Does the Bible teach 'Soul-sleep'?

To believe in soul-sleep is to believe we are unconscious after we die until the Judgment Day. That is our soul ceases to exist. Like a big grandfather clock when you stop the pendulum and then later start it swinging again, the clock picks up right where it left off with no notice of the time interval when it slept.

Is understanding soul-sleep important? Yes, some try to disprove the deity of Jesus Christ by using the Bible to teach soul-sleep. If Jesus' soul ceased to exist for the three days that he was in the tomb, than he cannot be God.

Let us start by defining the words grave and hell

Before we begin, we must have the proper definition of our words. In most Bibles, the words grave and hell come from the same Hebrew word Sheol in the Old Testament: or, the Greek word Hades, in the New Testament.

Sheol: In the Bible, Sheol can mean either the grave or the lower regions of the earth. Here are two verses where Sheol means the grave:

It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave [Sheol]. - Genesis 44:31

AND

Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace. -  1 Kings 2:6

Two verses were Sheol means the lower regions of the earth.

For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell [Sheol].  - Psalms 86:13

AND

Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down: -  Amos 9:2

AND

There also appears to be different levels of hell or Sheol.

For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
- Deuteronomy 32:22

AND

For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
- Psalms 86:13

Hades: The Greeks used Hades to describe the lowest regions of the earth long before the Christian era. Thus, when Jesus shared about a certain rich man and the beggar Lazarus by using the word Hades the people understood that Jesus was talking about the lower regions of the earth.

And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. - Luke 16:23

The only verse where the King James Bible translates Hades 'grave' is in 1st Corinthians,

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? - 1 Corinthians 15:55

Lower parts of the earth: While not mentioning the words sheol or Hades, there are other verses that also talk about the lower parts of the earth.

But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
- Psalms 63:9

AND

Now that he [Jesus] ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? - Ephesians 4:9

AND

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.  - 1 Peter 3:18-19

We must also define the word soul

Before we discuss soul-sleep we need to know something about the soul. At the very least, let us see how the Bible teaches that the soul is distinct from the body. The following verses will show that the soul is distinct from the body. Often by showing how life is the soul entering the body and death as the soul leaving the body.

And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. - 1 Kings 17:21-23

AND

And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath [spirit] came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. - Ezekiel 37:8-10

Though Ezekiel used the word spirit instead of soul in this passage, in essence the passage means the same thing.

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. - Ecclesiastes 12:7

AND

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. - Matthew 10:28

Jesus made a clear distinction here, do not worry about your body, worry about your soul.

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. - Acts 2:31

AND

Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me. - 2 Peter 1:13-14

AND

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. - James 2:26

This is different from the Greek's view of death or more importantly our modern definition of death. Modern science sees the body and our soul (or sprit) as one and then death as the body (or brain) ceasing to function. However, the Bible makes a clear distinction between the body and the soul. Death is taught as the soul or spirit leaving the body, not the soul being obliterated.

Bible verses used to teach soul-sleep

Does the soul sleep once it leaves the body? Some verses in the Bible are used to teach soul-sleep. Let us look at these verses first.

For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave [sheol] who shall give thee thanks? -  Psalms 6:5

AND

O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! -  Job 14:13

AND

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

This verse in Ecclesiastes is not a good proof text. Ecclesiastes is a book about the vanity of worldly pursuits. He never discusses anything about heaven, rather Solomon uses the words, ''vexation of spirit'' ten times to describe what happens ''under the sun'' mentioned 29 different times. Some of the other things Solomon said in Ecclesiastes include:

For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool forever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
- Ecclesiastes 2:16

Compare this verse to Malachi 4:1-3

Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?  - Ecclesiastes 3:21

Solomon appears to make an admission that he does not understand everything after death. Fortunately we have a greater than Solomon who does.

Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? - Ecclesiastes 7:16-17

While the Lord placed Ecclesiastes in the Bible for our admonition, we must understand why it is there before we quote it. If you quote the above verse out of context, what would you be teaching?

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. -  Ecclesiastes 9:5

If we remember that Solomon is talking about under the sun, we might agree that there is no more reward. However, you are taking this verse out of context if you use it to teach there is no life after death. As I already mentioned, the words, ''under the sun'' are used 29 times, it is used six times in this chapter alone. For the above-mentioned reasons, an honest person should not use Ecclesiastics to teach soul-sleep. Yet, what about Isaiah?

