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show no marked improvement during the first hundred years, they will be annihilated. If in that
period they give evidence of some amendment of life, their probation will continue, but only to
end in annihilation, if they remain impenitent. There is no hell, no place of eternal torment. The
doctrine of the sleep of soul seems to have a peculiar fascination for those who find it hard to
believe in a continuance of consciousness apart from the corporeal organism.
b. Supposed Scriptural warrant for this doctrine.
Scripture proof for this doctrine is found
especially in the following: (1) Scripture often represents death as a sleep, Matt. 9:24; Acts
7:60; I Cor. 15:51; I Thess. 4:13. This sleep, it is said, cannot be a sleep of the body, and
therefore must be a sleep of the soul. (2) Certain passages of Scripture teach that the dead are
unconscious, Ps. 6:5; 30:9; 115:17; 146:4; Eccl. 9:10; Isa. 38:18,19. This is contrary to the idea
that the soul continues its conscious existence. (3) The Bible teaches that the destinies of men
will be determined by a final judgment and will be a surprise to some. Consequently, it is
impossible to assume that the soul enters upon its destiny immediately after death, Matt.
7:22,23; 25:37-39,44; John 5:29; II Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:12 f. (4) None of those who were raised
from the dead have ever given any account of their experiences. This can best be understood
on the assumption that their souls were unconscious in their disembodied state.
c. Consideration of the arguments presented.
The preceding arguments may be answered as
follows in the order in which they were stated: (1) It should be noted that the Bible never says
that the soul falls asleep, nor that the body does so, but only the dying person. And this
Scriptural representation is simply based on the similarity between a dead body and a body
asleep. It is not unlikely that Scripture uses this euphemistic expression, in order to suggest to
believers the comforting hope of the resurrection. Moreover, death is a break with the life of
the world round about us, and in so far is a sleep, a rest. Finally, it should not be forgotten that
the Bible represents believers as enjoying a conscious life in communion with God and with
Jesus Christ immediately after death, Luke 16:19-31; 23:43; Acts 7:59; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; Rev.
6:9; 7:9; 20:4. (2) The passages which seem to teach that the dead are unconscious are clearly
intended to stress the fact that in the state of death man can no more take part in the activities
of this present world. Says Hovey: “The work of the artisan is arrested, the voice of the singer is
hushed, the scepter of the king falls. The body returns to the dust, and the praise of God in this
world ceases forever.” (3) It is sometimes represented as if man’s eternal destiny depends upon
a trial at the last day, but this is evidently a mistake. The day of judgment is not necessary to
reach a decision respecting the reward or punishment of each man, but only for the solemn
announcement of the sentence, and for the revelation of the justice of God in the presence of
men and angels. The surprise of which some of the passages give evidence pertains to the
ground on which the judgment rests rather than to the judgment itself. (4) It is true that we do
not read that any of those who were raised from the dead ever told anything about their