4 WHERE ARE THE DEAD?
Lazarus in the Grave, Not in Heaven
Where are the dead ?— They are at rest. They have entered
the house of the grave. The troubles of life oppress them no more.
The strife and commotion of this old world are unheard by them.
' - “They hear not the voice of the oppressor.” Job 3:18. The sor-
rows of earth roll by unnoticed. Said Job, that patient man of
God: “If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in
the darkness. . . . They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when
our rest together is in the dust.” Job 17:13, 16.
In speaking of Lazarus, our Saviour said, “Our friend Lazarus
sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” “Then
said His disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit
Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that He had spoken
of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly,
Lazarus is dead.” John 11:11-14, Lazarus did not go to heaven
when he died; but he was at rest. He was dead four days, but he
was not in heaven during that time. Christ did not call him back
to this dark world from the bliss of heaven, but He called him forth
from the grave. He said, “Lazarus, come forth.” Martha did not
believe that her brother was in heaven; for she said, “I know that
he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” John
11:24. Yes, the dead are at rest. They are awaiting the voice
of the Life-giver. They are asleep until He comes.
Where are the dead? What is their state? — They are uncon-
scious. They feel no pain. They know no grief. The psalmist
" describes their state thus: “His breath goeth forth, he returneth
to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Psalm 146: 4.
Their minds have ceased to work. They rest in an unconscious
sleep, and do not measure time. To them, it will seem but a mo-
ment from the time they closed their eyes in death, until they are
awakened. Centuries may roll away, but to them it will seem but
the twinkling of an eye. They said good-by to their loved ones and
fell asleep. They closed their eyes. They knew no more. The
next moment, to them, they will hear the voice of the Life-giver
calling them forth. If faithful, they will embrace their loved ones
again. The separation will be but brief. Here in life, we retire at
night, we fall asleep; and if we sleep soundly, the night is gone
before we know it. The morning comes, and we awake. The night
was short to us. Even thus it is in death.
“Asleep in Jesus! Blessed sleep,
From which none ever wake to weep ;
A calm and undisturbed repose,
Unbroken by the last of foes |”