Eaglet,

I really do appreciate the time and effort you put in your response to me!

I like the point you made about details.

The worldly-wisdom adage of, "the devil is in the details", is not scriptural.

All one has to do is read Numbers 7, the genealogies in I Chronicles, or the plans for the tabernacle, to see

that the LORD is in the details.

The reason that I had written the way I did, is because of the literalist interpretation of the scriptures.

The disciples had misunderstood the use of the word "sleep".

They thought of rest, but Jesus was speaking about death.

So Jesus told them plainly that Lazarus was actually dead:

John 11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

 43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

The scripture clearly says that Elisha found the child actually dead:

II Kings 4:32 And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.

The scriptures also say that Tabitha was actually dead:

Acts 9:36 ¶ Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

 37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

 40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

Jesus came upon people carrying a dead man out to be buried, but Jesus raised him from the dead:

Luke 7:12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

To think that they would have buried someone alive, only sleeping, would have been a terrifying thought.

Edgar Allen Poe wrote a story about people only sleeping, but buried thought dead, and waking up in the coffin.

That story apparently affected some people to change local laws about embalming prior to burial.

You mentioned in your signature line, "not an SDA", which is good, because they have a premature burial sleep doctrine.

I cannot imagine why they would think that the LORD would advocate burying people alive, "sleeping in the grave".