The Sleep of Death

Introduction

Death is often described as “sleep” in the Bible. A gentle metaphor.

Our Lord said, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth” (John 11:11). Paul did not want the Thessalonians to be ignorant “concerning them which are asleep” ( 1 Thess. 4:13).

Does the term that the departed are annihlated, unconscious, ignorant of what is taking place?

I. The Use of SLEEP in the Old Testament.

A. “Sleep” is used to describe death in the Old Testaament.

Job, when he was destroyed by Satan, wished to sleep and be at rest.

Job 3:13 “13 For now I would have lain still and been quiet, I would have been asleep; Then I would have been at rest”

2. The patriarchs slept with their fathers (Gen. 47:30), as did David later (2 Sam 7:12).

3. However, Daniel and Job knew that they would be resurrected from the sleep of death.

Daniel 12:2 “2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

Job 14:12 “12 So man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, They will not awake Nor be roused from their sleep.” “14 If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes.”

4. Indeed, man shall live again.

B. Christ overcame the terrible tyrant, death.

He took on felsh and blood so that, through death, He might breing to nothing him that had the power of death—that is, the devil.

Hebrews 2:14–15 “14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

2. Christ is the first of fruits, of them that sleep.

1 Corinthians 15:20–23 “20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.”

3. At the resurrection, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed (1 Cor. 15:51-55).

4. Jesus Christ awoke Lazarus and the daughter of Jairus: He shall awaken us too!

John 11:11 “11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.””

Mark 5:39–42 “39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” 40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.”

John 5:28–29 “28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”

II. Sleep and Its Significance

A. Used fifteen times in the New Testament, as well, the term “sleep” does not mean annihilation, or extinction.

Those who are asleep do not cease to exist; they are at rest.

When we sleep, we are not extinct; we still exist.

The dead are simply in a place apart from their bodies.

Those still living cannot communicate with them there.

Their bodies are simply resting in the grave.

It is like sleeping at the end of a hard day of toil.

One’s spirit continues to exist.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 “7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.”

B. Those who sleep in death are not unconscious.

The souls in Revelation 6:9–11 “9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.”

2. The rich man, Lazarus, and Abraham still existed and were conscious in the intermediate state.

Luke 16:19–31 “19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “Then 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 in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ””

3. The man of Paul was caught up to the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12).

4. The dead are “present with the Lord,” though they are absent from the body.

2 Corinthians 5:8 “8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

5. Though asleep to the things on earth (Eccl 9:5-6; Isaiah 63:16), the spirit is very much aware and conscious of its own realm of existence.

Luke 23:43 “43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.””

Philippians 1:21–23 “21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.”

Revelation 7:15–17 “15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.””

Revelation 20:4 “4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

C. The Sleep of Death is Temporary

One does not usually sleep for an extended period.

It is but a brief suspension of the work and struggles of life.

D. Those asleep in death shall awaken at the Last Day.

The body will awaken by the resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:55–57 “55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This awakening will be with great glory!

E. In the Resurrection, the body will awaken with rejunvenation and strength.

We will have resurrected bodies!

It will be changed into a glorified, immortal body.

The above assurances are expressed in the Bible, so that Christians may not sorrow, as do the rest.

The “rest” are those “who do not know God” (1 Thess. 4:12), those outside of Christ.

One gets into Christ by hearing the Gospel Word (Romans 10:17); Faith in God (Hebrews 11:6); Repentance from Sin (Luke 13:3); Confession that Christ is the Son of God (Romans 10:9—10); and Baptismal Immersion into Christ For the Remission of Sins (Galatians 3:26-27; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 6:3-4; Ephesians 1:3; 3:21).

Summary

Understanding the sleep of death, the child of God does not have to sorrow uncontrollably, as do the heathen, for the heathen have no hope; death is the end of their hope. Christians are not to weep in that manner.

To weep is not wrong. Christ groans and weeps at Lazaru’s passing. Not for Lazarus but for those left behind. To the child of God, death is not the end; it a new and better beginning!