by Wendell Tenison
INTRODUCTION:
There are several unanswerable questions about death, many
of which relate to what was in the mind of God before the creation
of the earth. The division of times, law, and events ultimately
brought Jesus Christ his Son into the world as the saviour of
mankind. For instance, would Adam and Eve have lived forever had
they not sinned? However, before their fall, God told them to
multiply, replenish the earth and subdue it (Gen. 1:28). This
means Adam and Eve would have reproduced, sin or no sin.
The following verses shed some light on the subject:
(Ephesians 1:4) "According as he hath chosen us in him
before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blame before him in love:"
(2 Timothy 1:9) "Who hath saved us, and called us with
an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to
his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus
before the world began,"
(Titus 1:2) "In hope of eternal life, which God, that
cannot lie, promised before the world began;"
(1 Peter 1:19-20) "But with the precious blood of Christ,
as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: {20} Who verily
was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest
in these last times for you,"
All of the above verses clearly prove that God had conceived the
idea of a savior and eternal life before the creation.
Death is divided into two parts, the physical and spiritual.
We will learn that sin is the underlying current which motivates
death and results in the subsequent departure of man from both
physical and spiritual life. The fear of dying has always been
man's greatest tormentor. Until the knowledge and revelation of
the hidden mysteries given through Christ in his holy word, God
hid some of the mysteries of death from man as well as many other
things. By the understanding God has given unto us, man's fears
have quieted to a great degree. However, man for the most part
has chosen to remain illiterate in the knowledge and revelation
of Jesus the Christ and thereby death remains an unconquerable
vexation of his spirit.
Now comes the question about the death of the beast and all
other living creatures. There is absolutely nothing said as to
why the animals should die. In the beginning, Adam's food was
wholly vegetables and herbs and it wasn't until after the flood
that man began to eat meat.
(Genesis 9:1-4) "And God blessed Noah and his sons, and
said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
{2} And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every
beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that
moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into
your hand are they delivered. {3} Every moving thing that liveth
shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you
all things. {4} But flesh with the life thereof, which is the
blood thereof, shall ye not eat."
Since man did not die immediately after his transgression, when
did the animals begin to die? The first record of dead animals
are found in Genesis 3:21, where God made clothes for Mr. and
Mrs. Adam from skins, which were leather garments. From the commandments
God gave to Moses regarding dead animals, it would appear that
God killed the animals rather that using the skin of a dead one.
This must have been the first death of an animal. Until the flood,
man and animal coexisted in peace.
(Genesis 3:21) "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the
LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them."
God in his wisdom gives us unmistakable understanding regarding
the death of man and beast.
(Ecclesiastes 3:19-21) "For that which befalleth the
sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as
the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath;
so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
{20} All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn
to dust again. {21} Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward,
and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?"
Another question concerning the birth rate of man and beast
after the flood is partially answered in the following verse:
(Deuteronomy 7:22) "And the LORD thy God will put out
those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not
consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon
thee."
Of course this has reference to God's chosen entering into the
promised land. It appears the population of animals at that time
were a nuisance to man and would have been a serious threat, had
God not structured their entry into the land the way he did.
Death is an institution personified, created by God for his
will and purpose. It may be compared to the institution of marriage
regarding God's creation and termination of them.
(Mark 12:23-25) "In the resurrection therefore, when
they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven
had her to wife. {24} And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye
not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither
the power of God? {25} For when they shall rise from the dead,
they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the
angels which are in heaven."
(Revelation 21:4) "And God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow,
nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former
things are passed away."
Because of sin being introduced into the world by the first
of God's creation in his image, the powerful jaws of death separate
man from his mate whom God gave him and the enjoyment of his life.
Not only physical death, but spiritual death also separates man
from his creator, as the spiritually dead walk in the darkness
of sin and despair. But, now in Christ, man can be reconciled
to awake from the dead to walk in the glorious light of the gospel
of Christ. The most feared of all by the separation of death is
that eternal exile from God forever, which is the second death,
everlasting fire.
The common denominator of spiritual separation (death) from
God is sin. Is there a common denominator of the physical separation
of man? If there is, it would be the earth, upon which God placed
a curse.
