Departed Spirit Sleep: Soul Sleep

You are reading in the prophecy section of the free online book, Fellowship With God in the Sixth Path. For more on Biblical prophecy, click the link above labeled "17 Chapters on Prophecy".

In the paragraphs to follow you will see, from the scriptures, that deceased believers:

• Are asleep
• Are in God's presence
• "Rest" temporarily until judgement
• Exist where "no one can work"
• Are not active in the throne room of God
• Will awaken at the resurrection
• Will be active "before the throne of God" after the tribulation

"She was dead... he called, saying, "Child, arise!" Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately"

Luke 8:53-55

In Luke 8:40-56 we see that a 12 year old girl died. Jesus came to her home and said to her parents, "Don't weep. She isn't dead, but sleeping" (Luke 8:52). Then Jesus said to to the dead girl, "Child, arise!" Then "Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately."

In this brief description you can see where I received the title to this page, "Departed Spirit Sleep". Her spirit "returned" to her body because it had departed from her body at the death of her body.

Is Departed Spirit Sleep the same as Soul Sleep?

Yes and no. Evidently, there are versions of soul sleep which incorrectly teach that the soul cannot exist apart from the body or that the souls of the unbelieving are annihilated, rather than existing indefinitely in Hell. You can read many arguments against those versions of soul sleep on the internet. But, a scriptural description of soul sleep doesn't speak to those issues at all. 

In this page, the terms soul sleep and departed spirit sleep will be used interchangeably. But, if you can't help but link the term "soul sleep" with the two incorrect doctrines I mentioned in the previous paragraph, then you should think in terms of "departed spirit sleep" whenever I use the term "soul sleep". Then you can prayerfully and objectively hear what the scriptures actually say, instead of what you have heard men say. In this page we will see what the scriptures say about existence after death, not what men say about existence after death. 

As I wrote above, the scriptures say that deceased believers:

• Are asleep
• Are in God's presence
• "Rest" temporarily until judgement
• Exist where "no one can work"
• Are not active in the throne room of God
• Will awaken at the resurrection
• Will be active "before the throne of God" after the tribulation

Please pray now... that God will give you understanding of His word. 

(Pause for prayer)

Now, here is some additional text regarding the girl Jesus raised from the dead:

"All were weeping and mourning her, but he said, 'Don't weep. She isn't dead, but sleeping.' They were ridiculing him, knowing that she was dead. But he put them all outside, and taking her by the hand, he called, saying, 'Child, arise!' Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately."

Luke 8:52-55

Her Spirit Returned

When Jesus raised the girl from the dead, "Her spirit returned". So, from this we see that her spirit had departed at the death of her body. That is one thing that occurs at the death of the body, the separation of the spirit from the body. 

When Jesus said "She isn't dead, but sleeping", He was speaking of her spirit. He was saying that her spirit was not dead, but "sleeping". So, her body was dead but her spirit was not. For the complete text and additional commentary on this girl's death, go to the bottom of this page. Read the paragraph titled, "Death of Jairus' Daughter". 

After physical death, the body decays but the spirit sleeps:

• "For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, was laid with his fathers, and saw decay" (Acts 13:36).

Prayerful Observation

So, after death, David fell asleep. His body died and decayed. So, it is the spirit that sleeps... The spirit is alive, but sleeping.

Please continue to read.. to read prayerfully... so that you may hear.

Spiritual Sleep After Physical Death is the Norm  

• "David slept with his fathers, and was buried in David's city... Solomon sat on David his father's throne " (1 Kings 2:10-12).

• "Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in his father David's city ; and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place" (1 Kings 11:43).
• "Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in David's city... Abijam his son reigned in his place. " (1 Kings 14:31).
  

• "Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David's city; and Asa his son reigned in his place" (1 KIngs 15:8). 

