The Truth About the Doctrine of “Soul Sleep” Series #1

Daniel 12:2-3 - “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

This was Daniel's prophecy about the resurrection of the saved and the resurrection of the unsaved. In the scheme of the future plan of God, these two events are to occur separately, separated by a space of 1,700 years. Another description being mistakenly interpreted in this passage is the doctrine that upon death, the “soul sleeps.” 

The misinterpretation of these passages would create doubt and question the veracity of the Holy Scriptures. It is important to look at the whole Bible and compare scripture with another scripture. The Bible has the power to interpret itself through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Rules of Interpretation:

1. Interpret the Scripture with another scripture - It is against the rules of hermeneutics to draw a conclusion or establish a doctrinal truth based on a single passage, without considering the Bible as a whole. 

2. Consider the progression of the revelation. There is a declaration of a revelation that is incomplete. It means that the disclosure is done progressively. Before we form a conclusion, we need to consider the development of the revelation, moving forward. 

3. Compare the subsequent declaration with what preceded. The rule states that the subsequent revelation supersedes the preceding declaration. 

4. The Bible is the Word of God. As such, like God, it is considered true and credible. Since it is from God, He cannot contradict Himself. It must behoove us to carefully search the Scriptures and study it as a whole before coming up with a dogmatic position. 

We have a God of order who has planned out everything orderly and perfectly, according to His will. It is impossible for God to declare a revelation not in agreement with the next. It does not mean, however, that God changes His mind for He is immutable. 

If there is an apparent discrepancy, it is because of the incompleteness of the revelation given to each writer. Every writer received the revelation, in part; a piece at a time. They each looked from a different perspective that another writer could not see. 

Although we greatly appreciate the authors of systematic theology, we need to always depend on the Holy Spirit for clarity and better understanding. The Word of God is a supernatural book and cannot be understood by our natural mind. We need the mind of God. It is my conviction that the Bible was given to the believers where the Holy Spirit resides permanently. Without His indwelling presence, the Bible will never make sense. 

1. “Soul sleep”

All of the writers of the Scriptures did not fully understand all what they had written. They were chosen to record in written form what God wanted to reveal. Their main responsibility was to reveal what God had disclosed to them. Daniel here referred to death as “sleep.” I am sure he wrote that through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. A similar rendition and meaning is given in the following that made clear the meaning of sleep, which is death.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 - “But 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.”

To understand the phrase, “that sleep in the dust,” we need to consider the following biblical truths:

1. Man’s soul is eternal and always conscious. It does not sleep. Sleep only involves the body, when tired. Ecclesiastes 12:7

2. Physical death is a separation of the soul from the body, hence the body turns back to the dust, where God formed us from. The soul goes straight to its eternal destiny. James 2:26

3. It is appointed unto man once to die (physically) and after this the judgment (eternal life or eternal death or separation). 2 Corinthians 5:8

4. Upon the return of Christ, the body that sleeps in the ground will God raise to be reconciled with his soul. Resurrection is the waking up of the body. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16.

Conclusion:

It is perfectly clear from all the supporting verses that once a person (saved or not), dies, his body goes back to the dust. It “sleeps” until the resurrection while the soul goes straight to its eternal destination. The believer goes to heaven, a place of everlasting life and the unbeliever goes to hell, a place of eternal death. 

Daniel saw here man’s destiny, depending on his relationship with God through, Jesus, His Sin. I trust that if you are reading this devotion and you are not saved, you will put your trust in Jesus to be saved and be assured of the glorious eternity with Jesus Christ.