- You know that is what Jesus Christ could have said that day long ago when He stood outside the tomb of the recently deceased Lazarus, and said, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps.” (See John 11:11). He could have said, “The Aztecss sleep!” The Mayan civilization of Mesoamerica dates back to roughly two thousand years before the time of Christ! Of course, He could also have said, “the Babylonians sleep,” or “the ancient pharaohs of Egypt sleep.” And today someone could quite scripturally say, “The Aztecs sleep,” or “My grandparents sleep.”
Haven’t you ever homed in on the Bible language that is used when one of its writers refers to the dead? “So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David” (See I Kings 12:10). “And Joash slept with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat upon his throne” (See 2 Kings 13:`13). “And they stoned Stephen (as he was) calling upon God, and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, ‘Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” (See Acts 7:59-60).
- Many preachers today seem to think that 60th verse would be better translated, “And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, ‘Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.’ And when he had said this he went to be with Jesus,” or “he went on to glory,” or “he then went to heaven.” Have you ever noticed that when the Bible speaks of the dead it uses but one of two terms, saying they are either dead or asleep? This is true with all of the prophets, who speak of the dead, as well as all of the writing apostles, who mention the dead, as well as being true of Jesus Christ Himself when He refers to the dead. No other terminology is ever used. The inspired writers of scripture say that they are either “dead” or “asleep.”If one is more vibrantly alive immediately after they breathe their last breath than they ever were while alive in the flesh, why does the Holy Spirit consistently and always inspire the bible writers to refer to them as being A) dead, or B) asleep??? Rather curious, wouldn’t you say? To be continued……
- Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
- Donald Wiley
