Christians- Do you believe in "soul sleep"?

Question

I can see how peop might get confused (with soul sleep) with the passages that describe the death of our physical bodies as "sleep". I began to realize however, more than ever, that the passage of Luke 16:19-31 (Lazarus and the rich man) completely debunks the whole notion of soul sleep with one shot. In the passage it talks of people in the afterlife who are completely awake, concious and aware of what is going on. This all at the same time that the rich man obviously still has loved ones residing on the earth. As some try to write this account off as only a parable and not a true story, which I say it is, they need to consider and ask themselves why Jesus never mentions any main characters by name in any of his "other" parables but in this account he mentions Lazarus by name. Furthermore, if it were indeed only a parable, and soul sleep were true, why would Jesus intentionally confuse or mislead his listeners by telling a theologically incorrect story of the afterlife that talks about its characters in the past tense (obviously before the resurrection)?

lehova D. If what your suggesting is annihilationism, you are on the wrong topic (and supporting a falsehood with a falsehood, since that is also an untruth)

You have not explained why Jesus would intentionally confuse and mislead His followers by telling a story with a spiritually and theologically incorrect (according to what you are saying) basis.

Answer 1

Absence from the body means presence with the Lord

And Jesus said to the theif on the cross "Today you will be with me in paradise"

Answer 2

By what Jesus said about the rich man and Lazarus, did Jesus teach torment of the wicked after death?

Is the account, at Luke 16:19-31, literal or merely an illustration of something else? The Jerusalem Bible, in a footnote, acknowledges that it is a “parable in story form without reference to any historical personage.” If taken literally, it would mean that those enjoying divine favor could all fit at the bosom of one man, Abraham; that the water on one’s fingertip would not be evaporated by the fire of Hades; that a mere drop of water would bring relief to one suffering there. Does that sound reasonable to you? If it were literal, it would conflict with other parts of the Bible. If the Bible were thus contradictory, would a lover of truth use it as a basis for his faith? But the Bible does not contradict itself.

What does the parable mean? The “rich man” represented the Pharisees. (See verse 14.) The beggar Lazarus represented the common Jewish people who were despised by the Pharisees but who repented and became followers of Jesus. (See Luke 18:11; John 7:49; Matthew 21:31, 32.) Their deaths were also symbolic, representing a change in circumstances. Thus, the formerly despised ones came into a position of divine favor, and the formerly seemingly favored ones were rejected by God, while being tormented by the judgment messages delivered by the ones whom they had despised.—Acts 5:33; 7:54.

What is the origin of the teaching of hellfire?

In ancient Babylonian and Assyrian beliefs the “nether world . . . is pictured as a place full of horrors, and is presided over by gods and demons of great strength and fierceness.” (The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria, Boston, 1898, Morris Jastrow, Jr., p. 581) Early evidence of the fiery aspect of Christendom’s hell is found in the religion of ancient Egypt. (The Book of the Dead, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1960, with introduction by E. A. Wallis Budge, pp. 144, 149, 151, 153, 161) Buddhism, which dates back to the 6th century B.C.E., in time came to feature both hot and cold hells. (The Encyclopedia Americana, 1977, Vol. 14, p. 68) Depictions of hell portrayed in Catholic churches in Italy have been traced to Etruscan roots.—La civiltà etrusca (Milan, 1979), Werner Keller, p. 389.

But the real roots of this God-dishonoring doctrine go much deeper. The fiendish concepts associated with a hell of torment slander God and originate with the chief slanderer of God (the Devil, which name means “Slanderer”), the one whom Jesus Christ called “the father of the lie.”—John 8:44.

Answer 3

Nothing in the original Scriptures contradicts anything else in the original Scriptures. Purgatory/torment/hellfire are all pagan teachings, & totally out of harmony with anything the taught in the Scriptures. The fgact is that Jesus would never confuse or mislead his listeners, therefore we know that theaccount of the rich man & Lazarus is a parable.

Why You Can Trust the Bible :
- Does It Contradict Itself?
http://watchtower.org/library/t13/why_trust.htm

At Luke 16:22-26 in the account of “the rich man” and “Lazarus” , the language throughout is plainly parabolic & cannot be construed literally in view of all the preceding texts. Note, however, that “the rich man” is spoken of as being “buried” in Hades, giving further evidence that Hades means the common grave of mankind.

Answer 4

Our "loving" god does not certainly degree our overall performance. He does not care if we are good or evil, he basically cares which you agree for Jesus. you would be a spiteful lady, and in case you have self assurance which you're following the bible and you're doing each and every thing bible says to do, you're stored. regrettably all Christianities disagree as to what bible tells you to do... some think of getting wealthy is a sin (jesus gave up all possessions) , others think of getting wealthy isn't. some care approximately existence on the earth, some thoroughly dismiss it as basically a stepping stone for existence in heaven. etc... So it somewhat is in contrast to Christians agree in this the two. they have the "marvelous" actuality in front of them, yet a technique or the different won't be able to agree on any of it. isn't smart whilst they declare recommendations like "marvelous" morality, provided that they are divided into many "relative" fashions, and brazenly disagree between themselves.

Answer 5

There was a monk called Dhama who had been sitting before the rock for 9 years, no moving, no drinking, no eating, no breathing, no heart beating. One had punched in a pin in his body. 9 years later, there was a dicipline came to him for dharma, he woke up. The pin drifted out and started breathe, heart beated, this is called tantra yoga. Do you think he was died and alive? My wife's grand father waken up 7 days after his death and married my wife's grandmom. This is a false die visual. Human being still empty with dyeing and alive. There is no way to proof one die or alive but for majority is good. Abnormal situation is still existing.

Answer 6

I agree whole-heartedly with primoa1970! Our physical bodies are just a temporary dwelling for us. if we believe in Christs' atoning sacrifice, then our eternal souls will rest in Heaven with God one day.

Answer 7

Christians- Do you believe in "soul sleep"?



NOPE.

Answer 8

Where did you pick up that term? You obviously don't know what you're talking about.

Answer 9

I don't believe in souls.