When the Bible says that the person is
Richard D. Phillipssleeping,it is distinguishing between a Christian’s experience in death and that of others, for whom death is really death in the fullness and truth of death. Let me give an example. In 1 Thessalonians 4:14, Paul mentions the death of Jesus Christ, and he does not say that Jesusslept,because our Lord Jesus died on the cross and experienced all that death really is. He was fully under the wrath of God. Jesus did not sleep, but he truly and fully died. And that is what Paul said:Jesus died.But then, in John 11:1–57, for instance, when Jesus was talking about his friend Lazarus—there is a man who had died in Christ. There is a man whose sins were forgiven by the death Jesus would suffer. There is a man whose salvation was assured. And in that case, Jesus said—so common for believers—Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.What a metaphor that is for all the eschatology we are taught in the Bible:My friend,Jesus said,has fallen asleep, but I am coming to awaken him(John 11:11).1
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.