What is it like to be dead. The Bible calls death a sleep. In fact God Himself used the word 'sleep' to describe death when He was talking to Moses, to tell him how and when he should die. |
 |
And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold thou shalt sleep with thy fathers.' Deuteronomy 31:16.
|
| There are many verses about death being a sleep in the Old Testament. These are often found when the lives of kings are being recorded. |
So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. 1 Kings 2:10
|
David fell asleep in death and was buried. This is the same pattern for everyone who dies.
Jesus also says the same thing. In speaking of His friend Lazarus who had been very ill, Jesus told his disciples: |
'Our friend Lazarus sleepeth, but I go that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord if he sleep he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death, but they thought he had spoken of taking rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.' John 11:11-14.
|
That is the second time in the Bible where God Himself has said that death is a sleep. (Jesus is God and when on earth Jesus was also called Emmanuel, which means ‘God with us.’)
When Jairus’ little daughter was very ill and died, Jesus went to the house. He told all the official mourners to leave, because He said, |
‘The damsel is not dead but sleepeth.’
|
| They laughed him to scorn. But when the people were put outside, He went in and took her by the hand and the maid arose.' Jesus said to her, ‘Talitha Cumi,’ which means ‘Damsel, I say unto thee arise.’ Mark 5:41. |
'And straightway the damsel arose and walked. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.' Jesus, always compassionate, ‘commanded that something should be given her to eat.’
|
| When Stephen was being stoned to death, it says: |
He kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:60.
|
| Paul, the great theologian of the New Testament, when he was explaining to the converts to Christianity about death, said these things: |
ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13.
Behold I show you a mystery, we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51
|
Paul was speaking of the resurrection of those that sleep in death. (A further link will look at this in more depth.)
|
| What is it like for the person who is sleeping in death? If you can imagine the deepest night’s sleep you have had, or an anaesthetic where you have been put into a deep sleep of unconsciousness by drugs, what was it like? You did not know how much time had passed. You were not involved with what your family were doing. You were not working. You were not praising God. You felt no emotions. This is how the Bible speaks of death, and here are some examples: |
 |
For in death there is no remembrance of Thee. In the grave who shall give Thee thanks. Psalm 6:5
Shall the dust praise Thee, shall it declare Thy truth? Psalm 30:9.
His breath goeth forth; he returneth to his earth, in that very day his thoughts perish. Ps 146:4.
The dead praise not the Lord, neither any of them that go down into silence. Psalm 115:17
For the living know that they shall die but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a re- |
|
