Is it anywhere in the Bible 'the death of the righteous is like a sleep'?

Answer 1

Contrary to the false religions in the world, that teach about an "immortal soul that doesn't die, but goes on living forever in some other place and/or form]... God's Divinely-revealed Word actually reveals that "death in general" [for the good and bad alike] is referred to as "SLEEPING."

A dormant, dreamless, undisturbed, unconscious SLEEP: from which each of us shall one day awaken [in our own time and order] in a "future resurrection" to Judgment at the Last Great Day of God's plan.

"For since by man came death, by man came also the RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD. For as in Adam all die, even so IN CHRIST SHALL ALL BE MADE ALIVE. But EVERY MAN IN HIS OWN ORDER: Christ the Firstfruits; AFTERWARD they that are Christ's[when? immediately when they die? No...] AT HIS COMING." (I Cor.15:21-23 KJV)

The false religions of the world teach "NOT DYING," but "living on and going to some other place like heaven or hell" and consciously living on in some other form; usually enjoying or suffering [as the case may be] some sort of eternally blissful or excruciating PHYSICAL [not spiritual] DELIGHT or PUNISHMENT.

But The Bible teaches SLEEPING.

"For the living know that they shall die: but THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANY THING... for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, IN THE GRAVE, WHITHER THOU GOEST." (Eccle.9:5 & 10 KJV)

False religious teachings about "dead people looking down on their loved ones on earth from heaven" IS NOT BIBLICAL. Nor, if this were followed to its logical conclusion; should the "living-dead person" resting on some kind of heavenly cloud look down on their loved ones who happen to be in great pain, suffering, being murdered, diseased, etc -- would this kind of heaven really be such a great place to live forever?

So, the Bible teaches death to be SLEEPING!

"So David SLEPT with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David." (I Kings 2:10 KJV)

"Then David DIED and was buried in the City of David." (same verse NLT New Living Translation)

So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, THEY SHALL NOT AWAKE, nor be raised OUT OF THEIR SLEEP. O that thou wouldest HIDE ME IN THE GRAVE, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past [the time of Christ's return], that thou wouldest appoint me A SET TIME [the time of the order of my resurrection; emphasis, mine], and remember me!

"If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait TILL MY CHANGE COME [see I Cor.15:51]. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands... [Judgment Day]... dost thou not watch over my sin? My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity [this is the Mercy and Forgiveness of God in the Judgment; same passage, NLT: '...My sins would be sealed in a pouch, and You would cover over my iniquity.']." (Job 14:12-17 KJV)

According to the Bible... "death is an unconscious sleep" FOR EVERYONE, no matter who you are, "righteous or evil."

Jesus told His disciples: "...our friend Lazarus SLEEPETH; but I go, that I may AWAKE HIM OUT OF SLEEP. Then said His disciples, 'LORD, if he SLEEP, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of HIS DEATH: but they thought that He had spoken of taking rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them PLAINLY, 'LAZARUS IS DEAD.'"

"...He [Jesus] was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some ARE FALLEN ASLEEP [have died]." (I Cor.15:6 KJV)

"...if Christ be not raised, your Faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also WHICH ARE FALLEN ASLEEP in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have Hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the Firstfruits of THEM THAT SLEPT." (verses 17-20)

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, but we shall ALL BE CHANGED. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this MORTAL [not 'immortal soul'] must PUT ON IMMORTALITY." (verses 51-53)

So, contrary to modern teaching by the false religions in the world... the Bible reveals that DEAD PEOPLE REALLY DO DIE! They're SLEEPING the unconscious "sleep of the dead" [as the saying goes]. All the dead await the return of Jesus Christ; at which time, those who died with their Faith and Hopes placed in Him shall experience the FIRST RESURRECTION from the dead:

"Blessed and Holy is he that hath part in the FIRST RESURRECTION: on such the SECOND DEATH hath no power, but they shall be Priests of God [the Father] and of Christ, and shall reign WITH HIM a thousand years.

The "sleep" of death isn't limited to the Righteous. All who die are "asleep."