My Dear Faithful Friend:
We are all obviously aware of what is called the great “Christian Hope.” A hope that exists because, as Paul said, “if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you He … will also quicken your mortal bodies…” (Rm.8:11KJV). Our resurrection, this reality that our dry bones, our ashes will on the Day of Christ coming, be “clothed” as Christ was clothed on that Easter morning. A body that could suddenly appear in a closed room, yet could be touched, and even eat, which was to prove He was not a ghost or spirit (Lk.24:36-42). Our faith has always believed in the Lord’s promise that He is “the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die..”(Jn.11:25-6).
This is the foundation of our faith. What we will be celebrating at the end of this month. That if this one event, His resurrection, is not true, our witnessing to it, our gospel is in vain, and our faith is in vain and futile. We are then of all people most to be pitied as we are without hope, purpose, or meaning, and we are still in our sins (Read 1 Cor. 15:14-19). But, and it is an important “but; in fact Christ has been raised from the dead” (1 Cor.15:20).
This rousing declaration from Paul, the Apostle, has a ring to it. And the ultimate resurrection of all believers on that Day (1 Cor.15:23), has always been inspiring, and reassuring to me. I am also aware that our scriptures share little about that time between our “falling asleep in the Lord,” and that great resurrection day. But I’ve always known we can never be separated from the love of God (Rm.8:38-9).
However, recently I encountered what can best be described as some “fringe-christians.” [1] These people, hold to what they call “soul-sleep.” I do understand how some could confuse the euphemism of “sleep” for death (1 Cor.15:18), even our Lord uses “sleep” for what will be temporary death (Lk.8:52, and John 11:11). And the idea of soul-sleep has been around for some time, even to be given theological terms like Psychopannychia and Thnelopsychism. Such words make this seem important, but such Greek monstrosities only add confusion. Instead I want to use this brief meeting to affirm what will be found in my book “The Question of Heaven and Hell.”
What fascinated me is how hollow and empty seemed their declarations of one’s deep sleep as they wait God’s call of resurrection. The bleak words of being blessed in one’s “oblivion,” waiting the trumpet’s last blast, and the archangels call. Their words just lack the ring of triumph I want to hear. My understanding that we are with Christ upon our death; is something that I’ve always emphasized. It has the ringing sound of truth, that these moments of a loved one’s or any believers death need.
They do have real problems understanding our Lord’s words to the one thief on the cross. “Today you will be with me in paradise“(Lk.23:43). Paradise is just not how you describe, “sleep.” Then there is the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (16:19f). Even if it is just a parable, Jesus is not describing “sleep,” but an existence after death. But the best scriptures are those of Paul; he tells the Philippians that he is “hard pressed between the two (options). My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account” (Phil.1:23-4). Then in one of his classic uses of a Greek word, in this case “demos,” Paul makes it clear that to be away from your body is to be at home with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). We may at times call death sleep, but that does not mean God will leave us like that for centuries. Clearly, for those like Paul, “to die is gain” (Phil.1:21). Being in a state of limbo, or unconsciousness for millennium is not “gain.” Besides, as mentioned before; “I am certain that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor heights, nor depths, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God, in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rm.8:37-9). As we celebrate our Lord’s resurrection, we also affirm our own, but also that, even in death, we are always with the Lord.
May we all be truly blessed by being now and forever with Christ Jesus.
Thomas R. Wyatt
[1] “Seven Day Adventist, some Anabaptist, various Churches of God, and, of course, Jehovah Witnesses, who are not Christian at all..
