Questions And Answers

Q1. Do The Dead Know Where They Are?

A1. I think this has reference to the idea of Consciousness.
    One answer is to consider the story of Lazarus and the
    Rich man as found in Luke 16:19-31. Here we have the
    story told and a discourse take place between Abraham
    and the Rich man. Verse 23 mentions of the Rich man,
    "And in hell (hades) he lifted up his eyes, being in
    torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his
    bosom." He knows where he is, he knows who Abraham is
    and he can see him and Lazarus. In all these ways I
    would say that Yes, they know where they are. Another
    is to consider that on two occasions Jesus spoke of the
    Kingdom and those who would be rejected because they
    refused to Obey. Those rejected were mentioned as
    being "... cast into outer darkness: there shall be
    weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 8:12;22:13)
    Consciousness is suggested because of their reacting by
    weeping and grinding or gnashing their teeth.


Q2. What is meant by the phrase, "whether in the body, or
    out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth..."

A2. This phrase is found in 2 Corinthians 12:3. Paul is
    speaking here about his experience of being privileged
    by God to see a portion of Paradise (verse 4). He does
    not refer to himself in the first person possibly
    because he does not want others to think he is boasting.
    The specific phrase, "... in the body or out of the body
    ..." I believe has a reference as to HOW it was  
    accomplished. Paul is not sure whether it was done in
    a non-physical way, such as a dream or vision, or if it
    was accomplished by Paul being bodily transported to see
    paradise. God could have accomplished it either way.
    J. W. McGarvey agrees with this and states it this way:
    "He was miraculously drawn up into heaven, but whether
    his whole personality went thither, or whether merely
    that part of him (his spiritual nature) which was suited
    to comprehend and enjoy heaven, he could not tell."
    (Commentary on 2 Corinthians, page 235)