Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 11, 1903

1317.—“Sleep” in 1 Cor. 11:30.

(1) Does the word “sleep” in the original mean death? (2) Can those who truly partake in faith of the body and blood of Christ die? B.

1. The word “sleep” in 1 Cor. 11:30 comes from koimesis, defined to mean sleep, repose, rest. It is found in two other places in the New Testament, 1 Cor. 15:51; 1 Thess. 4:14. Koimao, its root, is defined to mean sleep, death. In Acts 12:6; Matt. 28:13; and Luke 22:45, it is used of natural sleep. Hypnos is used in the same twofold sense (Matt. 1:24; John 11:11, 13; Acts 20:9); so also is katheudo (Mark 4:27; Luke 22:46; 1 Thess. 5:6, 7, 10; Matt. 9:24; Eph. 5:14). It will be seen that all three of these words are used of both natural sleep and to sleep in death. The literal meaning of the word is sleep. It is used of death in all cases figuratively, because of similarity and similar awaking.

2. We feed upon Christ truly only by faith. And Jesus declares: “If any man eat of this bread [that is of Himself, the living Bread], he shall live forever.” John 6:51. But that He does not mean by this that the one who so eats shall not die, He continues: “He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood hath eternal life [a present possession]; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Verse 54. See also verses 33, 40, 47, 57, 58, 63. There are those who will be translated, without tasting death, when Christ comes. Of course these will be children of faith. There will be those who are not the less children of faith who will fall asleep before He comes. God does not count His people dead; they sleep in Him, with life “hid with Christ in God.” Col. 3:3. There will be those who will sleep—not children of faith—on through to the second resurrection. There are those—not of faith—who will live to see Christ’s coming. Let not that soul who falls asleep in Jesus be discouraged; “for God appointed us not unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” 1 Thess. 5:9, 10. He lives better physically who rightly lives by faith; but living by faith, feeding on Christ by faith, he may die. Ps. 116:15; Rev. 14:13.

1318.—The Great Disappointment.

Please tell us what was “the great disappointment” I have seen mentioned in Adventist literature? When was it? Who were disappointed? READER.

To answer all these questions in one—it was the disappointment of those who believed that Christ was coming in 1844. All over the world at that time there was wide-spread belief that Christ was coming, based on such prophecies as Dan. 8:14. A large number in America set the definite day, believing correctly that the 2,300 years ended there. They were mistaken concerning the nature of the event to occur at the end of those days. So at the first advent the true disciples were disappointed because Christ did not then take the throne, and fulfilled prophecy in the disappointment (Luke 19:35-40; Zech. 9:9; Luke 24:21), even as the disappointment of 1844 fulfilled prophecy (Hab. 2:1-3; Heb. 10:32-38; Rev. 10:1-10).