Are the dead conscious or asleep?

There are many who debate the conscious state of humanity after death. The two primary views are that of soul sleep and that of immediate fellowship. Soul sleep is the belief that we die and stay asleep until Christ comes for us. For the saved, this would be at the rapture of the church and for the unsaved, this would be primarily at the Great White Throne judgment. Immediate fellowship is the belief that we die and are immediately brought into the presence of our risen Lord. Although both have biblical evidence for their case, when comparing scripture with scripture, one view clearly out shines the other. I believe that Immediate Fellowship can be proven while Soul Sleep can not.

The case for Soul Sleep explained.

Point 1: The Bible calls death sleeping

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 1 Corinthians 15:51

Here it is clear that in reference to death that not everyone will die (sleep) but some of us will be alive when Jesus returns. It is also clear that the Bible does indeed call death (sleep) but does this prove that we will have no activity of the soul after death? I will like to say that this is far from the only verse that calls death sleeping by both Jesus and the apostles, yet this is meant to convey something other than what the believers in soul sleep portray. Lets look at another incident in which Jesus uses this word.

35While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 36As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 37And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 41And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. Mark 5:35-42

Here, we have Jesus being told that he no longer needs to travel to the ruler of the synagogue's house because his daughter is already deceased. Jesus ignored the report, told the ruler to believe, and went anyway. Once there, Jesus told the people who were crying not to morn because the girl was only sleeping. They laughed at Him before he preformed the miracle of raising the young girl from the dead. Jesus considers the dead girl (or anyone else) asleep because He knows that she will get up again. Everyone will have to stand before God on the other side of this life. Even the wicked will have to stand at judgment. God is not going to judge sleeping souls but awake ones. The argument that the soul sleep proponent will raise is that God will wake them up just before the judgment. That is not the point. The point is that since this life is not our final state of consciousness, to pass away from it is only temporary. Sleep in death, is just the temporary state of man until his soul reenters his body.

Point 2: God will awake up the dead in Christ and bring them back to heaven?

13But 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. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For 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. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15

Here we have a case of proper interpretation. The same scripture is being used to prove both sides of an argument. This verse compels Christians not to be sad about those who have died in Christ. It goes on to say that since we know that Christ died and rose again, so shall they. The believers of soul sleep take “them which also sleep in Jesus will God bring with him”(verse 14) to mean that Jesus will come back, wake up the sleeping believers and bring them back to heaven. The funny thing is, when I read this scripture, it tells me that when Jesus comes back to rapture His church He will not come alone but with those who sleep in Jesus (dead believers)! Believers in immediate fellowship believe this verse means that Jesus will return with the souls of the departed saints, place them into immortal bodies, change the living believers into immortals and rapture everyone together. Both are good theories but which one is right? Let's look at another scripture which talks about our new bodies.

51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So 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. 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

This scripture tells us (Christians) that we won't all sleep (die) but we all will be changed. In other words, we won't all die before Jesus comes back but we all (living and dead) will receive new immortal bodies. We will be changed and would have finally won victory over death. But what do our new bodies have to do with victory over death? Death simply means separation. Physical death means separation from your physical body. This is the death that Jesus refers to as sleep. When He comes back, He will give all believers their new incorruptible bodies that shall never age, rot, or die. We will never again be separated from our divine bodies. We will never again die and therefore death is defeated.

Notice that our new bodies are given to us at the rapture. People who have immortal bodies are no longer “asleep” but alive. They are no longer separated but joined to a body. The Bible says that Jesus brings those that have fallen asleep with Him. The question is, is He bringing sleep believers from earth back to heaven or believers who are present with Him from heaven back to earth. He can't be bringing the sleep back to heaven (as soul sleep suggests) because they are not sleep anymore but “awaken” in new bodies. Jesus can, however, return to earth with the sleep (those separated from their bodies) and return with the awaken (the joined). This is the belief of immediate presence.

Point 3: The dead know nothing because they are unconscious.

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

Other proponents of soul sleep may point to Ecclesiastes 9:5 and say that the Bible states that the dead know nothing. . A sleeping person is not aware of things going on around him and is even impervious to the passage of time. I can remember a particular hurricane in which I was so sleepy that I slept right through it. When I woke up, I found out that streets and houses were flooded and that trees had fallen over. All of this escaped my notice while I was asleep. The sleep no nothing as well.

