the lives of the friends whom they have left behind . But how could it be a source of happiness to the dead to know the troubles of the living , to witness the sins committed by their own loved ones , and to see them enduring all the sorrows , disappointments , and anguish of life ? How much of heaven ' s bliss would be enjoyed by those who were hovering over their friends on earth ? And how utterly revolting is the belief that as soon as the breath leaves the body the soul of the impenitent is consigned to the flames of hell ! To what depths of anguish must those be plunged who see their friends passing to the grave unprepared , to enter upon an eternity of woe and sin ! Many have been driven to insanity by this harrowing thought .
What say the Scriptures concerning these things ? David declares that man is not conscious in death . " His breath goeth forth , he returneth to his earth ; in that very day his thoughts perish ." Psalm 146:4 . Solomon bears the same testimony : " The living know that they shall die : but the dead know not anything ." " Their love , and their hatred , and their envy , is now perished ; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun ." " There is no work , nor device , nor knowledge , nor wisdom , in the grave , whither thou goest ." Ecclesiastes 9:5 , 6 , 10 .
When , in answer to his prayer , Hezekiah ' s life was prolonged fifteen years , the grateful king rendered to God a tribute of praise for His great mercy . In this song he tells the reason why he thus rejoices : " The grave cannot praise Thee , death cannot celebrate Thee : they that go down into the pit cannot hope for Thy truth . The living , the living , he shall praise Thee , as I do this day ." Isaiah 38:18 , 19 . Popular theology represents the righteous dead as in heaven , entered into bliss and praising God with an immortal tongue ; but Hezekiah could see no such glorious prospect in death . With his words agrees the testimony of the psalmist : " In death there is no remembrance of Thee : in the grave who shall give Thee thanks ?" " The dead praise not the Lord , neither any that go down into silence ." Psalms 6:5 ; 115:17 .
Peter on the Day of Pentecost declared that the patriarch David " is both dead and buried , and his sepulcher is with us unto this day ." " For David is not ascended into the heavens ." Acts 2:29 , 34 . The fact that David remains in the grave until the resurrection proves that the righteous do not go to heaven at death . It is only through the resurrection , and by virtue of the fact that Christ has risen , that David can at last sit at the right hand of God . And said Paul : " If the dead rise not , then is not Christ raised : and if Christ be not raised , your faith is vain ; ye are yet in your sins . Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished ." I Corinthians 15:16-18 . If for four thousand years the righteous had gone directly to heaven at death , how could Paul have said that if there is no resurrection , " they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished "? No resurrection would be necessary .
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