Is The Good News Preached to The Dead?

“For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead (3498), so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards, they might live in the spirit (4151) according to God’s standards.” – 1 Peter 4:6.

To whom was the Good News preached?
1 – To living people who, for various reasons, did not know the truth or are given another chance, that is why they were called „dead”?
2 – Do deceased people who did not learn the Biblical truth during their lifetime or get another chance?
3 – Is this about spiritually dead people who consciously chose satan’s world?

The word 3498 is translated by Bible dictionaries:
• literally, meaning these are people who have died,
• figuratively, meaning people who rejected God.
Since the translation of this word is very broad, let’s check who a dead person is to God.
They killed Christ. Have they been forgiven?

“Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him.” – Acts 2:23.

„Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Yeshu, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be immersed, each of you, in the name of Yeshu Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 2:36-38.

“So those who accepted his message were immersed, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.” – Acts 2:41.

Why were people who took part in the murder of Christ offered to immerse themselves in the name of Yeshu?
By opposing the Son of God, did they not automatically become spiritually dead?
Did they lose their chance for salvation because of this action?
NO.
Despite the mistake they made, they got another chance.
Whoever sincerely repented and immersed himself received the grace of forgiveness of sins and, among other things, the sin of participating in the death of Christ was erased.
However, people who knowingly killed Christ and continued to do so were called the offspring of vipers:

“Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute?They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.” – Acts 7:52.

“Woe to you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites!…“Snakes(3798)! Brood(1081) of vipers(2191)! How can you escape being condemned to hell?” – Matthew 23:29-38.

“Brood(1081) of vipers(2191) ! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” – Matthew 12:34.

Who does God consider dead?

“And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” – Revelation 20:15.

“Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell/Gehenna (1067).” – Matthew 10:28.

Dead people are people who consciously sided with satan, choosing his world, his ideas, his teachings, his values. They know the Biblical truth, they know what God offers to His servants, people full of love and truth. Despite this knowledge, they consciously chose satan’s world. Such people are not written in the book of life, such people after God’s Judgment will end up in the lake of fire, Gehenna.
These are dead people.
However, God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, of those who deserve eternal life.
Luke writes: „all live for/to Him.” Whoever does not live for God is dead.
Every person has the opportunity to change their life, provided they do not commit sin against the Holy Spirit:

https://yeshu.info/post/sin-against-the-holy-spirit

Summary

Let’s go back to the beginning of the article:

“For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead (3498) , so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards, they might live in the spirit(4151) according to God’s standards.” – 1 Peter 4:6.

To whom was the Good News preached?
1 – To living people who, for various reasons, did not know the truth or are given another chance, that is why they were called „dead”?
2 – To deceased people who did not learn the Biblical truth during their lifetime or are getting another chance?
3 – Is this about spiritually dead people who consciously chose satan’s world?
We reject the third point because these are conscious people who know the truth about God, know the biblical truth, and consciously chose satan and his world. Such people are dead to God.

However, the first and second points illustrate people who have no knowledge, do not know the truth, cannot consciously make a choice or are given another chance to accept the Biblical truth. And it is mainly to these people that the Good News will be proclaimed:

“Then I saw another angel flying high overhead, with the eternal gospel to announce to the inhabitants of the earth — to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He spoke with a loud voice: “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” – Revelation 14:6-7.

“This Good News of the Kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” – Matthew 24:14.

“Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder,“Come!” I looked, and there was a white horse. Its rider held a bow; a crown(4735) was given to him, and he went out as a conqueror in order to conquer.” – Revelation 6:1-2.

Let us pay attention to the basic argument that is raised in this matter: why preach to these people if there will be God’s Judgment?
After all, they will be judged based on each person’s life, love, deeds and thoughts?
And yet… even though there is God’s Judgment, God has prepared a powerful proclamation of the Good News throughout the whole earth, to all nations.
Since the Good News will be preached to the living, the Good News can also be preached to the dead: For in this the Good News was proclaimed even to the dead (3498)…
This is the patience and justice of God.

Author: Robert Brzoza

Translator: Hubert Brzoza