Replies

And likewise imperfect Paul, (Philippians 3:13) who attested that to be absent from the body was to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:7; cf. Philippians 1:23)

‘to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord’ Sorry; but IS TO BE is not found among any of the following translations... 2 Corinthians 5:8

Sorry, but I did not place my statement is to be present with the Lord’ in quotes, but was stating what was being taught, as being either/or juxtaposition, absent from the body or present with the Lord, versus an interminable time in RC Purgatory, or in your case, soul sleep. Instead, like as the contrite criminal in Lk. 23,only two conditions, two realities are set forth here, with being present with the Lord, not sleeping, being what Paul prefers over being present with his flock.

There is nothing in the Greek that even suggest any interim period here, and reading that into is contrary to the two conditions that are set in contrast. None of your translations reads anything like, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be sleeping in the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8)

8We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
The KJV translates Strong's G2532 in the following manner: and (8,173x), also (514x), even (108x), both (43x), then (20x), so (18x), likewise (13x), not tr. (350x), miscellaneous (31x), variations of 'and' (1x).

Likewise, reading soul sleep in Philippians 1:23 means it should read something like: "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to sleep for until Christ comes and then finally be with Him; which is far better," which is contrast to the either/or immediate sense. At least you would not have it read, having a desire to depart, and to Purgatory and later finally be with Christ, which is far better. (Philippians 1:23)

As for more debate on soul sleep, I responded to you on this a while back, but I do not know when.

As for more debate on soul sleep, I responded to you on this a while back, but I do not know when.

Here's what I've found in Scripture.

Daniel 12:2
Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

1 Thessalonians 4:13
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52
Listen, I tell you a mystery:

We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.

For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Looks like Scripture disagrees with the claim that believers who have died are in heaven RIGHT NOW; doesn't it!

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 King James Version (KJV)

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Dead in Christ?

Many folks say the 'in Christ' folks are already in Heaven.

Then what's this RAISING that is being bandied about here?