Each day
of our existence we are reminded of the grim reality of death. It haunts
us. We know so little about it. In fact, we know almost nothing
regarding this ultimate physical experience, except for what is revealed
in the Bible. But the biblical information is limited, and so false
notions about death permeate society’s thinking. The following
discussion represents a brief survey of some of these erroneous
concepts.
Death Is an Illusion
Mary
Baker Eddy, founder of “Christian Science,” alleged that “there is no
death” (n.d., 575). She contended that death is but an “illusion.” How
can a rational person subscribe to such a notion? We mention this more
as a matter of oddity than anything else. Mrs. Eddy’s tombstone is an
eloquent argument against this absurd doctrine.
Death Is Nothing More than the Ultimate
Biological Reality
To the
atheist, death is no more than the cessation of earthly life. But death
is much more than a mere biological phenomenon. Just as life is a gift
from God (Acts 17:25), so death is a divine punishment for sin.
This does not mean, of course, that every time someone dies such is the
consequence of his or her personal sin. Even innocent babies die.
But the
fact is, God warned grandfather Adam that death would be the result of
disobedience (Genesis 2:17), and Paul reaffirmed this divine
truth: “[T]hrough one man sin entered into the world, and death through
sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned” (Romans
5:12).
In a
manner of speaking, Adam stood as the representative of the human race.
When the first man violated Heaven’s law, humanity was cursed with the
penalty of having to suffer the consequence of that initial
transgression—though not the personal guilt. The truth is, the entire
creation has been blighted as a result of sin (cf. Romans 8:20-22).
Skeptics
ridicule the biblical narrative regarding the commencement of death. It
is viewed as an absurd myth that belongs in the Stone Age (Allen 1990,
108). But no infidel can explain why death occurs. If life had the
ability to “jump-start” itself, as evolution’s theory of spontaneous
generation asserts, why can’t it sustain itself within the individual?
And is it not remarkable that evolution—supposedly a progressive,
refining process—has not been able to eliminate death? If “natural
selection” is working toward a higher evolutionary pinnacle, why doesn’t
science observe an increase in human vitality? Actually, just the
reverse is true. The history of biological life is a record of
degeneration, not regeneration (see Jackson 1994, 2-3). Why haven’t we
evolved immortality? Death is an argument that no materialist can
answer!
Why
hasn’t modern medicine been able to make significant advancement in
human longevity over the past three thousand years? In David’s day, men
lived to three-score and ten years—perhaps with strength to
four-score—on average (cf. Psalm 90:10). We have not improved
these statistics with our twentieth-century medical technology. Some
people are paying thousands of dollars to have their bodies frozen, in
the hope that science will discover a cure for the cause of their
demise. They aspire to be ultimately thawed in order to resume an
eternal earthly existence. What futility! Mortality points strikingly to
God.
Death Is Merely a Transition to a New
Mode of Earthly Existence
In India,
four hundred million Hindus believe in reincarnation. This is the idea
that the human soul passes through a series of earthly phases, i.e.,
bodies human or animaal—depending upon the particular ideology—before
finally attaining release from this chain of events. In recent years,
New Age zealots in this country (e.g., Shirley MacLaine) have
popularized the idea of the transmigration of the soul. Recent polls
suggest that more than half of the American public believes in the
possibility of these experiences. However, with the exception of a few
miraculous cases back in history (e.g., the resurrection of Lazarus),
“it is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrews 9:27). Each human
being will give an account to the Lord for the deeds done in his
“body”—not bodies (2 Corinthians 5:10). Bible teaching
contradicts the idea of reincarnation.
Death Is the Termination of Human
Existence
Suicide
has reached epidemic proportions in America. Self-murder is becoming an
increasingly popular way to “end it all.” But the fact is, death ends
only one’s earthly existence, not his personal existence. Biblical
evidence makes it abundantly clear that at the point of death, the
spirit of a person merely leaves the body (James 2:26).
Separation, however, is not the same as extinction.
Scriptural information indicates that in death the soul of man enters
the Hadean realm (cf. Revelation 1:18; 20:13, 14). The narrative
regarding the rich man and Lazarus forcefully reveals that death does
not terminate human existence (Luke 16:19-31). Too, Christ promised the
penitent thief that the two of them would be together again in Paradise
that very day, following their respective deaths (Luke 23:43).
Every biblical passage which speaks of the coming judgment argues for
the continuity of human existence.
Death Is a State of Non-conscious
Existence
While the
Bible speaks of death as a “sleep,” that term is used only of the
disposition of the body. Scripture knows nothing of “soul-sleeping.” The
part of man which “sleeps” in death is that which is deposited in the
dust of the ground (Daniel 12:2). This involves only the body,
not the soul. Again, both the rich man and Lazarus were conscious
following their deaths (Luke 16:19-31). Moreover, those souls who
had been martyred for the cause of Christ, as depicted in Revelation
6:9-11, were obviously conscious as they cried out for divine
justice on their behalf. (For further study, see Are
the Dead Conscious?).
Death Involves the Continuity of Human
Family Relationships
Our
Mormon friends subscribe to the doctrine of “celestial” marriage. This
is the notion that marriage is not for time only, it is for eternity as
well—for those who reach the highest degree of exaltation (Smith 1952,
section 132). But this dogma is woefully at variance with the testimony
of Jesus. Certain Sadducees posed a problem for the Lord: A woman had
been married successively to seven brothers during her lifetime. Whose
wife would she thus be in the resurrection? Christ responded: “You do
err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the
resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as
angels in heaven” (Matthew 22:29, 30). The marriage relationship
does not obtain in heaven.
There Is No Recognition after Death
Some
allege that there will not be any remembrance of earthly relationships
in heaven. Supposedly, heaven’s citizens could not be happy with the
awareness that unredeemed loved ones are not there. However, the Bible
presents solid evidence that there will be recognition in the celestial
region. The Old Testament patriarchs fully expected to be reunited with
their redeemed loved ones (Genesis 25:8; 37:35; 2 Samuel 12:23).
The Lord promised that we will fellowship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 8:11). Will one know when that
promise is realized? If so, then the patriarchs will be recognized. And
if we will know them, it is certain they will know each other! I have
discussed this topic at greater length elsewhere (Jackson 1987, 1-3).
Death Constitutes a Period of Probation
and Preparation
A number
of religious groups advocate concepts which suggest the possibility of
preparation for eternity after death. Roman Catholicism, for example,
has the doctrine of purgatory—the place where souls are supposedly
purged of sin before they enter heaven. Mormonism advocates the notion
of “baptism for the dead.” Charles T. Russell, founder of the “Jehovah’s
Witnesses,” argued that salvation is not “confined to the present life”
(1912, 9ff). But there is no truth in these vain hopes.
After
death, there is only the prospect of judgment—not a further opportunity
for obedience (Hebrews 9:27). In the parable of the virgins,
Jesus taught that in whatever condition one goes to “sleep,” i.e., dies,
in exactly that same state he will meet the bridegroom (Matthew
25:1-13). Moreover, there is a permanent, impassible chasm between
the place of punishment and that of reward, and no man can cross it
(Luke 16:26). There is no post-mortem plan of salvation. Now is the
day of redemption (2 Corinthians 6:2).
It Is Possible to Communicate with
the Dead
According
to recent surveys, more than half of all Americans believe they have
been in contact with someone who has died. But the Bible teaches that
the dead have no knowledge at all as to what is transpiring upon this
earth (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6; cf. Isaiah 63:16). If the rich man of
Luke 16 could have communicated with his brothers on earth, he surely
would have done so (Luke 16:27-31), but he was powerless to reach
them. The fact of the matter is, the Scriptures condemn even an attempt
to contact the dead (cf. Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Leviticus 19:31; 20:6,
27).
Death Is the Final and Permanent State of
the Body
The
ancient Sadducees denied the ultimate resurrection of the human body
(Matthew 22:23). Their modern counterparts, the advocates of
“realized eschatology,” are similarly deceived. Max King alleges that
the resurrection discussed in 1 Corinthians 15 is merely a
“resurrection” of the Christian cause from a period of intense Jewish
persecution, and that such resurrection was fulfilled in A.D. 70 with
the fall of Judaism (1987, 429ff). A more perverted concept cannot be
imagined.
The Bible
affirms that our resurrection from the dead on the “last day” (cf.
John 11:24) will be analogous to the Lord’s bodily resurrection
(see 1 Corinthians 15:20; cf. Philippians 3:20). Actually, Paul puts
the denial of a future bodily resurrection in the same category as a
repudiation of the resurrection of Christ himself (1 Corinthians
15:13-16). What are the consequences of proclaiming such a heresy?
How
tragic that there are so many false ideas regarding death. It is
incumbent upon the serious Bible student to study the sacred Scriptures
so that he does not fall into any of these fallacious views.
REFERENCES
·
Allen, Steve. 1990. Steve Allen on the Bible,
Religion, and Morality. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus.
·
Eddy, Mary Baker. n.d. Science and Health with Key to
the Scriptures. Boston, MA: First Church of Christ, Scientist.
·
Jackson, Wayne. 1987. Does Personal Recognition Exist
Beyond Death? Christian Courier, May, Vol. 23, No. 1.
·
Jackson, Wayne. 1994. Genesis and Degeneration. Christian
Courier, May, Vol. 30, No. 1.
·
King, Max R. 1987. The Cross and The Parousia of
Christ. Warren, OH: Parkman Rd. Church of Christ.
·
Russell, Charles T. 1912. Russell-White Debate.
Cincinnati, OH: F. L. Rowe Publisher.
·
Smith, Joseph, Jr. 1952. Doctrine & Covenants.
Salt Lake City, UT: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Acts
17:25; Genesis 2:17; Romans 5:12; Romans 8:20-22; Psalm 90:10; Hebrews
9:27; 2 Corinthians 5:10; James 2:26; Revelation 1:18, 20:13, 14; Luke
16:19-31; Luke 23:43; Daniel 12:2; Revelation 6:9-11; Matthew 22:29, 30;
Genesis 25:8, 37:35; 2 Samuel 12:23; Matthew 8:11; Matthew 25:1-13; Luke
16:26; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6; Isaiah 63:16; Luke 16;
Luke 16:27-31; Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Leviticus 19:31, 20:6, 27; Matthew
22:23; 1 Corinthians 15; John 11:24; 1 Corinthians 15:20; Philippians
3:20; 1 Corinthians 15:13-16
Other Articles by Wayne Jackson
Will Heaven be on
Earth?
Is the Restoration Plea
Valid?
Are We Under Law or Grace?
Apostasy - A Clear and Ever
Present Danger
Three
Dimensions of Love
What is Truth? A Question
for the Ages
The Challenge of Agape Love
That Mysterious Disciple
The Value of the Kingdom of Heaven
Did the Early Church Observe the
Lord's Supper Daily?
- Caffin,
B.C. (1950), II Peter – Pulpit Commentary, H.D.M. Spence
and Joseph Exell, eds. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans).
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