The same pattern continues for the kings of Israel and Judah... they slept with their fathers:

• "Asa slept with his fathers" (1 Kings 15:24). 
• "Baasha slept with his fathers" (1 Ki 16:6). 
• "Omri slept with his fathers" (1 Ki 16:28) 
• "Ahab slept with his fathers" (1 Ki 22:40). 
• "Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers" 
• "Joram slept with his fathers" 
• "Jehu slept with his fathers" 
• "Jehoahaz slept with his fathers" 
• "Joash slept with his fathers 
• "Jehoash slept with his fathers" 
• "Azariah... slept with his fathers" 
• "Jeroboam slept with his fathers" 
• "Azariah slept with his fathers" 
• "Menahem slept with his fathes" 
• "Jotham slept with his fathers" 
• "Ahaz slept with his fathers"
• "Hezekiah slept with his fathers"
• "Manasseh slept with his fathers" 
• "Jehoiakim slept with his fathers"
• "Uzziah slept with his fathers"

So, they are not alone after death. They are with their fathers... in spiritual sleep. Ahab, Joash, and Joram died violent deaths. So, the moment of death did not look like sleep in any way. The word sleep describes the state of their soul... alive, though asleep.

At the top of the page we saw that the spirit of a 12 year old girl departed from her dead body and was "sleeping" until Jesus healed her. So, departed spirit sleep is the initial state after physical death for both kings and for 12 year old girls. 

You will see as you continue reading, that departed spirit applies to man in general.

References are respectively: 1 Kings 22:50; 2 Kings 8:24, 10:35, 13:9, 13:13, 14:16, 14:21-22, 14:29, 15:7, 15:22, 15:38, 16:20, 20:21, 21:18, 24:6; 2 Chronicles 26:23,  

"Sleep" describes the initial state of man after physical death:

• "Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as asleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up" (Psalm 90:3-5, KJV).

Upon physical death, the initial state of the spirit is to sleep a spiritual sleep until it awakes "in the morning". A thousand years could pass in this sleep and feel like "a twinkling of an eye" as the rapture is described in 1 Corinthians 15:52. The permanent state of the spirit for the believer comes in the ecstasy of the New Jerusalem after the Great White Throne Judgement (Revelation 20:11-22:5). The permanent state of unbelievers is described as the "lake of fire" Revelation 20:10, 15).

What happens after we die?

Jesus told the thief on the cross "Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). What is the thief doing in Paradise? Is he active or is he resting? If acting, then what is he doing? What does the scripture say? 

The scripture expressly states that the pre-rapture state of those who have been martyred for Christ is currently called "rest" (Revelation 6:9-11). Deceased Christians will transition into an active state after the rapture, which will occur at the second coming of Christ. The next section will explain.

Souls Under the Alter: Active or Resting?

• "⁹ When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had. ¹⁰ They cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" ¹¹ A long white robe was given to each of them. They were told that they should rest yet for a while, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who would also be killed even as they were, should complete their course" (Revelation 6:9-11).

So, the scripture expressly states that the pre-rapture state of those who have been martyred for Christ is "rest" (v 11).  At death, the martyrs for Christ received a white robe (v 11), possibly indicating that they had experienced the judgement seat of Christ (which is for believers only). Then they were told to "rest" until the judgement of the wicked (vs 10,11). They are in God's presence since they are "under the altar" (v 9). So, they are at "rest" in God's presence.

This "rest" is temporary so it does not indicate the permanent, active state of joy, peace and ecstasy of the eternal state in God's presence. This rest is an absence of activity... as described in Revelation 14:13, where martyrs die physically so they can "rest from their labors". This is the opposite of dying to be fully conscious and active in the presence of God immediately after physical death. This refrain from labor is temporary and they will resume active work in God's kingdom after they rise from the dead in the rapture (Revelation 14:14-16) to rule during the millennium (20:4-6), to judge angels and the world ( 1 Corinthians 6:2-3), and then to reign forever (Revelation 22:5, 3-5) with Christ. To read more about the timing of the resurrection to life for the children of God, the resurrection of the children of Satan to judgement, Armageddon and the millennium, click here to open subchapter 5.5 and read the sections titled "What is the Last Day" and "When is the Last Day".

The martyrs in Revelation 6:9-11 did indicate some activity by speaking. They said "How long... before you judge and avenge our blood..." Were these their thoughts as they slept after death or statements they made as they were being killed? The text doesn't say.

So, the martyrs at least, are not presently active, but are resting... which sounds like sleep. Could the deceased, non-martyred Christians be active while the deceased, martyred Christians are resting? No scripture expressly states this and so we have no right to presume it. We have no right to presume a doctrine that deceased, non-martyred Christians are active. Over forty scriptures above show that our state immediately after physical death is called "sleep". The word "sleep" would not be used for a state of continuous, conscious activity. The next scripture proves that a state of inactivity is coming for the living.

