In this post we'll explore the state of the dead. I'll provide fourteen examples that show that death is synonymous with sleep, and that the dead know nothing, nor are they participants in any thing until the resurrection.
1. Lazarus dies and is called "asleep" by Jesus, even though he is clearly dead.
John 11:11-14 KJV These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth(a); but I go, that I may awake(b) him out of sleep(b). Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep(c). Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead(d).
(a) Strong's G2837 koimaō (sleepeth): to put to sleep, die
(b) Strong's G1852 exypnizō (awake): to awake out of sleep
(c) Strong's G5258 hypnos (sleep): sleep
(d) Strong's G599 apothnēskō (dead): dead
2. Moses is about to die and God tells him he will sleep (in death) with his fathers.
3. Paul calls death sleep.
4. The dead know nothing, according to Solomon in Ecclesiastes.
6. Jesus and the ruler's daughter.
12. Not being ignorant of those who are asleep.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep(a), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
(a) Strong's G2837 koimaō (asleep, sleep): to put to sleep, die
13. Our fathers fell asleep.
Conclusion:
There is overwhelming evidence that scripture wants us to associate sleep with death and that the dead know nothing, do not rise, do not have any participation in anything whatsoever until their resurrection. The use of "sleep" as a euphemism (a more kind way of saying someone is dead) doesn't seem to be the case across the board; and the language that points to the dead being dormant makes the understanding of death, as truly being sleep, clear in my view.
Matthew 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
1. Lazarus dies and is called "asleep" by Jesus, even though he is clearly dead.
John 11:11-14 KJV These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth(a); but I go, that I may awake(b) him out of sleep(b). Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep(c). Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead(d).
(a) Strong's G2837 koimaō (sleepeth): to put to sleep, die
(b) Strong's G1852 exypnizō (awake): to awake out of sleep
(c) Strong's G5258 hypnos (sleep): sleep
(d) Strong's G599 apothnēskō (dead): dead
Deuteronomy 31:14,16 KJV And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die(a)... And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep(b) with thy fathers...
3. Paul calls death sleep.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 KJV But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep(a), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep(a) in Jesus will God bringwith him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep(a).
(a) Strong's G2837 koimaō (asleep, sleep): to put to sleep, die
4. The dead know nothing, according to Solomon in Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes 9:5 KJV For the living know that they shall die(a): but the dead(a) know(b) not any thing(c), neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
(a) Strong's H4191 mûṯ (die, the dead): to die
(b) Strong's H3045 yāḏaʿ (know): to know
(c) Strong's H3972 mᵊ'ûmâ (not any thing): with negative, nothing
(a) Strong's H4191 mûṯ (die, the dead): to die
(b) Strong's H3045 yāḏaʿ (know): to know
(c) Strong's H3972 mᵊ'ûmâ (not any thing): with negative, nothing
Further (Ecclesiastes 9):
6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
5. Psalms refers to death as sleep.
Psalms 13:3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep(a) the sleep of death(b).
(a) Strong's H3462 yāšan: to sleep
(b) Strong's H4194 māveṯ: death, dying, Death (personified), realm of the dead
(a) Strong's H3462 yāšan: to sleep
(b) Strong's H4194 māveṯ: death, dying, Death (personified), realm of the dead
Psalms 76:6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep(a).
(a) Strong's H7290 rāḏam (dead sleep): to be in a heavy sleep; stupefy (with sleep or death)
6. Jesus and the ruler's daughter.
Matthew 9:18-19,24-26 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead(a): but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples... ...He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth(b). And they laughed him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
(a) Strong's G5053 teleutaō (dead): to finish life (by implication, of G979), i.e. expire (demise):—be dead, decease, die
(b) Strong's G2518 katheudō (sleepeth): euphemistically, to be dead
This event can also be found in Mark 5 (Mark 5:39).
7. Death and hell are thrown into the lake of fire at judgment, because they are no longer necessary. Death being sleep, hell being the grave or holding place where the dead sleep (and as per Ecclesiastes, know not any thing).(b) Strong's G2518 katheudō (sleepeth): euphemistically, to be dead
This event can also be found in Mark 5 (Mark 5:39).
