Revelation 20:11-15 (NIV) Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
John 11:11 (NIV) After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
Psalms 13:3 (NIV) Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
Psalms 104:29 (NIV) When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 (NIV) For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten. Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun.
Psalms 146:4 (NIV) When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Job 17:13 (NIV) If the only home I hope for is the grave, if I spread out my bed in the realm of darkness,
Job 14:1-2 (NIV) “Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble. They spring up like flowers and wither away; like fleeting shadows, they do not endure.
Ephesians 5:14 (NIV) This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Daniel 12:2 (NIV) Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Understanding the Second Resurrection is critical to grasping the concept regarding the Biblical term “sleep”. The Second Resurrection, which can be found in Revelation 20:11-15, states “the dead” are “judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” One of the books this passage refers to is the book of life which includes information about you and your life. If you are not familiar with the phrase Second Resurrection, it is because you probably know it as Judgment Day! This is the day we get judged according to what we had done and those whose name are “not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” While those whose name is found in the book of life receive the gift of eternal life (ref. John 3:16). Apparently, Judgement Day does not occur immediately after we die, as many believe. Instead, the dead will be gathered in a single location and each person will be judged. I know this concept is contradictory to what many believe, but the Second Resurrection is clearly explained in God’s Word.
So, what happens when you die? Daniel 12:2 states “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel says, “multitudes who sleep…will awake” and will then be judged “some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” This scripture mirrors John's explanation of the Second Resurrection in Revelation confirming the “dead” will gather and each person will be judged for what they had done.
Okay, so it does seem like we all “sleep” after death until the Second Resurrection waiting for judgment. So, what does Ecclesiastes say about what we remember during “sleep”? Chapter 9, verse 5 through 6 states, “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten. Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun.” This seems to explain why multiple scriptures in the Bible refer to death as “sleep” because “the dead know nothing” and they have even forgotten their name. Verse 6 goes as far to say, “never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun.” So, according to verse 6 the loved ones we have lost, our friends who have passed and all the saints are sleeping and completely unaware of what is going on earth or in our lives? Heaven is currently empty!?!? This epiphany is counter to everything we have been taught. Is this the case? It seems to be. Wow! What a revelation.
I know this can be overwhelming, but feel free to read the scripture again. Church doctrine may say one thing, but God’s Word is always final. As you study, please be sure to refer to John 11:11 about Jesus losing his friend Lazarus. Jesus says, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” Jesus must “wake him up” because “Lazarus has fallen asleep.” Jesus does not say he has to go to heaven to ask Lazarus to return to earth. We sleep, without conscience, until the Second Resurrection!
