doulos,

As CovenantInGrace replied, the Scriptures know of no such thing as "soul sleep". A couple more references should help you see this, e.g.,


Luke 23:43 (ASV) "And he said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise."

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (ASV) "Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord (for we walk by faith, not by sight); we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord."



And William Hendriksen offers some further evidence that "soul sleep" is a man-made doctrine and counters it with even more proof that when the believer dies, the soul ascends to be in heaven with Christ.


The death of believers is often compared to sleep (Matt. 27:52; John 11:11-18; Acts 7:60; I Cor. 7:39; 15:6, 18; cf. “rest from their labors,” 1 14:18). The expression is based on Old Testament terminology with reference to death (Gen. 47:30; II Sam. 7:12). The comparison of death to sleep is particularly appropriate in implying not only rest from labor also the glorious awakening which believers expect on the other side. This falling asleep does not indicate an intermediate state of unconscious repose (soul-sleep). Though the soul is asleep to the world which it has left (Job 7:9, 10; Is. 63:16; Eccl. 9:6), it is awake with respect to its own world (Luke 16:19-31; 23:43; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21-23; Rev. 7:15-17; 20:4) For other beautiful and comforting words and phrases describing the death of believers see N.T.C. on John 11:11-13.

A fair inference from the present passage is that during the short period which had elapsed since the Thessalonians first heard the Gospel some believers had passed from this earthly scene. It was with reference to them that friends and relatives were deeply disturbed. In fact, they were so alarmed that Paul adds: in order that you do not grieve as do the rest, who have no hope.

William Hendriksen, NTC I and II Thessalonians (Baker: Grand Rapids, 1975) pp. 109, 110.


In His Grace,