Genesis 3:17-19) "And unto Adam he said, Because thou
hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the
tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of
it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat
of it all the days of thy life; {18} Thorns also and thistles
shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the
field; {19} In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till
thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for
dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."
It is possible that the reason man had a life-span of hundreds
of years before the flood, is that he was a vegetarian. As already
noted, he did not eat meat until after the flood. Strong scientific
evidence has shown that meat is not good for our diet. However,
there are some who are not very strict in their diets and they
live longer than some who are very conservative. The old adage
is true, we are what we eat.
God has determined the average life-span of man to be about 70-80
years.
(Psalms 90:10) "The days of our years are threescore
years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore
years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon
cut off, and we fly away."
The following verses will be the focal point of our discussions:
(1 Corinthians 15:52-56) "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.
{53} For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal
must put on immortality. {54} 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. {55} O death, where is thy sting?
O grave, where is thy victory? {56} The sting of death is sin;
and the strength of sin is the law."
Our discussion will commence at the beginning of the bible and
stop at the end.
(Genesis 2:16-17) "And the LORD God commanded the man,
saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: {17}
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt
not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt
surely die."
There are at least sixteen other laws given to the patriarchs
in the books of Genesis and Exodus, but this is the first commandment
with recourse. At the time of this commandment given to Adam,
he was alone in the garden. It is not known whether Adam relayed
this command to Eve, or God gave it to her. Adam could have eaten
of the tree of life, but obviously he did not, because God drove
him from the garden and placed a flaming sword to prevent him
from eating of it.
(Genesis 3:24) "So he drove out the man; and he placed
at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword
which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."
There was something contained in the tree of life that would
perpetuate life:
(Revelation 22:2) "In the midst of the street of it,
and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which
bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month:
and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."
The bottom line was, you sin (eat the forbidden fruit), you die.
One valuable lesson we learn from these texts is that God does
not always render his justice immediately. Adam lived to be nine
hundred and thirty years.
(Genesis 5:5) "And all the days that Adam lived were
nine hundred and thirty years: and he died."
Neither are all the promises of God fulfilled immediately.
(2 Peter 3:3-4) "Knowing this first, that there shall
come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
{4} And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since
the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from
the beginning of the creation."
(Romans 7:23-25) "But I see another law in my members,
warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity
to the law of sin which is in my members. {24} O wretched man
that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? {25}
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind
I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."
The law of sin exists because of the introduction of the commandments
of God. Sin is simply the law of God transgressed; therefore,
it is called the law of sin. Since we all transgress the commandments
of God, the law of sin is working in our bodies trying to overthrow
the righteousness of those who are obedient to God. However, the
law of God is superior to the law of sin and therefore we may
prevail over sin by the blood of Christ.
(Romans 5:12) "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:"
(1 Corinthians 15:21-22) "For since by man came death,
by man came also the resurrection of the dead. {22} For as in
Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."
Sin by one man (Adam) entered into the world and as a result,
death passed upon all. Without law, sin would be dead.
(Romans 7:8) "But sin, taking occasion by the commandment,
wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law
sin was dead."
The wages of sin is death:
(Romans 6:23) "For the wages of sin is death; but the
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
(Romans 3:23) "For all have sinned, and come short of
the glory of God;"
The three things in the world which Satan uses as a barrier around
our hearts to discourage obedience to God are:
(1 John 2:16) "For all that is in the world, the lust
of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,
is not of the Father, but is of the world."
Lust in our hearts is the primer for sin.
(James 1:15) "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth
forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
Therefore, sin as an enemy is personified in the third person
plural.
There is no scripture which refers to "the law of death."
However, the scripture does refer to "the law of sin and
death":
(Romans 8:2) "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
It should be noted that Rom. 8:2 sqq, has to do with the commandments
(law of Moses), whereby sin was working through the commandments
which were weak in the flesh (Rom. 8:3), thereby working death
(spiritual) by that which was good (the law).
(Romans 7:7-13) "What shall we say then? is the law sin?
