Term

soul sleep

The doctrine that believers remain unconscious after death until Christ returns and raises them to eternal life.

Filed underEschatology

Definition

The doctrine that believers go into a state of unconscious existence when they die, and that they return to consciousness when Christ returns and raises them to eternal life.

Connections

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Narrower than

Sources

  1. 1.Wayne A. Grudem Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed.. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020). 41C.1.bOriginal citation: Grudem, Wayne A. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020, 41C.1.b.

Last revised August 14, 2026