- The Scriptures often represent death as a "sleep"
- Mt 27:52 - ...bodies of the saints who had "fallen asleep"
- Jn 11:11-14 - Jesus says of dead Lazarus, "our friend
sleeps"
- Ac 7:60 - As Stephen is stoned to death, it is said "he
fell asleep"
- 1Co 15:6,18 - Those who were dead are spoken of as
"fallen asleep"
- 1Th 4:13-15 - Brethren who were dead "sleep in Jesus"
- Other passages come very near to saying that the dead have no
consciousness
- Ps 30:9 - The psalmist asks, "...when I go down to the
pit? Will the dust praise you?"
- Ps 115:17 - The psalmist declares, "The dead do not
praise the Lord, nor any who go down into silence."
- Ec 9:5,10 - Solomon, in his search for meaning, observes:
- "...the dead know nothing..."
- "there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the
grave where you are going."
- Isa 38:18-19 - King Hezekiah says concerning God that
"Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You, those who
go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth."
[Such is the theory and the arguments presented by those who believe in
"soul sleeping." At face value, the doctrine appears very convincing.
But let's take a closer look at it...]