DEATH — SLEEP

Since God has made provision for the awakening of the dead to the resurrection, the Bible frequently speaks of death as sleep.

Sleep is a symbol of death, and the word is used in that sense. A man lies down to sleep and we say he will wake again. And so we say with reference to the dead — ‘He shall awake and come again.’ As the Prophet Jeremiah beautifully states the matter (Jer 31:15-16),

“Thus says the Lord: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because THEY ARE NO MORE (no longer exist, they are perished).” Thus says the Lord: “Refrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy (death).”

This Scripture proves that the dead were out of existence but there was hope for a resurrection.

Both the Old and New Testaments abound with expressions referring to the dead as asleep. We read, 1 Kings 2:10 that ‘David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David.’ The Apostle Peter says, ‘The fathers fell asleep. (2 Peter 3:4) The Apostle Paul, speaking of those who had seen Jesus in the flesh, said, ‘The greater part remains until this day, but some are fallen asleep.’ (1 Cor 15:6) Again, ‘I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are asleep. Them that sleep in Jesus God will bring forth by Jesus at the resurrection.’ (1 Thess 4:3-14)

SLEEPING — UNCONSCIOUS

Who ever heard of one sleeping soundly and being conscious at the same time?

Sleep means suspension of the voluntary exercise of the functions of the body and mind. Sleep is used as a symbol of death. The reality is more pronounced than the symbol. If the symbol represents unconsciousness, the reality does so even more.

The death sleep is so absolutely a period of unconsciousness that the awakening one will have no knowledge of the lapse of time or the transpiring of events. Now we will prove the truth of this statement by the Lord Jesus’ own testimony.

In (John 11:1-44), we find this proof, which we paraphrase. Lazarus lived with his two sisters at Bethany. Jesus was often entertained at this home and taught the members of the household. Lazarus became sick. Word was sent to Jesus of Lazarus’ illness, but after he heard it Jesus remained in the same place for two days longer. He was preparing to teach mankind a great lesson concerning the dead and how they shall be awakened out of the sleep of death.

At the end of the two days, speaking to his disciples, he said, ‘Our friend Lazarus sleeps.’ His disciples replied, ‘Lord if he sleeps he doeth well, but Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought he had spoken of taking rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead.’ Thomas suggested that they go to Bethany at once. Jesus and his disciples went. Arriving at Bethany they found that Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days.

Jesus here performed a great miracle, which testified in no uncertain terms as to the condition of the dead and proves beyond all doubt that the dead are wholly unconscious until the awakening to the resurrection.

Mark well what he did! He did not call Lazarus out of heaven, nor out of purgatory, nor a lake of fire and brimstone, but after giving thanks to God he went to the grave, which was a cave in the hillside, and cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth,’ and the dead came forth.

Let all who believe the dead are conscious and aware; answer this question if they will:

If Lazarus was at all conscious during the four days that he was dead and in the grave, why is there not some proof of it some-where to be found in the Bible?

Jesus was here showing how the dead are to be awakened out of the sleep of death. It was of the greatest importance, if Lazarus had been conscious, that some proof of that fact might have been recorded. The fact that nothing is said about his being conscious, taken in con-junction with numerous other Scriptures that show that the dead are wholly unconscious, is conclusive proof that Lazarus was unconscious for four days while dead and likewise conclusive proof that all the dead are unconscious until the moment of awakening.

Continued with next post.