Bible Question:
I am questioning my view of death. For most of my life I have been taught that upon my death I would be in heaven. However I recently heard a speaker say that we stay in a state of waiting to be raised when Christ returns. I can read where sleep is refered to as death. When it says in the N.T. concerning those who have fallen asleep. I feel rather ignorant, because I have studied this, and felt I had the answer. Now, I am not so sure. I would like some feed back, as this is sorta bugging me. Thanks for your input. Peace, farout |
Bible Answer: farout, The Jehovah Witnesses , some Seventh Day Adventists and some others teach a doctrine of "soul sleep" after death until the Last Judgement at which time the souls of the damned are annihilated rather than sent to eternal punishment in hell. This is in oposition to 2,000 years of Christian Tradition and biblical interpretation. So what then is the punishment of God's Judgement if the evil and unsaved are merely "soul sleeping" and then spiritually "put to sleep" for all eternity, so to speak, by the total annihilation of the soul? What is the point of all Jesus' teching about the torments and fires of hell? I suppose there can be those who believe in "soul sleep" and then eternal Hell for the damned, but I have not encountered them. And why weren't Moses and Elijah sleeping in Mattg 17:1-8? Misbehaving kids I suppose, not going to sleep when they were told to. Emmaus |