Are saints who have physically died “dead saints” or are they alive with God?

A friend named Leonard Alt got tired of being hammered by anti-Catholic Fundamentalists on this issue so he decided to write this article. I thought you might enjoy it too, so here it goes…

Leonard writes: I wrote this note after several days of frustration with people, on Facebook, saying that saints can’t do  anything, because they are dead.  They seem to be leaving out the fact that the souls live on.  ENJOY! 

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An antagonist named Warren Ritz asked, “Who are the “dead in Christ”, if not those who walked with our Lord, but who are now no   longer among the living?” He is correct; the “dead in Christ” are those saints  who have physically died.    “For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thess 4:16). 

THE CONCEPT OF LIVING SAINTS CAN DO HARM TO THE “JESUS ALONE” DOCTRINE.  From some people’s point of view, people who have died are classified as “dead saints,” who can do nothing.  They are no longer a force to reckon with; they can no longer appear; they cannot talk nor do other things.  These same people don’t want the saints who have died doing anything because this would be another reason why the Protestant doctrine, “JESUS ALONE” fails.  If the so-called “dead saints” do anything then it is not “JESUS ALONE,” but Jesus and the saints cooperating.    And it would also mean that the so-called “dead saints” are in fact not dead, but alive with God.    

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HIS PHYSICAL BODY DIED BUT HIS SOUL LIVED ON.  But, are the Saints who have gone before us alive with God or are they truly “dead saints” who can do nothing as some would suggest?    Yes, their bodies are dead, but their souls live on.  For example Jesus said to one of the criminals on the cross next to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Lk 23:43).   Yes, that day, this man became the dead in Christ because his physical body died on his cross; however, Jesus said that today, this man would be with Him in paradise.   He was no “dead saint” because his soul was alive in Christ in Paradise.

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Abraham, Isaac and Jacob alive and concerned for their descendants

HE IS THE GOD OF THE LIVING.  One person alluded to Mark 12:26-27 saying “Jesus is the God of the living, not of the dead” in an attempt to show that Jesus cannot be the god of those who have died; after all he says “Jesus is the god of the living.”  However, he left out three people who were no longer alive in verse 26; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  God said that He was their God.   And so does that mean that God is the God of the dead?  No; “He is not God of the dead but of the living.”  

  • “God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, (the) God of Isaac, and (the) God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are greatly misled” (Mk 12: 26-27). 

Abraham Isaac and Jacob are physically dead and yet their souls are alive because their God is not God of the dead but of the living and thus do not qualify as “dead saints.” 

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WHEN MOSES AND ELIJAH APPEARED WERE THEY DEAD OR ALIVE?  There are those who insist that saints who have died are nothing more than “dead saints” who can do nothing.   I usually ask them this question.   When Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, were they dead or alive?   “And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah” (Lk 9:30).  Not bad for a couple of so-called “dead saints;” not only did they appear, but they were talking as well.  The question that I asked usually goes unanswered.   

SORRY LEONARD…YOU HAVE A BAD ARGUMENT.  Bill says, “As Ecclesiastes says the dead have nothing more to do under the sun…sorry Leonard…you have a bad argument.”  He is using this as definitive Biblical proof that people on the other side cannot do anything once they have died.  After all, Ecclesiastes does say, “For them, love and hatred and rivalry have long since perished. They [the dead] will never again have part in anything that is done under the sun” (Eccles 9:6).    

When a person dies their body is in the grave; it is dead. They can no longer work under the sun, in this world.  However, Ecclesiastes 9:6 is not a prohibition against the activity of the person’s soul, which lives on.   This of course begs the question; is there any indication of personal activity of a soul after death, in Scripture?   

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Yes, there are a number of examples and here is one of them.  Elisha after dying performed marvelous deeds.  In life he [Elisha] performed wonders, and after death, marvelous deeds (Sir 48:14).  “Elisha died and was buried. At the time, bands of Moabites used to raid the land each year. Once some people were burying a man, when suddenly they spied such a raiding band. So they cast the dead man into the grave of Elisha, and everyone went off.  But when the man came in contact with the bones of Elisha, he came back to life and rose to his feet” (Kings 13:20-21).  

Using, Ecclesiastes 9:6 as a prohibition against all soul activity after death is to use the verse out of context and at odds with other parts of the Bible.  Ecclesiastes 9:6 is referring to the physical body that has died, not the soul that lives on.  Elisha, after death performed marvelous deeds.   It can’t be much clearer than that!   

