Monday, September 22, 2008 As for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all. -- Eccl. 9:5
Is there any hope, then, for those who have died? Yes. In fact, there must be if God's original purpose for mankind is to fulfilled. Over the centuries, loyal servants of God have exercised faith in Jehovah's promise about a Seed who would destroy Satan and undo the harm he did. (Gen. 3:15) Most have died. If they are to see the fulfillment of that promise and of others that Jehovah has made, they need to be raised from the dead. (Heb. 11:13) Is such a thing possible? Yes, it is. The apostel Paul said: "There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." (Acts 24:15) Paul once resurrected a young man named Eutychus, who had fallen from a third-floor window and was "picked up dead." This is the last of nine resurrections recorded in the Bible. (Acts 20:7-12) Those nine resurrections provide a basis for faith in Paul's statement.