I do not believe in the false teaching of soul sleep. I believe what Jesus said in John 3:13 and to go into that about Moses and Elijah would derail this thread. I would like to discuss this further if you would like to start a new thread on this and tag me into it.Matthew 17:1-9 ---> the Transfiguration of our Blessed Lord on Mt. Tabor...
"And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, 'Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.' He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.' When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, 'Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.'”
Clearly Moses and Elijah returned.
Soul sleep is a doctrine of the SDA and Jehovah's Witnesses. It is a concept foreign to Christianity.
Once again...
Intercessor: One who intercedes
Intercede: To act or interpose in behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble, as by pleading or petition
St. John explicitly describes God receiving prayers from someone other than the primary petitioner in Rev. 5:8. This makes the person presenting and taking the prayers of the primary petitioner to God - by definition - an intercessor.
If you are going to refute the Christian doctrine of the Communion of Saints, you will need to logically explain this ---> If all prayers go directly to God, why are angels and saints bringing them (prayers) to Him (God)? (cf. Rev. 5:8)
Rev 5:8 When Jesus took the book out of the right hand of God the Cherubim, Seraphim and the twenty four heavenly elders in heaven bowed down before Jesus as they had harps of worship and golden vials of incense which are the prayers of the saints.
Our prayers are like incense, or as a sweet smell that reaches up to heaven as we pray to Jesus who is our mediator who intercedes for us before the Father making intercession for us unto God as we pray before Him. The incense are the prayers of the saints (all who are of God).
Psa 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
I do believe in the communion of saints as the Spiritual union of the members of the body of Christ being His true Church. It has nothing to do with any types of various religions.