Hello Gabriel,
The references to someone sleeping, i.e. the death of the body, is always referring to the body and not the soul/spirit.
It is your opinion that it ALWAYS refers to the body, else show the Scriptures that supports what you are teaching now. The body when dead, is dead, and rot, and turn to dust again, the flesh does not sleep. But the spirit that is in a person does or does not sleep. Because the spirit that is in a person can't die, that spirit will either live forever in Heaven or live forever separated from God.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
When does the Christian Spirit return to God, ON JUDGEMENT DAY. The Day that the Books are opened, and the dead spirits that are sleeping will rise first. The rest of the dead restless spirits will not return to God until the Great White Throne Judgement to be Judged and cast into hell fire.
Luk 8:53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
So then her flesh was dead, not alive. And her spirit returned to the girls body and then she lived. Flesh without the spirit is dead flesh. The Spirit can't be killed nor can it die. that spirit (NOT THE FLESH) will inherit everlasting life or everlasting punishment, one or the other. True Christians who die, their flesh will return to dust, and expire, but their spirit will sleep until Resurrection Day (Rapture)
We have plenty of examples of the conscious awareness of the spirit after death to show that the spirit is not unconscious after death.
True Christian spirits SLEEP, All others do not sleep. Conscious awareness of the spirit after death is by them how are NOT SLEEPING in Christ.
Both Philippians 1:22-23 and II Cor.5:6 state that when the righteous die, their spirit departs from the body and goes to be in the presence of the Lord awaiting the resurrection.
Now lets look at what those verses actually says, and not what Ahwatukee thinks they say.
Php 1:22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Does anyone else see where this says the dead go to be with Jesus immediately after death? It does not say that at all, nor does it even imply that is the TRUTH. This verse is specifically talking about how the Apostle FEELS. i have a desire to be with Christ too. i have a desire to die right now and to be with Christ, does that mean because that is MY DESIRE, that when i die i immediately go to be with Jesus? Really because i desire to be with Christ that means i will be when i die? You do error not understand the context of the above verse. What it actually says is the Apostle saying "i would rather die and be with Christ" it does not say what you are saying that when a person dies, they immediately go to be with Jesus Christ. Can you not see how your interpretations of the Word of God are in error, this is but one example of it. You teach the sheep that when they die they immediately go to be with Jesus in Heaven, and then use a verse to back up that false doctrine which does not in any way whatsoever teach that nonsense, but you teach it as TRUTH. There is ONLY ONE DAY that will determine who is going to Heaven and who is not going to Heaven, and that is Judgment Day when the Book of Life is opened and if your name is found there then and ONLY THEN, are you going to be with Jesus for ever and ever.
let look at the next verse that YOU reference to mean when you die you immediately go to Heaven to be with Jesus.
2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, 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 confident, I say, and willing RATHER to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Yet again we see how YOU interpret the Word of God. This verse does not teach what you teach
when the righteous die, their spirit departs from the body and goes to be in the presence of the Lord
neither one of the verses which you refer to teaches what you say here. NOT ONE OF THEM. But Your interpretations see what you see don't they. Again, you teach something that is YOUR OPINION, and then use Scriptures to back up that opinion, which the very Scriptures you use, DON'T back it up at all. sigh . .. . ...
We also have the event of the rich man and Lazarus demonstrating that two men had died and yet their spirits were conscious and aware in Sheol, Lazarus and Abraham being in that place of comfort and the rich man being in torment across from them - Luke 16:19-31
If it reads like a parable, sounds like a parable, acts like a parable, in the midst of all the other parables, Don't you know it is a parable, or has your interpretation convinced you it is a TRUE event?
Which one of the following is a parable and which one is a True event?
There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard
There was a certain creditor which had two debtors:
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple
There was a certain rich man, which had a steward
The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard;
A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
A certain man had two sons:
A certain nobleman went into a far country
ALL these are PARABLES.
A few websites that talk about this can be found at the following:
Can't be literal 1
Can't be Literal 2
Can't be Literal 3
True Meaning of the Lazarus Parable
A wise person would study the websites that reveal both sides, and then determine which one is more Scripturally True.
Ahwatukee, Still waiting to hear from you about Zechariah chapter 14 and where does that fit into your interpretations?
^i^
††† In His Holy and Precious Name, Jesus Christ †††
DiscipleDave