LIFE AFTER DEATH
The devil, the serpent, that great deceiver, is the father of lies. He initiated the first lie in Genesis 3: 4, 5 “Ye shall not surely die. In the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be like gods, knowing good and evil.”
We are witnessing today a great upsurge in the idea of ‘life after death’ or ‘immortality of the soul’. The prophecy of Revelation, specifically Revelation 16: 13,14, speaks directly on this issue. “ And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles which go forth unto the kings of the earth and the whole world.” Spiritualism, spiritualism is everywhere. It has become the ‘modus de operandi’ of millions and millions of supposedly intelligent human beings. But alas, is not this what the devil wants? Mankind to be kept in delusion until that great day comes as a ‘thief in the night.’ “Satan has long been preparing for his final effort to deceive the world.” The Great Controversy. P561, 562.
“Little by little he has prepared the way for his masterpiece of deception in the development of spiritualism.” G.C. p 561, 562. At this point in time, the time of the end, we must be ever vigilant “except those who are kept by the power of God, through faith in His word, the whole world will be swept into the ranks of this delusion.” G.Edward Reid, Sunday is Coming, p.115.
Sin cannot continue for much longer. Prophecies have shown that at all times Christ always has the final act. “The great controversy between Christ and Satan, that has been carried forward for nearly six thousand years is soon to close; and the wicked one redoubles his efforts to defeat the work of Christ in man’s behalf and to fasten souls in his snares. To hold the people in darkness and impenitence till the Savior’s mediation is ended is the object which he seeks to accomplish”. (ibid., p.518).
G. Edward Reid in “Sunday is Coming”, 1999. updated edition, p. 116, it is stated in the most marvelous settings that …’ ”Little by little,” we are told, Satan will make advances. Now all around us spiritualism is evident- in television advertisements and programming, and in movies. Webster defines spiritualism as “a belief that spirits of the dead communicate with the living”. This supposed communication is taking place today. But in addition to personating the dead (former living humans beings), the devil also uses evil angels to personate holy angels and finally Jesus Himself. And the devil will use this spiritualistic phenomenon to bring the papacy and apostate Protestantism together, along with “the whole world”. We are now seeing the beginning of this, the last act of Satan’. Come my people, there is a deeper reason why hollywood, television soap operas and movies have vastly increase the “life after death” theme in their operations.
“The notion seems to be prevalent today that all we need is to develop a love relationship with Jesus”. Studies from the Bible, the true word of God, will show how that in this end time period “the only way to meet the devil in this last great conflict is with a “Thus saith the Lord; It is written.” You must know your Bible to be able to stand! Proof texts are important! Knowing what the Bible teaches, for example about the condition of man in death, gives us a defense against Satan’s final spiritualistic deceptions.” G.Edward Reid, Sunday is Coming,p.116.
In dealing with the topic “Life after death” I have read and researched many documents, material and literature on the subject to get a deeper view on the issue of Spiritualism. To me, no author has come as close to giving a clear yet, simple bible view of the topic as G. Edward Reid, “Sunday is Comming” Chapter 10 – “Spiritualism Join the Church”. I have enclosed below a section of the article that gives a clear and bibically true picture of “Life after death”.
Its the BIG lie, “Ye shall not surely die.” Just as he, the devil, mentioned it in the beginning, he is doing it now in this the end time, through the media—with themes of “life after death experiences.”
THE BIBLE TEACHING ABOUT MAN’S CONDITION IN DEATH
“Bible Readings for the Home devotes nine sections to Christian anthropology—exactly 50 pages! The book is largely in question-and-answer form—with the answers being given in Bible texts. The following excerpt will help the reader to see that the Bible is clear on this topic and that its teachings should form our belief and understanding of it.” G. Edward Reid, Sunday is Coming. P. 117
What Death Is Like
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.” 1Thessalonians 4:13. (See also 1 Corinthians 15: 18, 20; John 11:11-14.) . Note.—In sound sleep one is wholly lost to consciousness; time goes by unmeasured; and mental activity is suspended for the time being.
Where do the dead sleep?
“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.” Daniel 12:2. (See also Ecclesiastes 3:20; 9:10.)
How long will they sleep there?
“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.
Thoughts and Feelings of the Dead
What does one in this condition know about his family?
“His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.’ Job 14:21
What become of man’s thoughts at death?
“His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth, in that very day his thoughts perish.” Psalms 146:4.
Do the dead know anything?
“For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not any thing.” Ecclesiastes 9:5.
Do they take part in earthly things?
“Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in anything that is done under the sun.” Verse 6.
Note—If one remained conscious after death, he would know of the promotion or dishonor of his sons; but in death one loses all the attributes of mind—love, hatred, envy, etc. Thus it is plain that his thoughts have perished, and that he can have nothing more to do with the things of this world. But if, as taught by some, man’s powers of thought continue after death, he lives; and if he lives, he must be somewhere. Where is he? Is he in heaven or in hell? If he goes to either place at death, what then is the need of a future judgment, or of a resurrection, or of the second coming of Christ? If men get their rewards at death, before the judgment takes place, then their rewards precede their awards.
How much does one know of God when dead?
“For in death there is no remembrance of Thee.” Psalm 6:5.
Note: As already seen, the Bible everywhere represents the dead as asleep, with not even a remembrance of God. If they were in heaven or hell, would Jesus have said, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth”. John 11:11. If so, calling him to life was really robbing him of the bliss of heaven that rightly belonged to him. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16) teaches not conscious in death, but that riches will avail nothing in the judgment and that poverty will not keep one out of heaven.” (Bible Readings for the Home,current hardcover ed., pp.469, 470)
LAST WARNING
“Since the dead, according to the Bible, are asleep and don’t know anything, then if someone claims to be speaking with the dead, he is either lying or speaking with the devil!’ G.Edward Reid. Sunday is Coming p. 119 There can never be any crossing over. John Edwards or host of that increasingly popular psychic show “Crossing Over” repeatedly speaks about getting connected. I ask, “Getting connected to whom?” Paul warned, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual host of wickedness in heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12.
“The church, where people expect to find spiritual wisdom, help and protection, is being used by the devil to teach people to be open to spiritualism. The Catholic Church and now many Protestant churches are teaching the error that man has natural immortality and somehow lives on after death—either in the presence of God, in purgatory (being purified), or in the torments of hellfire.” G. Edward Reid. Sunday Is Coming. p. 119.
“Much of the sad results of spiritualism will rest upon ministers of this age; for they have trampled the truth under their feet, and in its stead have preferred fables. The sermon which Satan preached to Eve upon the immortality of the soul—‘ye shall not surely die’—they have reiterated from the pulpit; and the people receive it as pure Bible truth. It is the foundation of spiritualism.” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 344).
‘Spiritualism is about to take the world captive….The foundation for the success of spiritualism has been laid in the assertions that have been made from the pulpits of our land. The ministers have proclaimed, as Bible doctrines, falsehoods that have originated from the arch-deceiver. The doctrines of consciousness after death, of the spirits of the dead being in communion with the livings, have no foundation in the Scriptures, and yet this theory is affirmed as truth. Through this false doctrine the way has been opened for the spirits of devils to deceive the people representing themselves as the dead. Satanic agencies personate the dead, and thus bring souls into captivity” Ellen. G.White, Signs of the Times, May 28, 1894).
From the magnitude of Biblical information given, it is quite evident that “just like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, King David, and other noted individuals of Scripture, Mary, the mother of Jesus, is resting in her grave today, in a state of unconsciousness, waiting for the return of Jesus and the resurrection.” G.Edward Reid “Sunday Is Coming” p. 125. The scriptures never mention, not even on a passing glance, that Mary, mere mortal, can be an intercessor for mankind. This teaching is wrong, and is not supported by the Bible. “While the so-called apparitions of Mary are genuine supernatural events, they are satanic deception. Accordingly, prayers to Mary, as in the rosary, and contact with Mary is a grand deception that the real Mary knows nothing about. Unless you have been reading about this topic recently you will be amazed to discover that spiritualism is rapidly growing within the Catholic Church and other groups through contacts with Mary at places all over the earth—including the United States.” G. Edward Reid Sunday Is Coming p.125.
“God has made ample provision through His Work for us to know the truth. He has warned us about the devil and his deceptions. We can see that the devil is doing exactly what we were told he would do—using his evil angels to pretend to speak through the dead. And the world is falling for this deception in a big way.” G. Edward Reid, Sunday Is Coming p. 135.
What you have just read is supported by the scriptures, without it we are doomed. Let us study with diligence these last day messages and events that pertain to our own salvation. It is YOU and YOU only who will have to answer to the issues of your life. Live it in spirit and in truth.
The idea “ye shall not surely die”; is a lie that has been perpetrated through the ages. Eve fell for it. You do not have to. May the Lord enlighten you as you wait for His soon return.
For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the arch angel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Author and Pastor, G. Edward Reid, “Sunday is Coming”. Omega Productions.
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