fleshly body that the Christian life went on, and he had responsibility to fulfill his responsibilities while in the flesh. The implication is that the opportunities of teaching specifically and living the Christian life generally will t erminate in death, as he said, as long as I am in this tabernacle (cf. John 9:4). Paul also used this euphemism to describe death (2 Cor. 5:1, 4). DEPARTURE In 2 Timothy 4:6, Paul stated, For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. The word departure is from the word analusis, which is found only here in the NT. The word literally refers to an unloosing. The word was literally used in ancient times to refer either to losing a ship from its moorings in order to set sail or to soldiers breaking up camp. We might say that Paul pictured death as loosing himself from this world and making a journey to the next world. Physical death is not the end; it is only a departure, and the departure for the Christ ian is far better, as Paul said in Philippians 1:23. SLEEP Death is referred to as sleep in 1 Thessalonians 4:13. Sleep is the most common euphemism used in the scriptures, used at least 15 times in this way in the NT. The word sleep carries three different connotations in the scriptures. First, the word is used in a literal way to refer to those who are literally asleep. Second, the word is used in a figurative way to refer to those who are spiritually asleep (cf. 1 Cor. 11:30, Eph. 5:14). Third, the word is used in a figurative way to refer to those who have died. Why did the Bible writers use the metaphor sleep to describe death? Vine has some very good comments on this: This metaphorical use of the word sleep is appropriate because of the similarity in appearance between a sleeping body and a dead body; restfulness and peace normally characterize both. The object of the metaphor is to suggest that as the sleeper does not cease to exist while his body sleeps, so the dead person continues to exist despite his absence from the region in which those who remain can communicate with him, and that, as sleep is known to be temporary, so the death of the body will be found to be. Sleep has its waking, death will have its resurrection (Commentary on 1 Thessalonians, Pg. 95). Sleep does not mean the soul sleeps, as Jehovahs Witnesses teach. The Bible does not teach such a doctrine (cf. Luke 16:1-31, Rev. 6:9-11). While the body goes back to the dust of the earth, the spirit of man is very much aware and conscious of its own realm of existence (cf. Luke 16:19-31). Sleep implies that one day we will awaken from sleep; hence it is temporary (cf. 1 Cor. 15:6, 17-20, 55-57, 1 Thess. 4:13-18). GATHERED TO ONES OWN PEOPLE This expression is seen in Genesis 25:8, 35:29, & 49:33. This expression does not necessarily refer to being buried in the same graveyard as their ancestors. The expression refers to the reunion with the faithful who have gone on before. Thus, there is a subtle, yet clear teaching, even in the OT, on the subject of life after death. Concerning Abraham, he was not buried with his fathers, but with his offspring being buried in the cave of Machpelah (Gen. 25:9). Jacobs statement before he died about being gathered to his people suggest that some kind of conviction existed within him that the dead were still his people.