- The Plan of God From the Beginning
The plan for mankind can be found at the beginning of the Bible (Genesis). Often Jesus would refer back to the beginning when explaining the original desire of God for His creation. For example, in the area of divorce, Jesus illustrates God’s accommodation for it, but this was not in the desire of God nor His original plan; it was because of our hard hearts:
He saith unto them, Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suffered (allowed) you to put away your wives: but from the beginning, it was not so.
Matthew 19:8
God’s original will and His clarity on certain topics can be found by going back to the time before mankind sinned and fell from God’s desire for His creation. For example, the debate over gender designation; the ceremony of marriage; God’s law; and even the purpose of the Sabbath can be clearly understood by studying mankind’s beginnings. Even death is made clear by going back to the beginning.
In the beginning, God made man upright; He gave him noble traits of character, with no desire for evil. He endowed him with high intellectual powers and presented before him the strongest possible inducements to be true to his allegiance. Obedience, perfect and perpetual, was the condition of eternal happiness. On this condition, he was to have access to the tree of life.
Patriarchs and Prophets p. 49
This was the desire of God. His will was to give only happiness and the ability for satisfying production of life to the beings created in His image, but it was conditional on the law of God’s government. The law of love and trust. Mankind would remain safe and free from death by listening to and believing His words. Originally there was only one literal law designed to protect the holy pair from the wiles of the enemy of God (Satan). This singular prohibition would give Adam and Eve the ability to continue in happiness. The law was quite simple:
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you[f] shall surely die.”
Genesis 2: 16-17
Death Passes Upon All
But, Eve left the side of her husband and began to converse with a disguised Satan made to look beautiful and intriguing. Soon, Eve gave way and disobeyed God because she relied on her own sight and her own reasoning rather than exercising faith (trust) in God’s word…which contained a promise of death for disobedience.
In the garden of Eden, Satan tells the first lie that continues to this day,
Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 3: 4-5
Even to this day, it is proclaimed in man’s teaching or imagination that man does not die at death; He has an immortal soul that will live through eternity. Or, the dearly departed returns in a different form, body, or person (reincarnation). Even the leaders of the Christian church tell the bereaved that the person’s “immortal soul” continues to live in the bliss in heaven or the pits of hell. Or, the dead person is now an angel that guards their loved ones.
The Bible has a different take on what happens to someone who dies. As death is understood from God’s word, it will give comfort to the saved or distress to the lost.
Death From The Beginning
What happens at death and after death has been a mystery to both believers and non-believers. The images and ideas on this depressing subject have been influenced and shaped by superstitious pagans, unbelieving scientists, and sadly, the church itself (In its well-meaning effort to comfort the bereaved.) The Pagans point to tradition and made up scenarios to bring fear and control. Some patients in the hospital can point to examples of people “dying” and being brought back to life after seeing a bright light. Even the preachers/teachers paint a picture of life after death often not supported by clear scripture. Lastly, the atheist or unbeliever simply says you die and that’s it…Nothing beyond…only death, dirt, and eternal meaninglessness. Who is right?
What is the most reliable source on this topic? Is it personal experience? Tradition? Can you trust other people’s opinions?
There have been “saved” people as recorded in the Bible who had been dead for more than three days and returned to life (Lazarus, Jesus, and the saints resurrected when Christ died. See-Matt 27: 51-53). None described heaven or bliss after death.
If Lazarus had been in heaven for four days and then jerked back down to earth, one would think there would be a book of Lazarus telling us about the beautiful places he visited for a few days.
The Only Reliable Source To Explain Being Dead:
The Bible is clear. It is supported from multiple inspired writers in both the old and new testament. God’s word cuts across tradition and popular, but erroneous, teachings… But, an understanding of this often taboo subject includes not only God’s word but the common sense to understand it. It is all made clear in the light of scripture and the character of God who desires all to repent and to keep all from “perishing”
The Bible discloses a loving God who would not have us be ignorant on this topic. Once understood, it will reveal what we have to gain and what we have to lose. Most importantly, the love of God as demonstrated in the plan of salvation gives us hope of something more than a mere grain of sand in time.
