I. The American cultures view of death
Note: since America is so vast in religion, there are many vies on the subject of death and time will only permit a few to be mentioned this morning.
1. The Atheist’s view
When asking an Atheist about eternity, life after death and the wonderful possibilities it may hold, they will respond like this, “The grave is the end of all men, we are just another animal that is born, lives and then dies and there is absolutely nothing afterwards.”
What a sad statement.
2. The reincarnationist’s view
Many of the Eastern cultures have influenced Americans in the last forty years; among them are the Buddhist, and the Hindus who hold to a different view of life after death. The view of choice among the adherents of the mentioned groups is “reincarnation” or dying and coming back as someone or something else.
3. The traditional view of Christianity
Which holds to the truths of scripture, that teaches that all men will be resurrected from the dead, all will be changed from the state of the living and be (equipped) if you will for an eternity in one of two places, heaven or hell.
This is the point of interest for those who long for the change that is appointed us that believe and worship the risen saviour.
II. The Bibles perspective on death
1. It’s by Appointment
Job 14:5
5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
The Hebrew term for appoint asah {aw-saw’} to appoint, ordain, institute
Hebrews 9:27
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
The Greek term for appointed apokeimai {ap-ok’-i-mahee} reserved for one,
The Reformation Scholars view of God’s Sovereignty rings clear in the realm of death, but also we shall see shortly that it’s also true in the arena of Soteriology.
A. For all men
It may be said of death, “He is the most non decrement entity in the whole of God’s creation.”
2. It’s ever man’s just reward
Romans 5:12
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:
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Note: reader, there is also one other biblical truth that is worthy mentioning at this time. Hell is also every man’s just reward: Christ offers every man with out discrimination JUSTICE and to some He offers Salvation by Grace and mercy, which is His to dispense as He sees fit.
3. It’s the only venue to eternity
The only healthy way to view death is through scripture and as it reveals its mysteries we find these truths:
A. Death is a door way leading to another life
B. Death is something for some to fear and others to seek (spiritually)
2 Corinthians 5:2
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
For the dear Saint of God there is a longing that is indescribable, even in my on soul there is a groaning, longing and a waiting for something more than what this life can offer.
Squire Parsons summed up the intent of Paul’s discourse on this subject this way.
“I’m kind of home sick for a country to which I’ve never been before; No sad good byes there will be spoken for time won’t matter any more. Beulah Land I’m longing for you, and someday, on thee I’ll stand; there my home shall be eternal. Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land.”
C. God finds favor in the death of His Saints
Psalm 116:15
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Note: Reformed Theology teaches that God is not the author of sin, but that God uses the sinfulness of man to bring about His purpose. Therefore it must be concluded that death is not a sin but a result of sin and God uses this for His sovereign purpose; to bring His children into His presence: “To be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8
Quote:
Angels, joyful to attend, Hov’ring, round thy pillow bend; Wait to catch the signal giv’n,
And escort thee quick to heav’n. Saints in glory perfect made, Wait thy passage through the shade; Ardent for thy coming o’er, See, they throng the blissful shore.
AUGUSTUS MONTAGUE TOPLADY
D. God finds nothing pleasing in the death of the lost
Ezekiel 33:11
11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
4. Death is not final but only temporary
Job 14:10-15
10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? 11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: 12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
Note: The scriptures do not teach soul sleep but on the contrary they teach and we view the teachings as the bodies as being only asleep and the eternal soul is taken into one of two places (reference Luke 16) and as long as the mortal body lies in the ground it waits for a change.
As the Master taught in Luke’s gospel the reality of death and eternity is summed up in the abiding place of the soul; one either waits for the resurrection in heaven among the heavenly hosts of God or he waits in torment among the dreadful screams of pain and torment of the eternally damned.
Sadly, Biblical soteriology teaches that many will die and enter into this place of eternal torment.
A. The body is hidden in the ground until an appointed time in which God will restore that which has been destroyed.
Note: I shared with this congregation some time back an illustration about the resurrection of Christ, were I stated, “Even after the eons of time has passed and the body is nothing more than dust and perhaps a tree may grow in the very place your body was laid, that tree nor the ground will hinder you from the trumpet call of God; dear friend you will rise up, Rise up out of the depths of the ground to forever be with the Lord who saved you by His marvelous grace.
III. The reality of the Resurrection
No matter if one is pre or post millennial, the truth is we Know with assurance that Christ is coming again, and all we can do, at best is assume a time, for no man knows the day nor the hour.
1. The promise of the resurrection given in scripture
Job 19:25-27
25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
As one of the oldest biblical writings in scripture, Job knew with certainty that he personally would see Jehovah God in his flesh. He may not have understood the “Mystery” that was revealed to Paul but he knew: (1 that God was alive and well, (2 that he would see him and not another.
Daniel 12:2
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.
2. The Necessity of the Resurrection
A. Christ died that all may live
1 Corinthians 15:12-34, Paul gives a rather lengthy dissertation on this subject that gives the reader understanding to the truth revealed; (1 Christ died and was resurrected, (2 All men die and will be resurrected because of Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:21-22
21 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.
B. Christ is the beginning and end of the resurrection
There would be some who would say that Christ is the “means” for the resurrection, and rightly so, but He is also the beginning or the start of the process not in time but in eternity. Also Christ is the very end of the resurrection, in Him all things move and have their being.
C. Christ is the full revelation of biblical truth
Christ, the resurrection and all promises of the Bible must be completed before the end has come. For one to assume anything else would leave scripture unfulfilled, and Christ’s whole mission undone.
3. The climax of the Resurrection
Daniel 12:2
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.
John 5:28-29
28 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.
A. The resurrection of the damned
The doctrine of Reprobation cannot be removed from scripture; it is chiseled into the very pages of holy writ; yet many scholars move past the mention of it because of its dreadful thought, nevertheless it is there. But let us focus on the effects of the resurrection and the end.
Revelation 20:12-15
a. The damned will receive a body designed for an eternity in hell
There are some who have received the teaching of annihilation, were the person will simply burn into nothingness in hell. Scripture doesn’t warrant such a teaching, but on the contrary it teaches eternal punishment in hell.
B. The Resurrection of the righteous
Revelation 20:6
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
a. The act of the resurrection
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
(1 The dead in Christ shall rise first
There will be a great physical change takes place, whereby this corrupt body is changed into an incorruptible body and this mortal shall put on immortality.
(2 Those that are alive and remain
Mr. William Walford sums up this event this way:
“This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise to seize the everlasting prize”
Sweet hour of prayer
In Conclusion:
We have seen the whole scheme of the resurrection and how it will end for both the saved by grace and the lost. But in closing we must say there is a way to escape eternal damnation and His name is Jesus.
John 11:25-26
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
