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of purely normal sleep. The vast majority of times it is used to refer to what we call death, but always to the “death” of believers, and never to unbelievers. As the use of the word is traced through the New Testament, it can actually be seen to develop into a kind of technical term for the “death” of believers.
I think the reason for this is obvious. On the surface, death and sleep have some similarities, and a casual observer might mistake one for the other. The one great difference is that one is permanent and the other is not, and that is precisely the point. When the body of a Christian lies down in what we commonly refer to as death, it is temporary. God will one day reunite body, soul and spirit, that we may be complete in Him. No wonder He refers to it as “sleep!” No wonder Paul exhorts us to “sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” We do have hope (assurance) and it truly is a “blessed” hope!
Please feel free to contact us. You may write to the Sperryville Anabaptist Fellowship, P. 0. Box 248, Sperryville, VA. 22740 or phone us at (703) 368-4570 or (703) 896-3495. Ask for alien or Tom.
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