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:13
The Walking Dead
I have always been amazed by the title of the TV series, The Walking Dead. The title contradicts itself. Walking indicates life and the action of the brain telling the legs to move forward. Dead means….well dead. Being dead means, you no longer have these abilities. No desires, no feelings…
The wise man Solomon said,
For the living know that they will die;
But the dead know nothing,
And they have no more reward,
For the memory of them is forgotten.
Also, their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished;
Nevermore will they have a share
In anything done under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9: 5,6
The Bible describes the elements of life and the reversal of these elements to produce death. The formula for the creation of life has never changed from the beginning except when God gave mankind, through a man and a woman the ability to procreate. Originally, God took elements/chemicals from the earth and made it come alive in the form of man:
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.
Genesis 2:7
This is a simple mathematical formula:
Dust of the Ground (Elements) + the breath of life (from God) = Living Soul. Notice man did not already have a soul, he was given life and he became a living soul. The soul is the combination of the body and the life-giving breath of God (Spirit). Man does not possess a soul separate from his body, rather he is a soul because of the combination of the two critical elements for life.
At death, the elements of life are reversed as explained by God to Adam and Eve after the fall and repeated by men inspired by the Spirit of God.
You will eat bread by the sweat of your face because of hard work until you return to the ground because you were taken from the ground. You are dust, and you will return to dust.”
Genesis 3:19
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Ecclesiastes 12:7
You hide Your face, they are troubled;
You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
Psalm 104:29
Here is the mathematical formula for death, which is understandably the opposite from the formula above:
Dust (body) minus God’s spirit (His breath) = Death. There is nothing indicating the soul continues to live on or is “immortal”. In fact, it is the opposite for sinful man,
The soul who sins shall die.
Ezekiel 18:4
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:28
(Note: the term hell here is the Greek word geenna. Jesus refers to a place that was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned. But, also noticed the keyword i.e. destroy. The future of the lost is destruction, not life. More on that in other studies. )
How the Bible Describe The Condition of Death
If a soul can die, is it immortal? No! Death is just what it is, death where man is not living or aware of anything done here or anywhere. They no longer participate in anything under the sun.
But man dies and is laid away;
Indeed he breathes his last
And where is he?…His sons come to honor, and he does not know it;
They are brought low, and he does not perceive it
Job 14:21
How God Describes the State of Death
In both the Old Testament and New Testament, the condition of the dead person is compared to unconsciousness. A dreamless sleep, where the passage of time is a mere micro-second for the redeemed. At a point in the future, the dead in Christ are awakened to see the Coming of Jesus where they then receive immortality. The lost are resurrected after 1,000 years later to meet their fate (Revelation 20:5).
Let’s start looking at a few Old Testament references beginning with the oldest book of the Bible. Job’s “friends” have a multitude of words about God to make sure Job is correct in his understanding of God and why Job has all his problems. But, only Job spoke the truth about God. Job 42;7
Job understood death and end-time events. In Chapter 14, he begins to talk about the mortality of man and what would take place when he would receive eternal life (Chapter 19). His description matches Paul and Peter’s description in the New Testament:
Job:
“Mortals, born of woman,
are of few days and full of trouble.
They spring up like flowers and wither away;
like fleeting shadows, they do not endure.
Job 14: 1,2
Only God has immortality. As humans, we are mortals subject to death. Adam and Even had conditional immortality. It was subject to a law meant to protect them from sin. The tree of life perpetuated eternal life and immortality.
But a man dies and is laid low;
he breathes his last and is no more.
Job 14:10
When a person dies, it is like they are no more, but Job knew there is a time when his mind and body would be renewed (restored)
If a man dies, shall he live again?