A Time is coming when we can not work. 

Jesus said, "I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work" (John 9:4). 

Summary

We have the EXPRESS STATEMENT OF SCRIPTURE, that REST characterizes the CURRENT state of deceased martyrs (Revelation 6:11 above). SLEEP is a proper metaphor for a state of "rest" after death. 

We have over forty EXRESS STATEMENTS OF SCRIPTURE, showing that "sleep" characterizes the state of the deceased, whether they were martyred or not.  

And we have the EXRESS STATEMENTS OF SCRIPTURE, showing that a time is coming when "NO ONE CAN WORK". (John 9:4, to be explained in greater detail after the following section.)

Sleep is a Metaphor

The Bible uses metaphors from our earthly world to describe spiritual realities. In John 6:35, Jesus said "I am the bread of life". Bread keeps our bodies alive and provides energy to perform tasks. Jesus used bread as a metaphor to communicate that He gives spiritual life and energy to perform spiritual tasks. When Jesus said "I am the bread of life", He wasn't trying to communicate that He looked like bread. With the bread metaphor, He used something from our earthly world to communicate truth about our spiritual world. Jesus used many metaphors. He said:

"I am the light of the world" (John 8:12).

"I am the sheep's door" (John 10:7).

In the psalms we see that:

"The LORD is my shepherd" (Psalm 23:1).

"The LORD is my rock" (Psalm 18:2).

These metaphors were not intended to communicate that Jesus looked like a light or that He looked like the door to a sheep pen. The Psalms were not saying that God looks like a shepherd or a rock. These are all metaphors from our earthly realm, carefully chosen by our Lord to communicate a truth about the spiritual realm.

Our Lord's chosen metaphor, sleep, is no different. He was not saying that we look like we are sleeping when we die. What would be the spiritual point of that? There is none. The sleep metaphor communicates rest, minimal activity and continuance of life after the death of the body. The sleep metaphor does not apply to a corpse. A corpse decays. Readers of scripture knew this (Acts 13:36). But the sleep metaphor does apply to the spiritual state of a deceased believer... rest, minimal activity and life in God's presence. Sleep may also be a metaphor indicating the spiritual state of a deceased unbeliever... unconsciousness or semi-consciousness, minimal activity and a state of torment, without access to the pleasures of earthly idolatry.

Night is Coming When No One Can Work

" ⁴ I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (John 9:4-5).

Jesus made this statement after healing a blind man. What did Jesus mean when He  said, "The night is coming when no one can work"? 

His phrase, "While I am in the world", in verse five is connecting verse four to His coming death. So, we should view "day" and "night" in verse four as metaphors for life and death. According to the doctrine of Departed Spirit Sleep, we sleep after death. Figuratively, we sleep at night, after the literal death of our body. Remember, in the above verse Jesus said, "Night is coming, when no one can work". According to the doctrine of Departed Spirit Sleep, one can accept the plain meaning of His words. After death, we enter a state which was routinely and metaphorically called "sleep" in scripture, a time of inactivity in God's presence, "WHEN NO ONE CAN WORK" (John 9:5 above).

Those who don't believe in Departed Spirit Sleep, thinking that we are in an active state after death, have trouble with this passage. Some say that no one can do God's work after Christ is no longer in this world physically. Some say that no one could do God's work between the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. But there is no scripture which states that no one can do good in either of those periods. It simply is not true that there was no Godly activity in the earth during those periods. Scripture actually records Godly human activity during those periods (John 19:38-42). If these theologians had talked to God about His words (subchapter 1.5) instead of trusting human teachers and human analytical methods (Jeremiah 17:5) they would not misunderstand the scriptures.

Jesus appeared to be saying that we should follow His example, doing God's work while  alive, because after we enter into the sleep of death, we will enter into a period of inactivity "when no one can work". Old Testament passages presented the same truths. See below:

"¹ Yahweh, don't rebuke me in your anger,
    neither discipline me in your wrath.
² Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am faint.
    Yahweh, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
³ My soul is also in great anguish.
    But you, Yahweh—how long?
⁴ Return, Yahweh. Deliver my soul,
    and save me for your loving kindness' sake.
⁵ For in death there is no memory of you.
    In Sheol, who shall give you thanks?" (Psalm 6:1-5)

At the time this scripture was written, in the Old Covenant under Law... in Sheol, the place of the dead, people were not active. They were not giving thanks.

