What Is the Significance of “Rest in Peace” and Is it Biblical?

The phrase “May they rest in peace” is usually used upon the death of a person. It serves as a comforting and inspiring expression for those grieving the lack of a loved one and is usually engraved on gravestones as R.I.P. or “Rest in Peace.” When noted religious leaders die, their death evokes this benediction of “rest in peace” from tens of millions all over the world. Let’s look more into what it really means to say, “Rest in peace and whether this phrase has biblical origins.”

Where Did the Phrase “Rest in Peace” Come From?

Rest in peace (R.I.P.) is a phrase that comes from the Ecclesiastical Latin, requiescat in pace. In its entirety, the phrase is rendered, “May he begin to rest in peace,” wishing the departed everlasting rest. The blessing of hope for a restful peace within the afterlife agrees with Roman Catholic doctrine that souls may face torment within the afterlife.

Roman Catholics stress the destiny of peoples’ souls and what happens after they die. Immediately after death, Catholics imagine in what’s called the particular judgment, where one is either judged worthy of everlasting life or faces everlasting separation from God in hell. If a believing Catholic has unsettled issues at death (venial sins), these sins accompany the deceased into what known as “purgatory,” traditionally called a spot of waiting and cleansing. It is alleged, “if anyone has any leftover sin, this place purges them of it, before they reach the gates of heaven.” Hence, the phrase “Rest in Peace” offers hope that the purging is quick and never too painful before the dead person is ushered into heaven.

“Rest in Peace” has not lost its popularity, and is a typical blessing inside and outdoors of Catholicism. A unique translation, “dormit in pace” was found inscribed within the early Christian catacombs in Rome. This translation evokes the greater meaning that the person died united with Christ and within the peace of His church. The belief was they might eternally sleep in peace. Anglicans and Lutherans join the Catholics within the prevalent use of “Rest in Peace” on gravestones. 

Is “Rest in Peace” Found within the Bible?

The direct phrase, “Rest in peace” shouldn’t be present in the Bible. What is found, nevertheless, is how believers find their hope in Christ and His promise of peace and rest for the saints (all believers in Him).

Isaiah 57:2 gives us a foretaste of the death of believers who’re in Christ, 

“He enters into peace;
They rest of their beds [graves],
Each one who walked in his upright way.”

Psalm 37:7 tells us of the peace that comes after we trust the Lord, “Be still in Yahweh and wait patiently [longingly] for Him; Do not fret due to him who prospers in his way, Because of the person who carries out schemes of wickedness.”

The thing is, Christians find their peace in Christ the moment they turn and give up to Him in faith. He guarantees His peace in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not because the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it’s fearful.”

In John 14:1, Jesus tells us, “Do not let your heart be troubled; imagine in God, imagine also in Me.” Belief is trust, and trust brings peace.

One more passage about peace will help guard your heart, and plenty of of us know this well. Philippians 4:7-8 assures us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in all the things by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The rest we enjoy in Christ is a fulfilled promise after we trust in Him as Savior and Lord. We trust in rest due to who Christ is. We have been saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), and it’s all through the Lord’s work that we’re in a position to say yes to His kind invitation for peace and rest endlessly (Romans 2:4; Matthew 11:28).

What Does the Bible Say about What Happens after Death?

At death, all of humanity will spend eternity in considered one of two places, either within the loving presence of our holy, triune God as Redeemer or in His presence as Judge. Heaven awaits all true Christians, where abides rest, peace, and praise. But God is present in hell, too, by the constant reminder that a relationship with him has been severed. As Pastor Michael Horton says, “Hell shouldn’t be ultimately about fire, but about God. Whatever the precise nature of the physical punishments, the actual terror awaiting the unrepentant is God himself and his inescapable presence endlessly together with his face turned against them.”

At death, our bodies will turn to dust (Genesis 2:7; 3:19) and can undergo corruption. But our souls are everlasting and can instantaneously return to the Lord God. Our souls are immediately glorified and can be accepted into the presence of God in His abode, heaven. Our full redemption happens when our bodies are united once more with our souls when Christ returns in His second advent. His perfect body never saw corruption (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27,31), and as our perfect Redeemer, our glorified bodies won’t ever again see corruption.   

Scripture is obvious about what happens after a Christian’s death.

