Comfort for you and the family. What is the condition of the dead? THE BIBLE’S ANSWER: “The living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing at all, nor do they have any more reward, because all memory of them is forgotten. Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might, for there is no work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave, where you are going.”—Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10. The Grave, simply put, is where humans go when they die; it is a symbolic place or condition where any consciousness or activity ceases. How did the faithful man Job view the Grave? He had lost all his possessions and children in one day, and then he was struck with agonizing boils all over his body. He pleaded with God: “O that in the Grave [“in a burning place ,” Catholic Douay Version] you would conceal me, that you would hide me.” (Job 1:13-19; 2:7; 14:13) Clearly, Job did not understand the Grave to be a fiery , a place where his suffering would be even worse. Rather, he thought of it as a place of relief. There is another way to learn about the condition of the dead. We can examine the inspired Scriptural records concerning eight people who returned from the dead.—See the box “Eight Resurrections Described in the Bible.” This is at the bottom of the page. Not one of those eight spoke about being in a place of bliss or torment. If the people who were resurrected had gone to such a place when they died, would they not have told people about it? And would this not be included in the inspired Bible record for all to see? In the Scriptures, nothing of the kind is recorded. Those eight people evidently had nothing to say on the subject. Why not? Because they had been unconscious, as if in a deep sleep. In fact, the Bible sometimes uses sleep as an illustration to explain death. For example, faithful David and Stephen both “fell asleep in death.”—Acts 7:60; 13:36. What hope, then, is there for the dead? Can they awaken from this sleep? In the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, the word “Grave” is used to render the Hebrew word “Sheol” and the Greek word “Hades.” Some Bible versions use the word “that means torment,” but the notion of a fiery place of torment for the dead is not Scriptural. The dead will come back to life here on earth to live forever. (Acts24:15; PS 37:11,29) EIGHT RESURRECTIONS DESCRIBED IN THE BIBLE A widow’s son The prophet Elijah resurrected the young son of a widow who lived in Zarephath, north of Israel.—1 Kings 17:17-24. A Shunammite boy Elijah’s successor, the prophet Elisha, resurrected a boy in the town of Shunem and restored him to his parents.—2 Kings 4:32-37. A man in a burial place The corpse of a man who had recently died was hastily left in the same burial place where Elisha’s bones lay. When the man’s body touched the prophet’s bones, the man was resurrected.—2 Kings 13:20, 21. The son of the widow of Nain Jesus interrupted a burial procession outside Nain to resurrect a young man and restore him to his grieving mother.—Luke 7:11-15. Jairus’ daughter Jairus, an officer of the synagogue, implored Jesus to help his sick daughter. Jesus resurrected her shortly after she died.—Luke 8:41, 42, 49-56. Lazarus, Jesus’ dear friend Lazarus was dead for four days when Jesus resurrected him before a number of onlookers.—John 11:38-44. Dorcas The apostle Peter resurrected this beloved woman, who was known for her many acts of kindness.—Acts 9:36-42. Eutychus The young man Eutychus died when he fell from a high window; the apostle Paul raised him back to life.—Acts 20:7-12. Would you and the family like more comfort? Here's my email wanttohelponesthataresad@gmail.com and my text 919-561-8472.