Death, natural

The end of life in the present world.

Death is natural to humanity as part of the created world

Ecclesiastes 12:7 See also Psalm 39:5, Psalm 104:29; Ecclesiastes 3:18–21; 2 Peter 1:13–14

before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Death is a result of Adam's sin

Romans 5:12 There is a tension between this text and those which suggest that death is a natural aspect of being human. Some suggest that the death referred to here is spiritual rather than physical. See also Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:19; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.

Death is universal

None can escape death

Psalm 89:48 See also Genesis 6:3; Joshua 23:14; 2 Samuel 14:14; Job 30:23

What man can live and never see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah

Death comes to all kinds of people

Job 21:23–26 See also 2 Samuel 12:15–18; 2 Kings 4:20; Psalm 37:35–36, Psalm 49:10; Ecclesiastes 3:19; Luke 16:22

One man dies full of vigor, completely secure and at ease. His body is well nourished, and his bones are rich with marrow. Yet another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, having never tasted prosperity. But together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them both.

Only two people did not die

Genesis 5:24; 2 Kings 2:11 Enoch and Elijah died in the sense that their bodies were transformed from being suited to earthly life to life in heaven. They anticipated the death of Jesus Christ, whose body was not corrupted but transformed, and the transition to the new world of those who are alive when Jesus Christ comes again.

Enoch walked with God, and then he was no more, because God had taken him away.

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind.

Death is irreversible

Hebrews 9:27 The idea of reincarnation, that after death people repeatedly return to this life in a lower or higher form, is incompatible with death being once for all and an entrance into heaven or hell after the judgment. See also Job 16:22; Psalm 115:17

Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,

Death is an aspect of human frailty

Psalm 146:3–4 See also Isaiah 51:12; 1 Peter 1:24; Isaiah 40:6–8

Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save. When his spirit departs, he returns to the ground; on that very day his plans perish.

Death occurs when God determines it

Since his days are determined and the number of his months is with You, and since You have set limits that he cannot exceed,

The means of death

The prospect of death affects human attitudes and values

Life is short

James 4:14 See also Job 7:6, Job 8:9, Job 9:25; Psalm 39:5, Psalm 89:47, Psalm 90:10, Psalm 102:11; Ecclesiastes 6:12; Isaiah 38:12, Isaiah 40:6–8

You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

People fear death

Psalm 18:4–6, Psalm 116:3; Hebrews 2:15

People should prepare for death

2 Kings 20:1 parallel Isaiah 38:1 See also Psalm 39:4, Psalm 90:12; Amos 4:12

In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’”

The expectation of death is an incentive to serve God

Ecclesiastes 9:10 See also Isaiah 38:18–19; John 9:4

Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

The expectation of death is an incentive to hold material blessings lightly

1 Timothy 6:7 See also Job 1:21; Luke 12:13–21; 1 Corinthians 7:29–31

For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.

Death is sometimes desired to escape problems

Numbers 11:11–15; 1 Kings 19:4; Job 3:11, Job 7:15; Jeremiah 8:3; Jonah 4:3; Acts 16:27; Revelation 9:6

Death was defeated by Jesus Christ

2 Timothy 1:10 See also Isaiah 25:8; Hosea 13:14; 1 Corinthians 15:24–26; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:14

And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,

There is no death in heaven

Revelation 21:4 See also Luke 20:35–36; 2 Corinthians 5:1–2

‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”