It is very easy to find scriptures that say the dead are asleep and will awake when Christ returns. These scriptures should be conclusive to prove just that, the dead are asleep, unconscious, awaiting the return of the Lord. Critics however reply, "Well, when scripture says 'asleep' it is speaking only of the body, the soul or spirit is awake in heaven."
Here we will look at several scriptures and see that they imply and say much more than just that the dead are asleep. We will prove that the body and spirit are waiting to awake when the Lord returns. We will prove that the response, "It is only the body that is sleeping" is unfounded, baseless, false, misleading and contrary to scripture.
Underlined scripture is made reference to in my brief notes but, for the most part, I will let scripture, in red, speak for itself.
Let's begin with the resurrection chapter of 1 Corinthians 15:20-23:
"...will all be made alive." When? "...at His coming! What is their condition before that? Asleep! This verse says beyond question that the dead will be made alive at the resurrection. How can this be if they are "alive" in heaven?But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.
For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming,
Verse 26:
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Death is destroyed at the resurrection. If we are "awake" in heaven then death was destroyed when we died.
Verses 42- 44:
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
We receive a spiritual body at the resurrection not when we die.
Verses 54-55:
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
Death is finished at the resurrection, not when we die and our spirit (asleep) returns to God..Now to examine some other New Testament verses:
Three times in these three verses Paul says the dead are asleep. If their spirits were awake in heaven would Paul continually call the dead asleep?1Thes. 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Thes. 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Thes. 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
And when shall we be saved, when shall we rejoice?
1Cor. 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Christians use the expression, "I was saved on...such and such a date." What they mean is they accepted the Lord's sacrifice for their sins, believed in Christ. But we will actually and finally be saved, be saved from the grave, be made alive, when Christ returns. No wonder Paul calls this the Blessed Hope.
2Cor. 1:14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Phi 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
There is absolutely no scriptures that say the dead are rejoicing in heaven. None!
When shall we be presented to the Lord
2Co 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
1John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
If the spirits of the departed were awake in heaven wouldn't they have appeared, been presented, before the Lord? No! That will happen "at His coming."When will the saints receive their reward, when they die and go to heaven? As John Wayne would say, "Not hardly."
2Tim. 4:8 Finally, [there] is laid up for me the victor's wreath [or, crown] of righteousness which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will give to me in that Day, but not only to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.
1Thes. 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
Mat. 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Rev. 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.When will we be judged?
2Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2Tim. 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
John 5:28-29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Come forth from the grave, not from heaven or hell, to receive judgment.And what should we look forward to:
Phi 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Phi 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Paul says here that he will be "conformable" to the death of Jesus. That is death would be no great burden for him because he looks forward to the resurrection. This is why in Phil 1:23 he said to depart (die) and be with Christ (at the resurrection) would be better than living.
Phi 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Rom. 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
1Pet. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Tit. 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Indeed, the hope of the Christian is the return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead.These are just some of many. Let's look at a few from the Old Testament:
Dan. 12:2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Awake to everlasting life. You don't have it until you awake.Psa. 13:3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
Would the psalmist have described death in this way if the dead were not sleeping?
Psa. 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
No mention here of beholding God's face in heaven or being satisfied in heaven, only when one awakes.Psa. 71:20 Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
The Old Testament has none of the Christian "going to heaven" doctrine. It speaks of the resurrection.
Psa. 146:2 While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
Isa. 26:19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
Where are the dead? In the dust. When shall they live? When they awake. When shall they sing? When they are resurrected.Isa. 62:11 Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
Dan. 12:13 But go thou thy way (Daniel) till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
I could add to these, and probably will, but if you were on the jury in a court of law would this evidence convince you beyond a reasonable doubt?