Revelation 20:14 And death(a) and hell(b) were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
(a) Strong's G2288 thanatos: the death of the body
(b) Strong's G86 : the place (state) of departed souls:—grave
8. Souls under the alter in heaven?(b) Strong's G86 : the place (state) of departed souls:—grave
Revelation 6:9-10 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar(a) the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
(a) Strong's G2379 thysiastērion: altar of incense
Revelation is full of symbology. This particular verse is speaking of the altar of incense in the heavenly sanctuary, which is a symbol of prayer, or communication, with God. The "souls under the altar" is symbolic of their prayers for vengeance before their deaths, which linger at the altar of incense, in the heavenly sanctuary, until all is fulfilled and justice is done.
9. Luke 16, Lazarus, Abraham's bosom and hell.(a) Strong's G2379 thysiastērion: altar of incense
Revelation is full of symbology. This particular verse is speaking of the altar of incense in the heavenly sanctuary, which is a symbol of prayer, or communication, with God. The "souls under the altar" is symbolic of their prayers for vengeance before their deaths, which linger at the altar of incense, in the heavenly sanctuary, until all is fulfilled and justice is done.
Luke 16:19-31 is a parable about a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus and should not be used in a literal sense concerning hell.
10. Even spiritual death is called sleep and death. Being awakened called rising from the dead (into life).
Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake(a) thou that sleepest(b), and arise(c) from the dead(d), and Christ shall give thee light.
(a) Strong's G1453 egeirō (awake): to arouse from sleep, awake; to arouse from the sleep of death, to recall the dead to life
(b) Strong's G2518 katheudō (sleepest): euphemistically, to be dead
(c) Strong's G450 anistēmi: to raise up from the dead; cause to be born
(d) Strong's G3498 nekros: spiritually dead
11. We shall not all sleep.(a) Strong's G1453 egeirō (awake): to arouse from sleep, awake; to arouse from the sleep of death, to recall the dead to life
(b) Strong's G2518 katheudō (sleepest): euphemistically, to be dead
(c) Strong's G450 anistēmi: to raise up from the dead; cause to be born
(d) Strong's G3498 nekros: spiritually dead
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep(a), but we shall all be changed [those alive at the second coming and those resurrected], In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
12. Not being ignorant of those who are asleep.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep(a), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
(a) Strong's G2837 koimaō (asleep, sleep): to put to sleep, die
2 Peter 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep(a), all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
(a) Strong's G2837 koimaō (asleep, sleep): to put to sleep, die
14. Job concerning death and sleep.(a) Strong's G2837 koimaō (asleep, sleep): to put to sleep, die
Job 14:10-12 But man dieth(a), and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost(b), and where is he? As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: So man lieth down(c), and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake(d), nor be raised out of their sleep(e).
(a) Strong's H4191 mûṯ (die, the dead): to die
(b) Strong's H1471 gāvaʿ (give up the ghost): to expire, die, perish, give up the ghost, yield up the ghost, be dead, be ready to die
(c) Strong's H7901 šāḵaḇ (sleep): to lie down (in death)
(d) Strong's H6974 qûṣ (awake): to awake, wake up
(e) Strong's H8142 šēnā' (sleep): sleep
(b) Strong's H1471 gāvaʿ (give up the ghost): to expire, die, perish, give up the ghost, yield up the ghost, be dead, be ready to die
(c) Strong's H7901 šāḵaḇ (sleep): to lie down (in death)
(d) Strong's H6974 qûṣ (awake): to awake, wake up
(e) Strong's H8142 šēnā' (sleep): sleep
Conclusion:
There is overwhelming evidence that scripture wants us to associate sleep with death and that the dead know nothing, do not rise, do not have any participation in anything whatsoever until their resurrection. The use of "sleep" as a euphemism (a more kind way of saying someone is dead) doesn't seem to be the case across the board; and the language that points to the dead being dormant makes the understanding of death, as truly being sleep, clear in my view.
Matthew 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
