Death

The Bible contains hundreds of references to death. It is a formidable foe; "the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death" (1 Corinthians 15:26), but also a conquered foe: "death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Corinthians 15:54).

Jesus Christ has changed the meaning of death. The Scriptures amply support this premise.

At death, the spirit of the believing Christian enters immediately into the presence of the Lord. Physical death is but a transition from life on earth with Christ to life in heaven with Christ. Death does not alter the continuity of relationship; it only enriches it. "To be with Christ is far better" (cf.,Philippians 1:23). The Apostle confirms that the transition is immediate: We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8).

The Bible teaches that someday the "dead in Christ" are going to be resurrected, at which time we shall be given new bodies. We don't know exactly just what or how these new bodies will be, except that they will be spiritual, permanent and glorious.

At the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus, the believing dead will be resurrected and joined immediately to Him. "The dead in Christ shall rise first; 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" (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17).

Thus the Christian should be able to confront death realistically yet victoriously. Though inevitable and often unexpected, it should never completely catch us off guard. Death should never be the "great unknown" which produces fear and terror; it should be, rather, the moment when we no longer see "through a glass, darkly" but "face to face" (1 Corinthians 13:12).