What type of an existence will a child who dies enter into in the future when there is a resurrection of the dead?

What type of an existence 

will a child who dies enter into in the future

when there is a resurrection of the dead?

The first question we really need to ask ourselves in this very important discussion is the following: What type of an existence will a child who dies before the age of accountability enter into in the future when there is a resurrection of the dead (this is understood in light of the fact that those who die are currently dead and not living in a state of disembodied consciousness)? Now, it might seem strange to say it this way, but there is, in fact, more than one choice. If you don’t see this as a possibility, bear with me.

Now, let us look at a key text which is going to be the beginning of our journey. It is a text we all know very well and it concerns the story of David and Bathsheba and what the Bible records concerning the death of their first child. I don’t need to rehearse the whole story as we are familiar with it, but I do want to focus on one specific issue. Let us look now at II Samuel 12:16-23:

“David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” 19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” 20 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. 21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” 22 He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” (ESV)

Now, let us understand what this text says. David says that one day, he seemingly will see this child again. This is the idea one gets in reading this text when we consider the attitude and actions of David. He seems to have taken a very practical view of this issue and went on with his life with quite a strong level of faith. He did not exhibit major additional grief beyond what is referenced here in this before the child passed away. Why? As he said, he understood that the life of that child on earth was over, but he believed that he would see that child again in some way.

     The text does not say precisely when this will happen. This text is pointed out by scores of commentators and exegetes talking about this issue and they use this text to show (among other texts that are used to build an argument) that little children will be raised from the dead to immortal life.

Yes, this is exactly what many scholars and theologians teach that this text means, but I have to ask: Is this what this text teaches at all? Simply put, to say that this text teaches that small children are going to inherit immortal life is reading something into this text which is not necessarily there at all. It only says that David will "go to him."  [They don’t normally go into any details about who these children will be? How will they develop memories? Who will they be as adult thinking people considering they never had any experiences to remember in the first place?]

Now, the Bible also makes it clear that at this time in history only Christ has immortality (I Timothy 6:16 & I Corinthians 15:23)) and “no man has ascended to heaven.” (John 3:13) Yes, it does say that David will see that baby again (who lived to be only a few days old), but there is absolutely no indication that proves in any way that that baby is going to be raised to immortal life! Let’s be clear and reasonable. The baby either is going to be raised from the dead to mortal or immortal life. There are really not any other options that make any practical sense. It is one or the other. This is definitely the case because there is no indication in the Bible, for example, that human beings, made in the image of God, will be perhaps in the future transformed in some way to become angels.

What we mean here exactly is: Will this baby be capable of dying again by being raised to mortal life or will the baby be raised from the dead to an eternal existence? These really are the only two choices available. We will continue this discussion in further posts.