God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had
not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
{8} But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me
all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
{9} For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment
came, sin revived, and I died. {10} And the commandment, which
was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. {11} For sin,
taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew
me. {12} Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy,
and just, and good. {13} Was then that which is good made death
unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working
death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment
might become exceeding sinful."
The apostle here has reference to the time when he reached the
age of accountability to know right from wrong. As stated before,
the law of sin and death had its origin in the garden of Eden.
Death is also personified, but in the third person singular:
(Revelation 6:8) "And I looked, and behold a pale horse:
and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with
him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the
earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and
with the beasts of the earth."
The law of separation by physical death is binding upon all and
cannot be annulled.
(Hebrews 9:27) "And as it is appointed unto men once
to die, but after this the judgment:"
Physical death can only occur when the spirit leaves the body:
(James 2:26) "For as the body without the spirit is dead,
so faith without works is dead also."
(Ecclesiastes 3:19-20) "For that which befalleth the
sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as
the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath;
so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
{20} All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn
to dust again."
(Ecclesiastes 12:7) "Then shall the dust return to the
earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave
it."
The law of separation by spiritual death is:
(Isaiah 59:2) "But your iniquities have separated between
you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that
he will not hear."
Every soul born into this world becomes separated from God when
they become aware of sin in their life and therefore become dead
in their sins.
(Ephesians 2:5) "Even when we were dead in sins, hath
quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"
After obedience to Christ they are no longer dead in their sins,
but dead to sin.
(Romans 6:2) "God forbid. How shall we, that are dead
to sin, live any longer therein?"
The progression of sin is as follows:
FIRST: Man born into the world is alive spiritually unto
God. If the small child dies before reaching the age of accountability,
he is safe in the arms of Jesus.
SECOND: After the child reaches the knowledge of right
and wrong, he then is separated from God and dies spiritually
because of his transgressions. If this one physically dies in
that condition there is no hope of reconciliation and he is judged
as unrighteous and unfit for the eternal bliss which is to come.
THIRD: When the one who is dead in his sins is reconciled
to God by obedience to him, then he is transformed out of darkness
into glorious light. He then is no longer dead in his sins, but
dead to sin.
FOURTH: He may die physically in the Lord and be saved
(Rev. 14:13), or he may depart from God again and become in a
state of deep slumber, spiritually dead again. If he dies in that
condition he will be eternally lost, cast into the lake of fire
which is the second death. On the other hand, after he becomes
separated from God spiritually the second time, he can by repentance
be restored back again into the grace of God.
To sum it up briefly, whatever condition one physically dies in,
whether spiritually alive in Christ or spiritually dead in sin,
his destiny is determined by his own choice. After one dies his
fate is set, determined by his works whether they be good or bad.
FIFTH: The final separation from God in the judgment is
only due to man's rejection of God's holy commandments.
(Revelation 20:14) "And death and hell were cast into
the lake of fire. This is the second death."
(Revelation 21:8) "But the fearful, and unbelieving,
and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers,
and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake
which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
Once reconciled unto God, who can separate us?
(Romans 8:38-39) "For I am persuaded, that neither death,
nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come, {39} Nor height, nor depth, nor any
other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Job 2:6) "And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is
in thine hand; but save his life."
Satan did have the power to take the life of Job, but was forbidden
by God. It is unclear if or when Satan actually exercised this
power. Until the resurrection of Christ, man lived without the
hope of release from the bondage of the grave and Satan was the
master in control. But now in Christ, we are able to undergo death
fearlessly.
(Hebrews 2:14-15) "Forasmuch then as the children are
partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part
of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had
the power of death, that is, the devil; {15} And deliver them
who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
The above reading is a confirmation of what our Lord had to say
regarding the decline of the powers of Satan.
(John 12:31) "Now is the judgment of this world: now
shall the prince of this world be cast out."
From Thayer, p. 192: "Namely to wit out of the world i.e.
be deprived of the power and influence he exercises in the world."
Otherwise Satan could destroy the church that Jesus built by eliminating
her members.
(John 14:30) "Hereafter I will not talk much with you:
for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me."
