Biblical Perspective on Death

Dying is part of life.

Every human must face death, and there is no escaping it. Since the entering of sin into the world, death is an inevitable factor. “A time to be born, and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:2). It is God Himself who has established this penalty. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrews 9:27). Sooner or later, every person will face death. “Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth” (1 Kings 2:1-2). The Bible even reveals the approximate time frame for most people. “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10). A Christian does not have to inordinately fight death or refuse to accept it. Although medical advances are nice, some groups or efforts seem to refuse to accept the reality that every person will die of something.

God controls life and death.

God alone is the giver of life. “The earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them” (Nehemiah 9:6). God is the one who starts life, and God is the one who ends life. Ultimately this determination rests with a sovereign God. “The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up” (1 Samuel 2:6). Individuals can be assured that the time of their own death or that of a loved one is within the power and control of God; it is not a random twist of fate or a matter of chance. “My times are in thy hand” (Psalm 31:15). When death comes, it is the Creator of life who has determined when that life will end. “The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away” (Job 1:21).

Sorrow is normal and elicits a human response.

There could be stoical people who reject emotion or others who want to be so unaffected by death that they don't express any sorrow. One biblical example might be misinterpreted to suggest such a detached reaction. When God predicted the death of Ezekiel’s wife, He instructed, “Behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke; yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down. Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead.” This, however, was not intended to be a standard response or practice. Ezekiel’s lack of mourning was a specific instruction designed to illustrate a focused truth of God for the people to whom Ezekiel was ministering. “Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign” (Ezekiel 24:16-17&24). The sign was effective because it was so unusual.

I did not locate any specific instructions in the Bible for mourning, but there do seem to be some commonly established procedures. A perusal of Scripture would show a variety of associated actions, including weeping, sackcloth, fasting, and similar outward displays of sorrow; at least the most common of these seem to be accepted and appropriate normal responses within society. In the Old Testament, there was apparently an official period of mourning. The common practice may have been seven days. (Ex. Saul in 1 Samuel 31:13, Jacob (family only) in Genesis 50:10). It appears to have been longer for important people. (Ex. Moses - 30 days in Deuteronomy 34:8; Aaron - 30 days in Numbers 20:29; Jacob - 40 days (public) in Genesis 50:3). After a death it was appropriate for decisions and business to be postponed for a space of time (Genesis 50:4, 2 Samuel 11:27). Part of the human experience that is common to all is that there are appropriate times for sorrow. “A time to weep... a time to mourn” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Jesus Himself was affected by the death of His cousin John and responded to the event. “When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart” (Matthew 14:13).

Peace is possible both before and after someone’s death.

When death is understood biblically, even with only the truths examined so far, it is possible to face or absorb death with a measure of peace. (This provision of peace increases with additional truth yet to be examined.) When Elijah was about to die, Elisha was repeatedly confronted by others who seemed disturbed at the impending event, but Elisha himself was at peace, even though he probably stood to lose the most. “And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace” (2 Kings 2:3&5). Before David lost his child, he was greatly burdened, but after his child actually died, David transitioned to a condition of peace. “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” (2 Samuel 12:23). Paul faced his own impending death with an acceptance and peaceful evaluation of his life. “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:6-7). The presence of genuine sorrow does not preclude an underlying realization of peace.

Comfort is possible, but must be chosen.

God is a God of comfort, and He gives comfort in every difficulty. Comfort is first of all a divine provision. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation” (1 Corinthians 1:3-4). The verses in Ecclesiastes 3:2&4 that mention weeping and mourning also mention the opposites, which also exist and have appointed times when they are appropriate. Sorrow is not to last forever.

Comfort can be provided by another person and even by a change in life circumstances that provides other companionship to ease the pain regarding the person who has been lost. “And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebecca, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death” (Genesis 24:67). Christians have the capacity to offer comfort to each other. God even supplies very appropriate words and a very appropriate topic that especially provides comfort, which is regarding the eternal state of believers. “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

There are people who do not choose to be comforted. This happened during the great national tragedy of the slaughter of infants in Israel. “In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not" (Matthew 2:18). The refusal to be comforted also happened to Jacob after he believed Joseph had been killed. “And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, for I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him” (Genesis 37:35). In Jacob’s case, his long-term sorrow caused difficulties for the rest of his family, ultimately threatening their livelihood, because his intense sorrow hindered his willingness to make necessary decisions. There appears to be danger in not accepting appropriate comfort after an appropriate space of time.

