Is ‘sleep’ not temporary? We have all hear RIP (Rest In Peace); for what “period”?
In these verses, we are assured that all who have died, who were believers of Christ, will also be resurrected on the day of Christ’s return. Paul refers to believers who have passed on as those who are “sleeping” which implies that their state is temporary; they will be woken up at a later time. We can take comfort in these words whenever we lose a fellow brother or sister in Christ, knowing that there will be a day where we will all be reunited.
And we pray:
Dear God, it breaks my heart whenever I lose someone close to me. But I am comforted when I know that they believed in You and Your son, Jesus Christ, because I know that a time will come where we will be together again. Lord, I pray for all of those who are yet to believe in You. Father, I pray that they will be exposed to Your Love, and compelled to receive salvation so that they can also be a part of Your glorious inheritance. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.