NOWHERE DOES THE BIBLE TEACH THE DOCTRINE OF SOUL SLEEP

THE DOCTRINE OF SOUL SLEEP IS NOT TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE!

Some denominations teach that all believers sleep until the resurrection morning – NOT SO! Paul said in 2nd Corinthians 5:8 “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord!” The “Soul Sleep Adherence” can never find a time when they are absent from their bodies. If the soul remains in a state of sleep in that body until the morning of Christ’s return, the two are never separated; they are always together and must be raised together. But the Bible teaches that they are separated!

The body is asleep in one place – the grave, whereas the soul is alive in another place, heaven or hell. For the Christian, to be absent from the body means to be present with the Lord. That is why Paul said, “To die is gain (Philippians 1:21)!”

It is also the reason that when Christ returns at the Rapture, He brings those that sleep (or are dead) with Him, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him (1 Thessalonians 4:14).

Now, how can the Lord bring the dead with Him and still come after the dead in 1 Thessalonians 4:16? Simple, the dead are in two places. The souls and spirits are with the Lord – for the Scripture says, “Absent from the body, present with the Lord!” But their bodies are in the grave, hence Christ brings the dead; the souls and spirits of those already in His presence with Him so that they may come to get their bodies! That is why the dead in Christ rise first! But all this pictures the Rapture.

The text under investigation describes a later time, The Tribulation hour, it is then the spirit’s of the martyred tribulation saints cry! They also wear white robes. Lifeless spirits cannot cry or wear white robes. THE SOLUTION: The spiritual being has a temporary covering. PROOF: For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2 Corinthians 5:1). There are also celestial (heavenly) bodies, and bodies terrestrial (earthly): but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another (1 Corinthians 15:40).

Listen to me, we may not understand everything about the spirit world but one thing is certain, being in spirit form does not mean unconsciousness. Spirits move, talk, cry and even wear white robes! Demons also are spirits. They spoke on many occasions in the Gospels. Why, spirits live!!! AWAY WITH THE DOCTRINE OF SOUL SLEEP IN ANY DISPENSATION!!! Beloved, our loved ones are with Jesus, if they died trusting in the merits of the shed blood. They are also under the altar just as these tribulation saints will be! Soon they will come forth, for their eternal coverings – THEIR BODIES!

Now, since we have learned that it is possible for the dead to cry because the spirit never ceases to exist, we next discover that their cry is one of vengeance! Why, they are not under grace (the love Covenant)! Instead, they want blood! Stephen, under grace cried, “Lord lay not this sin to their charge (Acts 7:16)! But this is a different dispensation! A fulfillment of the hour mentioned by David when he spoke of the actions of Jehovah saying, “He maketh an inquisition for blood (Psalm 9:12)!

This group knows that prophecy is being fulfilled and wonders how much longer their loved ones who are on the earth (that are still alive) must suffer? The Lord speaks to them about having a little more patience: There will be one more wave of persecution in chapter 20 verse 4, then they will live and reign with Him for 1,000 years.