A Walking New Man

SOUL SLEEP IS WRONG

 

The reason the likeness of the phrase soul sleep is used in the Scriptures and whenever it is used, it is only dealing with the physical body asleep, after the death of a believer. The sleep has never referred to the soul.

 

The believing Christian’s death is only temporary because the "physical body" is idle, i.e., asleep. However, the soul is alive and well with the Lord. They are absent from this body of life, but they are "present" with the Lord.

 

2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

 

The verse above deals with the Apostle Paul weighing in on his desire to do the will of God here on earth, during his earthly ministry. Nevertheless, he also expressed, being with the Lord wouldn’t be a loss. "Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better"… to be present with the Lord.

 

One who is present is not asleep. Heaven is not full of sleeping saints. Instead, Heaven is filled with praising saints!

 

Revelation 4:10-11 The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that lives for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.

 

Even before this account, the Scripture gives another insight into the death of the believer. This account is found in the story of Lazarus the beggar; Luke 16:22-25 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: (another phrase for paradise) the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you are tormented.

 

Though Abraham has been dead to the physical body for hundredths of years, here we have an account of his well-being in paradise after his death, and his talking and responding to questions. This does not sound like a soul sleeping person, does it? So then, why do so-called teachers of the Bible teach soul sleep? Those who teach such and many other false doctrines have fallen from Grace. Due to the proudness of their hearts, they seek to fill it with something "new" in so doing, they open their lives to false teachings. Or, bluntly as the Scriptures records, demons and teaching of demons.

 

1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now, the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.

 

This we know, those who caused such teachings, will not repent for the proudness of their hearts. As for those who simply misunderstood for the lack of better understanding, it shall be a small effort to revert from the error and a big gain to turn to the truth. Danger lies in the path of those who ascribed to such teachings and follow the source of such teachings.

 

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🎨PSW·3✒©