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JESUS NEVER CLAIMED THAT THOSE WHO HAVE DIED ARE “DEAD SAINTS.”  Jesus understood well that when someone dies, they will live and in fact those who live and believe in him WILL NEVER DIE. 

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this” (Jn 11:23-26)?  

This union, with the saints on this side and the saints on the other side is referred to as the communion of saints in the Apostles Creed.  Those who insist that “dead saints” can’t do anything because their bodies have physically died seem not to understand that their souls live on and are very involved. 

So, where does the Bible say we should pray to dead saints? I would ask, Where does the Bible say saints are dead?

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This Post Has 20 Comments

  1. De Maria

    Just my two cents. The Bible does not say anything about praying to “dead” saints.

    The Bible simply commands the Saints in Christ to pray for “all” (1 Timothy 2:1). We don’t cease to become members of the Body of Christ when we die. Therefore, we don’t cease to pray when we die. If anything, our prayer becomes more perfect as we get closer to the source of our spiritual life (2 Corinthians 5:8).

    The New Testament is a new dispensation in Christ. This is clearly expressed in the book of Hebrews. Where the Old Testament is described, it says:

    Heb 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

    But the New Covenant in the name of Jesus Christ is totally different. We are living amongst our brethren. How can it be that we are not permitted to communicate with those amongst whom we live?

    Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

    Christ is our example. And it is He who first portrayed the new dispensation of the communion of saints, when, still in the flesh, he climbed the Mountain of Tabor and spoke freely with Moses and Elijah in the company of Peter, James and John (Matthew 17:1-3).

    Therefore, although the Bible does not give an explicit command to pray to dead saints. The New Testament teaches, by example and implication, that we who are born again in Christ are living in and amongst the saints upon Mount Sion. And since we are living amongst them, we are free to communicate with them.

    Sincerely,

    De Maria

  2. Marie

    Don’t listen to Warren Ritz. He is an ignoramus. A few months ago I had to ban him from one of my fb groups for abusive language.

  3. Bill Kammerer

    Then there is Hebrews 12:1 – “a great cloud of witnesses”… Those would be the saints in heaven..

  4. JAG

    Jesus prayed to dead Prophets. I don’t see the issue, other than more protestant illiteracy.

  5. Bill 912

    Rosenthal d: Don’t you think you should have actually READ Steve’s post before repeating things he already explained (and refuted)? Also, perhaps you should learn from Catholic sources what the Catholic Church ACTUALLY teaches before criticizing it for teaching what it doesn’t teach.

  6. Mark

    I think you have danced around the actual issue. 1 Timothy 2:5 states “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” so how does the RCC reconcile praying to saints?

    MARK, STEVE RAY HERE. LET ME BE GENTLE BUT HONESTLY SAY THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING DISPLAYS A PROFOUND IGNORANCE OF SCRIPTURE AND OF THE MATTER OF PRAYER. USUALLY PEOPLE SAY THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE PARROTING ANTI-CATHOLIC RHETORIC WHICH THEY HAVE BLINDLY HEARD FROM ANOTHER ANTI-CATHOLIC WHO IS ALSO IGNORANT OF SCRIPTURE.

    HERE IS WHY I SAY THAT? WHAT IS JESUS THE MEDIATOR OF? IT IS THE NEW COVENANT IN HIS BLOOD. ONLY HE COULD MEDIATE OR BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN A HOLY GOD AND SINFUL MEN. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PRAYER.

    WHEN YOU ASK A FRIEND TO PRAY FOR YOU, DO YOU REALIZE YOU ARE ASKING THEM TO BE A MEDIATOR FOR YOU? THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN YOU AND GOD ASKING A BLESSING FOR YOU. WHEN YOU PRAY FOR SOMEONE YOU BECOME A MEDIATOR. IF YOU ARE CONSISTENT YOU SHOULD NEVER ASK ANYONE ELSE TO PRAY FOR YOU, YOU SHOULD PRAY TO GOD ALONE.

    YOU SHOULD REALLY STOP AND FIND OUT WHAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH REALLY TEACHES. I USED TO PARROT THE SAME THINGS YOU ARE BUT I STOPPED AND GAVE THE HISTORICAL CATHOLIC CHURCH OF 2000 YEARS AN HONEST LISTEN. I AM NOW A CATHOLIC.

  7. Tom

    I am a practicing Roman Catholic and chatechist and want to serve the Lord and worship only Him. If we were meant to speak/pray to other believers who have died in the flesh and are now we assume to be with the Lord, wouldn’t one of the Gospel writers, or Paul, or any of the other writers of the epistles (especially Revelation) have mentioned that such a practice occurring or admonished us to do so. Our Church has taken liberties in this regard where the truth is not certain as to whether God approves of this practice and Who may be jelous that our prayers are only directed to Him.

