Paul in his defense before Governor Felix insisted that he “believed ALL THINGS which are written in the law and the prophets” (See Acts 24:14). Therefore Paul, as well as all the other apostles believed the following:
“All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again” (Ecclesiastes 3:20).
“For the living know that they shall die, BUT THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANYTHING” (Ecclesiastes 9:5).
“Put not your trust in princes nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goes forth, he returns to his earth; IN THAT VERY DAY HIS THOUGHTS PERISH” (Psalm 146:3-4)
“The dead praise not the Lord, neither any THAT GO DOWN INTO SILENCE” (Psalm 115:17).
“Will you show wonders to the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise you? Selah. Shall your loving kindness be declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in destruction? Shall your wonders be known in the dark? and your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?” (Psalm 88:10-12).
“For He (God) remembered that they were but flesh (that’s all, no immortal soul); a wind that passes away, and comes not again (apart from a future resurrection from the dead)” (Psalm 78:39).
“What profit is there in my (shed) blood when I go down to the pit (the grave)? Shall the dust praise you? Shall it declare your truth?” (Psalm 30:9).
“For in death there is no remembrance of you. In the grave who shall give you thanks?” (Psalm 6:5).
And what did God tell the first two humans? “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (See Genesis 3:19).
Paul believed every word of that. The dead aren’t praising God. They aren’t forming any thoughts. They are silent and have no remembrance of God or anything else. They quickly decay and eventually become dust, returning to the ground from whence we came. The redeemed await a resurrection when they will come forth from the dust clothed in immortality never to die again.
Peter agreed with Paul and the prophets of old. Speaking of King David, Peter said, “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day….for David is not ascended into the heavens” (See Acts 2:29, 34). The thief on the cross didn’t ascend there either.
May our Lord give you eyes to see and hearts to understand is my prayer.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley