THE STATE OF DEPARTED SAINTS

We may think of departed saints in three ways according to scripture. As dead, as having fallen asleep, as living in a state of rest and peace and happiness with Christ. As to their bodies they are dead, that needs no explanation. Then they are said to be asleep; this too applies to their bodily condition. Sleep is a passing condition, a person goes to sleep to wake up again. Thus it is a state of rest. When a saint falls asleep all his activities, exercises, labours, conflict, suffering, all is over, he is at rest. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord ... they ... rest from their labours”, Rev 14: 13. Again, sleep is a state of unconsciousness. The saint in falling asleep has become unconscious to his former bodily condition, and the circumstances attaching to it, and to all that belongs to this world; as to all these things he sleeps. But he is not asleep to Christ and heavenly things; to Christ he lives. He is not asleep in his spirit. If it were a state of sleep, the apostle could not have said, “to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better”, Phil 1: 23. The Lord could say to the dying thief, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise”, Luke 23: 43. It is a state of undisturbed restful enjoyment of all that the presence of Christ involves, “In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore”, Ps 16: 11.

From Goodly Words vol 6 (1928)