    Many catholics, including my wife, pray to St. Anthony when they lose something of value. Strangely enough, often times they find the item in a very unusual and mysterious way that defies logic. While I am not dogmatic that this is wrong, we must be wary that this could be an example of 2 Cor 11:14, where “Satan transforms himself into an angel of light.” He does this for the purpose of steering people away from our true Lord and His gospel and he may be allowed by God to interact with us in this way when we attempt to speak to spirits (including believers and saints who have died in the flesh). We would most likely consider it as sinful if we prayed a similar prayer St. Anthony sincerely using a ouija board and invited his feedback instead of instead of attemptig to speak to him at church while also praying to God in the next sentence. Nevertheless, I digress.

    This issue seems to come down to one’s comfort in only trusting the Word of God, the Bible, as the ultimte authority on this topic, or if one is open to Church tradition as also having authority in this manner. While I have on rare occasion, said the Hail Mary, etc. usually in a group setting, I am not comfortable doing so. For some Catholics such as myself and most protestant brothers, bowing our head and speaking to someone other than our God creates guilty and seems like a blasphemous act for which I must request His mercy. Therefore, I choose to offer my prayers to God alone, bolding approaching His throne of grace, as we are admonished to do throughout His Word.

  8. Candice Thimesch

    I know this is a little fanatical but I want to share my story on what I experienced in regards to the saints in heaven. Six years before I had ever thought about becoming Catholic I was enveloped in a prayer or “caught-up” in something that I was not expecting. I was really unsure of what I had experienced. I was leaving for work one morning and, as an evangelical christian, I prayed a very short morning prayer before leaving. As I began to get up to leave I heard an unforgettable thing. I heard voices. Not just any voices. These voices were saying in unison, “Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.” I felt as if I was saying it with them. Then as I tried to get up to leave the sound repeated itself and I joined in. “Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.” Then one more time I thought I better had just sit there and I heard it one more time. So, a total of three times I heard this and I had no explanation or understanding to what I had just heard. It was amazing!! So it has been about seven and a half years since and I now realize what that was all about. I was hearing the Unending Hymn that is spoken of in Isaiah and in Revelation and I know that it was the angels and saints that are actually repeating it over and over in the awesome presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I finally joined the Catholic Church and realized that we say this hymn every mass and I believe we are saying it along with those in heaven. Although the magisterium of the church has recently changed the wording in the prayer slightly to be more precise to the original vulgate, I recognized that the prayer in the mass is the prayer that is being said in heaven and it was one more affirmation for me that I was in the right place now. God is good!

  9. Bill912

    Then, Tom, I guess you must feel guilty if you ask your wife or a friend to pray for you.

  10. Candice Thimesch

    To Tom:
    What God has joined together, man cannot separate. The Holy Spirit entered Mary and he is still working in and through her. I had to pray for understanding about Mary. I have received much from the Holy Spirit on this. You can look at it as Mary being espoused by the Holy Spirit. I used to believe that in some mystical way the Holy Spirit translated everything for us to God or Jesus, (they are one in the same being with the Holy Spirit), but now in some way I believe that Mary is there helping. See, she was human and filled with the Holy Spirit in a way that we cannot fully comprehend. Her body held the Word of God! Keep praying about this. It will give you a deeper understanding about Jesus and his death and his sacrifice on the cross. I don’t know why or how, but some how Mary brings a HUGE softness to our hearts and a crushing blow all at the same time and adjusts our view of Christ’s sacrifice and suffering. Pray!! Love in Christ Jesus.

  11. Laurence Charles Ringo

    This for “Jag”:Show us in the Scriptures where Jesus prayed to ANYONE other than His Father, and I (a Protestant), will concede the point that we should actually pray to ANYONE other than Almighty God.

    STEVE RAY HERE:
    Thus I guess we are not allowed to pray to Jesus or the Holy Spirit? Laurence needs to look up the word “pray” at its history.

  12. De Maria

    Tom January 9, 2014 at 7:47 PM
    I am a practicing Roman Catholic and chatechist and want to serve the Lord and worship only Him.

