? What is Death

? What is Death

Simply: Separation from God “Jesus”

Who is LIFE

The subject of death has been a mystery that has been misunderstood since its conception in Genesis 2:17 when God said, “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.” The world’s understanding of death is skewed in their definition. In addition, preachers and scholars have incorrectly taught about death—they come close, but close is not good enough. Just go to FBT.org and look at Bill Monroe’s message on February 19,2012, entitled “As Water Is Spilt upon the Ground.” Based on 2 Samuel 14, he believes there are three types of deaths that the Bible speaks of:

1. Physical Death - Separation of the Soul and Spirit from God.

2. Spiritual Death - Separation from God by Sin before Salvation.

3. Eternal Death - Separation from God in Hell for all of eternity.

So, let’s talk about these three deaths supposedly spoken of in the Bible:

Physical Death

The term “physical death” is a partially correct statement. When one dies physically, the soul of man leaves the body for a person that doesn’t know Jesus and goes to an eternal hell. For a saved person, the soul and Spirit of God leave the body to go and be with the Lord in Heaven. You see, it is assumed that the soul and spirit of man are one, but they’re not. At the very moment Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they died! If they didn’t die at that moment, then God is a liar.

Spiritual Death

To acquire a spiritual death (to be separated from God on this earth), it is assumed that one must sin by either thinking, saying, or doing something against God. This is also false. Every person born since Adam and Eve has been born a sinner separated from God at birth. Preachers and Scholars teach that there is a passage of time, a time of innocence, before one commits a sin where the person understands that they have committed a sin. They teach that until that time, the child is accountable. They use the story of the death of David’s son, a baby, died because of David’s sin with Bathsheba.

2 Samuel 12:23 – But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

But preachers who teach such have left out one important event in putting their thoughts into context and that was the Cross. The event that happened with David was before the Cross. David knew how to come to God with a blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin. God was extremely specific about how to find forgiveness for sin in the Old Testament. That was how David knew he was going to see his son in Heaven.

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.

The verse above is true because all have been born a sinner.

Eternal Death

When a person is born into this world, they are already dead, waiting to be judged for never having believed in Jesus and in what He did at the Cross. They are cast into Hell to await the second death—being cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity. All you must do is read your Bible in-order to understand Scripture and put it into context. This makes me wonder how in the world could they get it wrong.

Revelation 20:14 – And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

This does not happen until after the Rapture, after the Tribulation, after the Thousand Year Reign of Christ on the earth, and after Satan is let loose for a season. Only then will Satan, Death, and Hell, and all that were in Hell stand before the Great White Throne of Judgment and will be all cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity.

These types of death taught by our preachers and scholars today are corrected by me, but in so teaching what they have taught, they made God a liar. When God told Adam that in the day he ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil he would die, God meant exactly what He said. Here’s a quote: “Since they had never experienced evil, Adam and Eve were like innocent children (Deut. 1:39; Isa. 7:15-16). When they disobeyed God, they became like Him in being able to discriminate between good and evil; but they became unlike Him in that they lost their sinlessness and eventually died. But why did God have to test Adam and Eve? There may be many answers to that question, but one thing is sure: God wanted humans to love and obey Him freely and willingly and not because they were programmed like robots that had to obey. In one sense, God "took a risk" when He made Adam and Eve in His own image and gave them the privilege of choice; but this is the way He ordained for them to learn about freedom and obedience. It's one of the basic truths of life that obedience brings blessing and disobedience brings judgment.”[1]

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.

I could have used anyone of today’s Bible Expositors and Commentaries as an example and proved that they had gotten it wrong. It is hard to contradict our great leaders of the faith, but they are just men like you and me. I am not perfect, and even though they are right on 95% of their teaching, it is the 5% I believe the Lord is trying to correct.

Now let me give you the world’s definition of death. Then we will come back to the Bible’s teaching on the subject.

Death - Ideas about what constitutes death vary with different cultures and in different epochs. In Western societies, death has traditionally been seen as the departure of the soul from the body. In tradition, the essence of being human is independent of physical properties. Because the soul has no corporeal manifestation, its departure cannot be seen or otherwise objectively determined; hence, in this tradition, the cessation of breathing has been taken as the sign of death.

In modern times, death has been thought to occur when the vital functions cease—breathing and circulation (as evidenced by the beating of the heart). This view has been challenged, however, as medical advances have made it possible to sustain respiration and cardiac functioning through mechanical means. Thus, more recently, the concept of brain death has gained acceptance. In this view, the irreversible loss of brain activity is the sign that death has occurred. A majority of the states in the United States had accepted brain death as an essential sign of death by the late 1980s.

