By Maria Merola אריאל © Copyright Double Portion Inheritance, August 2002-2023
Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Messiah.
What kind of gift did our Messiah, Yahuwshuwa give his followers when he died for us on the tree? Was it a 2,000-year-long dirt nap, while the worms eat our flesh? What kind of gift would that be?
Does our Soul Sleep in the Grave When We Die?
Why did our Messiah say concerning Jairus’s daughter that she is “not dead,” but only sleeping? I can only offer one of two explanations. I believe it is possible that she was unconscious or in a coma, but not dead yet. However, that is unlikely.
The other explanation, is that it was not time for her to die yet, therefore, the term “sleeping” was a way of letting them know that her condition was not a permanent one, for he knew that she was going to be raised from the dead, or in other words “awakened” or resurrected!
Mark 5:39 And when he was come in, he said unto them, Why make you this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleeps.
Luke 8:52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleeps.
There are a few other examples in Scripture of people who had died, but they are also described as sleeping:
Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
John 11:11 These things said he: and after that he said unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleeps; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
1st Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Yahuwshuwa died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Yahuwshuwa will Elohiym bring with him.
Once again, in all of the above passages, these righteous souls are not meant to be dead forever. In Revelation 20:6, we read about the unrighteous souls experiencing “the second death,” which is spiritual, and permanent.
John 8:52 Then said the Yahuwdiym (Jews) unto him, Now we know that you have a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and you say, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
Why would our Messiah make the outlandish claim that we shall “never taste death” if we keep his word? Because he was not speaking about a physical death, he was speaking about spiritual death, which is described in Revelation 20:6 as “the second death.”
YaHuWaH warned Adam & Eve that if they ate of “the tree of knowledge of good and evil” that they would die in that same day:
Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.
YaHuWaH told them that they would die on the very same day that they ate of this forbidden fruit. But they did not die physically after eating of the tree. They did not drop-dead on the spot. This can only mean one thing. Yah was speaking of “spiritual death,” aka “the second death.”
Now we understand what he meant when he said that those who keep his words “shall never taste of death.” He was telling us that we would “never taste spiritual death or the second death!”
What a wonderful promise that our Messiah gave us, that we should never taste spiritual death! Therefore, our soul and spirit being one, as our “neshema” it is impossible for us to experience soul sleep. The only thing that dies is our mortal body!
John 11:26 And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Believe you this?
This goes right along with what Shaul (Paul) wrote:
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Adam & Eve became carnally-minded when they disobeyed and ate of the forbidden tree. Thus, they forfeited their spiritual mind, which leads to life. With our spiritual mind we serve the Torah (the instructions) of our Creator. But with our flesh, we serve a different law, called “The law of sin and death,” (Romans 8:2).
Romans 7:25 I thank Elohiym through Yahuwshuwa Mashiyach our Master. So then with the mind I myself serve the Torah (law) of Elohiym; but with the flesh the law of sin.
1st Corinthians 2:16 For who has known the mind of YHWH, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Messiah.
The idea of “soul sleep” is a construct of the Seventh Day Adventists, and it is not supported by the entire counsel of Scripture.
To fully understand what “soul sleep” would mean for us, we should look at the Hebrew definition for “soul.” There are two Hebrew words for soul:
#5315 nephesh neh'-fesh from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, soul.
#5397 nshamah nesh-aw-maw' from 5395; a puff, i.e. wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect. or (concretely) an animal:--blast, (that) breath(-eth), inspiration, soul, spirit.
In both of these definitions, we see that it means “A breathing creature!” But a dead person has stopped breathing! We see a glaring contradiction, here. How can a dead person continue to breathe?
Genesis 2:7 And YHWH Elohiym formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
The phrase “living soul” in Hebrew is “chay nephesh,” which means “A living, breathing creature!” Therefore, the idea of “soul-sleep” is an oxymoron, because a dead person is no longer breathing.
When our Messiah died on the cross, it says that he “gave up his spirit!” In other words, his spirit and soul (neshema) left his body!
The King James Version uses the word “ghost,” which has the definition in Greek of the word “spirit.”
Luke 23:46 And when Yahuwshuwa had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
The Greek word for “spirit,” is as follows:
#4151. pneuma pnyoo'-mah from 4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit:--ghost, life. Compare 5590.
#5590. psuche psoo-khay' from 5594; breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from 4151, which is the rational and immortal soul.
In Luke 23:16, the King James Version uses the word “ghost,” which is a different word than “spirit,” (#4151).
The English word “ghost,” means the following:
#1606 ekpneō to breathe out, breathe out one’s life, breathe one’s last, expire.
In other words, our Messiah was sending his spirit (ruwach) back to the Father, as “the breath of life” was leaving him! Therefore, to claim that a “rational soul,” can still be breathing after death, defies the very definition of what it means to be dead.
