Page 16 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2010

Although physical death comes to believer and (Strong’s Concordance)
unbeliever alike, there are great differences recorded
in Scripture as to what happens to each after death.
In describing the condition of the death of a Christian
in the New Testament, a different Greek word is
consistently used to describe the event:

This Greek word is translated as a condition of “sleep.” Here are several examples:

“FOR DAVID, AFTER HE HAD SERVED HIS OWN GENERATION BY THE WILL OF GOD,
FELL ASLEEP, WAS BURIED WITH HIS FATHERS, AND SAW CORRUPTION.” Acts 13:36-37
“FOR THIS REASON MANY ARE WEAK AND SICK AMONG YOU, AND MANY SLEEP.” 1 Cor. 11:30

“…WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED…” 1 Cor. 15:51

“…WE BELIEVE GOD WILL BRING WITH HIM THOSE WHO SLEEP IN JESUS.” 1 Thess. 4:14

In using this word, I believe the Holy Spirit was simply seeking to make a distinction between the death
of an unbeliever and that of a believer. Unfortunately, the false doctrine of “soul sleep” has been
birthed from the translation of this word as “sleep.” Paul did not believe that a Christian would lie in the
grave, confined in his body, in a state of “soul sleep” until the resurrection:

“…KNOWING THAT WHILE WE ARE AT HOME IN THE BODY WE ARE ABSENT
FROM THE LORD. WE ARE CONFIDENT, YES, WELL PLEASED RATHER TO BE
ABSENT FROM THE BODY AND TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD.” 2 Cor. 5:6-8

“FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST, AND TO DIE IS GAIN…I AM HARD
PRESSED BETWEEN THE TWO, HAVING A DESIRE TO DEPART AND BE

WITH CHRIST; WHICH IS FAR BETTER.” Phil. 1:21-23

Paul is clear that when a believer dies he (spirit and soul) goes to be with
the Lord. It is the yet-to-be-raised physical body of the believer that “sleeps”

in the grave until the time of resurrection! When it is time for the
resurrection of the physical body of the believer, Paul taught that God will

bring His saints with Him to the resurrection of the body:

“…CONCERNING THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP…GOD WILL BRING WITH HIM THOSE WHO SLEEP
IN JESUS…WE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN WILL BY NO MEANS PRECEDE THOSE WHO ARE

ASLEEP…FOR THE LORD HIMSELF WILL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN…AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL
RISE FIRST. THEN WE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH
THEM…TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR.” 1 Thess. 4:13-17

Paul is describing the event known as “the rapture.” The living who are in Christ at this event will not
“sleep” (see again 1Cor. 15:50-52) but will have their bodies changed instantaneously from mortal to
immortal! Those believers who have died (“sleep”) in Christ will have their bodies raised from the grave
and reunited with their spirit and soul which Christ will bring with Him. The apostle Paul will experience
this event! He is presently with the Lord as he states is the destiny of the believer at death, but his
body, and the body of all believers, waits (“sleeps”) in the grave until the time of the resurrection of the
dead (body). If you don’t believe in the rapture as a physical, literal event,( many do not) then you don’t
believe in the physical resurrection of the dead! This is the same event! Living saints (found living in
obedience to Christ) will be raptured and the dead saints in Christ (their bodies) will be raised! It is then
that salvation becomes a completed process in which the whole spirit, soul and body will be found
blameless at the coming of Christ as 1 Thess. 5:23-24 states. It is then, in the final stage of salvation,
that we can say:

“…WHEN THIS MORTAL (BODY) HAS PUT ON IMMORTALITY,
THEN SHALL BE BROUGHT TO PASS THE SAYING THAT IS WRITTEN:

‘DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.
O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?

O HADES, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?’ ”
1 Cor. 15:53-55