Sorrow cannot interfere with following God.

One possible danger is in allowing sorrow to so affect the life that it paralyzes one's service to God. “And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead” (Matthew 8:21-22). Faithfulness to God cannot be discarded because of sorrow.

Not all deaths are equal.

Humans long for what they call fairness. It doesn't seem right when someone is taken before his time. We have the idea that all deaths should be at the end of a prosperous and lengthy life and that no one should die at a young age. God, however, does not have the same plan for each individual. When Peter questioned John's future, “Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me” (John 21:22). Jesus presented the possibility that John's lifespan and death might be very different from Peter’s, which in fact it was. Indeed, God's plan was not the same for all the apostles, and it varied greatly even within the same family. James and John were brothers and both apostles included in Jesus’ inner circle; James died within a few years of this incident, but John lived to be an old man. It is believed that all of the other apostles were martyred sometime between the deaths of those two brothers.

In addition to timing and means of death, there is also variety in the impact on others. Not all deaths have equal impact. Some Israelites, like Moses and Aaron, were mourned by the entire nation for an extended period of time, while many others were mourned primarily by their own family alone. Dorcas was mourned by many because of the good deeds she had done for them (Acts 9:39). The extent of mourning might not be only because of what the person has done, but of the potential impact on those left behind. The widow who had lost her only son mourned deeply (Luke 7:12). At the other end of the spectrum, King Jehoram was so evil that no one mourned his death (2 Chronicles 21:19-20).

Not all sorrow is equal.

Quite logically, the extent of sorrow will vary depending on the relationship to the one who has passed. A closer relationship would tend to produce greater sorrow. A few relationships seem to be especially troubling. Losing a child is difficult, especially when that is an only child. “And they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first born” (Zechariah 12:10). The loss of a mother also seems to be of particular significance. “I bowed down heavily, as one that mournest for his mother” (Psalm 35:14). This may not be a comprehensive list, and these are clearly generalizations that could vary between individuals, but they would seem to largely hold true for much of society.

Death is not the end.

The primary hope and comfort for Christians is in knowing that physical death is more of a beginning than an end. When a Christian leaves this earth, he immediately enters the presence of God. “Willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Physical death is merely the steppingstone to eternal life, and separation from people is traded for union with God. “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 19:26).

This eternal life with God is incredibly superior to life on this earth. Those in God's presence cease experiencing the pain and sorrow of earth. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4). The change is so dramatic and so freeing from the defilement of this world that death is actually a victory for the Christian. “The dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:52-54). It is no wonder then that Paul could say, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

These truths about the eternal blissful state of union with God are what give hope to a Christian when he faces death or loss. “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” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). There is earthly sorrow, but it is sorrow tempered by and actually swallowed up by hope.

Reunions will happen.

Even when Christians say goodbye on this earth, it is not truly goodbye. It is only a temporary absence. David had hope of seeing his child again. “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” (2 Samuel 12:23). We will be reunited with those who have gone before us, and this reunion is amazing in the fact that it will never end. We will be together in heaven forever. “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 4:17).

God has a perspective regarding death.

God does not want anyone to die without Him, as this yields no positive result. “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezekiel 33:11). On the other hand, it is a beautiful thing to Him when someone who knows Him dies. God welcomes that person into His presence. “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (Psalm 72:14).

For humans, an event of death may seem to be the major picture, but for God, a death event is only part of the picture. Death is often a tool in the hand of God to accomplish even greater things. A Christian’s death can be used to inspire and encourage others and to point others toward God. Such was the case for Peter. “This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God” (John 21:19). This has often happened throughout history, such as in the case of the five missionaries killed in Ecuador, or in multiple other cases where a respected leader has died, and others have arisen to fill the hole that is left. Just as God works through other life experiences and trials, God also works through sorrow and death to strengthen the faith of His children and to draw others to Himself. “Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent you may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him” (John 11:14-15). When a Christian dies, God is certainly using that to accomplish His purposes. This is not heartlessly using people or insensitively inflicting pain; rather, it is a means of bringing the positive results that Christians themselves would desire if they understood the full perspective.

The bottom line is that God is God. He is supreme, and He always knows and does the right thing to accomplish the right purposes. It is easy for people to think that their lives are their own, and this mindset underlies any wrong thinking or sense of unfairness regarding death. In reality, everything in our lives from beginning to end should be for our Savior. “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8). This perspective allows us to accept God's plan whether or not it makes sense or seems right to us.