Bible Questions Answered:
I have heard that some people believe in soul sleep, what is that, and is it true?
Alex K. / Lowell, Massachusetts
Bible Answers:
The false belief of soul sleep, is that upon death of the body, the soul sleeps (unconscious), or enters a state of rest, together with the body, until the resurrection.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 KJV
“Then shall the dust (body) return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
In Luke 9:28-36, we read the story of the Mount of Transfiguration.
Our Lord, in prayer, was transfigured before them, into His former eternal glory, and there appeared with Him, Moses (who had died and been buried, centuries before), and Elijah (who had been taken up bodily to heaven, centuries before).
Luke 9:29-31 KJV
[29] And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering.
[30] And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
[31] Who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.
Our Lord told the true story (The proper names, Abraham, and Lazarus are given.) of two men who died and what happened to them after death.
Luke 16:19-31 KJV
[19] There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
[20] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
[21] And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
[22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
[23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
[24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
[25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
[26] And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
[27] Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
[28] For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
[29] Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
[30] And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
[31] And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Jesus said, though their bodies were in the grave, their souls had gone to their eternal rewards. The beggar to Paradise, the rich man to hell.
On Calvary's cross, our Lord spoke to the penitent thief,....
Luke 23:43 KJV
“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
The thief's body would that day lay in the grave, but Jesus promised that his soul would enter paradise, with Him.
On His cross, our Lord's dying words were...
Luke 23:46 NLT
“46 Then Jesus shouted, "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!" And with those words He breathed His last.”
His body, would lay in the tomb (for three days), but His soul would proceed to the Father in Heaven.
In Acts 7:59, Stephen (A deacon of the early church.), before his stoning said....
Acts 7:59 NLT
“As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
In I Thessalonians 4:13-18, the Apostle Paul, gives us a picture of what the Resurrection will be like.
Christ will come from heaven, with those saints who have already died, and have been in heaven with Him (Not from some unconscious sleep).
He,will secretly come to catch away the church, returning saints will receive their immortal resurrected bodies, and unite with those living saints who also will be changed into immortals.
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT
13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.
14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him the believers who have died.
15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet Him ahead of those who have died.
16 For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.
17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
18 So encourage each other with these words.
In II Corinthians 5:6,8 KJV, the Apostle Paul said...
“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. “
Praise the Lord, the soul does not go to the grave!
I Corinthians 15:54-58 KJV
[54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying
that is written,
Death is swallowed up in victory.
[55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
[56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
[57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ.
[58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour
is not in vain in the Lord.