For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. - Isaiah 38:18

Before we draw our conclusion about Isaiah 38:18 (or Psalm 6:5), let's look at the passages of scripture used to teach consciousness after death.

Bible verses I use to teach consciousness after death

I am the  God of Abraham, and the  God of Isaac, and the  God of Jacob  God is not the  God of the dead, but of the living. -  Matthew 22:32

And everybody's favorite, the rich man and Lazarus.

19-21  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22-23  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25-26  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

27-28  Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. - Luke 16:19-31

Some important points about this story.

• By giving real names like Abraham and Lazarus, it is reasonable to believe this is a true story rather than a parable. Why would Jesus say that Abraham said something if he didn't say it?
• Even if the story of the rich man and Lazarus were only a parable, it plainly teaches consciousness after death. Therefore, how can Jesus tell this story and not be teaching false doctrine?
• As a side note, while teaching consciousness, verses 30 and 31 show that to rise from the dead means that the soul leaves Hades and returns to its body.

In another passage,

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. - John 2:19-22

If Jesus was unconscious in soul sleep, how did he restore his body?

And Jesus said unto him [the theif on the cross next to his], Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. - Luke 23:43

Those who believe in soul-sleep suggest that the translators placed the coma in the wrong place, what Luke really said was,

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee today, Shalt thou be with me in paradise. 

Thus while the thief will be in paradise, Jesus did not really promise that he would be there on that specific day. So, did Jesus say, ''Verily I say unto thee, ...''? Or did He say, ''Verily I say unto thee today, ...'' If we look at other passages in the New Testament where Jesus spoke.

• Jesus said, ''Verily I say unto thee, ...'' seventy-six other times in scripture.
• Jesus never said, ''Verily I say unto thee today, ...'' in any other passage of scripture.

Though Jesus could have said it, if He added the word today for stress, it did not add stress to what He was about to say, rather it caused most people for the last 2000 years to misunderstand Him.

Another verse that implies consciousness after death is in 2nd Corinthians.

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. -  2 Corinthians 5:8

Consider that if Paul believed in soul-sleep, departing from his body would not have given him any more time in the Lord's presence. Let us look at one last verse from the New Testament.

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
- Revelation 6:9-11

Two points worth noting; first, the souls though they were martyred are conscious. Second, the timeframe in the above mentioned passage places this event before the judgment day.

The following are passages from the Old Testament that show consciousness in Sheol.

I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.  Ezekiel 31:16

AND

The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.  Ezekiel 32:21

Are there passages that speak of both conditions?

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
-  Revelation 20:13

AND

Hell from beneath is moved for thee [king of Babylon] to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. - Isaiah 14:9

What conclusions can we draw from what we have studied?

We have three possibilities.

• Everybody soul-sleeps
• Some people soul-sleep when they die
• Everyone is conscious when they die

Everybody soul-sleeps

There were only a few verses that taught soul-sleep, the truth is that most of the teaching on soul-sleep is eisegeting the verses that teach consciousness after death. For myself, the two verses that are the most convincing for soul-sleep are:

For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
-  Psalms 6:5

AND

For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. -  Isaiah 38:18

One possibility for understanding these could be that Hades (or Sheol) is divided into two different places. The story of Lazarus and the rich man as well as some passages out of the Old Testament teach this. When the Psalmist or Isaiah say that the grave [those in Sheol] cannot praise God, they may be referring to the place where the rich man was. As these passages also talk about salvation, reading these verses in context makes it possible if not likely interpretation.

Some people soul-sleep when they die, others are conscious

This might be a simple way to reconcile everybody. While for some this may be a novel idea, this way death and hell can both deliver up the dead that are in them. (Revelation 20:13)

Everyone is still conscious after they die

While we may only see through a glass darkly (1st Corinthians 13:12), there are many passages in the Bible teaching consciousness after death, too many passages to believe that everyone soul-sleeps. If you look at a study on soul-sleep by one of its proponents, you will note that more pages will be spent on eisegeting or explaining away passages like Lazarus and the rich man or Jesus' words to the thief on the cross than actually producing evidence from the Bible for soul-sleep.

Conclusion

As I mentioned in the introduction, the importance of this study was bought home to me when I saw soul-sleep being used as an argument against the deity of Jesus Christ. If his soul was destroyed on the cross, how can He be God? I hope that as you see these teachers are wrong on soul-sleep, you can see they are mistaken in denying the deity of Jesus Christ.

May God bless you as you as you seek His will.