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor plan, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol where you are going" (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

At the time this scripture was written, in the Old Covenant under Law... in Sheol, the place of the dead, people were not active.   

Who is in the Throne Room Right Now?

We Christians today are not in the Old Covenant Under Law. We are in the Post-Pentecost New Covenant of the Spirit which exists during the time of the New Testament books Acts - Revelation to the present day. Click here to learn more about this. In Revelation 4:1-2, the apostle John was taken in the Spirit to the throne room of God. Then in the remainder of chapter 4 and in chapter 5, John relates who and what he saw. 

Did he see saints who have died and gone to the presence of God? No. He saw the Father on the throne, four creatures, seven spirits, twenty-four elders, Jesus as the Lamb and a myriad of angels around the throne... but no human worshipers. By the word "saint" I mean the scriptural definition of saint, which is God's children, whether an Old Testament believer or a New Testament believer. A saint according to scripture does not indicate an elite Christian or elite Old Testament believer. A saint is a believer who has eternal life.

The elders he saw in the throne room may have been human... the great men or women of the faith. But there were only twenty-four of them. And, as we shall see later, the state of the great men of the faith does not create a doctrine for general application to all saints. 

The existence of deceased humans in the throne room of God is entirely absent, even though a myriad of angels are present. 

Then 5:13-14 reveals John's vision of every created thing praising God. But this is obviously not happening now. Many created things are cursing God now. But, after the millennial kingdom and the judgement, every created thing will praise God.

So, the existence of active, deceased saints in the throne room of God is entirely absent at the time of John's vision in the first century. 

Why? Because they are resting until the rapture. 

In Revelation 7:9-17, John saw a vision of active but deceased human worshippers who appear before the throne of God (7:9) after the end of the great tribulation (7:13-14). These are praising God, so we know that they are active in God's presence (7:9-11) rather than resting in a spiritual sleep. 

Summary

At the time of John's vision in the first century, John does not see all deceased Christians in an active state in God's presence (in the throne room). But in John's vision into the time after the great tribulation, he sees all deceased Christians in an active state in God's presence (in the throne room).

In this section, I presented proof of soul sleep, from the book of Revelation. In the section at the bottom of this page titled, "Soul Sleep: The Key to the Book of Revelation", I spend a little more time on that book. In that section you will see how the doctrine of soul sleep may be the critical key to understanding much of that mysterious book.

 

More Proof That We Sleep After Death

Statements by Paul and others indicate that the general state of believers after their body dies is called "sleep"

Let's look at a few:

• "For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, was laid with his fathers, and saw decay" (Acts 13:36).

So, after death, David fell asleep, but his body decayed.

• "They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" ⁶⁰ He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, don't hold this sin against them!" When he had said this, he fell asleep. Saul was consenting to his death " (Acts 7:59-8:1).

When Stephen was killed, his spirit went to Jesus and he fell asleep.

• "He said these things, and after that, he said to them, "Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep. Now Jesus had spoken of his death...""He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies" (John 11:11-12, 25).

Here, Jesus equates the death of Lazarus with sleep. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (v 44). He equated rising from the dead with "awake him out of sleep". In verse 25 Jesus said that the spirit "will still live" if the body "dies". And the living spirit of a dead body is considered to be "asleep". To be asleep is to be alive.

•  ^"Therefore he says, 'Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you'" (Ephesians 5:14).

Paul equates rising from the dead with "awake". 

• "Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (2 Peter 3:4).

So, the general state of the fathers (fathers in the faith) is sleep.

• "Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.

Jesus appeared to over 500 brothers after His resurrection and before His ascension. The general state of physically dead brethren is "asleep". This is an express statement of scripture. Those brethren who sleep have gone to be with God. Those who "remain" were still on the earth.

• "The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised" (Matthew 27:52).

Immediately, upon the death of Christ on the cross, saints emerged from their tombs. They were described as those "who had fallen asleep". Their bodies were recomposed and their spirits returned to their bodies.

• "They who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished" (1 Corinthians 15:18).