• 2 Corinthians 5:7-8 tells us, “for we walk by faith, not by sight—we’re of excellent courage and like somewhat to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” The Apostle Paul expected to be within the Lord Jesus’ presence when he died and proclaimed this truth to us who love Jesus.
• Philippians 1:23, “I’m hard pressed between the 2. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is much better.” Once again, the Apostle Paul concludes he can be with Christ at his death. No “waiting room” or further cleansing of sins, for once an individual is saved by Christ, all his sins are forgiven (Acts 13:38; Colossians 2:13).

 
Scripture can also be clear in regards to the destiny of unbelievers—those that reject Christ as Savior and Lord.

• 2 Thessalonians 1:Sept. 11 states, “Then one other angel, a 3rd one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his brow or on his hand, 10 and he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength within the cup of His rage, and he can be tormented with fire and brimstone within the presence of the holy angels and within the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up endlessly and ever; they haven’t any rest day and night, those that worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
• Matthew 25:46, “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, however the righteous into everlasting life.”
• Revelation 14:Sept. 11 (which mirrors the passage from Thessalonians) says, “Then one other angel, a 3rd one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his brow or on his hand, and he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength within the cup of His rage, and he can be tormented with fire and brimstone within the presence of the holy angels and within the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up endlessly and ever; they haven’t any rest day and night, those that worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

How Believers Can Speak Biblically and Comfortingly about Death

Death has a singular way of turning people’s hearts to ponder eternity. Unbelievers who mourn a beloved relative or friend are searching for solace any way they will. They don’t understand death, and the platitudes that talk to grief, nevertheless loving, offer only a band-aid for a wound that may never heal unless an individual turns to Christ.

Because of the background meaning of the phrase, it’s higher for Christians to say something apart from “Rest in Peace,” which is hole because those outside of Christ don’t know what death holds. For a Christian to say “rest in peace” is a compromise which will provide temporary comfort to the bereaved, but has no biblical substance. And biblical substance—lovingly and compassionately shared—is what a grieving person needs.

If the deceased person is a known believer, a fellow Christian can say, “How wonderful to have the peace and remainder of Christ before we even enter eternity. We know where “Joe” is, rejoicing within the presence of Jesus. One day we are going to all get to collect together and do the identical.”

We can express our feelings of loss by saying, “I’m so sorry you’ll miss “Joe” whilst you wait to be reunited with him in Jesus’ presence. I pray you’ll remember to rest in Christ and in His peace.”

You may offer this: “We are here for you because the church. We’re family, and we love you and wish to provide help to in any way we will. We know you’ll feel an enormous hole in your life without “Joe’s” presence, and we are going to too. Please know you’re loved by us, and, more importantly, by our Lord Jesus.”

Grieving family members need reassurance. You might say, “We know where “Joe” is immediately. He’s together with his Savior and is having all his tears wiped away. He’s rejoicing before the Lord and has absolutely no pain. “Joe” is true where the Lord means him to be, and someday you can be there, too. Isn’t that the very best promise ever?”

Christians often call their funerals “homegoing celebrations” because that’s where the deceased are. We can truthfully say, “Hallelujah! Let’s rejoice the life the Lord gave ‘Joe.’ And let’s remember how he was such a powerful witness for Christ and the way he loved you.”

Loving things abound after we meet with those that “lose” their family members to death. Thank God it’s only temporary, and, on the first resurrection, a wonderful reunion will reunite family members who love Jesus first and best.

But what can we are saying to those that are grieving the lack of an unsaved loved one? There’s no sadder place than on the funeral of an unsaved person. We know they can be in torment for eternity and here we stand in front of a desolate person. What do we are saying?

We can:

• Weep with them 
• Be present and hug them
• Express your sympathy 
• Remind them the everlasting destiny of their loved one is unknown to us in certainty but known to God needless to say.
• Tell them God is merciful
• Tell them you’re available to speak anytime they’re ready
• Ask them should you can pray for them. If so, thank God for his or her loved one’s life and for His mercy. Certainly, pray for them while you part and check in on them recurrently, telling them you’re praying.
• You will know when the time is true to totally share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. 

The good Lord gives us words when ours fail us, so trust Him to provide help to through the awkward and unsettling times when you’re attempting to console someone who has no faith in Christ. People are at their most vulnerable after they are grieving, and infrequently it’s probably the most opportune time for the very best news ever. As the Bible tells us, God’s Word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11).

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Lisa Loraine Baker is the multiple award-winning writer of Someplace to be Somebody. She writes fiction and nonfiction. In addition to writing for the Salem Web Network, Lisa serves as a Word Weavers’ mentor and is an element of a critique group. Lisa and her husband, Stephen, a pastor, live in a small Ohio village with their crazy cat, Lewis.