Conditionalists dare to call death what the Bible calls it: a sleep.
Death as Sleep
Popping off, croaking, buying the farm, pushing up daisies, biting the big one, kicking the bucket, assuming room temperature, … these are some of the more colourful euphemisms for death. Not a one of them is found in the Bible. But, interestingly enough, there are a number of popular euphemisms for death that people think are in the Bible, but they are not: The Bible does not call death going home, going to be with the Lord, going to one’s reward, or going to heaven.
Instead, the Bible consistently uses a metaphor for death that is deemed neither socially or theologically appropriate among evangelicals. It calls death a sleep. But if a conditionalist slips up and actually refers to the dead as sleeping, judging from the reaction among traditionalists, you would think that he had shot God.
Nevertheless, it would do us all well to return to biblical terminology and jettison these traditions that keep us from using it. The biblical authors knew what they were talking about. The Holy Spirit inspired them to write words which expressed the way things really are. It is not their fault that the popular church has chosen to see and say things differently.
The full transcript can be found on Jefferson’s site: Read More
About Jefferson Vann
Jefferson Vann pastors Piney Grove Advent Christian Church in Delco, North Carolina, USA. He is a teacher, Bible translator, and avid blogger. "My hope is that everyone who reads my writings will have an opportunity to understand the gospel, and will know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior." He has written books on theology and Bible commentary. You can read more of Jeff's writing at Devotions | Jefferson Vann | Commands of Christ | Learning Koine Greek Together
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