One may fall asleep "in Christ" or not "in Christ. All who believe in Christ are "in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3-14, especially v 13).

• "But we don't want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don't grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. " (1 Thessalonians 4:13-15).

This is the apostle Paul, explaining to the Thessalonian church about the rapture. Those Christians who died pre-rapture, referred to as being "asleep", will be brought first by God, in the rapture, to meet the physically alive Christians in the air. So, those who are alive at the coming of Christ in the rapture (v 15) will not precede those who have fallen asleep (v 15).

So, Paul is saying that the general state of believers after physical death is "sleep". This is not an opinion, an interpretation or a tradition of man. This is an express statement of scripture. I quote: "those who have fallen asleep".

• "Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:51).

This is another passage by Paul which associates sleep with the rapture. Those who are alive at the rapture, will not sleep. Those who die physically will sleep.

Do We Remain Conscious After Death?

Here I will present passages which some claim to prove that we remain conscious after Death.

• "and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

Yes, the spirit goes to God after death... believers into a state of rest or sleep... but unbelievers to be assigned to a holding place for the Great White Throne Judgement (2 Peter 2:9). 

Contrary to what I have heard, this scripture does not say that deceased believers are in a conscious state until the rapture. If you see consciousness in the passage, please let me know through the discussion page (link in upper right). 

• "Jesus said to him, "Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).

This is Jesus, speaking to one of the two thieves who were crucified with Him. Yes, the spirit of believers goes to be with God after death... in a state of rest or sleep, as the other scriptures have stated.  

Contrary to what I have heard, this scripture does not say that deceased believers are in a conscious state until the rapture. If you see consciousness in the passage, please let me know through the discussion page (link in upper right).

• "But I am hard pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Yet to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake " (Philippians 1:23-24).

Paul is saying that he preferred to die physically, so he may go to be with Christ.  Yes, the spirit of believers goes to be with God after death... in a state of rest or sleep, as the other scriptures have stated. 

As you will see in the section titled, "Abraham's After Death Conversation", the experience of great people of the faith is not representative of the spiritual destinies of everyone else. 

Paul may be very active in his current, after death state. Or he may be asleep. Asleep is how he himself described the state after death in the passages below. If he sleeps, then he closed his eyes in death and, "in the twinkling of an eye" his eyes will open to the rapture.

Contrary to what I have heard, the above scripture does not say that deceased believers are in a conscious state until the rapture. If you see consciousness in the passage, please let me know through the discussion page (link in upper right). 

• "We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8).

My response to the previous passage is applicable here. 

Contrary to what I have heard, the above scripture does not say that deceased believers are in a conscious state until the rapture. If you see consciousness in the passage, please let me know through the discussion page (link in upper right). 

Those who claim that these passages indicate a conscious state are violating God's instructions regarding interpretation of scripture as described in subchapter 1.5 titled, "Conditions for Understanding the Word". Click here to open. They are thinking "beyond the things which are written" (1 Corinthians 4:6). They are "making void the word of God by your tradition" (Mark 7:13). 

Abraham's After Death Conversation

In Luke 16:22-31, Abraham had a brief after death conversation with a rich man who was in Hades. But, does this prove that the after death state of believers is continuous consciousness and activity?

Often, the great people of the faith are exceptions to general spiritual rules which apply to everyone else: For example: 

• John the Baptist was "filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb" (Luke 1:15).  This doesn't apply to all people. All are not filled with the Holy Spirit at birth.
• Centuries after Moses and Elijah died they reappeared on the earth to talk with Jesus on a mountain in the presence of Peter, James and John (Luke 9:28-36). This doesn't apply to all people. All people can't reappear on the earth to have after death conversations with the living.
  
• Enoch never died: "Enoch walked with God, and he was not found, for God took him" (Genesis 5:24). This doesn't apply to all people. All people don't walk with God or escape physical death.
• Elijah never died: "Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven" (2 Kings 2:11).  This doesn't apply to all people. All people don't go to Heaven in a whirlwind.
• In Genesis 22:2, 1-19, Abraham was told to offer his son Isaac "as a burnt offering" . Then in verses 11-18, Yahweh's angel stopped Abraham and explained that God was only testing Abraham to see if he "feared God". But to conclude that we are all supposed to offer our sons as burnt offerings because Abraham was told to do so would be a false doctrine to the point of insanity. 