Even the concept of brain death has been challenged in recent years because a person can lose all capacity for higher mental functioning while lower-brain functions, such as spontaneous respiration, continue. For this reason, some authorities now argue that death should be considered the loss of capacity for consciousness or social interaction. The sign of death, according to this view, is the absence of activity in the higher centers of the brain, principally the neocortex.

Society’s conception of death is of more academic interest. Rapidly advancing medical technology has raised moral questions and introduced new problems in defining death legally. Among the issues being debated are the following: Who shall decide the criteria for death—physicians, legislatures, or each person for him- or herself? Is advancement of the moment of death by cutting off artificial support morally and legally permissible? Do people have the right to demand that extraordinary measures be stopped so that they may die in peace? Can the next of kin or a legal guardian act for the comatose dying person under such circumstances? All these questions have acquired new urgency with the advent of human tissue transplantation. The need for organs must be weighed against the rights of the dying donor.

As a result of such questions, a number of groups have sought to establish an individual’s “right to die”, particularly through the legal means of “living wills” in which an individual confers the right to withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment upon family members or legal figures. By 1991, 40 states in the United States had recognized validity of some form of living-will arrangement, although complex questions remain to be settled in all instances.[2]

The definition of death by the world’s standards is purely physical as you can see by reading the first paragraph in the above quote. Reading the quote above, you will see that, because they cannot see the soul, then such a thing may not exist. Therefore, in their minds, life consists only of a heart beating or monitored brain waves. The body becomes just spare parts to be used by someone else which has need of them.

Now I want to come back to the God’s perspective, on the subject of death. Death is simply being separated from God. God is life. Everything about Him is life, and to be separated from Him is death. Now if God didn’t move out of Adam and Adam and didn’t die the day they ate from the forbidden fruit, then why is it that God has to move back into man in order for man to have life?

Revelation 3:20 – Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. You see Jesus is LIFE!

John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Death has been one of the most misunderstood concepts in the Bible, not to mention the world. When most people talk of death, they speak of a physical death and have no real reality or understanding of a spiritual death. Man will do anything to save his physical life with no thought of the spiritual part of his being. God told Adam that he would die in the day he ate of the forbidden fruit. He meant exactly what He said.

Let us get this right for once and for all! God was not speaking of Adam’s physical body, but at the very instant the Holy Spirit moved out of Adam for the very first time, he was separated from God. He died. Death is separation from God, from He who sustains life, because apart from Him, we are dead and have no life.

Adam was made in the image of God, having a body, a soul, and a spirit—a triune being.

Genesis 1:27 – So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Adam and Eve were the only two beings created in God’s image, and after the Fall, they were no longer in God’s image. Now, they only have a body, soul, and a conscience, not a spirit. Let us nail this down once and for all. Adam and Eve always had a conscience, but they just did not have knowledge of evil until they ate the forbidden fruit and knowledge of evil was imputed on them.

Genesis 5:3 – And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.

Adam was a fallen creature, and his son Seth was now born in Adam’s image, having a body, a soul and a conscience, but not in God’s image which would mean he would have a body, a soul, and a Spirit which is “GOD”.

Death is a product of Sin. Lucifer’s attempt to overthrow God because he did not think he needed God, got Satan separated from God or kicked out of Heaven. He died…for eternity. Unlike Satan who was separated from God forever, along with a third of the angels of heaven, Adam was given a way to come back to God. We call that the atonement or better yet at-one-ment with God. God is not worried about the physical death of man, because man is to worry about his soul, not his body:

Matthew 10:28 – 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.

Luke 12:4 – And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

This brings me to a saying that is taught to be true, but one I disagree with. Here it is: “Born once, die twice. Born twice, die once and maybe not once if we’re raptured.” I heard this saying twice before I had time to think about it, once in a message and another in a home Bible course I was taking. I did not agree with it, but I did not quite know what to do about it.

The saying refers first to the unsaved who are born physically, but not born-again spiritually, so will die twice: physically and spiritually. The second part refers to believers who have been born-again spiritually and who will only die once, physically, and maybe not even that if they are Raptured.

Now, let us talk about why I disagree with this statement. First, a person is born dead, born separated from God. You cannot die twice (physical and spiritual death) if you are already born spiritually dead. You see the emphasis is on the physical aspect of death? The Lord said not to worry about the body. And what do we do with God’s Word that says that you will only die once?

