What The Bible Says About Soul Sleep

(Text: Matthew 22:31-32)
By: Barry L. Cameron


Some denominations teach “soul sleep” – that the soul just sleeps until the resurrection of the body.

Is this true?

Luke 16:19-31 shows that neither the soul of Lazarus nor the soul of the rich man was asleep. Lazarus was comforted. The rich man was tormented. (Both were conscious of what was going on.)

Hebrews 12:1 tells us we’re surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses” referring primarily to the people mentioned in the 11th chapter and secondarily to all deceased saints. (They could hardly be witnesses to something if they were in a state of sleep.)

Matthew 22:31-32 Jesus quotes from Exodus 3:6 and then says, “God is the God of the Living.” (Jesus was talking to the Saducees who did not believe in any resurrection and believed their soul had no more consciousness after death.)

* There is no such thing as “soul sleep.”

The Bible clearly teaches that immediately, upon death, we go to be with the Lord. (II Corinthians 5:7)