A theological argument against soul sleep based on Abraham's after death conversation is doctrinal insanity. It forms a doctrine from the experience of individuals, rather than from the doctrinal statements of God. So, the Abrahamic arguments against soul sleep, arguing that all believers are fully and continually conscious after death, are doctrinal insanity and reckless with God's word. 

Simply stated, a theology is not born because of statements in scripture about the activities of particular individuals. Many false doctrines have been formed in this way. Those who accept these false doctrines cannot understand many scriptures because the scriptures contradict their beliefs. 

In Luke 16:22-31, a poor man died and angels carried him to "Abraham's bosom" (a good place). A rich man also died and was in torment. In this state the rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to warn the rich man's living brothers of the torment they will face if they don't turn to God. Abraham answers the rich man in the negative. So there was an after death conversation. This conversation is secondary to the point of the passage, which is that "If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead" (Luke 16:31).  

As I said, there was an after death conversation between the "certain rich man" and Abraham. But does an after death conversation between Abraham and a "certain rich man" prove that all deceased believers are currently in a fully conscious state after death? Not necessarily.  The "certain rich man" was not in Heaven. So, he certainly can't be used as evidence of our existence in Heaven. And, in Luke 8:52, with the death of Jairus' daughter as I have explained, Jesus had already stated that the spirit sleeps when the body dies. People do experience torment during sleep. This could explain the torment which the rich man experienced after death, in a state of sleep. People also talk in their sleep. This could explain the conversation between the rich man and Abraham. Scripture states that God does communicate to people in their sleep. So, God could have allowed Abraham to communicate to the "certain rich man" during the rich man's sleep of torment. God did allow Samuel the prophet to talk to Saul after Samuel's death in 1 Samuel 28:1-23. In fact, Samuel's first statement to Saul after the witch at Endor brought Samuel up was "Why have you disturbed me, to bring me up?" (1 Samuel 28:7, 15). Samuel's statement is very consistent with Samuel's being asleep. Samuel said "Why have you disturbed me, to bring me up?".

Where Does it Say That?

If you are taught that disceased Christians are currently active in Heaven instead of in a state of spiritual rest or sleep... Please ask your teacher this question: 

Where does it say that? 

The teacher should give you a scripture reference from the Bible to prove the docrine he or she taught. But I highly doubt that you will receive a scripture reference in response to this question. If you do receive a scripture from the teacher... and if the scripture appears to prove the teacher correct, please send it to me using the discussion page link at the top right of any page in this book. In micro-subchapter 1.5j, I discuss Inerrant Theology. In Inerrant Theology, one asks the question: "Where does it say that?" Inerrant Theology accepts theology that is inerrant... Inerrant Theology looks for an express statement of God to establish a doctrine as a doctrine of God. Inerrant Theology does not accept human conclusions, resulting from the reasonings of man, as a doctrine of God.

 "The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless" (1 Corinthians 3:20).

WORTHLESS

Unfortunately, many doctrines that are taught as doctrines of  God, are merely human conclusions resulting from the reasonings of man, rather than express statements of scripture. 

Typically, the flaw in the reasoning is easily observed, for one who prays for understanding, for one who is Berean (Acts 17:11, 1.5j).

Do the Dead Look Like They Are Asleep?

Do you remember the many passages presented at the top of this page which describe the dead as "fallen asleep" or "slept with his fathers"? Some who don't believe in Departed Spirit Sleep say that those phrases are merely euphemisms for death, describing how the body looks. They say that the dead look like they are asleep. The problem with that belief is... Dead bodies didn't look like they were asleep in those days. Even today, dead bodies do not look like they are asleep.

While viewing a modern day embalmed corpse in a casket with a mother who has lost her child, one might say "She looks so good... She looks like she is sleeping". But this is an attempt to present that moment in a positive light, in a horribly difficult time. I may have said this to a grieving person before I learned to just say "I am so sorry". But in Jesus's day, they didn't have embalming fluid. They didn't have the technology to even attempt to make a corpse look slightly asleep. 

Actors playing dead people in movies may look like they are asleep because they are not really dead. 