Here again the answer is in the scripture itself. Not only does it say that the dead know nothing but it says that there is no more reward for them. This is not true of the dead in scripture. In fact, the Bible teaches time and time again that for the Christian, death is where we receive our rewards.

1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Collosians 3:1,2

22Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. Luke 6:22,23

19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: Matthew 6:19,20

21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

It is clear that to get to heaven we must die and it is in heaven that God ultimately seeks to reward us. What then, can Ecclesiastes 9:5 mean? This verse actually answers an age old question; can the dead see and hear us?

The answer is NO.

The dead know nothing (that goes on in the land of the living). They do know, hear and see that which goes on in eternity. They are no longer of this world and much in the same way that we can see nor hear nothing that goes on there, they can do neither here. Do you actually think that someone can enjoy the pleasures of heaven while looking down at all the murder, theft, and rape? Could they enjoy the salvation of Christ while watching their children reject the salvation of Christ? In addition, the dead can no longer gather up rewards for the after life because it is no longer a season of sewing but reaping. Only the living can get raises and promotions and not the dead. There is no more reward to be gathered. We were supposed to be laying up treasures in heaven while we were alive on earth.

Proof for consciousness after death.

Now we will see what scripture has to say about being awake after death.

9And 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: 10And 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? 11And 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 fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. Revelation 6:9-11

It is obvious that the dead can talk, feel, think and reason. It is also obvious that they are not only in the presence of God but, in fact, having a conversation with Him! They cry for vengeance on those who have harmed them but God lovingly tells them to be patient and gives them robes of purity. Immediately people hold tenaciously to the dead know nothing will point out that the martyrs know that their murders had not yet been punished. How?

Before anyone gets excited, let me remind you that the dead only don't know what happens on earth. They are painfully aware off what's going on in heaven. The people who murdered them are not worshiping with them (repented) nor has the Great White Throne judgment of the wicked taken place. They are also aware that death, hell and the sea have not given up the dead that are in them so that they can be judged.

And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

2 Kings 2:11

Scripture plainly says that Elijah went up into heaven. In fact, God wanted to fellowship with his friend so much, He had him personally picked up. What good would all of this be if God was going to only put him to bed?

Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. 3And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Matthew 17:1-3

It didn't take long to answer that question. Here we see Elijah again and (what do you know), he is up and talking. Not only did Jesus spend time talking to Elijah, He talked to an awake Moses as well.

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Luke 23:43

This is as plain as can be, today/ paradise. There are those who want to play with the comma and make it say,( Verily I say unto thee To day, shalt thou be with me in paradise,) but not one jot or tittle shall I move.

6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

This verse has been often misquoted in favor of the believers in immediate fellowship. I too, had fallen victim to the, “absent from the body is present with the Lord,” misquote. This admittedly does not say that being absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, but that we must be absent from the body (the mortal one) in order to be in God's presence. However, neither does it disprove that being absent from the body is to be immediately in God's presence and when all things are taken in consideration, it still seems to be conveying that message.

22And 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; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And 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. Luke 16:22-24

Again, we have clear evidence of someone who is not only awake but can talk, remember, and feel. The only argument I've heard against this is that this is a parable and not something real. A parable is a made up story designed to teach a lesson. If this is the case then this is the only parable that I know of that uses personal names in the narrative! Look and see if Jesus used personal names in His other parables and come to your own conclusion.

14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, Ephesians 3:14,15

The whole family of heaven and earth are named after the Lord Jesus. Christians have family in heaven and on earth. That means that there are people in heaven who already have His name as well as the people on earth. If the dead are still in the ground sleeping (as soul sleep suggest) then the passage would say the family on earth only. This earthly family would include both the dead and the living because neither had yet to reach their heavenly destination.

Jesus has promised to come back to us again.

And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1:10,11

Those of us who die before this happens will get to walk and talk with Him in heaven immediately but must wait until He gathers the rest of His family before we can be clothed in our glorified bodies. Thus, Christians who die before His return will be conscious "souls" in heaven.

2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

This verse simply illustrates that those of us who are alive when Christ returns will get our glorified bodies immediately. When we see Him, we will be like Him. Christians will not sleep after death but will enjoy immediate fellowship with Christ.