Death means that one’s spirit and soul (neshema) has left their body, and they have gone back to the Father in heaven.
It only “appears” that they are sleeping, (but they are not), because their soul and spirit have departed, and their body is merely an empty shell.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit (ruwach) shall return unto Elohiym who gave it.
Abraham’s Bosom
In Luke 16:19-31, our Messiah told a true account of Lazarus, Abraham, & the rich man, and all three of them were conscious, aware, and able to communicate with one another.
Some people will argue that the story of Lazarus and the rich man is only a parable. However, when our Messiah taught in parables, he never mentioned real people. He began his parables by speaking about a fictitious character. As an example, he would say something like “There was a certain man...”
However in the story of Lazarus, he mentioned Abraham, Moses, Lazarus, and the rich man. If our Messiah was telling a fictitious story, we would have to accuse him of being a tale-bearer, and bearing false witness about these real-life characters. Obviously, our Messiah would never have spoken falsehoods about Abraham & Moses.
You see, only the body decays in the dirt, but our spirit and soul (neshema) goes immediately to be with YaHuWaH in Paradise!
And where exactly is Paradise?
There are only three places in Scripture, where the word “paradise” is used, and in all three instances, it is obviously speaking about the third heaven at the throne of Elohiym.
Our Messiah told the thief next to him on the cross, that he would be joining him that very same day in paradise, which is at the throne in heaven:
Luke 23:43 And Yahuwshuwa said unto him, Verily I say unto you, Today shall you be with me in paradise.
And how do we know that paradise, is at the throne of Elohiym in heaven? The Apostle Shaul (Paul) tells us about a man who as caught up to “The third heaven,” which is the same place that is referred to as “paradise.”
2nd Corinthians 12:2 I knew a man in Messiah above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: Elohiym knows;) such a one caught up to the third heaven.
2nd Corinthians 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: Elohiym knows;)
2nd Corinthians 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
And finally, we learn from the revelation that our Messiah gave to the Apostle Yahuwchanon (John) that only those who overcome the world, will eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of paradise, aka heaven:
Revelation 2:7 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the assemblies; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of Elohiym.
2nd Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from YHWH:
2nd Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight:
2nd Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with YHWH.
Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of Elohiym, and for the testimony which they held:
Revelation 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O YHWH, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Revelation 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Revelation 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our Elohiym which sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Post-crucifixion qodeshiym (saints) are brought before the throne in heaven as his “FIRST-FRUITS WAVE SHEAF OFFERING!”
That’s why it says the following in Ephesians 4:
Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he said, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
*Explanation: Who was in captivity, and who did he give gifts to?
In Luke 16:22, we are told that all righteous souls (Pre-crucifixion) went to a place called ABRAHAM’S BOSOM, which is in the Lower Parts of the Earth!
What kind of gift did he give to those in Abraham’s Bosom?
If you keep on reading, it says that he “DESCENDED FIRST” to the lower parts of the earth (Abraham’s Bosom).
Then, he “ASCENDED UP FAR ABOVE ALL HEAVENS,” which is what Scripture calls “The Third Heaven,” aka “Paradise!”
Ephesians 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Ephesians 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
What things did Messiah fulfill?
Leviticus 23:20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the FIRST-FRUITS FOR A WAVE OFFERING before YHWH, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to YHWH for the priest.
Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, WHICH HAVE THE FIRST-FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION, THE REDEMPTION OF THE BODY.
Ya’aqob (James) 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of FIRST-FRUITS of his creatures.
Pre-crucifixion qodeshiym (saints) went to Abraham’s Bosom upon death (in the lower parts of the earth).
Why did Messiah descend into the lower parts of the earth?
To redeem all those righteous souls that were in captivity in Abraham’s Bosom! (Luke 16:22).
That is the gift he gave us, which is Eternal Life with him in Paradise!
Often times, people like to cite this passage as so-called proof that “Nobody goes to heaven.”
Yahuwchanon (John) 3:13 And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
This passage is telling us that nobody has BODILY ASCENDED YET!
How do we know that is what John 3:13 is conveying?
The context of John 3:13 is better understood, when reading the previous verses of John 3:1-12.
The interaction that took place between our Messiah and Nicodemus was BEFORE the resurrection, and our Messiah was explaining that up until that point “no man” had ascended into heaven yet!
Yahuwchanon (John) 3:
3 Yahuwshuwa answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of Elohiym.
4 Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Yahuwshuwa answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of Elohiym.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Ruwach (Spirit) is ruwach (spirit).
*Explanation: our Messiah is making a distinction here between being born physically, (via the water in the amniotic sack of a womb), and being born spiritually from above (from heaven).
Yahuwchanon (John) 3:
7 Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again.
8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound thereof, but can not tell where it comes, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Ruwach (Spirit).
