The concept of soul sleep is primarily taught by Restorationist sects such as Jehovah's Witnesses and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
While the doctrine re-emerged during the Reformation through certain leaders, it's these specific groups who prominently maintain it today. Soul sleep is the belief that after death, the soul enters a state of unconsciousness or dormancy until a future resurrection. This is in contrast to the traditional Christian belief in the immediate entrance of the soul into heaven, hell, or purgatory upon death.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Jehovah's Witnesses: They believe that death is a state of non-existence, similar to sleep. They teach that the soul ceases to exist at death, and the hope for the dead is resurrection at a future time when God will restore them to life on earth.
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Seventh-day Adventist Church: While Adventists don't believe in the inherent immortality of the soul, they believe in the unconscious state of the dead until the resurrection. They see death as a period of rest and believe that consciousness is dependent on the body's functions, which cease at death.
In summary, although the idea of soul sleep has appeared throughout Christian history, it's most notably associated with and actively taught by groups like Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh-day Adventists.