    Good job, Tom. However, I believe you should stop being a catechist until you resolve this issue. You should not teach or pass on your doubts about the truth of Catholic Doctrine to those seeking the knowledge of the Truth. This is for the good of your own soul. The Scripture says:

    Mark 9:41 And whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me; it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

    If we were meant to speak/pray to other believers who have died in the flesh and are now we assume to be with the Lord, wouldn’t one of the Gospel writers, or Paul, or any of the other writers of the epistles (especially Revelation) have mentioned that such a practice occurring or admonished us to do so. Our Church has taken liberties in this regard where the truth is not certain as to whether God approves of this practice and Who may be jelous that our prayers are only directed to Him.

    Several things here.

    1. Remember that Scripture tells us that the Church teaches the wisdom of God:

    Ephesians 3:10

    10 That the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places through the church,

    Therefore, you are not the interpreter of the Word of God. The Church is the one whom Christ appointed to teach you His Doctrines:

    Matthew 28:
    19 Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.

    2. What you haven’t noticed is that we have a New Dispensation in Jesus Christ.
    a. First, Jesus Christ is our model.
    b. In the Transfiguration, we see Jesus Christ speaking to Moses and Elijah:

    Matthew 17:
    2 And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow.3 And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

    3. And St. Paul reveals that we, who are baptized, now walk with the spirits of men made perfect. These are the Saints. They are walking side by side with us and they can hear us:

    Hebrews 12 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

    1 And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us:….

    18 For you are not come to a mountain that might be touched, and a burning fire, and a whirlwind, and darkness, and storm, 19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words, which they that heard excused themselves, that the word might not be spoken to them:20 For they did not endure that which was said: And if so much as a beast shall touch the mount, it shall be stoned. 21 And so terrible was that which was seen, Moses said: I am frighted, and tremble.

    22 But you are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of angels, 23 And to the church of the firstborn, who are written in the heavens, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new testament, and to the sprinkling of blood which speaketh better than that of Abel.

    Therefore, Tom, we are walking with the Saints and Angels upon Mt. Sion. And we can talk to them the way Jesus talked to Moses and Elijah upon Mount Tabor.

    Many catholics, including my wife, pray to St. Anthony when they lose something of value. Strangely enough, often times they find the item in a very unusual and mysterious way that defies logic. While I am not dogmatic that this is wrong, we must be wary that this could be an example of 2 Cor 11:14, where “Satan transforms himself into an angel of light.” He does this for the purpose of steering people away from our true Lord and His gospel and he may be allowed by God to interact with us in this way when we attempt to speak to spirits (including believers and saints who have died in the flesh). We would most likely consider it as sinful if we prayed a similar prayer St. Anthony sincerely using a ouija board and invited his feedback instead of instead of attemptig to speak to him at church while also praying to God in the next sentence. Nevertheless, I digress.

    Its not the same thing. When we pray to the Saints, we pray to members of the body of Christ.

    When you use a ouija board, you are practicing witchcraft.

    This issue seems to come down to one’s comfort in only trusting the Word of God, the Bible, as the ultimte authority on this topic, or if one is open to Church tradition as also having authority in this manner.

    If the Bible were your authority, you would obey Church Tradition. Because the Bible tells you to obey your Rulers in the Church:

    Hebrews 13:
    7 Remember your prelates who have spoken the word of God to you; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation,

    Notice that it is Priests from whom you learn the Word of God. Not from the Bible alone.

    While I have on rare occasion, said the Hail Mary, etc. usually in a group setting, I am not comfortable doing so. For some Catholics such as myself and most protestant brothers, bowing our head and speaking to someone other than our God creates guilty and seems like a blasphemous act for which I must request His mercy.

    First of all, don’t do anything that violates your conscience.
    Second of all, if Mother Mary is good enough for Jesus Christ, she is good enough for me. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ had to ask her for food, clothes and for her loving arms? Do you not realize that He gave her to us from the Cross to be our mother? Do you not realize that all who keep His Commandments and profess His Gospel are children of Mary?

    Revelation 12:
    17 And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

    Therefore, I choose to offer my prayers to God alone, bolding approaching His throne of grace, as we are admonished to do throughout His Word.

    Then it sounds as though you are no longer a Catholic. May God forgive you because you have committed the sin of Esau:

    Hebrews 12:16-17Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

    16…. as Esau; who for one mess, sold his first birthright.
    17 For know ye that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the benediction, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, although with tears he had sought it.

    See also: Prayer for the dead and Communion of Saints

  13. De Maria

    Laurence Charles Ringo September 5, 2014 at 10:59 PM
    This for “Jag”:Show us in the Scriptures where Jesus prayed to ANYONE other than His Father, and I (a Protestant), will concede the point that we should actually

    Upon Mt. Tabor, Jesus spoke to Moss and Elijah who were long dead.

