Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson
To be honest I don't understand this subject too well.
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Scott, please allow me an opportunity to explain, for your consideration of it's scriptural merits, the manner in which I understand this subject: (just a bit "wordy" albeit necessary to provide you with sufficient information upon which to base your own opinion)
First, I prefer to construe Paul's description of the
"whole man" in
I Thessalonians 5:23, as representing an entity (which I prefer to call the
"composite nature of the whole man") that is constituted of these three elements (only one of which is visible):
"spirit and soul and body". Let's take a moment to examine the suquential order of their beginning:
When Moses penned the statement that
"...God created man in his own image," I believe it important to note that it is in reference to the
"soul," that component which accurately reflects the intrinsic nature or quality which best describes our Creator; eternal & invisible. However, in the creation of this initial part of mankind
"after (his) image and likeness," there happened to be a profound and distinctive difference - while possessing all of the intrinsic characteristics of it's Heavenly Creator (i.e., a wide range of emotions; the capability for independent thinking, etc.), it was nevertheless created "unlike" it's Creator, for it's beginning was as an inanimate, inactive, non-living entity.
(Note: This part of every human being, from the moment of it's creation, will continue to experience reality in it's original form forever; those who have been
"regenerated" by way of the
"new birth" in a visible, heavenly
"body," while all those who have not availed themselves to the free gift of
"regeneration" remaining resident in bodies of earthern substance.)
It was
after God had created this component of mankind (male and female) that He took a substantive matter,
"the dust of the ground," and
"formed" a visible, physical human
"body" as a place of habitation for the
"soul." Yet, even after this 2nd phase of God's creation of the
"composite natue of the whole man" was completed, that male
"soul" (whom He named Adam), which God placed within the confines of this earthly
"body," continued it's reality as an inanimate, inactive, non-living entity.
To enable the eternal, invisible
"soul" of Adam, as well as the visible, substantive
"body" in which it now dwelled, to reside together and operate together in unison or harmony, one with the other, God then introduced
"the breath of life" (or, what I like to refer to as the "energetic life force") into Adam's
"body," after which his eternal, invisible
"soul" became a fully animated, active,
"living" entity; thus completing God's creation of the
"composite nature of the whole man."
Now, seeing that God's creation of the
"composite nature of the whole man" was an event which transpired on the 6th day of the week of creation, and we are advised that with the completion of this action
"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made.." (
Genesis 2:1-2); and that in the whole of the Bible one never finds it stated, either explicitly or implicitly, that God ever again created other
"souls," then according to logic and common reasoning, I am persuaded to believe that the
"souls" of all of mankind was created at the same moment in the beginning, and that God places each in it's own
"body" as it takes form in the womb of it's mother; becoming a
"living" entity at it's birth, at which time God also causes the
"breath of life" to enter therein, causing the eternal, invisible
"soul" to be made
"alive."
With that being said (& admittedly, it's purely speculative on my part - but noted for consideration of it's possibile worth), let's consider what transpires when the death of the
"body" occurs.
Well, according to the words of
James 2:26 we are told that
"...the body without the spirit (i.e., the "breath of life") is dead." Solomon was inspired of God to write to inform us that at the moment of one's death,
"Then shall the dust (i.e., body) return to the earth as it was: and the spirit (i.e., "breath") shall return to God who gave it." (
Ecclesiastes 12:7)
Many have assumed that the words
"soul" and
"spirit" are synonymous, however, a careful examination of this verse clearly annuls such understanding - God did not
"give" man a
"soul," but He did
"give" man a
"spirit." The language of the Bible employs several words when referring to the
"breath of life" which God introduces into the human
"body" at it's birth -
"spirit;" "ghost;" "breath;" yet each depicts that which God
"gives," as opposed to something which He creates.
But what is the state or condition of reality for the eternal, invisible
"soul" following one's death? Does it become separate from the
"body" (as so many have been persuaded to assume), with God then taking it to be present with Him in the heavens to await the
"redemption" and promised
"changing" of the substantive corrupt, mortal
"body" in which it once resided into one that is constituted of a heavenly substance? How does the language of the Bible answer this important question. Well, let's see if we can find out.....
The words of
Ecclesiastes 9:2-6 discloses that
"...there is one event unto all... they go to the dead" - vs#3 - (asserting that death is a universal experience - we all must die). In describing the condition or state of reality of the eternal, invisible
"soul" following God's removal of His
"spirit" (for, as it is written in
Genesis 6:3 -
"My spirit shall not always strive with man..."), Solomon was inspired of God to write to inform us that
"...the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory (i.e., the ability to be aware of things, whether it be events or the passage of time) of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun."
Simply stated, the dead are rendered utterly incapable of all conscious thoughts! David called this
"suspended state of reality" which follows the death of one's flesh, as the
"sleep of death" (
Psalm 13:3), thus the phrase that is commonly used -
"soul sleep." It in in this
"suspended state of reality" that the eternal, invisible
"souls" of everyone will continue their existence until the resurrection.
Yet, there prevails a rather profound and unique exception or exemption to the affects of death (i.e.,
"soul sleep") which God has chosen to grant unto a selected group of His chosen people, and I will endeavor, if the Lord be willing, address that in my next posting. I believe you'll find it quite interesting, for I am convinced it will serve to annul many erroneous beliefs which presently dominate the things that are so widely published as truth concerning end-time prophecy.
I pray that the things I've written here will enable you attain a much better understanding of this important matter, while acknowledging, of course, that these are my beliefs, which others are free to accept or reject.
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