Bible teaching about death is simple to understand, although it is challenging.
Death is:
To learn more about what is in the Bible, read it for yourself with the help of a free Bible Reading Guide and Planner. Copies may be requested by email using the link provided on this Web Site. (Quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible)
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The Bible states an evident truth when it declares “For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing” (Ecclesiastes 9:5). Men and women are mortal – liable to die; and will die.
We inherit this condition from our ancestor Adam, who was created a living being when God “. . . breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). However because Adam broke God's law he was sentenced to death, “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19): and in due time he died (Genesis 5:5). His descendants, all mankind since, are in “his own likeness, after his image” (Genesis 5:3) and therefore also die. The apostle Paul states this universal condition of mankind when he says “in Adam all die” (1 Corinthians 15:22). As mortal beings death is inevitable and is described thus: “Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age . . .” (Genesis 25:8). This was also true of Jesus “And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed his last” (Mark 15:37). Although Jesus never sinned, he shared our nature. However, in his case, he was raised from the dead to immortality. “I am he who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades (the grave) and of Death” (Revelation 1:18) A change of nature from mortality to immortality is essential if we are to live again for ever - “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53). Being descendants of Adam we will all die. Like him we also break God's law, knowingly or unknowingly, and without forgiveness of our sins could never live again. However, by belief, baptism and a new life we become “in Christ” and will, like Jesus be made alive at his coming. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterwards those who are Christ’s at his coming” (1 Corinthians 15:22,23). To learn more about what is in the Bible, read it for yourself with the help of a free Bible Reading Guide and Planner. Copies may be requested by email using the link provided on this Web Site. (Quotations are from the New King James version of the Bible) Angels are immortal beings (Luke 20:36), who carry out God's will to bring His purposes to fulfilment. The original words translated 'angel' mean 'messenger' (one sent). They are not normally seen by mankind, but have appeared on a number of occasions to individuals to directly inform them of God's will and intentions. On such occasions they looked like human beings. Sometimes they have been seen in glory, causing fear and even collapse (Matthew 28:2-4). Some angels are named, as Gabriel and Michael, some are senior angels described as archangels.
Their work covers three areas of particular responsibility
The book of Revelation shows angels carrying out God's judgements on the earth and its inhabitants, for example: “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete” (Revelation 15:1).
To learn more about what is in the Bible, read it for yourself with the help of a free Bible Reading Guide and Planner. Copies may be requested by email using the link provided on this Web Site. (Quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible) The sole record of the life and teachings of the Lord Jesus, also known as Jesus Christ, is to be found in the Bible, from which we learn:
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