Soul Sleep
Death and dying, what happens to Christians
when they die? Some teach a concept called soul sleep, but doesn't the
Bible teach us that "to be absent from the body is to be present with
the Lord.
While the Bible has little to say about the
intermediate state, or the state of existence between physical death
and our resurrection, the New Testament does indicate that a disembodied
conscious existence awaits everyone - and then the resurrection either
to eternal life, or to eternal damnation.
Man's natural state of existence on earth
is clearly a union of his immaterial nature or soul, with his material
nature or body. So while the Bible describes man as a psychosomatic
unity, this doesn't imply that the body is absolutely essential to self-expression.
The concept of man's conscious existence after death was without a doubt
envisioned by Jesus in His story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. And don't
forget his promise to the dying thief in which he said, "This day you
will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43)." Well, there are numerous
other passages which could be cited which clearly indicate conscious
existence following death (Matt. 10:28; Acts 7:59; Rev. 6:9; 20:9).
However, the strongest passages are found
in the writings of the Apostle Paul. In Philippians 1:23, Paul says
I'm torn between my desire to remain on earth in my body and my desire
"to depart and be with Christ." This passage clearly teaches that Christians
are immediately with Christ after death. Now, needless to say, soul
sleep could not possibly have been more appealing to the Apostle Paul.
If you doubt this, read his comments in 2 Corinthians 5. Here again
he said he "would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the
Lord." For Paul, death is the preference, because he knows he will be
at home with Christ. You may wish to take a moment to read 2 Cor. 5
for here you have Paul's stunning description of what the new resurrected
body will be like. Truly, the hope of the believer does not involve
soul sleep, but to be present with Christ.
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