The theological position that between death and resurrection, the human soul is in an unconscious state, either nonexistent or in a dreamless "sleep" until the bodily resurrection at Christ's return. Also called psychopannychism (from Greek psychē, "soul" + pannychis, "all-night"). Held historically by some minority Christian groups and in modern times by Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses (who hold to a stronger annihilationism), and Christadelphians. Not the majority Christian position, which affirms conscious existence of the soul in the intermediate state.
Soul sleep takes seriously certain biblical passages but reads them against a stronger biblical consensus. Proponents cite: (1) Scripture's repeated reference to death as "sleep" (John 11:11 — "Lazarus has fallen asleep"; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14; 1 Corinthians 15:18); (2) the OT's general silence on detailed afterlife before resurrection (Ecclesiastes 9:5 — "the dead know nothing"). These passages can be read as teaching soul-sleep, but the majority view reads them differently: "sleep" is a metaphor for death's temporary nature (just as physical sleep ends in awakening); Ecclesiastes speaks from the angle of "under the sun" observation, not ultimate reality. Against soul-sleep and in favor of conscious intermediate state: (1) Jesus to the thief on the cross — "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). Today, not after a millennium of sleep. (2) Paul — "to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better" (Philippians 1:23); "away from the body and at home with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). Not at home unconscious with the Lord — present with Him. (3) Rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) — conscious post-mortem existence for both, one in torment, one at rest. (4) Revelation 6:9-11 — martyrs conscious and crying out under the altar between death and final resurrection. (5) Hebrews 12:23 — "the spirits of the righteous made perfect" in the heavenly Jerusalem. The majority Christian position holds: at death, the believer's soul goes immediately to be with Christ in conscious joy, awaiting the bodily resurrection at the Second Coming.