As Aunt Hope died in our middle bedroom:

I held her hand and looked into her eyes at the very moment of her death. The form and tension of the flesh in her face suddenly relaxed and hung loose on her skeleton, her chest and eyes froze, her jaw dropped, and her body was soooo still. It took me two months to get over that image of her face in my mind's eye. She was fearless, full of faith and thoughtful of others to the last word. But no... She did not look like she was asleep!

If you will look again at Luke 8:40-56, when Jesus raised the dead girl to life. They ridiculed Jesus when Jesus said "she isn't dead, but sleeping (Luke 8:53). The King James version of this verse says that they "laughed him to scorn" when Jesus said "she is not dead, but sleepeth". "So, the culture of the day did not see "sleeping" as a figure of speech for dead people, thinking as some have claimed, that dead people look like they are sleeping. Dead people do not look like they are sleeping.

Dead people do not look like they are sleeping.

 

 "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 4:14).

 

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don't know what I will choose. ²³ But I am hard pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better" (Philippians 1:21-23).

When the believer's body dies, the eyes close and then open in God's visual presence... possibly 2000 years later. At death, the believer's spirit immediately goes to be with Christ. Whether conscious or not, this is GREAT GAIN! I talk to God many, many times through the night as I pass peacefully through various degrees of consciousness in physical sleep. As I think a thought, then sleep, think, sleep and so on... Am I accurately aware of how much time has passed? No. Is this the way Departed Spirit Sleep is? I don't know. Possibly. Scripture hasn't told us. We must "learn not to think beyond the things which are written" (1 Corinthians 4:6).

Soul Sleep: The Key to the Book of Revelation

Subchapter 5.6 titled, "Signs of What Must Occur Quickly: To Reveal Jesus" revealed that the book of Revelation prophesies "the things which must happen soon" (Revelation 1:1). Armageddon, the 1000 year reign of Christ, the judgement, New Jerusalem and finally, the eternal state are prophesied in the book of Revelation. They have not yet come to pass after 2000 years. 

Revelation prophesies that events will occur over a period longer than 1000 years and then says that the events will come "quickly". How can 1000 plus years of events be predicted to come "quickly"? It's not a typo. It's not a failed prophesy. But it is hidden from those who think "beyond the things which are written" (1 Corinthians 4:6). 

The only way I can currently understand that these events can have come quickly to those who have lived and died over the last 2000 years is through departed spirit sleep. In other words, believers over the last 2000 years closed their eyes in physical death and will eventually awake to the rapture... in the "twinkling of an eye" as scripture says.  Read subchapter 5.6 to understand. Or, click here to open that subchapter.

Death of Jairus' Daughter

For those who are interested, the compete text and additional commentary on the death of the girl in Luke 8:40-56 is provided here:

 ^"40 When Jesus returned the multitude welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. ⁴¹ Behold, a man named Jairus came. He was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus' feet, and begged him to come into his house, ⁴² for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying...

⁴⁹ While he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue's house came, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. Don't trouble the Teacher."

⁵⁰ But Jesus hearing it, answered him, "Don't be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed."

⁵¹ When he came to the house, he didn't allow anyone to enter in, except Peter, John, James, the father of the child, and her mother. ⁵² All were weeping and mourning her, but he said, "Don't weep. She isn't dead, but sleeping."

⁵³ They were ridiculing him, knowing that she was dead. ⁵⁴ But he put them all outside, and taking her by the hand, he called, saying, "Child, arise!" ⁵⁵ Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately. He commanded that something be given to her to eat. ⁵⁶ Her parents were amazed, but he commanded them to tell no one what had been done" (Luke 8:40-56).

 

In verse 52 Jesus said  "Don't weep. She isn't dead, but sleeping." It is clear that Jesus was speaking of her spiritual life, not her physical life. She was physically dead, as evidenced by the fact that the mourners were "knowing that she was dead" and by the fact that her spirit had departed... it was somewhere else. So, when Jesus said that she was "not dead", He was not saying that her body was not dead. His comment, "she is not dead" was not about her body, since her body was dead. If Jesus was not commenting on her body, then He was commenting on her spirit... which Jesus said was "sleeping". He didn't say that she was active in the spiritual realm, but sleeping. So, we have the express statement of Jesus that the state of the girl was "Departed Spirit Sleep".