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Yahuwshuwa answered and said unto him, Are you a master of Yisrael, and know not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto you, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and you receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Yahuwshuwa was explaining to Nicodemus the difference between being born naturally into this world, and being born spiritually from above. This is the reason why he explained to Nicodemus that “NO MAN HAD ASCENDED YET INTO HEAVEN!”
Moving forward, our Messiah was going to DESCEND into the lower parts of the earth (following his death on the tree), and he would then bring those righteous souls from Abraham’s Bosom up to the THIRD HEAVEN (Paradise), before the throne as his “FIRST FRUITS WAVE-SHEAF OFFERING!”
In 1st Corinthians 15:44, we are told that there is “A NATURAL BODY & A SPIRITUAL BODY.”
The spiritual body that we receive upon death houses our spirit and soul (neshama), until that future event, when all those who died in Messiah will be given a permanent, incorruptible, glorified body.
Here is the Hebrew word for the spirit and soul:
#H5397 nshamah nesh-aw-maw' from 5395; a puff, i.e. wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect or (concretely) breath, inspiration, soul, spirit.
Therefore, the spiritual body that followers of Messiah receive upon death, is only a temporary one (which houses our neshama), until that future day, when the bride of Messiah corporately receives “The redemption of the body” (Romans 8:23).
Examples for use of the word “neshama” can be found in the creation account, when YaHuWaH breathed into the nostrils of mankind, giving him breath:
Bereshiyth (Genesis) 2:7 And YHWH Elohiym formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [neshama]; and man became a living soul [chay nephesh].
Bereshiyth (Genesis) 7:22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of life [neshama], of all that was in the dry land, died.
Yechezqel (Ezekiel) 37:1-14 bears this out, because we are told that when the corporate bride of Messiah is brought up from their graves, they will be given “New skin, flesh, and bones!”
So what is a “spiritual body?”
Our spiritual body houses our neshama—our soul and spirit, (upon death), until that future event known in Ezekiel 37, as “The Valley of the Dry Bones.”
This is when our spirit and soul (neshema) will join our new glorified bodies!
In the meantime, our neshama is being held by a temporary, spiritual body in heaven.
Post-Crucifixion, when an unbeliever dies, he goes immediately to the torment side of Hades aka “Sheol or Hell.”
At the final judgment, Sheol (Hades or Hell) will be emptied before “The Great White Throne,” where its occupants will be judged prior to entering the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:13–15).
On the other hand, when a believer in Messiah dies today, (Post-Crucifixion), he is “ABSENT FROM THE NATURAL BODY, AND PRESENT WITH YaHuWaH” in heaven (2nd Corinthians 5:6–9).
There, he joins those who were redeemed by our Messiah from Abraham’s Bosom, as they are given “The First-fruits of the Spirit...until the redemption of the body!” (Romans 8:23).
A resurrection awaits everyone—either a resurrection to eternal life or a resurrection to “Shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2).
Scripture clearly states that Post-Crucifixion believers who have died, will have their bodies resurrected at the event we call the “Harpazo” (Post-Tribulation Rapture), aka the catching away of the bride (1st Thessalonians 4:16–17).
Both the Pre-Crucifixion & Post-Crucifixion followers of Yah will be joined to their glorified, immortal bodies at the end of the tribulation period, when Yahuwshuwa returns to earth to set up his millennial kingdom (Isaiah 26:19; Hosea 13:14).
But their neshema (soul/spirit) will be awaiting the redemption of their bodies in Paradise before the throne (Revelation 6:9-11 & 7:9-17).
When Did Our Messiah Ascend to the Father?
Some people have cited the fact that when Mary visited the tomb (on the first day of the week), she was instructed not to touch Yahuwshuwa, because he had not yet ASCENDED to the Father.
John 20:17 Yahuwshuwa said unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my Elohiym, and your Elohiym.
However, if we keep on reading, we learn that he did allow the Apostle Thomas to touch him eight days later:
John 20:
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Yahuwshuwa (Jesus) came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen YHWH. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Yahuwshuwa (Jesus), the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then said he to Thomas, Reach here your finger, and behold my hands; and reach here your hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My YHWH and my Elohiym.
What we learn from the above verses, is that sometime during that first day of the week, (which was the Day of First Fruits), our Messiah had ascended to the Father to bring those righteous souls from Abraham’s Bosom as his FIRST FRUITS WAVE OFFERING!
He had already DESCENDED into the lower parts of the earth during his THREE DAYS & THREE NIGHTS in the heart of the earth. During this time, he was there to preach the good news to those righteous souls that were being held there.
Many of these righteous souls were seen alive walking around, indicating that they had been resurrected from the dead:
Matthew 27:50 Yahuwshuwa, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the spirit.
Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks were split;
Matthew 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the qodeshiym (saints) which slept arose,
Matthew 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
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