God for the Living. But there is no scripture to prove that a saint, who once died and then is believed to have gone to heaven, can intercede before God on behalf of the Living.

Truly, the true states of the Dead can be understood only when all the scriptures about them are considered. 

Read Part 2...