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When Death Comes

Physical death is the one common event shared by all who live on earth.  Death comes to all mankind.  There is no exception.  Death may come after a painful prolonged sickness or quickly after an accident or heart failure or naturally at the end of a long life.  Wealth, power, position, education nor any power within mankind’s purview can prevent death.  No chemical medicine, no vaccine, no natural supplement, no surgical procedure nor any device or invention of man can prevent death from happening.  When the breath of life goes out of us then our life on earth ends.  Physical death is the end result of Adam’s race.  It is so declared in God’s word.  “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”  Hebrews 9:27 UKJV.

Great heartache comes from the death of family members and others whom we love.  To grieve is normal because we recognize that a loving relationship which existed is now ended.  Those times of intimacy we enjoyed have ended.  No longer can we embrace our loved one with whom we once shared our earthly journey.  No more will we sit together around the table and enjoy eating together during Thanksgiving and Christmas.  No longer will we bask in the warmth of the sun as we walk together savoring the beauty of God’s creation or the joy of building a snowman together.  All the plans made together are now past.  Memories of our life together remain in our heart but the physical reality has ended.  These thoughts should inspire us to love, laugh and worship together while we share this earthly journey.

The writer of Hebrews states that after death there is judgment.  There is life after death for those who have received Jesus Christ but those who do not belong to Christ will face an eternity of spiritual death and punishment.  “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  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 20:11-15 UKJV

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that all of you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”  1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 UKJV

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” 1 Corinthians 15:19 UKJV.  Our hope in Christ is eternal and extends beyond death.  We shall never die.  We will be given new bodies that are like the glorious body of Christ.  The death of God’s saints is not the end but a transition to another eternal world.  Paul reminds the Thessalonians that physical death is not the end for those who “sleep in Jesus”.  Death changes the sphere of existence in which we live.  This change is not a termination of existence but an alteration for those in Christ.  Remember Jesus’ words to Martha regarding the death of her brother Lazarus, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Believe you this?”  John 11:25 – 26 UKJV.  Jesus IS “the resurrection and the life”   All who believe in Jesus shall “never die”.  To receive Jesus is to believe his words.  To believe in Jesus is have him overcome death in us as he overcame his own death.

“As the Father knows me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.   And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.  Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”  John 10:15-18 UKJV.

“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Corinthians 15:51-57 UKJV

The verses above refer only to the dead in Christ because those not in Christ will not be raised incorruptible and immortal.  Some believe in a general resurrection in which all the dead will be raised from the grave at the same time.  This context does not contain information about the wicked dead.  The resurrection of the wicked dead will occur one thousand years after the first resurrection which is the resurrection of those who belong to Christ.  “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” Revelation 20:5 UKJV  Those in Christ and those in the world share nothing spiritually in common while living on earth.  This lack of common experience is also evident in the raising of the dead.  “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  1 Thessalonians 4:16 UKJV.  Those in Christ will be raised from the dead one thousand years before the wicked dead.

The spirit of the Christian lives and goes to be with Jesus after the death of the body.  “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom:” Luke 16:22 UKJV.  Angels attend those who belong to Christ at their death.  Some have been privileged a glimpse into the unseen world which surrounds us.  “And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray you, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."  2 Kings 6:17 UKJV.  In Matthew 17:1-6 it is recorded that Peter, James and John were allowed to see Moses and Elijah and Christ transfigured in this other world.  In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul gives another instance of one who was allowed into this unseen world.  Scripture tells us that some may have experienced the unseen world without realizing it. "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels." Hebrews 13:2 NKJV.  We cannot see all that exists about us but God has allowed exceptions.  Be careful to not judge another believer's testimony.  All things are to judged by God's word not our own theology.

One of my most precious memories is my dear mother in law, a saint of God, telling me about the death of her only son who lived only a few hours.  She related that as she held her child she was allowed to see only for a moment into that unseen world which surrounds us.  As her precious baby was dying she saw angels come and take the child and carry him away.  Angels carried the beggar to Abraham’s bosom and they carried my dear mother in law’s only male child away to safety.  Some are permitted to briefly see into this world.  Seeing the angels take her baby gave her comfort and she was then able to accept his death.  Our heavenly Father is overflowing with compassion and he will never leave us alone.  Our Father continues to bestow grace upon us in Christ.  The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, has come to dwell within us.

The death of those in Christ is attended by the angels of God.  God’s word declares, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalms 116:15 UKJV.  The saints of God are not left unprotected and alone when death comes.  It is a precious time in the sight of the Lord and he sends angels to protect us as we transition between this world and that other world now beyond our vision.  The sting of death is gone and death is swallowed up in victory.

The death of a loved one in Christ causes us to grieve but our grief is not like those who are without hope.  With grief we can also rejoice in the victory our loved one has experienced.  Christ is our victory even in death.  “in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”   Psalms 30:5  UKJV. 

Some golden daybreak Jesus will return to gather all his elect and with him will come all his saints who have gone through death before us.  Our heavenly father gave his only begotten son for us that we might have eternal life.  “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21.
Let us rejoice in our father’s love for us.

"How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory"

Lyrics by Stuart Townend