My wife and I were watching some videos on Youtube last night about where Christians go when they die. And we came across a video that teaches soul sleep I.e. when we die we don't go to be with Jesus but we sleep in our graves and in an instant it will be the second coming of Jesus and we will be resurrected. I've heard this teaching before from a seventh day Adventist but NEVER from other Christians. The internet seems to be a buzz with both theories so I was wondering what is the general stance of the church? Its always been in my opinion that dead people ultimately end up in either heaven or hell. If you believe in Jesus and died in him and are born again you go to heaven if you deny Jesus you go to hell. Honestly I never knew that soul sleep was even a belief among Christians other than Seventh day adventists. But apparently belief in soul sleep is very common among Christians. So common in fact that I'm starting to open up to the idea of it. It does seem to be supported by the bible and the other view doesn't seem to have any biblical evidence at all. Unless I'm missing something? I mean towards the end of Paul's life he apparently was looking forward to death because he longed to be with Jesus. Peter also seemed to believe that after his crucifixion that he would go to be with Jesus as well. But there is also several places in the bible that say when were dead we sleep in the grave awaiting the second coming of Jesus. So Idk... Plus there was the thief on the cross. Jesus said to him "Today you will be with me in paradise" not "during my second coming you will be with me in paradise" so that seems to confirm that life does in fact continue after death.
Neither. When a faithful believer dies before the Pre-Trib Rapture, they go to Abraham's bosom. After the Pre-Trib Rapture takes place, the saints who die in the faith will then go directly to Heaven. But Heaven will not be the saints final resting place. The New Earth will be the saints final resting place with God after they receive new flesh and blood resurrected bodies.
Anyways....
When the Dead in Christ Are Taken From Abraham's Bosom By the Rapture:
(Both the Old Testament Saints and Church Age Saints in Abraham's Bosom Are Called to Rise To Meet the Lord in the Air. For in the Rapture: The Dead in Christ Shall Rise First):
•
Zechariah 9:11 NIV and
1 Thessalonians 4:16
For... I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. And with the trump of God... the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Commentary -
Zechariah 9:11 and
Thessalonians 4:16
Zechariah 9:11 is a prophetic Old Testament passage about the taking up of the saints from Abraham's bosom.
What is Abraham's Bosom?
Abraham's bosom (which is also known as Paradise) is described in
Luke 16:19-31. It is a real place of comfort within the spirit realm; A temporary paradise where the saint's soul and spiritual body resides consciously to be with the Lord when their physical body dies (
Genesis 3:19) (
Ecclesiastes 12:7) (
Luke 16:22). This paradise is located within the realm of the dead below the Earth (Which is also known as Sheol or Hades) which is separated by a great gulf from the fiery place of punishment known as "Torments" or what is commonly known as "Hell" (
Luke 16:26) (
Luke 16:23). It will be a place where the saint will be comforted (
Luke 16:25). But, why is Abraham's bosom also called Paradise? Well, on the day of Christ's sacrifice, he had told the thief on the cross that: "
This day, you shall be with me in Paradise" (
Luke 23:43). But yet, Scripture tells us that when Christ died, he was in the heart of the Earth for three days and three nights, though (
Matthew 12:40). So this leads us to conclude that during Christ's three days within the grave before His resurrection, He was with the thief in Abraham's bosom which is located in the heart (or the center) of the Earth.
Does Abraham's Bosom Still Exist Within the Church Age Today?
The real life story (or event) told by Jesus within
Luke 16:19-31 took place during the time of Moses (
Luke 16:29). However, the important question that must be asked is: Does Abraham's Bosom still exist today, though?
Well, yes, I believe according to the plain reading of Scripture that Abraham's bosom still exists today within our present church age. For all true saints who die in Christ right now will go to be with the Lord down in Abraham's bosom and then later they will be taken up into Heaven when the Rapture occurs. For how else will the dead in Christ rise first? See
1 Thessalonians 4:16. Do the dead in Christ rise to go to Heaven and then come back down somewhere temporarily to be risen again at the Rapture? Do they rise in Christ twice spiritually? If so, where is the verse that explains this?
In fact, many Christians today who are well versed in studying the Scriptures believe they go straight to Heaven; This is a common misconception because they interpret the ascension of Christ mentioned in
Ephesians 4:8 as the time of when the saints in Abraham's bosom are being taken to Heaven.
Ephesians 4:8 - "When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive."
In other words, based on this passage, most Christians believe that Christ led those saints who were in captivity in Abraham's bosom captive up into Heaven when Christ ascended. However, is this what
Ephesians 4:8 is talking about, though?
No, actually it is actually talking about how when Christ ascended, He bound the enemy or the powers of darkness. How so? Well, our first clue to this fact is to look at the parallel reference of this passage located in Judges chapter five.
Judges 5:12 - "Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead your captives captive, you son of Abinoam."
Now, without boring you with all the details, to make a long story short, if you were to read Judged chapter 5, you would find out that Barak was leading his enemies captive and not his friends. To put it to you another way, the moment a true Christian is born again and then dedicates their life to Christ, they are then no longer Christ's enemy. For those in Abraham's bosom are God's elect or chosen who had put their trust in God to redeem them of their sins (See
Luke 16:19-31).
As a matter of fact, Gill's Exposition of the Bible says this...
"He led captivity captive; which is expressive of Christ's conquests and triumph over sin, Satan, the world, death, and the grave; and indeed, every spiritual enemy of his and his people, especially the devil, who leads men captive at his will, and is therefore called captivity, and his principalities and powers, whom Christ has spoiled and triumphed over;"And 2nd Timothy says this...
2 Timothy 2:26 - "And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. For when Christ had raised from the dead he put all things including the principalities and powers of darkness under his feet."
Therefore, the word "
captivity" is a reference to Satan leading people captive to his will and lets us know the true context or meaning behind
Ephesians 4:8.
For when Christ had risen from the dead, He put all things including the principalities and powers of darkness under his feet.
Ephesians 1:20-23 "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."
