Are the Souls of the Redeemed Conscious?

INTRODUCTION

1. In the previous study, I suggested that the spirits of believers go to be with the Lord during the "intermediate state" between death and the resurrection

a. Implied was the idea that the souls of the redeemed are conscious during this interim

b. But are they?

2. In this lesson, we shall consider the doctrine of "soul-sleeping", and make some observations concerning it

I. THE IDEA OF "SOUL SLEEPING"

A. THE THEORY...

1. The souls of the departed continue to exist, but are in an unconscious state until the resurrection

2. This is not to be confused with the doctrine held by JW's, who believe there is no consciousness until the resurrection because until then there is no existence at all

B. THE ARGUMENTS...

1. The Scriptures often represent death as a "sleep"

a. Mt 27:52 - ...bodies of the saints who had "fallen asleep"...

b. Jn 11:11-14 - Jesus says of dead Lazarus, "our friend sleeps"

c. Ac 7:60 - As Stephen is stoned to death, it is said "he fell asleep"

d. 1 Co 15:6,18 - Those who were dead are spoken of as "fallen asleep"

e. 1 Th 4:13-15 - Brethren who were dead "sleep in Jesus"

2. Other passages come very near to saying that the dead have no consciousness

a. Psa 30:9 - The psalmist asks, "When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you?"

b. Psa 115:17 - The psalmist declares, "The dead do not praise the Lord, nor any who go down into silence."

c. Ecc 9:5,10 - Solomon, in his search for meaning, observes:

1) "...the dead know nothing..."

2) "there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going."

d. Isa 38:18-19 - King Hezekiah says concerning God that "Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You, those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth."

[Such is the theory and the arguments presented by those who believe in "soul sleeping." At face value, the doctrine appears very convincing. But let's take a closer look at it...]

II. EXAMINING THE IDEA OF "SOUL SLEEPING"

A. ARGUMENT #1: DEATH IS CALLED "SLEEP"...

1. Nowhere do the Scriptures say that the soul of the departed one fell asleep

a. It was the person who "fell asleep"

b. Thus it can have reference to the body, not the soul

2. The term "sleep" can be a figurative reference, and a very appropriate one:

a. For sleep implies rest...

1) When one sleeps literally, there is rest from one's labor

2) So it is that the dead also "rest from their labors", cf. Re 14:13

Revelation 14:13 ESV

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

b. For sleep implies a ceasing of participation...

1) In literal sleep, one ceases in the activities pertaining to the sphere in which one has been busy during the hours of wakefulness

2) So it is with the dead, they are no longer active in the world which they left

c. For sleep is generally a prelude to an awakening...

1) In literal sleep, it is followed by an "awakening"

2) So it is with death:

a) Though the souls may be conscious during the intermediate state...

b) ...at the resurrection there will be the "awakening" of the glorified and transformed bodies in which to house our souls

3. Perhaps it can also be said that the term "sleep" became a euphemism for death because of the sleep-like appearance of the body

B. ARGUMENT #2: PASSAGES WHICH SUGGEST THE DEAD HAVE NO CONSCIOUSNESS AFTER DEATH...

1. Notice first that these passages are in the Old Testament, when revelation of God's truth was not yet complete

a. The passages in Psalms and Isaiah are the expressions of faith and understanding by those who knowledge of God's revelation was incomplete

b. I.e., their concept of "life after death" was not as complete and developed as that found in the New Testament

c. We should be cautious, therefore, against developing a doctrine of life after death which does not take into account what is ultimately revealed when revelation is complete

2. In some cases, the statements are made solely from an earthly perspective

a. This is especially true in Ecclesiastes

b. Where the theme is "Life Under The Sun"

c. When one looks at things purely from an earthly perspective...

1) It does not appear the dead know anything

2) It does not appear the dead praise God

d. Thus, Ecc 9:10 is saying nothing more than that when we die, we are no longer conscious of things in this life

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV

10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

C. FINALLY, THE DOCTRINE OF "SOUL SLEEPING" IS OUT OF HARMONY WITH PASSAGES THAT CLEARLY TEACH CONSCIOUSNESS OF SOULS AFTER DEATH...

1. Lk 16:22-26 - Abraham, the rich man, and Lazarus

Luke 16:22–26 ESV

22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’

a. Some believe that this is only a "parable"

b. Highly unlikely in my opinion, but even if so, parables used "true to life" experiences as a basis for comparison, not science fiction or fantasy!

2. Lk 23:43 - How can Paradise be a state of unconsciousness?

Luke 23:43 ESV

43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

3. Re 6:9-11 - Can souls cry out if they are not conscious?

Revelation 6:9–11 ESV

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 witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

4. Re 7:9-17 - Can souls praise God and serve Him if they are not conscious?

Revelation 7:9–17 ESV

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 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 shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

5. Re 20:4-6 - Can souls reign with Christ if they are not aware of what is going on?

Revelation 20:4–6 ESV

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

CONCLUSION

1. In view of such passages...

a. Describing the condition of souls during the "intermediate" state

b. Where they are very much awake, praising and serving God, reigning with Christ -- The doctrine of "soul sleeping" does not hold up

2. We can best harmonize the Scriptures if we view the term sleep in reference to death as only a figure of speech...

a. Naturally drawn from how the body appears at death

b. Pertaining to our relationship to this earthly realm

1) We are at rest from labors in this life

2) We are not aware of what goes on in this life

3) But one day, there will be an "awakening" (the resurrection), in which we will be rejoined with those who are still in this life (of course, they too will be changed)

3. In the next study, we shall consider the question: "Shall we know each other in the life after death?"