Soul Sleep

Just a little over a week ago a brother told me of some believers who hold "soul sleep" to be the truth regarding the departed whether believers or unbelievers. I could scarcely believe what I was hearing. Strangely a number of other references to this delusion of the Devil came to my notice. The matter has so pressed upon me that I felt it to be incumbent upon me to refute this deceit by directing souls to the plain teaching of the Word of God. No such condition will be experienced by either the believer or those who die in their sins when ushered into eternity.

The Lord Jesus Himself spake the narrative found in the Gospel by Luke. (16:19-31.) He never suggests that it is a parable! And if it was such the teaching remains plain. But it is, without doubt, a brief history of the character of the two men. Lazarus a poor man, and an unnamed man of considerable wealth. (That the name of one of these men is recorded should add to the weight of proof that this is not a parable. Some of the most devious of false sects promote the parabolic theory to bolster their lies. Lazarus dies first, perhaps from his bodily weakness, hungry and "full of sores." Immediately upon his decease, we learn that he is in a place of unparalleled bliss and blessing. And simply because he was a man of faith! How do we know this fact? He is identified with Abraham as "the father of all them that believe." Romans 4:11.

"And the rich man also died and was buried;" and with not so much as a pause we read, "And being in hades lifting up his eyes, being in torments..." His body was in the ground, but his soul was in that place of anguish and agony awaiting the consummation of the judgement that will ultimately fall upon him when cast into hell, the lake of fire for all of eternity. 

In this passage of Scripture, we have the authoritative spoken word of Christ as to the destiny of souls at death. Saint and sinner. Final and irreversable.

Later in Luke's Gospel account, we have further proof of this blessedness that is the portion of the believer immediately upon death. Again the Speaker is Christ. There at Golgotha's tree, one of the malefactors that had been crucified alongside Him, his death imminent, exercised simple yet profound saving faith in the Redeemer. Entreating the Lord Jesus to "remember him," the Saviour responded in divine compassion, "Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise." Luke 23:42,43. This needs no explanation! If the thief did not follow his new-found Lord into that place of bliss and blessedness, immediately upon his death, then the promise of the Lord was absolutely hollow! Who would dare venture such a blasphemy? Paradise is the present abode of the spirits of the departed saints, "the dead in Christ." The promise of comfort to those who "fall asleep in Jesus," which necessitates their consciousness!  

Now as to those who "die in their sins." Without controversy, their immediate destiny after death is a place and a condition of uninterrupted and unmitigated torment. The writer to the Hebrews states unequivocally: "And forasmuch as it is the portion of men once to die and after this judgement;" establishing the immediacy of judgement falling upon the sinner thrust into an eternity of loss. (Please note, there is no definite article before the word "judgement," it is not specifically the Great White Throne assize, although that is obviously an irrefutable element of divine judgement to be pronounced on all who die "without Christ.) Hebrews 9:27.

I trust and pray that this might help to liberate some of the Lord's people who have fallen foul of this mendacious falsehood of "soul sleep." For the Glory of the Lord. 

"Zoom" is spelling Doom for the Assemblies

 It would not matter how I expressed my reasonings for the above title to this "Post." Its content will doubtless fall on many a deaf ear, and anger many saints no doubt. Be that as it may, there sadly is the need for the opportunity to be given to those who have a contrary view of so-called "virtual" meetings.

Right-back, very early in the first lockdown here in the U.K, many believers capitulated to extreme pressure from a few medically-minded and scientifically-disposed brethren in the U.S. and Canada.  Quickly adopting their continental brethren's dictates, and as quickly adapting the Word of God to meet the situation as interpreted by those brethren. All were based upon a very feeble medical understanding of the virus and on an ever-changing scientific basis. Worst of all man's wisdom was bowed to at the expense of the wisdom of God. Obedience to those in authority over us, "the powers that be," was demanded with the authority of the One who is Lord of all, pushed to one side to accommodate the advice of a handful of brethren from countries acting under a different legislature. Indeed here the legislation was deemed to be "unlawful!" sweeping away the constant cry of "civil disobedience." Furthermore, very few brethren took the time or made the effort to discover what the government had deemed mandatory and what was simply advisable. May I respectfully remind you that advice is not legislation?  

Immediately the vast majority of Assemblies here either closed their meeting places if they had not already done so, or determined to keep them closed until, well, WHEN? Countless local testimonies ceased almost overnight. And none that I know about in the S.W. of England and S. Wales have re-opened! But already a huge number of Assemblies have decided to close permanently, and many others are considering the same course of action. 

Now, perhaps none too soon I will address the subject of "virtual meetings." I DO NOT condemn them out of hand. As additional means of relaying gospel and ministry addresses, it is commendable and may well be blessed of God if for no other reason than that it is His Word. But what has been reported to me is alarming. Some have suggested that this is to be the "normal" way for saints to gather and that there is no need to return to the "old" way of meeting, i.e. face to face. More than once it has been said that when meeting "virtually" there is no need to dress properly, you can have your breakfast while the meeting is in progress, or pop out to make a cup of tea. You no longer need to make your way to the gatherings. It is so much more convenient. One brother told me in the course of a telephone call that he believed it was "the Lord's will" that we should meet in this way! 

Sadly the more I hear about this means of communication, the more distressed I become. I am the first to admit I do not have a huge amount of information, but sufficient for me to suspect that things are indeed so much worse. "ZOOM" means "DOOM" for the Assemblies of God's people!

I will not repeat what I reported a long time ago regarding the suggestions as to how we should celebrate the Lord's Supper, save to repeat I believed it to be a grotesque caricature of the "pattern" laid down in Scripture; and many of the practices at other gatherings, most having now abandoned meeting together since new government advice, were/are quite awful. I will not attempt to go into details.

Finally, I only know of one Assembly in England, one Assembly in South Wales, and one Assembly in Europe, where they have never deviated from their normal "assembling of themselves together!" It is of interest to note there has not been one case of covid-19 among them all. But they have all been vilified by their brethren! Why? Either because they are shamed or else envious. There is a need for us all to examine ourselves before the Lord and seek to know from Him if we should also have continued persevering "in the teaching and fellowship of the apostles, in breaking of bread and prayers." Acts 2:42.