The last two weeks have indeed been a “turning point” following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder and CEO of “Turning Point USA”, when he was at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah on September 10th. The memorial service for Charlie Kirk was held at a totally packed State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona this last Sunday on September 21st. Many of the leaders of our nation, including President Trump and Vice President JD Vance were there, and spoke alongside Erica Kirk, Charlie’s wife, and many others. It was clearly a tribute to Charlie and the freedom of speech, but also a powerful re-affirmation of faith in Jesus, including Erica’s humble proclamation of forgiveness for her husband’s assassin.
As I write this article, the outpouring of sympathy, love, and support for Erica Kirk and Turning Point USA’s mission is nothing less than spectacular. Applications for new Turning Point USA chapters in schools, colleges, and universities have suddenly exploded by the thousands. Even prominent people in government, corporations, and the media who criticized or made light of Charlie Kirk’s murder have been exposed, penalized, or even fired. This is indeed a “turning point” in our history as a nation and for Christianity that we couldn’t have imagined just a couple weeks ago.
Do we know yet how all this fits into biblical prophecies and recent historical events? Admittedly, I’m not qualified to answer that question. However, there was a consistent proclamation over these last couple weeks that caught my attention. From the very day that Charlie Kirk was murdered, most everyone in the Turning Point organization, government leadership, and conservative media repeatedly said that Charlie is now very much alive and in the presence of the Lord, looking down upon what has been happening here with great love and interest.
As Seventh Day Adventist Christians, we believe that the Bible gives us clear evidence that everyone who has died throughout history is still asleep in death, with only a handful of exceptions (such as Jesus Himself, Moses and Elijah). “These things He [Jesus] said, and after that He said to them [His disciples], “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.”” (John 11: 11-14). Believing that the dead are alive and conscious immediately after death supports “spiritualism”, the belief that the deceased are not dead, but are alive and awake and can interact with the living.
The Bible clearly confirms that the dead will remain asleep until Jesus returns to the earth to resurrect them. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1Thessalonians 4: 14,16)
Since the dead will stay asleep until Jesus returns to resurrect them, is it important that our Christian brethren get this one right? The answer is a resounding YES. If the dead aren’t dead, what’s to stop the devil from impersonating any dead person, telling us lies and deceptions designed to destroy Christians and Christianity… or worse? The book by E.G. White, “The Great Controversy” details the events and warnings we need to know ahead of time. What an incredible opportunity we have as Seventh-day Adventists to sympathize with those who are now grieving and looking for hope in the spiritual revival now sweeping the nation. By God's grace, we can walk alongside them, comfort and encourage them. As we win their confidence, we can point them to the truths that give us hope. Then together we can long for Jesus soon return clinging to the promise of meeting our Lord in the air alongside our resurrected loved ones.