(Isaiah 26:19) "Thy dead men shall live, together with
my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in
dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall
cast out the dead."
(Isaiah 28:15-18) "Because ye have said, We have made
a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when
the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come
unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood
have we hid ourselves: {16} Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD,
Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone,
a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth
shall not make haste. {17} Judgment also will I lay to the line,
and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away
the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
{18} And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your
agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge
shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it."
(Ezekiel 31:14) "To the end that none of all the trees
by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot
up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand
up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered
unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of
the children of men, with them that go down to the pit."
(Psalms 49:14) "Like sheep they are laid in the grave;
death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion
over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the
grave from their dwelling."
(2 Timothy 1:10) "But is now made manifest by the appearing
of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:"
It is quite obvious that physical death has not been abolished,
but Christ through the glorious light of the gospel has freed
us from the bondage of spiritual death unto spiritual life and
covenant relationship with God.
(Luke 16:19-24) "There was a certain rich man, which
was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every
day: {20} And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which
was laid at his gate, full of sores, {21} And desiring to be fed
with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover
the dogs came and licked his sores. {22} And it came to pass,
that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's
bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; {23} And in hell
he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar
off, and Lazarus in his bosom. {24} And he cried and said, Father
Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the
tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented
in this flame."
There is no question about it, the righteous one went to a place
of comfort and the unrighteous to a place of torment. This place
is called Hades and is divided into four parts, of which paradise
and torment are two of them.
(Luke 23:43) "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto
thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."
Immediately after the death of Christ, he went to Hades into the
place called paradise.
(2 Corinthians 12:1-4) "It is not expedient for me doubtless
to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
{2} I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether
in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot
tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
{3} And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the
body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) {4} How that he was caught
up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not
lawful for a man to utter."
Here the apostle Paul was caught up into paradise, the third heaven.
All who are in Hades are awaiting the judgment, except Christ who was
raised from the dead being the firstfruits of them that slept. It should be noted here that the paradise that Paul was caught up to is not the same paradise in Hades.
(1 Corinthians 15:20) "But now is Christ risen from the
dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept."
Those in paradise will be saved.
Hades is the receptacle for the dead, both man and the
angels. However, the angels which kept not their first estate,
God has reserved in another place in Hades called Tartarus. In the resurrection all receptacles will be emptied.
(2 Peter 2:4) "For if God spared not the angels that
sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains
of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;"
(Jude 1:6) "And the angels which kept not their first
estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting
chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."
(John 5:28-29) "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming,
in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
{29} And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection
of damnation."
(Romans 14:10-12) "But why dost thou judge thy brother?
or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand
before the judgment seat of Christ. {11} For it is written, As
I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every
tongue shall confess to God. {12} So then every one of us shall
give account of himself to God."
(2 Corinthians 5:10) "For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things
done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be
good or bad."
(Daniel 12:2) "And many of them that sleep in the dust
of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to
shame and everlasting contempt."
(Acts 2:27) "Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell,
neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
(Acts 2:31) "He seeing this before spake of the resurrection
of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh
did see corruption."
All of the above verses describe the resurrection, some to everlasting
life and some to everlasting destruction.
(1 Corinthians 15:55-56) "O death, where is thy sting?
O grave, where is thy victory? {56} The sting of death is sin;
and the strength of sin is the law."
In verse 55, the Greek rendering for "grave" is "Hades."
Thayer, at p. 11, states: "Hades as a power is personified."
Thayer, at p. 344, defines "sting" in verse 56 as: "a
sting, as that of bees, scorpions, locusts, Rev. 9:10. Since animals
wound by their sting and even cause death, Paul in 1 Cor. 15:55
attributes to death as personified, i.e. a deadly weapon that it
is said to be, because sin is death's cause and punishment."
(Revelation 1:18) "I am he that liveth, and was dead;
and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys
of hell and of death."
(Revelation 20:1) "And I saw an angel come down from
heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain
in his hand."
(Revelation 6:8) "And I looked, and behold a pale horse:
and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with
him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the
earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and
with the beasts of the earth."
The Greek New Testament renders the word "hell" as "Hades."
