Did you know our English word cemetery has its origin in a Greek word that mean sleeping place?  Interesting, isn’t it?  It’s appropriate though.  After all, a cemetery is a place where our bodies are put to rest as they sleep.  The Bible often describes death as sleep.  Paul, in reference to those Christians at Thessalonica who had died, wrote, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”  IThessalonians 4:13.

Those who have died do not cease to exist.  Their souls are not sleeping, only their bodies are asleep.  But the sleep of death is temporary. Those who are now sleeping will one day be awakened when the resurrection of everyone takes place.  In John 5:28-29, we find these words spoken by Jesus: “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life;