Asleep?
Death is a mystery to almost everyone on earth.
It is a phenomenon created by God, at which time, when a person ceases to “live”, as we call it, the spirit leaves the physical body, leaving it lifeless and unable to function as before.
We need to understand some things before we proceed with this study.
1: The word DEATH literally means SEPARATION.
a. The physical is separated from the spiritual
b. The two entities have ceased to co-exist as one unit.
2: We only know what God’s Word reveals to us on this matter, and, if we will
listen closely, we can determine some very important information on our
topic.
We see that Jesus knew and understood about death while He walked with His disciples –
“… He said to them, ‘Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” {12} Then His disciples said, ‘Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.’ {13} However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. {14} Then Jesus said to them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead.’”
John 11:11-14.
Later, Jesus will tell a true story, revealing some information for all readers –
In Luke 16:19-31, we read the story of “The Rich Man & Lazarus”.
[Not the same Lazarus as in John 11.]
We also learn, from two certain passages in the O.T. that DEATH is, indeed a REST –
1 Sam. 28:13-15.
“And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What did you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth.”{14} So he said to her, “What is his form?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is covered with a mantle.” And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down. {15} Now Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” ...”
1 Kings 1:20, 21.
“And as for you, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. {21} Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted as offenders.”
1 Kings 2:10.
“David rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David.”
1 Kings 11:43.
“Then Solomon rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.”
1 Kings 14:31.
“So Rehoboam rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. ...”
There are still many other O.T. passages which give this very same picture of people who went to their graves and were buried.
There are several N.T. passage which help us better understand about this –
At the crucifixion of Jesus, in –
Matt. 27:52.
“and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.”
As Stephen was being stoned to death, in –
Acts 7:60.
“Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
The apostle Paul, as he spoke in the Synagogue, in –
Acts 13:36.
“For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption.”
Paul had something to say to the Christians in Corinth –
1 Cor. 15:6.
“After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.”
1 Cor. 15:18.
“Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.”
1 Cor. 15:20.
“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
1 Thess. 4:13,14.
“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. {14} For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.”
He also had something to say to the Christians in Thessalonica –
1 Thess. 4:15.
“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.”
The apostle Peter said this –
“Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), {2} that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, {3} knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, {4} and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’” 2 Pet. 3:1-4.
So, why do Christians view death as something to dread?
The late Brother Batsell Barrett Baxter once wrote –
“A Christian should no more fear death than a tree fears winter.”
You see, like a tree which looses it’s leaves in the winter when the sap goes deep into the root system underground and will come back to life in the Spring, Christians will, at the Great Resurrection “Come to Life” in the presence of God where eternity will never separate us from Him.
Another facet of “Death” which poses a mystery to many, is the “Second Death”.
Here, also, God’s Word tells us about that, as well, in –
Rev. 2:11.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He
who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.’”
Rev. 20:6.
“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
Rev. 20:14.
“Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second
death.”
Rev. 21:8.
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Jesus spoke of this place when He spoke about this life and the hereafter –
Mark 9:43,44.
“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched; {44} where Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.”
He also alluded to this place in His parable of “The Wheat & The Tares” –
Matt. 13:30.
“Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
Either way we look at it, DEATH is not the END, but actually the BEGINNING, and there is surely a place to shun at any and all costs.
Our own eternal destiny lies within our own hands in making preparation for that eternal abode right now, while we are still alive and have opportunity.
Death should no more be feared by Christians than a tree dreads winter, because, in the Spring, it will regain it’s life and sprout new growth, just as Christians will regain their lives in the spiritual world and be with and serve the living God eternally.
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