Paul stated that regardless of the believer's lifestyle, or "whether we are asleep or awake, we will be together with Him" in
1 Thess 5:10. The context begins in v.4 and contrasts the lifestyle of believers with unbelievers, or day with night, or being alert with being asleep or sober with drunkenness.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;
5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;
6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.
7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.
8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
Analysis of this passage:
v.4 tells us that believers are "not in darkness"
v.5 differentiates believers (sons of light and day) with unbelievers (not of night or darkness).
v.6 encourages believers to not live like unbelievers (not sleep as others do, but be alert and sober).
v.7 describes unbelievers and what they do.
v.8 explains that "since we are of the day" (believers), we need to be sober.
v.9 explains the destiny of the believer - not destined for wrath but for salvation
v.10 says that regardless of the believer's lifestyle, we will live together with Him.
Now, some will argue that the word “sleep” in 1 Thess 5 refers to physical death, just as Paul used it in the previous chapter:
14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have
fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are
still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have
fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the
dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that,
we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
It is clear that in the context of 1 Thess 4, “falling asleep” refers to physical death. But, in the next chapter, the context isn’t about who is physically alive vs who is physically dead, as claimed by Arminians, but rather, the context is about the believer’s lifestyle, as the comparisons clearly show.
However, here are passages that also use the word “sleep” as a metaphor for lifestyle:
Rom 13:11:14
11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to
wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
So, how would an OSNAS type explain Paul’s command to ‘wake up from your slumber”, if sleeping is literal? Impossible.
Eph 5:12-16
12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But
everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is
illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “
Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
It’s clear that waking up is in reference to one’s lifestyle; “how you live” from v.15.
Rev 3:1-3
1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know
your deeds; you have a reputation of
being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is
about to die, for I have found your
deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But
if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Again, the context is clear: being “dead” or “alive” is in the context of lifestyle.
Rev 16:15
15 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
Again, "staying awake” is in reference to lifestyle (going naked and be exposed). By “staying awake”, we will “not go naked and be shamefully exposed”.
So, 1 Thess 5:9-10 is clear.
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
God has destined the believer for salvation. Therefore, “whether we are awake or sleep”, the promise is CLEAR: “we WILL LIVE together with Him”.
This isn’t to defend a sinful lifestyle in any way. This is, rather, to defend the biblical teaching that one’s behavior/lifestyle doesn’t determine one’s eternal destiny.
One’s eternal destiny is sealed by whether or not one has put their trust in the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, for the gift of eternal life.
On that basis alone, the believer shall NEVER perish.
John 10:28 - I give them (believers) eternal life, and they (believers) shall NEVER PERISH.
