State of Dead

Over 59 time the Bible equates death to an unconscious sleep state, only definitive quote of going directly to Heaven or Hell is found in a parable (story) of rich man and Lazuras, Funny thing though REAL Lazarus event says 

John 11:11–14 (KJV):

"These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead."

This passage shows Jesus using "sleep" as a metaphor for death, which confused the disciples until he clarified.

🌅 Martha’s declaration about resurrection

John 11:23–24 (KJV):

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

List of all times Bible Equates Death to Unconscious sleep

💤 Metaphorical References: Death as Sleep

Old Testament

• Job 3:13 — “For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest.”.

• Job 7:21 — “For now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.”

• Job 14:12 — “So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.”

• Psalm 13:3 — “Lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.”

• Psalm 90:5 — “Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep.”

• Jeremiah 51:39 — “They shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.”

• Jeremiah 51:57 — “They shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.”

• Daniel 12:2 — “Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

New Testament

• Matthew 9:24 — “The maid is not dead, but sleepeth.”

• Mark 5:39 — “The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.”

• Luke 8:52 — “Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.”

• John 11:11-14 — “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth… Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.”

• Acts 7:60 — “And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

• Acts 13:36 — “David… fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers.”

• 1 Corinthians 11:30 — “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”

• 1 Corinthians 15:6 — “Some are fallen asleep.”

• 1 Corinthians 15:18 — “Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.”

• 1 Corinthians 15:20 — “Christ… become the firstfruits of them that slept.”

• 1 Corinthians 15:51 — “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.”

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 — “Concerning them which are asleep… them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

• 2 Peter 3:4 — “Since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were.”

🧬 Genealogical Formula: “Slept with His Fathers”

This phrase is repeated throughout the historical books for kings and patriarchs. Here’s the full list:

• Deuteronomy 31:16 — “Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers.”

• 2 Samuel 7:12 — “When thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers.”

• 1 Kings 2:10 — “So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.”

• 1 Kings 11:43 — “And Solomon slept with his fathers.”

• 1 Kings 14:20 — “Jeroboam slept with his fathers.”

• 1 Kings 14:31 — “Rehoboam slept with his fathers.”

• 1 Kings 15:8 — “Abijam slept with his fathers.”

• 1 Kings 15:24 — “Asa slept with his fathers.”

• 1 Kings 16:6 — “Baasha slept with his fathers.”

• 1 Kings 16:28 — “Omri slept with his fathers.”

• 1 Kings 22:40 — “Ahab slept with his fathers.”

• 1 Kings 22:50 — “Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Kings 8:24 — “Joram slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Kings 10:35 — “Jehu slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Kings 13:9 — “Jehoahaz slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Kings 13:13 — “Joash slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Kings 14:16 — “Jehoash slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Kings 14:29 — “Jeroboam slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Kings 15:7 — “Azariah slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Kings 15:22 — “Menahem slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Kings 15:38 — “Jotham slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Kings 16:20 — “Ahaz slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Kings 20:21 — “Hezekiah slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Kings 21:18 — “Manasseh slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Kings 24:6 — “Jehoiakim slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Chronicles 9:31 — “Solomon slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Chronicles 12:16 — “Rehoboam slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Chronicles 14:1 — “Abijah slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Chronicles 16:13 — “Asa slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Chronicles 21:1 — “Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Chronicles 26:23 — “Uzziah slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Chronicles 27:9 — “Jotham slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Chronicles 28:27 — “Ahaz slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Chronicles 32:33 — “Hezekiah slept with his fathers.”

• 2 Chronicles 33:20 — “Manasseh slept with his fathers.”

 59 Times

Verses used to Suggesting Immediate Entry to Heaven and Alternate interpretation

• Luke 23:43
  “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
  — This verse can't mean today as in immediate as Jesus did not go up to paradise that day as seen in John 20:17 "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father"

• 2 Corinthians 5:8
  “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
  — Paul implies that death brings immediate presence with Christ, but could mean instant for him as we are unconscious and time is not perceivable Ecclesiastes 9:5 "the dead know nothing"

• Philippians 1:23
  “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.”
  — Again, Paul expresses that death leads directly to being with Christ, but could mean instant for him as we are unconscious and time is not perceivable Ecclesiastes 9:5 "the dead know nothing"

• John 14:2-3
  “In my Father’s house are many rooms... I go to prepare a place for you.”
  — This verse does not mean instant.

🔥 Verses Suggesting Immediate Judgment or Hell

• Luke 16:22–23
  “The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment…”
  — The parable of the rich man and Lazarus suggests immediate awareness of torment after death.

• Hebrews 9:27
  “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”
  — Often interpreted to mean judgment follows death without delay, just means we are judged after death totally in line with a dead raises at judgment day reading.

• Matthew 25:46
  “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
  — This is in regards to Judgment day not immediate judgement.

• Revelation 20:12–15
  “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
  — This is in regards to Judgment day not immediate judgement.