THE CASE OF THE SLEEPING SOULS
by Richard Burkard
Why is Christianity divided into so many denominations? In some cases, the reason could be a clash of personalities among leaders. But I suspect most of the splits through the ages have involved disagreements about doctrinal issues - differing ideas about what the Bible says.
One doctrinal "distinctive" which makes Sabbath-keeping Church of God groups stand out involves the nature of man, and what happens to humans when they die. The common teaching in Christianity is that three elements (for lack of a better word) comprise a human being. As Paul put it: "May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Thes. 5:23).
Herbert W. Armstrong explained it differently in Mystery of the Ages: "Man was made.... in the form and shape of God. He was given a spirit (essence in form) to make the relationship possible.... But God made MAN of MATTER!.... Man.... BECAME a living soul." (1985 ed., pgs. 103-104, all emphasis his)
This distinction may sound strange to many casual churchgoers. But where Mr. Armstrong went from there challenged them even more. He cited Genesis 2:7 to declare, "It does not say man is, or has, an immortal soul. What was formed from material ground BECAME a soul."
But did you know there are several Bible verses which put this claim in a very different light - and actually show the COG explanation of the soul is incomplete? These verses are never mentioned in Mystery of the Ages, but are essential to understanding the resurrection of the dead.
Soul Brother #1?
But we should start at the beginning, and that verse we mentioned from the creation story. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: and man became a living soul." So says Genesis 2:7, in the King James Version.
The very use of the word soul can be controversial. It's from the Hebrew word nephesh -- which COG's properly have pointed out appears elsewhere in the KJV as creature. For instance, it refers to marine life in Genesis 1:21, and land animals in 1:24. (I was surprised to find "nephesh" even is translated as appetite in Ecclesiastes 6:7 -- with "soul" in the margin!)
Other translations such as New International and Moffatt translate the word in Genesis 2:7 as being. Yet many denominations seem to misunderstand this, and conclude "soul" means "person." It does mean that 29 times in the Old Testament (examples include Genesis 36:6 and Proverbs 28:17) -- but not always.
COG ministers then commonly jump to Ezekiel 18. As Mr. Armstrong described his first study into the matter: "Twice I found the expression, 'The soul that sinneth, it shall die' (Ezek. 18:4 and 18:20)." (Mystery, pg. 22) In our Bible Companion series, we mention the United Church of God defines soul here as "simply a person" - which apparently presumes animal life cannot sin. (We have an article which delves into that problematic issue.)
Yet when it comes to the New Testament verse we cited at the beginning, UCG adjusts its explanation. "Soul" is defined as a physical "being with its consciousness," while the physical flesh is defined as "body." The third element "spirit" is explained as a "non-material component that is joined to the physical brain to form the human mind" (Heaven & Hell, 2009 ed., pg. 9)
Thayer's Lexicon takes the meaning of "spirit" in this verse farther - to mean "the rational part of man, the power of perceiving and grasping divine and eternal things, and upon which the Spirit of God exerts its influence." By comparison, "soul" is defined as the "breath of life" in I Thessalonians 5:23. But Thayer's also offers as a definition "an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death"; we'll get to several verses cited by the lexicon with that explanation, and analyze what's really meant.
The Imperfect Soul
If you don't think a "soul" can sin, consider God's instruction to Moses in Leviticus 4:2. "If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord...." God goes on to state souls can sin four more times in that Old Testament book, and several more times beyond that.
So souls can sin -- and Romans 6:23 reminds us, "The wages of sin is death...." If a soul can die, that goes against the dictionary definition of "immortal." Paul notes in I Timothy 6:15-16 God is "the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal...." (And yes, you can even say God has an "immortal soul" - since Isaiah 1:11-14 indicates the Lord has a soul!)
At least one United Church of God minister has pointed out this passage indicates means even angels are mortal and can die -- even though they're "spirit beings." (COG's traditionally have said they cannot die, based on Lk. 20:35-36.) By extension, that means Satan the devil also is mortal and can die! Yet Revelation 20:10 says the devil "will be tormented day and night for ever and ever" -- as opposed to being killed, which is a different Greek word (compare 9:5). This is a potentially big topic, but it's not our focus here.
By comparison, COG ministers often cite the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:28. "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." The Greek word for hell here is Gehenna, which refers to a real valley outside Jerusalem - ironically, not far from the Mount of Olives where Jesus will return.