As Hades follows Death in his path of destruction, as a giant vacuum sweeper gobbling
up those who are slain by Death.
(Revelation 20:13) "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."
Thayer, at p. 282, says this of "the sea gave up the dead":
"It forms a periphrasis for the whole world; Acts 4:24, 14:15;
Rev. 5:13, 10:6, 14:7."
(Acts 4:24) "And when they heard that, they lifted up
their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God,
which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in
them is:"
(Acts 14:15) "And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things?
We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you
that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which
made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:"
(Revelation 5:13) "And every creature which is in heaven,
and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the
sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour,
and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."
(Revelation 10:6) "And sware by him that liveth for ever
and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are,
and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and
the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:"
(Revelation 14:7) "Saying with a loud voice, Fear God,
and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and
worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the
fountains of waters."
The sea represents the entire world because it does not say the
earth gave up the dead which were in it. Hades consists of four
parts: paradise where the righteous are gathered; the great gulf
which separates paradise from torment; torment where the unrighteous
are gathered; and Tartarus, or the abyss, or the pit, where the
angels are reserved who had fallen.
Here Hades represents only that portion of embodied
evil spirits in it.
Thayer states, at p. 283: " The inevitable necessity of dying,
shared by all men alike, takes on the popular imagination the
form of a person, a tyrant, subjugating men to his power and confining
them in his dark dominion. Hades is associated with him as his
partner. In the widest sense, death comprises all the miseries
arising from sin, as well as physical death as the loss of a life
consecrated to God and blessed in him on the earth."
(Revelation 20:14) "And death and hell were cast into
the lake of fire. This is the second death."
(Matthew 25:41) "Then shall he say also unto them on
the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels:"
(1 Corinthians 3:11-15) "For other foundation can no
man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. {12} Now if
any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, stubble; {13} Every man's work shall be made manifest:
for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by
fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it
is. {14} If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon,
he shall receive a reward. {15} If any man's work shall be burned,
he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as
by fire."
(1 Peter 1:7) "That the trial of your faith, being much
more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried
with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at
the appearing of Jesus Christ:"
Example:
If one converts ten souls to Christ and they fall away never to
return, they will be tormented in the flames of Hades. The one
being judged will suffer the loss of his good deeds, but he himself
will be saved and enter into paradise, because his righteousness
will stand the test. Therefore, he will be saved, so as by fire.
Case in point:
(Daniel 3:21-27) "Then these men were bound in their
coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments,
and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. {22}
Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace
exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took
up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. {23} And these three men,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst
of the burning fiery furnace. {24} Then Nebuchadnezzar the king
was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his
counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of
the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
{25} He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in
the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of
the fourth is like the Son of God. {26} Then Nebuchadnezzar came
near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and
said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most
high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. {27}
And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors,
being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the
fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither
were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on
them."
The righteousness of these three withstood the test of fire. Therefore,
they were saved by fire. On the other hand, those who took the
three to the furnace were slain by the enormous heat. There was
no evidence that these three had ever been in a fire. The point
is, fire both saves and destroys.
The second death (everlasting lake of fire) may or not be prepared
at this time. At any rate, it will be the final abode of the wicked.
Between physical (first) death and the second death (lake of fire)
is spiritual death. As stated before, it is man's choice to be
separated from his maker and therefore he will have his reward
in the fire that is never quenched.
CONCLUSION:
Sin is the instrument of death and Death stands between man and
immortality. When the law of God ceases to man, then will death
be terminated, because the strength of sin is the law and death
passes upon all men because of sin. Then why the law? There is
only one obvious reason; because of the love, grace and mercy
of God to forgive those who sin against him.
A simple parable might enhance our understanding:
"The sting of credit is lust and the strength of lust is
unlawful desire."
The last enemy to be destroyed will be Death, by the casting of
him into the lake of fire. Click to Return to Articles Page
(1 Corinthians 15:24-26) "Then cometh the end, when he
shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when
he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. {25}
For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
{26} The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."
(Hosea 13:14) "I will ransom them from the power of the
grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues;
O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from
mine eyes."