Death—What Is It?

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 6
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The simplest scripture defining what death is will be found in James 2:26,26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:26) "The body without the spirit is dead."
Death means the separation of life from the body.
Death is never the end of existence. This Luke 16:19-3119There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22And 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; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And 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. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:19‑31) would plainly teach.
The answer of the Lord to the Sadducees in Luke 20, when speaking of the patriarchs who had died many years before, was, "All live unto Him"-(see verse 38).
Eccl. 3:1919For 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. (Ecclesiastes 3:19) is simply all that man could know by viewing things "under the sun." God is showing in that book the utter inability of man to find out the things that belong to revelation.
The second death is the separation of the whole man from God forever. What a solemn voice of warning!
The fact of a "second death" proves that the first one was not cessation of being.
"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 2 Cor. 5:88We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8).
DEATH and judgment are behind us,
Grace and glory are before;
All the billows rolled o'er Jesus,
There they spent their utmost power.
"First-fruits" of the resurrection,
He is risen from the tomb:
Now we stand in new creation,
Free, because beyond our doom.
Jesus died, and we died with Him,
"Buried" in His grave we lay,
One with Him in resurrection,
Now "in Him" in heaven's bright day.