Recalling the purpose for Gehenna and the valley of Hinnom in the time of Jesus, Mr. Armstrong wrote: "God uses this as a type of the coming lake of fire!" (Did God Create a Devil?, 1973 ed., page 19) He went on to declare Satan will be cast into that same lake - yet we must note no verse specifically says the devil will be cast into Gehenna; Revelation 20:10 only calls it "the lake of fire and brimstone."
(Another word in Matthew 10:28 provides more evidence for the mortality of angels and demons. The word for "destroy" in Greek is apollumi, meaning full destruction. In one encounter with Jesus during His earthly ministry, an evil spirit used the same word in fear of its eventual fate! See Mark 1:24 and Luke 4:34.)
Souls Surviving
At this point, most COG ministers close the book on studying the soul. They've proven from Scripture the soul is mortal and can die, so that's enough. But look more deeply into the Bible and you'll discover it's not enough. All hope is not lost for our souls!
King David knew that when he wrote Psalm 16:10. "For you will not leave my soul in hell...." says the KJV; the New International Version properly translates the last word as "the grave." Psalm 34:22 explains God's intentions: "The Lord redeems the soul of his servants...." (See also 49:15.) Several Psalms indicate that can happen to a certain extent while our bodies are alive - but the real payoff eventually will come later.
Have you overlooked the wording of Revelation 20:4, describing the coming millennium? I admit I did for years. Notice it carefully: "I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God.... They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
Wow - the souls (which we can understand to be "physical beings") come back to life, when the "dead in Christ" rise! But don't stop there. Verse 6 declares, "Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them...." The souls then will live eternally -- thanks to a better body! "The body that is sown is perishable," Paul wrote; "it is raised imperishable.... it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body." (I Cor. 15:42-44)
Even the examination of souls by COG's in Ezekiel 18 can be incomplete. Move down from verse 20 to verses 27-28 in KJV: "Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.... he shall surely live, he shall not die."
Souls in Waiting
We can combine this passage with Revelation 20 to see the future life for the soul comes at the resurrection of the dead. Until then, the dead in Christ await Jesus's glorious second coming. It's a concept known theologically as "soul-sleeping" - a phrase which apparently had its roots in Martin Luther, but isn't really used much by COG ministers.
I Thessalonians 4:14-17 spells out this idea. "We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.... the dead in Christ shall rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."
So when Church of God ministers ask the classic question, "Do you have an immoral soul?," the answer is not exactly an outright no. It's not yet. Once the first resurrection occurs, we will have immortal souls someday! (We should note this is contrary to the explanation of Family Radio's Harold Camping, that God gives you a "resurrected soul" at the moment you become saved.)
But there's one important condition involved, which Paul mentions -- we have to be dead in Christ. Paul told the Galatians, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." (Gal. 2:20) This requires God's Spirit living in you (Rom. 8:9) -- and Paul added elsewhere, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Phil. 1:21)
FTW (For the Win)
Another discovery in Ezekiel 18:27-28 is the idea of saving souls - in that case, saving your own soul by turning from sin. (The Bible commonly calls that repentance.) COG groups tend to avoid phrases such as "save your soul" and "soul-winning," because they remind leaders too much of mainstream Protestant groups - yet the phrases are Biblical.
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." That's not a New Testament teaching - it was written by King Solomon, in Proverbs 11:30! He went on to declare you can save a child's "soul from death" by using a rod of punishment (Prv. 23:13-14).
The New Testament talks about "the salvation of your souls" being "the goal of your faith" (I Pet. 1:9). And it's not an action you keep to yourself. Notice the last words of advice in the book of James: "....He which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." (Jms. 5:20, KJV)
Conclusions
Several Old Testament verses tend to obscure our understanding of what a soul really is, especially in the King James. For example, they describe souls melting or being poured (e.g. Psm. 107:26, 42:4). In light of the other Biblical evidence we've examined here, those verbs seem to be poetic expressions - yet come to think of it, many COG's refuse to apply that sort of understanding to similar scriptures about the Holy Spirit.
We've seen the common Church of God view about "immortal souls" is accurate when it comes to the here and now - but leaves out important insight regarding the future. We've also found Biblical evidence that angels (and even the devil) could be just as mortal as we are. And we've been reminded by scripture that "winning souls" is not a bad thing to do - especially if you're turning someone to Jesus.
If Church of God members think about it, they actually make verbal appeals to their own souls in several hymns they sing. Bless the Lord Eternal, O My Soul is a Dwight Armstrong standard - and that's OK, based on Bible verses such as Psalm 116:7 and Genesis 49:6. May your soul find comfort in the fact that death does not have to be its final fate. Put your faith in Christ for salvation - with all your soul, all your bodily mind and all your spiritual heart.
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© 2009, Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.