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If I have iMessage tied to my cell phone number, and I turn my phone off for a long period of time, will it eventually "expire" and be deactivated so that I can't receive iMessages sent to that number on the other devices on my Apple ID?
The number shouldn't expire. Text messages must be relayed through the phone, but normal messages using the phone number should work.
Eventually? I would think so at some point in time. In any case, if/when it deactivates, you will have to put the SIM back into the iPhone to re-activate it.
Actually, yes, sooner or later. You can't use an inactive phone number as an iMessage address forever.
iMessage & cell phone numbers - do numbers "expire"?
