There has been a spate of people in political nominally Christian places speaking of the dead as 'looking down' on the living from heaven. The problem - it's just not in the Bible.
The Bible is in complete agreement with the limited scope of modern observational science as to the fate of the unfaithful unbelieving. They die, like animals.
For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. (Ecc 3:19-20)
As beasts. That poor car-flattened cat that nobody buries. Nothing but dust. All returns to dust.
Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. (Psalm 49:12)
He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. (Psalm 49:19-20)
Yes, animals have spirit-souls. Any owner of any animal knows this.
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? (Ecc 3:21)
So this is the debate – but many may make a mistake here, Solomon in context is talking about the living spirit – under the sun. Only humans can eat looking up and thanking God. See the next point as to rejoicing. That all he's saying. One breath - in the end all die, Humans have the advantage in the living time in being able to rejoice and look upward. No – animals can't. Rejoicing is not happiness, but looking up in hope. The breath, the soul, human or animal -it's all the same.
King David, Solomon's father
For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? (Psa 6:5)
Hezekiah, Solomon's descendant
For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. (Isaiah 38:18)
Isaiah doesn't correct him. It's stated as a truth. It's scientific, repeatable and observational truth and those who have access to special revelation show us that there is no more.
We have one going to heaven – which proves the exception; Elijah. He went in a fiery chariot. He didn't die. Then there is Enoch.
Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. (Gen 5:24)
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (Heb 11:5)
Translated? That means what? We would be bold to say. He might be like Elijah, his living body taken up– in any case he didn't die and go to heaven. By contrast Moses did die and his body was taken, and buried in the land of Moab, the account suggests by the Elohim, the angels messengers and servants of Yahweh (Deut 34:6). Anyway, again, an exception.
We have one account of Samuel. He don't come from heaven but comes out of the earth. What is his witness?
Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? (1Samuel 28:15)
How did death appear to Samuel? That he had been sleeping and was woken up – to see his enemy Saul. If he had been overlooking from heaven- he wouldn't say that – he would have known all and not need to be told. This is eye witness. We have it. If Samuel was and is not in heaven, nobody is.
When we come to Christ,
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (Mat 22:32)
Ah ha! They are living- well not so sure.
But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. (Luke 20:35-38)
The context is about resurrection only after being accounted worthy – then, and only then, they are equal to the angels. Not withstanding a parable (with a punchline of resurrection), there is evidence that Christ and the apostles all believe all the fathers were dead and buried, and their soul also buried (in hell).
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.
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (Acts 2:29-32)
The exception of Christ again proving the rule. David – his soul is in hell. It's authoritative. Peter.
Curiously Christ is striking out with a remarkable thought when he speaks of the dead sleeping.
He said unto them, “Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth.” And they laughed him to scorn.” (Matthew 9:24)
So most would agree the dead are not really sleeping. But the most telling as to believe regarding the fate of the dead is Lazarus. In detail. After 4 days. He was not a child he could tell everyone.
“Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” (John 11:11)
There was no doubt after 4 days he was dead, even Christ said he was
Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. (John 11:14)
He's dead and Martha observes that he would smell – it could be warm that time of year.
Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. (John 11:39)
But when called, Lazarus comes forth – and they have to take the grave clothes off him.
Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. (John 12:9)
That the dead sleep is not plain language- but a metaphor. But it tells us Christ has the God of Israel's view of the special state of the faithful in death that is entirely consistent with what King David is told,
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. (2Samuel 7:12)
The idea of death of the faithful being a sleep is as ancient as the wisdom literature of the Bible- Job believed it
And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be. (Job 7:21)
Daniel is told directly
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Dan 12:2)
Some will be as the billions of beasts, as dust, not sleeping and won't wake at all.
But nowhere – absolutely nowhere, is anyone after death looking down from heaven. Christ, as the exception may well have gone to heaven, but consider even the angels walk the earth
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Heb 1:14)..
So where is Christ now. Waiting until his enemies be made his footstool- but where is the footstool of God?
Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. (Matthew 5:35)
Yes. Jerusalem. Or some place else on earth where the servants of God are.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)
Not in heaven.. In fact, where is heaven? Isn't it all about us? Heaven touches the earth – at least at Bethel. Jacob who became Israel was shown this. But hell. That's where King David is – sleeping. To say the faithful are sleeping is a good way of saying they will surely awake. In sleep we, and they, know nothing. Let us rejoice, the meek shall inherit the earth.