Hebrews 9:27 – And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

John 11:26 – And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

We get this born twice deal when Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be born again:

John 3:3–Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

God was speaking of a spiritual life when He said, “Ye must be born again,” because Nicodemus only knew of being born physically in his life. “Physical death” is the weapon by which Satan keeps his children in line. It is the last hold he has on man, because he knows that man will trade everything for physical life, even his soul.

Job 2:4 – And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

See, Satan has the power to kill the body.

Hebrews 2:14 – 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.

If Satan can kill your body before you are born again, then you will be forever separated from God. That is his goal—for us to fall to the same fate he has.

There is a second death, but first we need to answer the question of what the first death is. This death happened at the moment Adam ate the forbidden fruit. There are two possible endings to the first death.

The first scenario is one where man lives out his physical life for himself and never acknowledges Jesus in his time here on earth. This person then finds that he is on his way to an eternal Hell. That person will remain in Hell until he is cast into the Lake of Fire which is the second death.

Revelation 20:7-15 – And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11And 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. 12And 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. 13And 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.14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 19:20 – And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

The beast and the false prophet will enjoy the confines of the Lake of Fire, waiting for the day when their master will join them a thousand years later after the millennium of peace here on earth.

Revelation 20:10 – And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

We will not finish seeing the power of death until it is all said and done here on earth. Our lord tells us who it is who will not inherit the kingdom of God and of those not written in the Book of Life.

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.

But let us get back to the first death. In the first scenario, man dies physically and is separated from God for eternity, but the second scenario, and most important to man, is death to self here on earth before the physical death or the rapture. Death to self brings life.

1 Corinthians 15:35-36 – But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

John 12:24-25 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

So, in order to have life, one must lose it. Man must die to self!

Lucifer repeatedly said, “I will.”

Isaiah 14:13-15 – For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

“I will” is the epitome of self or what Jesus calls Sin: Self Independent Nature, which brought separation from God, which is death. Sin brought death. Adam’s Self Independent Nature brought death.

Hopefully, this book will explain some things that people would normally know after studying the Word of God for themselves. Satan uses death to his advantage, because man is so concerned with this world and their physical well-being to the point of trading their body for their soul. Satan has a grip on a person’s life by using the lust of man against him. In the end, they only find death for their efforts.

James 1:14-15 – But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

It may seem a little narrow minded for Jesus to claim that He is the only way to life. But He is God, and only when we die physically do we find out if He was telling the truth. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. If so, then believe what He says.

John 5:24-25 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

Ephesians 2:5 – Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

1 John 5:12 – He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

If you do not have life, then you are dead!

This reminds me of the TV Series “The Walking Dead.” The show is a perfect example of our state of being. We are born the walking dead until Jesus makes us alive—for the few who get saved.

If you read God’s Word and put everything in order, it is really, quite simple. First, God created everything exactly the way they are today. When God came to make Adam, He took the dirt from the earth and God breathed life into Adam, and he became a living soul. God then planted a garden “a Heaven here on Earth”, which was a closed environment, a perfect environment, with only plants and trees to look at and eat from. It was free of poisonous plants, insects, birds, fish, reptiles, and animals. The only thing in the garden that had any evil in it was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that God had forbidden Adam to eat from. God then allowed Satan in the Garden to tempt Adam and Eve. In the book of Job, God asked Satan where he had been, and Satan said going to and fro upon the earth.

Job 1:6-12 – Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So, Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

We should read our Bible and understand what God says to us concerning our nature to be independent of God, which is impossible because we are His created creatures.

Genesis 2:7-9 – 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. 8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 3:23 states that Adam was cast out of the Garden and was sent back to where he was taken: “Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.”

I am not trying to throw the church and those that lead it under the bus. Christ is the head of the church, and I am a part of it and in the body of it. Yet our leaders have got it wrong, particularly those that teach and believe that Adam’s sin had anything to do with the way every plant and animal are born and formed in our world today. The book we call our Bible is about us and our present state and what caused it. It is not everything about our past. It is about life, due to our being born dead because of Adam.

You may wonder what this has to do with anything. Well, if you do not understand sin, how can you understand death, which is caused by sin? If you do not understand those, then how can you understand the Cross, which reconciles us back to God through Jesus? Sin is our relationship to Christ, our position. It is not something you think, say, or do, which is only the byproduct of sin! Like butter is to milk.

The photo below, If your a Christian would be the Soul of a person and the Spirit of God "Jesus" on your way to Paradise "Heaven on earth" until the Judgement seat of Christ.

[1] Bible Exposition Commentary (BE Series) - Old Testament - The Bible Exposition Commentary – Pentateuch. [2] Microsoft, Encarta, Encyclopedia 2001. 1993-2000 Microsoft Corporation.