    Matthew 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

    And we are now on Mt. Sion, walking with the Spirits of men made perfect, who are for us a cloud of witnesses to whom we can offer our petitions:

    Hebrews 12 King James Version (KJV)

    18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

    19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

    20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

    21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

    22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

    23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

    24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

    Yes, sir, we walk with the Saints in Christ.

  14. Robyn

    As a believer in our Lord Jesus Christ, I have to disagree completely
    with your argument. The Bible is very clear about who to pray to:
    “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
    except through me.” (John 14:6)

    God loves us so much that He does not force His will on us. He offers
    us the free gift of eternal life through Jesus. It’s up to each person to
    RECEIVE this gift by faith through grace. We must acknowledge
    our sins and repent. May your eyes be opened to the truth.

    STEVE RAY HERE: You missed the point. We are not talking about getting saved here but about the communion of saints.

  15. varghese

    To those who defend/offend “departed soul’s consciousness”. pls. read Mark 12:24
    Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” also Matthew 22:29.
    Most of us speak or react to suit everyone’s convenience. But the Holy Book is very clear. No where in the Bible, it says “we must pray for the departed souls or seek their intercessions”. At the same time no where in the Bible there is a restrictions on this. So what is there? There are clear and precise indications, that it was a tradition for pray for the departed souls, and also their intercessions.
    For example,
    OTs – Deuteronomy 34:8can mourn for Moses, – Numbers 20:29-mourn for Joshua, – 1 Samuel 25:1-Mourning for Samuel, Genesis 50: 10 Joseph Mourned for his father, – Genesis 50:25-Joseph asked his sons to take his bones., – Joshua 24:32- Joshua took Joseph’s Bones, and burried at Shechem.

    Hebrews 11:22 -By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
    Acts 7:16 -and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem,- Acts 8:2-mourn for Stephen
    Do you all think, they were simply weeping? NO..NO…they were with heavy hearts praying for the departed righteous souls.
    Deut:21:1-9- scarifies for innocent bloodshed for what? (Rom; 12:19)let us pause and ask ourselves a question, though. Why was it that a town had to offer a sacrifice just because it was in the wrong place at the wrong time? Does righteous blood cry out for vengeance, and if this sacrifice were not done, would God have held a town responsible for the innocent blood found near there? According to the Bible, the answer appears to be yes. A town that did not care enough for innocent life to be able to sacrifice for it or swear to God their innocence in shedding innocent blood was not a town that God would view highly. Additionally, we have a consistent record within the Bible of righteous blood crying out for vengeance. Let us examine that record now.
    Revelation 6:9-11 n (righteous cries in the presence of God) gives us another cry for vengeance from the blood of innocent martyrs: “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth.” Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.”
    Genesis 4:10-And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.
    What do you all think- his blood was crying? NO NO…it was his soul.
    Psalm 72:14-God think of the blood of his children- From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.
    Hebrews 11:4- By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
    See, the souls of righteous speaking to God, even though they are physically not with us.
    Psalm 9:12-For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
    Job 24:12- From out of the city the dying groan, and the soul of the wounded cries for help; yet God charges no one with wrong .
    Finally Jesus, said “ whoever eats my body and drinks my blood shall never die, even if he dies. What more want….we live not only now, but forever.
    There are more to come, pls. respond with your findings.

  16. Cheryl

    Candice Thimesch are you a relative of mine? Related to john Thimesch

  17. Candice Thimesch

    Cheryl;

    Kingman, KS area? I married a Thimesch.

  18. David

    I've read this article and I have to comment. There is one place and one place only that 'I' can find in the Bible, where someone spoke with the dead. Saul sought a session with a medium, and he asked that Samuel be called up.

    1 Samuel 28:7 and 11
    7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

    11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.

    We all know that a familiar spirit is not a saint but a demon who is bent on deceiving you. If it works like you say it does, why didn't Saul just pray directly to Samuel to ask for his help? Or why is this verse found in the Bible?

    Psalms 115:17 – The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.

    Or this one

    1 Timothy 2:5 – For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

    Moses and Elijah did appear with Jesus, but not one tittle about Jesus praying to them. In fact, it was Jesus that appeared in the fiery furnace, long before he was even born.
    I don't say the saints are dead, but the Bible says they are asleep. If you're asleep, you're not dead but also not conscious either.

    There is just NOTHING about praying to the dead in the Bible, and that makes it conjecture on the part of mankind.

    STEVE RAY HERE: There are so many problems with the comments above it would take me good bit of time to explain and refute — time which I don’t have right now. Maybe someone else can jump in and respond.

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