All the days of my hard service I will wait,
Till my change comes.
Job 14: 14
I know that my redeemer[ lives,
and that in the end, he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh, I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
Job 19: 25-27
Is this not clear that Job understands that man dies, his body returns to dust, he waits and then is resurrected, even “after [their] skin has been destroyed”?
That great prophet Daniel also understood that man’s hope and future is in the resurrection that occurs when Jesus returns:
Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Daniel 12:2
Job and Daniel’s statements were understood by the New Testament writers and believers. Paul’s statement is echoed in his letter to the Thessalonians;
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18
Did you catch the last part of this verse? We are to comfort one another with the words he just spoke, which is Jesus is coming back to resurrect those who died “in Christ.” What a glorious family reunion day that will be! The righteous dead of all the ages will meet at the same time, in the air, for a trip back to where Jesus is! Father, sons, daughters, mothers, children, friends all come together for a family trip to heaven. Jesus promised to come back and take us to where He is now (heaven).
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions (dwellings); if it were not so, [b]I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
John 14: 1-3
The false comforts from the pulpit and vain philosophies ignore or minimize the truth of the coming of Jesus and the joyous events around the resurrection. Instead, they make up words like,
“Uncle George is now looking down on us and enjoying hunting with his favorite dog.”
At one funeral I actually heard a pastor say, a deceased person was likely playing cards (his favorite past time) with Saint Peter.
The best comfort we can know is that the deceased person is resting from the pains of this mortal world (for a moment) before the Lord returns. This is how Paul told us to look upon death.
Jesus refers to His resurrection as the hope of all those who died knowing Him when he resurrected Lazarus.
Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11: 21-26
What confuses people is the fact that there is a second death that is eternal, while the first death (the one that passes upon all men) is a death because of sin that started in the garden of Eden. But, immortality will be a gift at the 2nd coming of Christ. The second death is eternal.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 5:12
All of us die, but if we don’t trust and live in God, we won’t be part of the first resurrection and we will “perish”
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20: 14, 15
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Often overlooked in this well-known passage is the truth about the penalty of unbelief in God i.e. They perish.
It does not say, they have an eternal life of torture in fire called hell. Only those who “have the Son” have life. All others do not. When the lost are thrown into the lake of fire, it is a death, not a life of toruture.
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:12
Adam and Eve did not have unconditional immortality, neither do we. They could have maintained access to the tree of life which has elements to perpetuate life. After they sinned, this tree was guarded by angels so they could not eat of it and live.
So He drove out the man, and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
Genesis 3:24
The Bible opens up with the Tree of Life and it being taken away, but the Bible closes with the redeemed having access to it once again.
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
Revelation 22: 14
Summary Points:
- Mankind is under the penalty of sin i.e death. It began in the garden of Eden.
- Mankind is not immortal nor do they have an immortal soul.
- The good news (gospel) is that Jesus paid the penalty for sin i.e death, but was resurrected the third day to become the first fruits of the resurrection.
But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15: 20
- Death is exactly what the word means. There is no life, no thoughts, no feelings. It is often referred to as sleep.
- Our comfort at funerals, particularly if we know the deceased is a follower of Christ, is that they are in a very short sleep of peace from the sin of this world awaiting the return of Christ to bring the dust of their decayed bodies back to life and give them immortality.
- The tree of life has a very practical application of perpetuating life and the healing of nations:
The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:2
We end on the clearest verse regarding the return of Christ and when we receive immortality.
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
1 Corinthians 15: 51-54
Only when Jesus returns can it be said: “death has been swallowed up in victory.” The victory is the redeemed are brought back to life. At the second coming, we are “clothed in immortality”….not before!
If you don’t have the assurance of eternal life with Jesus, please let us know and we will help you, through God’s word, to find a saving relationship with Him and faith to live happy while you await His coming.
For a more entertaining view on this topic, please watch this short video: