A STUDY OF THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF “LIFE” &
“DEATH” FOR MANKIND
Updated - 1/25/10
The
material contained in this study has been rewritten with the goal of making it
easier to understand and is contained in the study: “What is death for
mankind?”. This study is available at the following link:
We
often say that “the unsaved are spiritually dead, but physically alive” or
similar statements. However, these statements lead us to wrong understanding.
Ephesians
2:1 & 5, 1 Peter 4:6 and other passages declare that before salvation man
is “dead in sins” or simply “dead”. We read in Ephesians 2:1:
And you hath he quickened, who were
dead in trespasses and sins
We
read in 1 Peter 4:6:
For for this cause was the gospel preached
also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the
flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
The
Bible says that before salvation that man is “dead in sins” or simply “dead”.
Notice that 1 Peter 4:6 simply calls the unsaved “dead” without any
qualification.
We
think of being “dead” as an unconscious corpse, so in our minds we replace the
word “dead” in these verses and other verses with “spiritually dead”. When we
see an unconscious corpse we say it is “physically dead”. But, God never uses
these terms, “spiritually dead” and “physically dead”, in the Bible.
Spiritually
dead
We
have adopted the term “spiritually dead” so that when we read Ephesians 2:1 and
other verses where God says that the unsaved are “dead”, we substitute
“spiritually dead” to deal with the fact that the unsaved are here in this
world. But, we will see that this has been a mistake and has led us down the
path of wrong understanding.
The
Bible does not use the term “spiritually dead”, and this term has led us down a
wrong understanding of how God uses the family of words “dead” and “alive” in
relationship to mankind. This term “spiritually dead” makes us think that the
deadness of sin is focused upon our spirit. So, we say that we are “spiritually
dead, but physically alive”. But, we
will see that this is not true.
God
declares that the unsaved (as well as the saved) are “dead” in their bodies
God
indicates that our bodies are dead in 1 Corinthians 15:29 where we read:
Else what shall they do which are baptized
for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the
dead?
1
Corinthians 15 is talking about the resurrection of the believer’s body. The
body of the true believer will rise on the last day. This verse is referring to
the true believer whose body is already called “dead” in this verse.
When
someone is saved, he is baptized by the Holy Spirit. That is, his sins are
washed away. That washing away of sins is on behalf of his soul as well as his
body. His body is called “dead” in this verse. When God saves us, we are
baptized for (or on behalf of) our body, which is called “dead” in this verse.
1
Corinthians 15:29 is stating that the believer’s body is dead. If the
believer’s body is dead, then the unbeliever’s body is dead also.
We
receive more confirmation that our bodies are “dead” in Romans 8:10. We read in
Romans 8:10:
And if Christ be in you, the body is
dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Notice
in verse 10 it says the “body is dead”.
Romans
8:10 is talking about the true believers. However, if the believer’s body is
dead, then the unbeliever’s body is also dead.
We
will examine these verses in more detail later on in this study. This is
confusing, but right now, we are just getting started looking at how God uses
the words “life” and “death” for mankind.
However
we are beginning to see that God is saying that just as the soul or spirit
essence of the unsaved is “dead”, so is his body “dead”. God places no
qualifications or limitations on that.
Also,
the true believer’s body is still dead as indicated by these verses.
God
does not say that our bodies are “spiritually dead”. He just calls them “dead”.
By
saying that our bodies are “spiritually dead” or “dead to the life in Christ”
we weaken the statement that God makes about our bodies and we hide truth from
ourselves.
God
simply says the “body is dead”.
However,
the unsaved are still “alive” in this world. We read many verses that talk
about the unsaved as being “alive” while they are in this world.
But
- the unsaved are still “alive” in this world; even though, according to the
Bible, they are “dead”, both in body and soul. We’re going to examine this
apparent paradox in this study.
The
fact that the unsaved are already “dead” is emphasized in John 6:53. We read in
John 6:53:
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily,
I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood,
ye have no life in you.
God
says in this verse that the unsaved have “no life” in them. God did not say
they have no “spiritual life”. He said they have no “life” in them. They are
already “dead” in both body and soul. The deadness of sin impacts both their
body and their soul.
We
will examine John 6:53 in more detail later on.
In
1 John 5:11-13 God gives further indication that unsaved man is dead. We read
in 1 John 5:11-13:
11 And this is the record, that God hath given
to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he
that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that
believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal
life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Notice
what God says about the unsaved in verse 12. God did not say that the unsaved
do not have “spiritual life” or “life in Christ”. God said they do not have
“life”. This agrees with John 6:53. God does not say that the unsaved do not
have “life in Christ”.
This
agrees with Psalm 80:18 where the Palmist asks God to “make him alive” and then
he will call upon the Lord. The word “quicken” is the old English word of “make
alive”.
These
verses seem to contradict other teachings of the Bible that indicate that the
unsaved in this world are “alive” also. So we are going to have to study more
verses to see how God uses the words “life” and “death” for mankind. We must
harmonize all of these verses together.
We
are beginning to see verses where God is saying that “life” for man does not
have do with existence, because the unsaved exist. Rather, we are seeing verses
where “life” for man has to do with his relationship with God.
We
have to do some more work on the word “life” for mankind.
Let’s
now continue our study of looking at these and other verses that help us
understand the Biblical definition of “life” and “death” for mankind.
1.
We read in 1 John 5:12:
He that hath the Son hath life; and
he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
In
our minds, we normally think that “life = existence”. As a result this verse
sounds strange to us.
If
we change this verse in our minds to read “eternal life” or “spiritual life” or
“life in Christ” then this verse would not sound strange to us. However, we
cannot do this. God has put the word “life” here.
It
is true that in the previous verse and the next verse God talks about “eternal
life”. If God had wanted to say “eternal life” or “life in Christ” in 1 John
5:12, then God would have put those words in that verses.
However,
God put “life” two times in this verse. We cannot change it to “eternal life”
or “life in Christ”. If God had wanted to say “eternal life” or “life in
Christ” in this verse, He would have put it there.
1
John 5:11-13 is a little like Mark 13:32-33 regarding the return of Christ.
Verse 32 is talking about knowing the experience of the day and hour of God’s
wrath, the enduring of the wrath of God.
Verse
33 is talking about the timing of the return of Christ. Because verse 33 is
talking about time, that encourages us to think that verse 32 is also talking
about time. However, that is not the case. Verse 32 is talking about the
experience of God’s wrath.
In
the same way, 1 John 5:11 & 13 mention “eternal life”, but verse 12
mentions “life”. We can be tempted to replace “life” with “eternal life” in
verse 12, but we cannot do that.
The
reason we change “life” into “eternal life” in 1 John 5:12 is because we
believe that “life = existence”. But, two times, God has put the word “life” in
that verse. We cannot change it.
In
addition, we’ll see that there are many verses that teach this same truth that
just have the word “life” in them.
This
verse helps us get started with the Biblical definition of life for mankind.
God is telling us that life for mankind has to do with man’s relationship with
God and not with existence.
This
verse is saying that “life” for mankind does not have to do with existence, but
rather with his relationship to God.
A
key point here is that God defines “life” for mankind in a way that does not
have to do with existence.
The
unsaved exist just like the believers exist. The unsaved don’t have any less
existence than do the believers. We will develop proofs for this truth later in
this study.
Notice
in 1 John 5:12 that God is effectively saying that for mankind “God = life”.
Therefore it is not surprising that life for man has to do with his relationship
with God. This agrees with John 11:25, 14:6 where God says that God is
“life”.
God
declares here that God is the life that is in man. According to 1 John 5:12 the
definition of life for mankind is not existence. Rather life for mankind has to
do with his relationship to God, who is “life”.
Notice
that in 1 John 5:12 God makes the statement twice; both in a positive manner
and in a negative manner. God is doubling up to make extra emphasis.
1
John 5:12 says that “life” for mankind has to do with his relationship with God
and not with existence. This is a surprising statement and it raises questions
in our minds that we will examine in this study.
2
John 1:9 ties in into 1 John 5:12. 2 John 1:9 talks about how the believers
“have” God and how the unbelievers do not “have” God. We read there:
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the
doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he
hath both the Father and the Son.
This
refers to the fact that God indwells the true believers. The unbelievers do not
have God. They do not have God, who is life, indwelling them. The true
believers have God, who is life, indwelling them.
2.
We read in John 6:53:
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily,
I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood,
ye have no life in you.
It
is important to note that John 6:53 also defines life for mankind in a way that
is completely decoupled from existence. As will be shown the saved and the
unsaved equally exist, yet the unsaved do not have life in them
according to this verse.
This
verse agrees that the Bible defines “life” for mankind not as existence.
Actually, this verse also confirms that “life = God” (John 11:25, 14:6) and
“life” for mankind has to do with his relationship with God, who is “life”.
God
Himself is the “life in you” according to this verse. This agrees
with Romans 8:9 that says that God indwells the true believer. Shortly, we are
going to look at what the Bible says about “life” for the unsaved in this
world.
When
we read verses like John 6:53 we often change these verses in our minds to say
“ye have no spiritual life in you”.
However, if we want to come to truth, we cannot add words or delete words from
the Bible.
Also,
what is “spiritual life”??? If “life =
existence”, what is “spiritual existence”? You either exist or you don’t
exist. The believers don’t have any more existence than do the unbelievers.
Later on we will examine 1 Peter 3:19 and other verses that assure us that the
unsaved exist, both in body and soul, just like the believers exist. Yet, we’re
learning that the unsaved are dead, both in body and soul.
3.
We read in Acts 17:26-29:
26 And hath made of one
blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath
determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek
the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not
far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and
move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we
are also his offspring.
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of
God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or
stone, graven by art and man’s device.
This
is a very important passage. Without it, we could not tie everything together
concerning “life” and “death” for mankind.
This
verse is talking about all mankind, including the unsaved, and helps us resolve
the confusion that we have about the “life” of the unsaved.
In
case we have any doubt that this passage is talking about all mankind, let’s
consider a few points. In verse 26 God is talking about how He has made all
nations of one blood. That includes all mankind, saved and unsaved. In verse 27
the encouragement is given that we should seek God because we might find him
for He is not far from everyone of us. The context is salvation for the
unsaved. The context of verse 27 is that the “us” is all mankind. In verse 28
God ties the fact that we live in God to the fact that we are His offspring.
Then, in verse 29 God says that because we are His offspring we should not make
idols. It is the unsaved that make idols. Therefore, God’s offspring includes
the unsaved and thus the “we” of verse 28 includes the unsaved. So, there is
plenty of proof in this passage that the “all” that live in God is all mankind,
saved and unsaved.
While
the unsaved are in this world, God says in verse 28 that they too “live”. The
reason is that the unsaved in this world are “in
him” (in God) to some degree. Verse 28 plainly says that all
mankind, including the unsaved “have their being in God” or literally in
the Greek text, the verse reads, “are in God”. God is “life” Himself.
The unsaved “live” in the sense that while they are in this world, they are in
God, who is “life” Himself.
The
phrase “have our being” is literally “are”. So, God is saying “in him we live, and move, and are”. This phrase
is teaching that for all mankind, we are in God and we move in God. Because the
unsaved are also in God and God = life (John 11:25, 14:6), then they also
“live” according to the Bible.
John
6:53, 1 John 5:12 and other passages say that the unsaved do not have “life”.
That refers to the truth that the unsaved do not have God, who is life, indwelling
them (Romans 8:9) nor do they have God energizing them (Philippians
2:12-13).
However,
while the unsaved are in this world, God is not “far” from them (Acts
17:27). God cares for them (Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17). They can pray to God for
salvation and there is the possibility that God will save them. So, while the
unsaved are in this world, the Bible says that they also “live” because they
are “in God”, who is “life”, Himself.
This
is confusing.
Unsaved
man is dead both in body and soul, according to the Bible. He is separated from
God, both in body and soul. He is not indwelt by God (Romans 8:9). He is not
energized by God (Philippians 2:12-13). Both in body and soul, he is separated
from God, who is “life” Himself. He is dead, both in body and soul.
However,
according to Acts 17:27-28, unsaved man is not completely separated from
God, as we read that the unsaved are “in him”
while they are on earth. Unsaved man “lives” in the sense that while he is in
this world, he is in God, who is life Himself, and God is blessing him.
However,
once unsaved man dies from this world, then he is separated from God a second
time. This means that he is completely separated from God, including all of the
blessings of God (Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17, 17:27-28, etc.).
This
agrees with the definition that life for mankind has to do with his
relationship with God, who is life.
This
explains why unsaved man dies twice, both in body and soul:
1.
He died, body and soul, in Adam and Eve. He is already dead, both in body and
soul. Unsaved man has not ceased to exist, but he is separated from God in both
body and soul. He is not energized by God; he is not indwelt by God.
The
fact that unsaved man is dead, both in body and soul, identifies with his
desire to sin that exists in both body and soul. God is not energizing him, so
unsaved man goes his own way.
But,
he is not completely separated from God, as indicated above by Matthew 5:45,
Acts 14:17, 17:27-28. He lives in the sense that he is in God to some degree.
God cares for him. He is near to God. God Himself is the life in which man
dwells. We know from the Bible that God can put His hand upon unsaved man also
and guide him to some degree. For example, Balaam was an unsaved man, yet God spoke
through him (Numbers 22-24).
But,
God does not use the language of indwelling nor energizing in reference to the
unsaved (Romans 8:9, Philippians 2:12-13).
2.
Then unsaved man’s body fails and he dies from this world, both in body and
soul (Joshua 10). From Joshua 10 we know that the soul of the unsaved also dies
a second time. At that point, he is completely and eternally separated from
God.
When
man’s body fails and sleeps in the dust is the time that man also dies the
second time.
Finally
man’s body fails. The Bible says that at that point his body sleeps in the
dust. Man loses consciousness in his body. His body returns to the dust. But,
God will awaken him in his body at the end of the world (Daniel 12:2). We will
cover more on that later.
When
man’s body fails and falls to sleep, man actually dies a second time because he
is separated from God a second time.
That
is why the Bible talks about man’s body falling asleep at the same time that it
talks about death for mankind.
Here
are some verses that teach that the bodies of both the saved and the unsaved
sleep in the dust, according to the Bible:
Daniel
12:2 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.
Deuteronomy
31:16 And the LORD said unto Moses,
Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go
a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be
among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with
them.
2
Samuel 7:12 And when thy days be
fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after
thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
1
Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a
mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1
Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God
bring with him.
1
Kings 14:20 And the days which Jeroboam
reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and
Nadab his son reigned in his stead.
1
Kings 16:6 So Baasha slept with his
fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.
1
Kings 16:28 So Omri slept with his
fathers, and was buried in
1
Kings 22:40 So Ahab slept with his
fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.
2
Kings 10:35 And Jehu slept with his
fathers: and they buried him in
2
Kings 13:9 And Jehoahaz slept with his
fathers; and they buried him in
2
Kings 13:13 And Joash slept with his
fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in
2
Kings 14:16 And Jehoash slept with his
fathers, and was buried in
Above,
we see a number of verses that talk about the failing of the bodies of both the
saved and the unsaved as bodies sleeping in the dust. Daniel 12:2 says that
those bodies will awake at the end of the world. We will cover Daniel 12:2 in
more detail later in this study.
Why
is the failing of the body or the falling asleep of the body the time when man
dies again?
There
are actually two events occurring at the same time when man dies from this
world. We think of them as one event, but there are actually two different
events that occur at the same time.
1.
His body fails and he loses consciousness in his body. The Bible says that his
body falls asleep. Man’s body sleeps in the dust. His body returns to the dust.
2.
Man dies a second time. He is separated from God a second time. For the true
believer, only his body is separated from God.
While
man, including unsaved man, is in this world, he is in God and moves in God, as
we read about in Acts 17:28. In that sense, even unsaved man “lives” because he
is in God and moves in God. God is the life for mankind.
However,
when his body fails, man no longer “moves in God nor is in God” to use
the language of Acts 17:28. A corpse does not “move”. Therefore
according to that verse, he no longer “lives”. Thus the Bible says he “dies”.
He dies a second time. His body is separated from God a second time.
For
unsaved man, he dies a second time in both body and soul. We see that with the
killing of the “souls” of the unsaved in Joshua 10. He becomes completely
separated from God, who is life.
For
the saved, only his body dies. Only his body is separated from God. The soul of
the saved person goes into heaven. He is never separated from God again in his
soul essence. His soul cannot die.
These
two events occur at the same time because when the body fails, unsaved man is
completely separated from God and all of the blessings that he had from God in
this world (Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17, 17:27-28). We will explore this issue
more later in this study.
4.
We read in Romans 8:10 and 1 Corinthians 15:29:
Romans
8:10:
And if Christ be in you, the body is
dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
1
Corinthians 15:29:
Else what shall they do which are baptized
for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the
dead?
These
two verses declare that the believer’s body is “dead”. God does not say “dead
from the life in Christ” or “spiritually dead”. God simply says “dead”. His
body has not ceased to exist. Rather, it is separated from God. It is not
energized by God; nor indwelt by God (Romans 7:18, 8:9).
Notice
that God refers to the believer’s body as “dead” 3 times in 1 Corinthians
15:29.
In
1 Corinthians 15:29 God is talking about those who have been saved. When they
were saved (baptized by the Holy Spirit), it was also on behalf of their “dead”
body because on the last day they will receive a glorified spiritual body
without any sin. God is calling the body of the believer “dead” 3 times in this
verse.
If
the believer’s body is “dead”, then the unbeliever’s body is also “dead”.
These
verses also define “death” for mankind in a way that has nothing to do with
“existence”.
By
changing these verses in our mind to “dead from the life in Christ” we weaken
these verses and maintain in our minds that the body is not really “dead”. We
think of a dead body as a corpse on the ground. But, God is defining His own
terms. Actually, as we will see later in this study the corpse identifies with
a body that sleeps in the dust.
Or,
we just ignore these verses. But, we cannot come to truth by ignoring verses.
These
and other verses show that for mankind the focus of “death” is not upon the
destruction of the body. Man’s body is already “dead”. Rather, God uses “death”
for mankind to signify separation between God and man. God uses the word
“sleep” to signify the failing of the body.
Therefore
unsaved man is dead, both in body and soul. This shows us that the definition
“death = cessation of existence” cannot be true for mankind as it is for
animals. God defines His own terms.
If
the body of the believer is dead, as the Bible declares, then the body of the
unsaved is also dead.
These
verses show us that Adam died, both in body and soul, the day he sinned. Also,
the unsaved are already dead, both in body and soul.
Romans
8:10 and 1 Corinthians 15:29 tell us that the body of the believer is still
dead. God simply says the “body is dead”. It is separated from God, who
is “life”. This means that the body of the unsaved is also dead. If the body of
the believer is dead, then the body of the unbeliever is also dead.
How
can we understand what it means that man is “dead”
The
Bible teaches us that God Himself is “life” (John 11:25, 14:6). As we read in
Acts 17:28, all men are in God to some degree and God blesses them (Matthew
5:45, Acts 14:17). God cares for all man. So, unsaved man “lives” in the sense
that he is in God to some degree (Acts 17:28).
But,
before salvation, man is not energized by God (Philippians 2:12-13). He is not
indwelt by God (Romans 8:9). He is dead because he is separated from the
energizing force of God, who is life. That is why the Bible says that unsaved
man is dead, both in body and soul.
When
we become saved, God indwells our soul, but not our body (Romans 7:18, 8:9).
So, our souls have “life” in the sense that they have God, who is life,
indwelling them. God is now energizing the believer’s soul (Philippians
2:12-13). Therefore, the believer’s soul has “life” because it has God
indwelling it and energizing it.
But,
the body is still not indwelt by God (Romans 7:18). It is not directly
energized by God, who is life. That is why the body of the believer is still
“dead”.
We
will develop these themes more as we go.
When
we become saved, in our soul we have “passed from
death unto life” (John 5:24, 1 John 3:14). This means that before
salvation our soul is also “dead”. For the unsaved person, his soul has not yet
“passed from death unto life”. His soul
is still “dead”.
Therefore,
the unsaved are dead, both in body and soul. They have not ceased to exist in
any way. 1 Peter 3:19 and other verses confirm that the unsaved have a
spirit-essence as well as a body. We will look at 1 Peter 3:19 and other verses
later on in this study.
The
unsaved have not ceased to exist in either their body or their spirit. Rather,
they are separated from God, both in body and soul. [We will see that it’s not
yet a complete separation.] Therefore, the day Adam sinned, he died, both in
body and soul. This agrees with what we read in Genesis 2:17:
But of the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof
thou shalt surely die.
The
phrase “surely die” contains the word death or die twice. God is really
emphasizing that Adam truly died the day he sinned. We cannot ignore this
language.
Actually,
the definition for mankind concerning death when stated this way: “death =
separation from God” will fit all of the verses about death for mankind without
any changes. This definition also fits perfectly the definition of life for
mankind according to John 6:53, 1 John 5:12 and other verses to be presented.
God
does not use the words “life” and “death” for mankind like He uses them for
animals and plants
We
would never read a verse in the Bible giving an account of an animal, like a
lion for example, where God says “the lion is dead”, and yet the lion is
walking around. But, we read verses like that about mankind. For example, as we
just read in Romans 8:10:
And if Christ be in you, the body is
dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Regarding
the believer, God says plainly “the body is dead”.
For
the unsaved, they have a soul that is still dead also. His soul has not yet
passed from death unto life (John 5:24, 1 John 3:14). So, the unsaved person is
dead, both in body and soul. He is dead in his whole personality. Yet, unsaved
man is very active in this world, walking about and doing things.
We
would never read a statement in the Bible that declares that an animal is dead
and yet that animal was still walking and doing things.
God
does not use the words “life” and “death” for mankind like he uses them for
plants and animals.
Therefore,
we must obtain the Biblical definition of “life” and “death” for mankind by carefully
seeing how God uses those words in the Bible regarding mankind.
Let’s
now consider now the corpse of the person who died.
What
about the corpse of the person who died?
We
think of death as an unconscious corpse. That is what we can see with our eyes
when a person dies.
The
Bible describes an unconscious corpse as a body sleeping in the dust. The Bible
declares that when both the saved and the unsaved die from this world, their
bodies “sleep in the dust” (Daniel 12:2).
We
think that a “body sleeping in the dust” is the same thing as a “dead body”.
However, this is not in harmony with the Bible. The Bible says that Adam died,
body and soul, the day he sinned. However, his body did not sleep in the dust
until he was 930 years old when died the second time.
We
have seen that Romans 8:10 and 1 Corinthians 15:29 teach that the body of the
true believer is still dead.
When
we look at all of the verses involved we can say:
-
“sleeping in the dust” has to do with the failure of the body. Body returns to
the dust.
-
“death” has to do with separation from God.
Unsaved
man dies twice because he is separated from God twice. Man’s body sleeps in the
dust only the second time he dies. That is, when he is completely separated
from God.
At
the end of the world, both the saved and unsaved will awake to consciousness in
their bodies that are sleeping in the dust (Daniel 12:2). The unsaved will
still be dead, both in body and soul. That is, they will be separated from God,
who is life. But, they will “awake” to consciousness. We will study this word
“awake” later on.
The
body sleeps in the dust at the moment of that man dies the second time
Simultaneously
with the second time that unsaved man dies, both in body and soul, his body
sleeps in the dust (1 Kings 14:20, 16:6, 16:28, 22:40, 2 Kings 14:29, Daniel
12:2).
This
is necessary because while unsaved man is in this world, he is in God and is
blessed by God (Acts 17:27-28). But, the failure of the body corresponds with
the final and complete separation from God that unsaved man experiences. That
is the second time he dies. He is no longer in God nor blessed by God as
indicated in Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17, 17:27-28.
Man
dies a second time. He is separated from God, both in body and soul, a second
time. We will develop this more later on.
The
difficulty comes in because what we see is a body that sleeps in the dust and
we call that “death”. According to the Bible, “death” is the separation between
God and man and the sleeping in the dust is the failure of the body.
Life
in Christ
It
is said that we must replace the word “life” with the phrase “life in Christ”
in many verses (Psalm 80:18, Matthew 18:8-9, Mark 9:43 & 45, John 6:53, 1
John 3:14, 5:12, etc.) This is done so that we can still believe that “life =
existence”.
However,
Acts 17:27-28 tell us that all life for mankind is in God. The unsaved “live”
in this world in the sense that while they are in this world, they are in God
and are blessed by God.
The
fallacy of the term “life in Christ” is that all life for mankind is “life in
God” or “life in Christ”, since Christ is God and God is life (John 11:25,
14:6).
We
still get back to the point that the believers don’t have any more existence
than do the unbelievers. However, the believers, unlike the unbelievers, have
God, who is life because God indwells them and energizes them.
There
are three other problems with introducing the term “life in Christ”.
A.
The term “life in Christ” is not found anywhere in the Bible. By substituting this
term we are blocking ourselves from thinking about what God is really saying.
B.
We cannot come to truth when we add or delete words from verses. We must study
them how they are written, pray for understanding and think about what God is
saying to us.
C.
God has written the word “life”. When we substitute “life in Christ” or some
other phrase we weaken the meaning of the verse. God is talking about “life”.
We weaken it to life in Christ that we have invented in our own minds.
For
example, God says in 1 John 5:12:
He that hath the Son hath life; and
he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
This
verse talks about the believers having “life” and the unbelievers not having
“life”. This really refers to the believers having God indwell them.
But,
we change the verse to read like:
He that hath the Son hath life in Christ; and
he that hath not the Son of God hath not life in Christ.
This
change completely alters what God has said and empties the verse of it’s
meaning.
We
are modifying verses to conform to our thinking.
If
we add or change words to verses we can make the Bible say almost anything that
we want. But we don’t have truth.
For
example we read in Romans 3:22, Galatians 2:16 and Philippians 3:9 that we are
saved by the “faith of Christ”. In modern translations they have changed
that to “faith in Christ”.
Changing
that one little word makes a huge difference in the meaning. God wrote “faith
of Christ”. We cannot say “faith in Christ”.
In
the same way God we will find many verses where God wrote “life”. We
cannot change it to “life in Christ”, if we want truth.
Let’s
consider another example.
In
1 Thessalonians 1:3 and 2 Thessalonians 1:11 God talks about the believers and
says “your work of faith”. This is a very important phrase because it
shows that faith is a type of work.
This
truth causes a problem for the theologians who believe that faith is not a
work. The theologians want to hold to the belief that faith is not a work.
However, the KJV Bible says “your work of faith”.
To
solve this problem the translators of modern versions have substituted the
phase “work produced by your faith” in 1 Thessalonians 1:3 and 2
Thessalonians 1:11.
The
addition of the one word “produced” makes a big change in the meaning.
The
result is that these theologians have doctrine that they like, but they do not
have the truth.
The
result of making these changes is that we cannot come to truth. Likewise, if we
change “life” to “life in Christ” we alter the meaning of the verse and cannot
come to truth.
5.
We read more verses that declare that mankind is dead:
Ephesians
2:1, 5:
1 ¶ And you hath he quickened, who
were dead in trespasses and sins;
5
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ,
(by grace ye are saved;)
1
Peter 4:6:
For for this cause was the gospel preached
also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the
flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Colossians 2:13:
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision
of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all
trespasses;
Romans 7:9:
For I was alive without the law once: but
when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Genesis
2:17:
But of the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof
thou shalt surely die.
These
verses simply say that unsaved man is “dead”.
We
read these verses and say in our minds that unsaved man is “spiritually dead”
or “he has lost his life in Christ”. We put these qualifiers on the word “dead”
because we have it locked into our minds that death is a cessation of existence
or that it must refer to an unconscious corpse.
However,
the Bible refers to a corpse as a body that is sleeping in the dust.
Also,
we are confused about how man can die twice, because in our minds “death =
cessation of existence”. But, when we learn that “death” for mankind has to do
with separation from God, who is “life”, then we can begin to understand how
the Bible teaches that unsaved man dies twice, both in body and soul.
These
verses simply say that the unsaved are “dead”. These verses agree with Romans
8:10 and 1 Corinthians 15:29 that unsaved mankind is dead, both in body and
soul.
These
verses teach us that the definition of “death” for mankind is not cessation of
existence. The unsaved are dead, in their whole personality, both in body and
soul, yet they still exist.
God
simply says that that unsaved man is dead, both in body and soul
This
deadness impacts the whole being of mankind; both in body and soul. We can also
know this truth because the infection of sin impacts our spirit essence as well
as our body. So, our body is equally dead in sins as our soul.
The
statement “The unsaved are spiritually dead but physically alive”
implies that our bodies are not as “dead” as our souls are. It gives the
impression that the impact of the deadness of sins is directed toward our soul
or spirit. However, this is not true. Before salvation according to the Bible,
we are dead in sins; both in body and soul.
Also,
the statement “our bodies are spiritually dead” is not Biblical. God
says our bodies are “dead” without qualification or limitation. By saying our
bodies are “spiritually dead” we weaken the impact of the statement.
In
our minds we think “They are not really dead. They are only spiritually dead.”
That’s why we say “When you’re dead, you’re dead” because we believe
“death = cessation of existence” and we don’t listen to the Bible when it says
that the unsaved are already “dead”, both in body and soul.
Unsaved
man, even though he is dead, both in body and soul, has not ceased to exist in
either his body nor his soul, according to the Bible
Unsaved
man has not ceased to exist in either aspect of his personality; neither in his
body nor in his spirit. Regarding the unsaved, God says in 1 Peter 3:18-20:
18
¶ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he
might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the
Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the
spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once
the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a
preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
This
passage is talking about the Holy Spirit bringing the Gospel through the
prophet Noah in his days. The unsaved are referred to as “spirits in prison”
in verse 19. The unsaved are “in prison” in the sense that they are in bondage
to their sins and subject to the wrath of God.
But,
notice the unsaved are referred to as “spirits in prison”.
The
phrase “spirits in prison” does not mean that the unsaved are literally
in a prison cell. Rather, it means that they are in bondage to their sins. They
are in bondage to their sins, in both body and spirit. In their whole
personality, they love sin and serve their sin.
In
this verse, God emphasizes that the unsaved, in their spirit essence, are in
bondage to their sins. This verse, along with other verses, shows that the
unsaved have a spirit essence. They have not ceased to exist in their spirit
essence in any way.
1
Peter 3:19 teaches us that the unsaved do have a spirit-essence. Their spirit,
along with their body, is in bondage to sin. But, nevertheless, the unsaved do
have a spirit-essence.
From
1 John 4:1-3 we receive further confirmation that the unsaved still have a
spirit. The spirit of the unsaved has not ceased to exist.
We
read in 1 John 4:1-3:
1
¶ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of
God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every
spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit
of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already
is it in the world.
These
verses are talking about people, both saved people and unsaved people. It is
referring to those people as “spirits”. These verses are not talking about good
and bad angels. According to the Bible, people are the prophets that are sent
into the world. There are true prophets and false prophets. Here, God is
talking about the true believers as spirits that confess the Lord in verse 2
and the non-believers as spirits that do not confess the Lord (do not have a
like mind with God) in verse 3. These verses show that the unsaved still have a
spirit essence. They have not ceased to exist in their spirit essence in
anyway.
Later,
we will look at more verses that show that the unsaved have a spirit-essence
along with their bodies.
The
Bible teaches that unsaved man is dead, both in body and spirit, yet he still
exists, both in body and spirit.
If
“death = cessation of existence” then why does unsaved man still exist?
Genesis
2:17 and other verses insist that unsaved man is really dead.
Remember,
God puts the verb “to die” twice in Genesis 2:17. The verse literally reads “dying
you shall die”. The translators put “surely die”.
God
is doubling up, so He is indicating that Adam really did die the day he sinned.
When we factor in other verses, we learn that Adam died in both body and soul.
We cannot ignore that.
The
definition of “dead” for mankind that will fit all verses without any
modification is “separation from God”. Unsaved man is separated from God, both
in body and soul. It is not yet a complete separation. This definition agrees
with the Biblical definition for life; “God = life” and life for mankind has to
do with his relationship to God, who is “life”.
6.
The day that Adam sinned God killed him and all mankind also
According
to Romans 7:11, the day that Adam sinned, God killed him or “slew” him, and the
whole human race along with Adam.
We
read in Romans 7:9-11:
9 For I was alive without the law once: but
when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10 And the commandment, which was ordained
to life, I found to be unto death.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment,
deceived me, and by it slew me.
The
Apostle Paul is speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and declaring
in verse 11 that sin “slew” him. It is actually God that “slew”
Paul and the whole human race. To be more specific, when Adam sinned, God that
“slew” Adam. We learn from Romans 7:11 that everyone comes into the
human race already “slain” or “killed” by God, according to the Biblical
language.
The
Greek word translated “slew” is always either translated “kill” or “slay”. This
word is always used to refer to killing.
In
Romans 7:11 this Greek word is in the past tense, indicating that God
had already “killed” the Apostle Paul, along with all of mankind and Adam.
In
Romans 7:9 we learn that the Apostle Paul, and all mankind, were “alive” in
Adam. Verse 9 also tells us that the Apostle truly did die. When Adam sinned,
he died, both in body and soul. Then, the whole human race became dead also,
both in body and soul.
We
think of an unconscious corpse in connection with the words “slay” or “kill”.
However, like the word “dead”, God identifies the word “slay” or “kill” for
mankind in terms of his relationship to God, who is “life”.
Romans
7:11 teaches that God “slew” Adam the day that he sinned, and all mankind comes
into this world already “slain”. Yet, Adam still existed, both in body and
soul. Also, unsaved man exists, both in body and soul. However, according to
the Bible, they have already been “slain”. They have been separated from God, who
is “life”.
According
to the Bible, God killed or slew Adam, both in body and soul, the day he
sinned. That is, Adam died. He became separated from God, who is life.
Here
are some more verses with this same Greek word translated “slew” in Romans 7:11:
Matthew
23:34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you
prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill <615> and crucify; and some of them
shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to
city:
Matthew
23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou
that killest <615> the prophets,
and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy
children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings,
and ye would not!
Luke
13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the
tower in Siloam fell, and slew <615>
them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in
Acts
7:52 Which of the prophets have not your
fathers persecuted? and they have slain <615>
them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been
now the betrayers and murderers:
Romans
11:3 Lord, they have killed <615> thy prophets, and digged down thine
altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
According
to the Bible, God “slew” or “killed” Adam the day that he sinned. But, later
on, man is killed again. Finally, unsaved man is “killed” twice. He is
separated from God twice.
God
is defining the word “kill” or “slay” for mankind.
God
“slew” Adam the day that he sinned. Adam did not cease to exist. Rather, Adam
became separated from God, both in body and soul. Adam became dead, both in
body and soul, according the Bible.
Later
on, man dies a second time or is killed a second time, both in body and soul.
This is because while man is in this world, he lives in the sense that he is in
God (Acts 17:27-28). But, when man is killed the second time, both in body and
soul, he is completely separated from God, who is life.
It
is at that time, that his body sleeps in the dust. It returns to the dust and
there is no consciousness in his body until it awakes at the end of the world
(Daniel 12:2).
That
is why we see this same Greek word translated “kill” or “slay” applied to all
mankind and Adam at the time that Adam sinned. Then, we see it applied a second
time to people in the above verses.
Through
Romans 7:11, God is again teaching that for mankind being “dead” or being
“killed” is not a cessation of existence. Rather, it is to be separated from
God, who is life.
It
is argued that when unsaved man dies the second time, both in body and soul,
and his body sleeps in the dust, then he has been “executed” or “killed” by
God.
If
we follow the Bible, Adam was “killed” by God, both in body and soul, the day
he sinned.
Let’s
examine an important law that God established that was fully carried out the
day Adam and Eve sinned.
God
makes an important statement in Genesis 2:17
We
read in Genesis 2:17:
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt
surely die.
We
learn from Romans 8:10 and 1 Corinthians 15:29 that the body of the believer is
“dead”. This means that the body of the unsaved is also “dead”. In the case of
the unsaved, his soul is also dead. His soul has not yet passed from death unto
life (John 5:24, 1 John 3:14). The unsaved are dead, both in body and soul.
Therefore, we can know that Adam died both in body and soul the day that he
sinned.
In
Genesis 2:17 God doubles up on the statement that Adam died the day that he
sinned. The phrase “surely die” has the Hebrew word for “die” or “death”
twice. In the Hebrew, Genesis 2:17 literally read “dying thou shalt die”. We
know from Genesis 41:32 that when God doubles up, He is placing special
emphasis on what He is saying.
So,
God is insisting that Adam really did die the day he sinned, and we know from
the rest of the Bible that he died both in body and soul.
But,
what happened to Adam the day that he sinned and died, both in body and soul?
The
answer to this questions helps us to understand what God means by “death” for
mankind.
Adam
did not cease to exist in anyway nor did his body become an unconscious corpse.
To
obtain truth about what God means by “death” for mankind we have to look at
what happened the day that Adam sinned.
In
our minds we think that death is either an unconscious corpse or a cessation of
existence, but neither of these happened to Adam the day that he sinned.
So,
to solve this problem we create language like “spiritually dead”, “physically
alive”, “lost his life in Christ”, etc. None of this language comes from the
Bible and all of it weakens the direct statements made by the Bible.
God
simply says that Adam “died” without any limitations or qualifications. The
rest of the Bible says that he died, both in body and soul. God does not limit
the word “die” for Adam. God doubled up by saying “dying you shall die”
in Genesis 2:17
Adam
did not cease to exist in any way the day he sinned. Rather, Adam became separated from God, both
in body and soul.
The
day that Adam sinned and died, he did not cease to exist in any way. Rather, he
became separated from God, both in body and soul. He was no longer indwelt by
God; nor was he energized by God.
God
defines His own terms.
By
doubling up in Genesis 2:17, God is telling us that Adam died the day he
sinned. He died both in body and soul. If we want truth, we have to look at
what happened to Adam the day he sinned. He did not cease to exist in any way.
Rather, he became separated from God, both in body and soul.
By
holding to “death = cessation of existence” we are effectively not listening to
Genesis 2:17.
In
Genesis 2:17 God doubles up and insists that Adam died, the day he sinned.
Other verses teach that he died both in body and soul. We say that “death =
cessation of existence” and therefore, by our definition, Adam really didn’t
die the day he sinned. We say he died spiritually or he lost his life in Christ
because we are inventing language to say that Adam did not really die the day
he sinned.
To
come to truth on this issue, we have to carefully look at what happened to Adam
the day that he sinned. We find that he did not cease to exist in any way.
Rather, he became separated from God; both in body and soul.
7.
According to Ephesians 2:5 and Colossians 2:13 the believers have already been
“made alive” with Christ
We
read:
Ephesians
2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath
quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Colossians
2:13 And you, being dead in your sins
and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him,
having forgiven you all trespasses;
In
both Ephesians 2:5 and Colossians 2:13 we read that the believers have been
“quickened” together with Christ. That is the old English word for “made
alive”. When we become saved, we have been “made alive” in our spirit. This
does not mean that we have not been brought into existence in our spirit.
Rather, the true believer now has God, who is “life” Himself, indwelling him.
We
already learned from 1 Peter 3:19 that unsaved man has a spirit-essence. When
we are saved, God makes us alive in our spirit-essence. God did not make us
exist in our spirit-essence. Unsaved man already has a spirit-essence.
Rather,
God, who is life, came to indwell our spirits upon salvation. Now, the true
believer has been “made alive” because he has God, who is life, indwelling him.
Unsaved
man dies twice, both in body and soul. The second time his body falls asleep.
The
fact that unsaved man dies twice, both in body and soul, fits perfectly with
the Biblical definition that for mankind “death = separation from God”. Unsaved
man is separated from God twice.
The
first time occurred when Adam sinned. Mankind became dead, in both body and
soul. Adam, along with the whole human race, did not cease to exist, but rather
all of mankind became separated from God, both in body and soul. We were no
longer energized by God (Philippians 2:12-13); nor were we indwelt by God
(Romans 8:9). This is true for both in body and in soul.
The
fact that unsaved man is dead, both in body and soul, explains why he desires
to sin, both in his body and his soul. God does not indwell nor energize him in
either his body or his soul. Unsaved man goes his own way and does his own will
which is sinful.
Unsaved
man is separated from God, both in body and soul, but it is not a complete
separation. As explained above, while unsaved man is in this world, he lives in
the sense that he is in God and God cares for him (Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17,
17:27-28) and he is not far from God. God is life. He can pray to God with the
possibility that God will hear him. There is hope of salvation. He is not
completely separated from God.
Eventually,
unsaved man dies from this world which is the second time he dies. When unsaved
man dies the second time, it is also both in body and soul. If we have any
doubt about the soul dying a second time we can refer to Joshua 10 which is
talking about Joshua destroying the “souls” of the people of the
It
is at this point that his body falls asleep so that there is no consciousness
in his body until it is awakened at the end of the world (Daniel 12:2).
The
fact that unsaved man dies twice confuses us and makes us think in terms of
“spiritual death” and “physical death”. Part of the answer comes when we
understand that the second time man dies occurs at the same time that his body
“sleeps” in the dust.
Maybe,
we recognize that Adam died twice and that unsaved man dies twice.
The
first time he died occurred the day that he sinned (Genesis 2:17). The second
time he died occurred at the age of 930 years (Genesis 5:5).
How
man could die twice confuses us.
Part
of the confusion comes from the fact that we don’t see visible evidence of the
fact that unsaved man is already dead, but we do see visible evidence when man
dies the second time.
That’s
because the second time man dies occurs at the same time that his body “falls
asleep”. What we are seeing is the fact that the body sleeps.
These
two facts lead us to say that when Adam died in Genesis 2:17 it was his soul
that died and that unsaved man is dead in his soul. We cannot see the soul.
Then
we say that Adam’s body died in Genesis 5:5 and that unsaved man’s body dies
the second time he dies.
This
way of thinking makes sense to us, but does not agree with Romans 8:10 and 1
Corinthians 15:29 that talk about the fact that man’s body is already dead.
It
does not agree with 1 Peter 3:19 and other verses that teach that unsaved man
still has a spirit as well as a body.
It
does not agree with Joshua 10 that says that Joshua killed the souls of the
unsaved people. The soul points to the spirit-essence of man. Joshua killed the
spirits as well as the bodies of those people.
It
does not agree with how God defines life for mankind in 1 John 5:12, John 6:53
and many other verses.
These
are some of the problems with this thinking that are explained in these
studies.
The
problem is that we have been used to thinking this way for a long time and we
are depending too much on what we see with our eyes rather than what the Bible
says.
What
makes this difficult is that the second time man dies corresponds with the time
that his body “sleeps”. So, we define “death” as a loss of consciousness in the
body and the decay of the body and we disregard such verses as Romans 8:10 and
1 Corinthians 15:29 which say that man is already dead both in body and soul.
However, the failing of the body is called “sleep” for the body.
God
does not use the word “dead” in connection with mankind to focus upon the
destruction of the body. Instead, God uses the word “sleep” to speak of the
failing of the body.
Unsaved
man is already dead, both in body and soul, yet his body is still functional.
The
second time an unsaved person dies from this world does identify with the
destruction of the body because the second time man dies from this world is the
same time that his body sleeps in the dust.
This
is necessary because while man is in this world, he is in God. Acts 17:28
declares that even unsaved man “lives” in the sense that he is in God and under
God’s blessings. When his body fails and loses consciousness, then man is
completely separated from God and His blessing. That is, man dies a second
time.
It
is at the time of the failing of the body that unsaved man is completely
separated from God. But, death for mankind signifies separation from God.
Unsaved man dies twice, both in body and soul. He is separated from God twice.
Later
on, we will look more at the word “sleep”.
When
either the believer or the unbeliever dies from this world, the Bible says his
body “sleeps”. There is no consciousness in his body until it “awakes” at the
end of the world. The “sleep” of the body does identify with the destruction or
failing of the body. This happens the second time man dies, both in body and
soul. We will examine the sleeping of the body more later.
God
puts more focus upon the “death” of unsaved man. But, what we can see with our
eyes is a body sleeping in this dust. These facts make it easy for us to arrive
at the wrong definition of “death” for mankind.
We
read many verses that talk about the death of the unsaved. We read only a few
verses that talk about man’s body sleeping in the dust.
One
reason for the emphasis upon death is probably because it is the greatest
tragedy for mankind. Death from this world means that man is eternally
separated from God and from all of God’s blessings. It truly horrible.
Therefore, we are not surprised that God puts great emphasis upon death.
However,
what we see with our eyes is a body sleeping in the dust. We cannot directly
see the death or separation of man from God.
Therefore,
it is very easy for us to link in our minds that “death = a body sleeping in
the dust”.
But,
this is not true. According to the Bible “death” and a “body sleeping in the
dust” are two separate events that occur at the same time.
8.
We read in John 5:24-25:
24 Verily, verily, I say
unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from
death unto life.
25 Verily, verily, I say
unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of
the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
These
verses are talking about salvation. When God saves us we experience the “passing
from death unto life”. Also, God says that the dead shall hear the voice of
God and shall live.
In
the first part of verse 24 God uses the phrase “everlasting
life”. Then at the end God uses the word “life”. This may
cause us to think that we can substitute “everlasting
life” for “life” at the end of the verse, but we cannot do
that. At the end of the verse God has written “passed from death unto life”
and we must understand this phrase without changing it.
We
learn from the rest of the Bible that the soul of man has “passed from death
unto life” upon salvation. This will also happen in his body at the time of
the Rapture. So, in both body and soul, he will finally “pass from death
unto life”, because before salvation he was dead, both in body and soul.
What
does it mean that the believer has “passed from death unto life”? He is
not “passing from non-existence to existence”. When we become saved, we
don’t come into existence in anyway. We don’t gain any existence.
One
might argue that the spirit of the unsaved does not exist and that the phrase “passed
from death unto life” means that when God saves someone his spirit has “passed
from non-existence unto existence”. But that is not the case. We have seen
that unsaved man has a spirit also.
Let’s
review a few verses that show that unsaved man exists in his spirit-essence as
well as in his body.
God
gives us help to see that the unsaved have a spirit-essence in 1 Peter 3:19. We
read there:
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in
prison;
This
is referring to the unsaved people living during the days of Noah. The Holy
Spirit preached the Gospel through Noah to those unsaved people before the
flood. Those unsaved people are referred to as “spirits in prison”.
Unsaved
man is a spirit in prison. He is also a body in prison. Unsaved man is in
bondage to sin in both his body and spirit.
God
here is teaching that the unsaved have a spirit-essence just like they have a
body. The unsaved exist, both in body and spirit. The unsaved are “spirits in
prison”. Therefore, they must have a “spirit”.
1
Peter 3:19 teaches us that just as unsaved man has a body, he also has a
spirit.
We
read in Psalms 78:8:
And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and
rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and
whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
This
is talking about the sad state of the unsaved Israelites. God said their spirit
was not stedfast with God. They were in rebellion against God. Notice God
indicates that they had a spirit. The unsaved Israelites had spirits. Their
spirits were not “stedfast” or did not “believe” in God.
But,
nevertheless, they had spirits.
This
is another proof that unsaved people have existence in both their body and
their spirit.
God
talks about His wrath upon the unsaved in Isaiah 65:14. We read there:
Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but
ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
Isaiah
65:14 teaches that the unsaved will experience “vexation of spirit” at
Judgment Day. This also shows that the unsaved have a spirit-essence. They will
be vexed in their spirit-essence at Judgment Day.
We
read two verses in Daniel 2 that talk about the “spirit” of Nebuchadnezzar
being troubled:
Daniel
2:1 And in the second year of the reign
of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was
troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
Daniel
2:3 And the king said unto them, I have
dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
The
fact that his spirit was troubled proves that Nebuchadnezzar had a spirit.
We
know that Nebuchadnezzar was unsaved in Daniel 2 because in the next chapter,
Daniel 3, he makes this great idol for the people to worship. We can know that
Nebuchadnezzar was not saved.
Therefore,
Daniel 2:1 & 3 give further confirmation that the unsaved have a spirit.
These
are some of the verses that teach that unsaved man has a spirit-essence along
with his body. The spirit of unsaved man has not ceased to exist. Just like
saved man, unsaved man has a body as well as a spirit.
With the knowledge that unsaved man has a spirit as
well as a body, let’s go back to John 5:24 and look at the phrase “passed
from death unto life”
We read in John 5:24:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and
shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
God says that when we become saved, we have “passed from death unto life”.
Unsaved man has both a spirit and a body. He exists in
both body and spirit. When he is saved he truly has “passed from death unto
life”. He has not “passed from non-existence to existence”. Before
salvation, unsaved man already exists both in body and spirit.
We
cannot ignore this statement, “passed from death unto life”. Upon
salvation the believer’s soul really does “passed from death unto life”.
We
have not “passed from being subject to death unto life”. We have not
passed from non-existence into existence upon salvation.
This
is not a theoretical or hypothetical statement. It is a statement of actual
fact.
When
we become saved, in our soul, we pass from death unto life. John 11:25 &
14:6 teach us that God is life. Upon salvation, we pass from separation from
God to indwelling by God in our soul. God indwells the true believer in his
soul upon salvation, but not in his body (Romans 7:18, 8:9).
This
passage fits perfectly with the Biblical definitions of life and death for
mankind. In his soul, the believer now has life, which is God indwelling (John
6:53, 1 John 5:12).
The
believer does not have any more existence than the unbeliever. Rather, the
believer now has passed from death unto life because he has God indwelling him.
He has God (2 John 9).
John
5:25 talks about the dead hearing the voice of God. Someone that has ceased to
exist cannot hear anything. Also, 2 Kings 4:31 teaches that an unconscious
corpse cannot hear either. We will examine 2 Kings 4:31 later in this study.
However,
those that are separated from God can hear the voice of God because they still
exist. God can give them understanding of spiritual truth of the Bible.
The
dead shall live. That is, God, who is “life”, will come to indwell them. Then
they will have “life”. This happens when we become saved. The definition of
life for mankind as to do with his relationship to God (John 6:53, 1 John 5:12,
Acts 17:27-28). God, who is life, has come into man’s soul, so now he has
“life”. God is the “life” that now indwells him. God is “the life” that man now
has in his soul.
John
5:24-25 provides help in understanding John 5:28.
In
John 5:28 we read about the “resurrection of life” for the believer’s
body. We think that means the “resurrection of conscious existence”.
However, God talks about the soul of the believer in the previous verses,
verses 24-25. God says that upon salvation, the soul has “passed from death unto life”. The word, “life”,
does not refer to existence. Before salvation the unsaved exist just like
believers exist, despite the fact that the unsaved are dead, both in body and
soul. This phrase “passed from death unto life”
in verse 24 means that now God, who is “life”, has come into the
person’s soul. The believer has passed from separation from God to being
indwelt by God, in his soul. He has not passed unto any existence.
In
the same way, the “resurrection of life” in John 5:28 does not mean a “resurrection
of conscious existence” in the believer’s body. Rather, it means that God,
who is “life”, has now come into the believer’s body at the resurrection
of the last day. This statement is supported by John 6:53, 1 John 5:12 and
other verses. On the last day, the believer’s body experiences the “resurrection
of Christ”. The believer receives a body that Christ is now indwelling. He
does not receive a body like he had in this world which is “dead”, separated
from God.
Remember,
while the believer lives in this world his body is still dead (Romans 8:10, 1
Corinthians 15:29). His body is still separated from God. But, at the
resurrection of the last day, God will indwell his body also. Until then, God
only indwells the believer’s soul. (Romans 7:18, 8:9). This is why the believer’s
body is still dead. But at the resurrection of the last day, his body will have
“life = God” also. That is why the believer experiences the “resurrection of
life”.
9.
We read in 1 John 3:14:
We know that we have passed from death
unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother
abideth in death.
This verse gives a similar message as John
5:24. So God is giving us multiple witnesses in the Bible to this truth
regarding the “passing from death unto life”. In his soul, the true
believer has passed unto life. He has not passed into existence. The unsaved
exist in both body and soul. However, the true believer has passed unto God in
the sense that God now indwells his soul and energizes him (Romans 7:18, 8:9,
Philippians 2:12-13). He now has “life”, which is God Himself, in his soul.
In 1 John 3:14 God adds more information.
Notice that God says that the unsaved “abideth in death”. This is true
for both his body and his soul. He did not say that the unsaved abideth in
being subject to death.
The unsaved abide in death. You cannot
abide in non-existence. However, you can abide in separation from God. That is
the state of the unsaved. Both in body and soul, they abide in death. They
abide in separation from God. They exist, but they abide in separation from
God, both in body and soul.
This language “abideth in death”
also shows that the Bible teaches that unsaved man is not just somehow “subject
to death” and not really dead. Rather, the Bible teaches that unsaved man is
really dead and abides (or exists) in the state of being dead. This verse helps
us to recognize that the Bible teaches that unsaved man is really “dead” and we
just can’t ignore Genesis 2:17, Romans 8:10, 1 Corinthians 15:29, Ephesians
2:1, 5, 1 Peter 4:6, etc. We must recognize that unsaved man is really dead,
both in body and soul.
This verse also agrees with the teaching
that for mankind death is not cessation of existence. You cannot abide in
cessation of existence. Those two terms are opposites, “abide” and “cease to
exist”.
As we are seeing these verses fit
perfectly when we understand that the Bible defines, “God = life” and for
mankind, life has to do with his relationship to God and death for mankind is
separation from God.
We have to modify many verses in our minds
to fit them to the definitions “life = existence” and “death = cessation of
existence”.
10. We read in 1 John 5:20 and 1:1-2:
1
John 5:20:
And we know that the Son of God is come,
and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we
are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true
God, and eternal life.
1
John 1:1-2:
1 ¶ That which was from the beginning,
which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked
upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2
(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear
witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and
was manifested unto us;)
These verses teach us that the Lord Jesus
is eternal life. He is called “eternal life”. So, when John 3:16 and other
verses say that the believers “have” eternal life. God is literally saying that
the believers “have” the Lord Jesus, who is “eternal life”, indwelling them.
That is one way those verses can be read.
The Lord Jesus is also called “life” in 1
John 1:1-2. This agrees with John 11:25 & 14:6. These verses focus upon the
fact that God Himself is “life”.
This agrees with 1 John 5:12, John 6:53
and other verses that teach that for mankind “life” does not have to do with
existence, but rather with his relationship to God.
These verses teach us that the Lord Jesus
has two more names. He is called “life” and “eternal life”. These new names
help us to understand Daniel 12:2 better. The bodies of both the saved and the
unsaved will “awake”. That word “awake” is always applied to someone with
conscious existence; either man or God. It is never used in some generic way
nor is it ever used to speak of inanimate objects like bones.
God specifically gives us 2 Kings 4:31
with the same Hebrew word translated “awake” in Daniel 12:2 to define this
Hebrew word translated “awake”.
We read in these two verses:
2 Kings 4:31 And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid
the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor
hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child
is not awaked <06974>.
Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of
the earth shall awake <06974>, some to everlasting
life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Daniel 12:2 promises that the bodies of
the saved and of the unsaved will “awake”. 2 Kings 4:31 provides definition for
this Hebrew word translated “awake”. In 2 Kings 4:31 God defines that an
unconscious corpse is not “awake”. Therefore, we can know that at the last day,
when the bodies of the saved and the unsaved “awake”, they will not “awake” as
unconscious corpses. God has defined that an unconscious corpse is not “awake”.
Therefore, the bodies of the saved and the unsaved must “awake” to
consciousness.
Also, 2 Kings 4:31 is a key verse because
it defines that an unconscious corpse is not awake (same Hebrew word
that is used in Daniel 12:2).
We will look at this word “awake” in more
detail later in this and other studies.
But - what about the phrase “awake to
everlasting life”? Does that mean that the unsaved don’t return to conscious
existence because they awake, but not to “everlasting life”?
No.
The Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus is
called “eternal life” or “everlasting life”. That is what the believers have.
They have the Lord Jesus, called “eternal life”, indwelling them in their soul
(John 6:53, 1 John 3:15, 5:12). But, while they lived in this world, their
bodies were still “dead”, separated from God (Romans 7:18, 8:10, 1 Corinthians
15:29). However, the believers will awake in their bodies to the Lord Jesus,
who is called “eternal life” or “everlasting life” now indwelling their bodies.
The unsaved will awake to consciousness, but they will not have the Lord Jesus,
called “eternal life”, indwelling them.
Before the Rapture, the Lord Jesus is not
indwelling the body of the true believer. He is only indwelling his soul
(Romans 7:18, 8:9). But, at the Rapture, the believers’ bodies will awake to
“everlasting life”. That is, they will awake to the Lord Jesus indwelling their
bodies now.
11. We read in John 17:1-3:
1 ¶ These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and
said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify
thee:
2 As thou hast given him
power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast
given him.
3 And this is life eternal,
that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast
sent.
These verses confirm that the definition
of eternal life is not merely existing forever. John 17:1-3 add that the
definition of having eternal life includes knowing God in a saving way. This
agrees with the Biblical definition that “life (or eternal life) = God” and for
mankind “life (or eternal life) = God in man or man in God”. We come to know
God in a saving way when He has come to indwell us.
To say it another way; these verses are
saying that “eternal life” for mankind has to do with his relationship to God
and not with existence. That is the same truth that 1 John 5:12 and other
verses say about the word “life”.
12. We read in 1 John 3:15:
Whosoever hateth his brother is a
murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Here
God says that the unsaved do not have “eternal life abiding in him”. If
we think that “eternal life = existing forever”, the above verse is not worded
correctly. By this phrase, God is personifying “eternal life”. With the help of
1 John 1:2 and 5:20, we learn that “eternal life” is another name for the Lord
Jesus. Now, this statement fits perfectly. The unsaved do not have “eternal
life”, that is the Lord Jesus, abiding in them. This statement confirms that
“eternal life” is another name for the Lord Jesus. To have “eternal life” is
not referring to existing forever, but rather, it is referring to having the
Lord Jesus indwelling.
This
verse also indicates that the true believer has “eternal life (The Lord
Jesus) abiding in him”. This statement agrees with the definition of life
or eternal life for mankind has to do with his relationship to God.
The
phrase “eternal life” emphasizes the promise of God that the He will never
leave nor forsake the true believer. The true believer will eternally be under
the blessing of God and be with God, who is life Himself.
Below
are some verses with this same word “abiding”, number <3306>. They show
that for the true believer, the Lord Jesus (eternal life) abides in him.
John
6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and
drinketh my blood, dwelleth <3306> in me, and I in him.
John
14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he
shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide <3306> with
you for ever;
John
14:17 Even the Spirit of truth;
whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him:
but ye know him; for he dwelleth <3306> with you, and shall be in
you.
1
John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any
time. If we love one another, God dwelleth <3306> in us, and his
love is perfected in us.
1
John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell <3306>
in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
1
John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that
Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth <3306> in him, and he in
God.
1
John 4:16 And we have known and believed
the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth <3306>
in love dwelleth <3306> in God, and God in him.
So,
1 John 3:15 confirms that the true believer has the Lord Jesus, also called
“eternal life”, dwelling in him. But, the unbeliever does not have the Lord
Jesus, “eternal life”, abiding in him.
13.
We read in Romans 8:10:
And if Christ be in you, the body is
dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Romans 8:10 tells us that the body of the
saved is dead. If the body of the saved is dead, then the body of the unsaved
is also dead. Therefore, this verse supports the important Biblical truth that
unsaved man is dead, both in body and soul and thereby showing that for mankind
death is not a cessation of existence.
This verse also supports the important
truth that for mankind, “life” has to do with his relationship with God, who is
“life”.
This verse is written in an unusual way.
In fact, the NIV translators were confused enough that they changed the verse
to make more sense to themselves, but in doing so, they have hidden a very
important truth taught in this verse. The King James translators correctly
followed the Greek text.
We would expect this verse to say “… the
body is dead … but the spirit is alive”, describing the believer’s
spirit as being “alive”. But, God does not say that. God says that the “spirit
is life”, using the noun “life”. This can only be God’s Spirit, which is
called “life” in this verse and in John 11:25, 14:6. This verse reaffirms the
important truth; “God = life”.
God is describing the believer’s
personality in this verse. His body is dead. It is separated from God. Next you
would expect God to declare the state of believer’s spirit because God just
told us the state of the believer’s body. Rather than doing that, God tells us
that God’s Spirit is life. The believer’s body is dead, but God’s Spirit is
“the life” that now indwells the believer’s spirit. The believer’s spirit has
life because it has God indwelling, who is life.
God is teaching the definition that for
mankind “life” has to do with his relationship with God and not with existence.
Romans 7:18 & 8:9 indicate that God’s spirit, called “life” here and in
other verses (John 11:25, 14:6), indwells the true believer’s spirit. That is
why the believer’s spirit has “passed from death unto life” (John 5:24,
1 John 3:14). God, who is “life”, has come to indwell the believer’s spirit.
The body remains dead. It has not ceased
to exist. Rather it is still separated from God until the Rapture (Romans 7:18,
8:9).
This verse emphasizes that it is God’s
spirit that is the “life”. The believer’s spirit has “life” because it has God
who is “life”.
14. We read in Romans 8:11:
But if the Spirit of him that raised up
Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall
also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Romans
8:11 is a follow up to Romans 8:10. It further agrees with the definition for
mankind: “death = separation from God”. It does not agree that for mankind;
death is a cessation of existence.
God
says that He will “quicken” (or make alive) the believers’ mortal bodies. This
goes along with verse 10 that says that the believers’ bodies are dead. The
believers’ bodies have not ceased to exist nor have the believers being
addressed died from the world. However, their bodies are dead. They are
separated from God. They are not indwelt by God, nor energized by God. God will
not make their new bodies alive until the Rapture when He indwells them.
The
believers will receive a glorified spiritual body on the last day. However,
that is not what makes their bodies have the “life” described in Romans
8:10-11. Adam and Eve had bodies of flesh, but their bodies had the “life” described
in Romans 8:11 until they sinned. When they sinned, they died, both in body and
soul. They became separated from God.
The
“life” promised for the believer’s body in this verse is that God will give the
believer a body that God Himself indwells.
15.
We read in a number of verses where God is called “the life”:
John 14:6:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
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?
1 John 1:2:
(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it,
and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the
Father, and was manifested unto us;)
John 1:4:
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
In John 1:4, The Lord Jesus is the “life” that
was the light of men. As John 1:4 describes, “life” is not only in the Lord
Jesus, but the Lord Jesus is “life” itself.
When we read these verses maybe we think of God as the
giver of life. This is a true statement. However, these verses are saying that
God is life.
In these verses God is called “life” without
any qualifications or limitations. The term “life” becomes another name for
God. Just like “truth” and “way” are names for Christ, another name for Christ
is “life”. This fits exactly what we read in 1 John 5:12 and John 6:53.
In these verses God identifies the word “life” with
God and not with existence.
Let’s consider John 14:6. The unsaved don’t have the
“way” nor do they have the “truth” because they are estranged from God. The
believers have the “way” and they have “truth” because they have God and God is
energizing them. God identifies “life” for mankind in the same way He
identifies the “way” and the “truth” for mankind, specifically with man’s
relationship with God.
We have already seen a number of verses in which God
does not identify “life” for man as existence, but rather with man’s
relationship to God, who is “life”.
Another way to say it is: The believers have the
“way”, the “truth” and the “life” because the God of the Bible is their God.
The unsaved don’t have these 3 things because they are estranged from God. Yet,
the unbelievers exist just like the believers exist.
If “life” for mankind has to do with his relationship
to God, then what is the significance of “life” for man?
A key part of the answer is the blessings that come
from God.
For example, we read in Psalm 16:11:
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in
thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are
pleasures for evermore.
God starts out Psalm 16:11 by talking about the “path
of life”. The “path of life” is really the path of God. Next in this
verse God lists the blessings that God gives the true believers. There is “fulness
of joy” and there are “pleasures for evermore”.
In this verse and others, God is linking “life” for
mankind with being in the highest blessings of God. That is because “life” for
mankind does not have to do with existence, but rather “life” for mankind has
to do with his relationship to God and all of the blessings that God gives.
In this world, even the unsaved “live” in the sense
that they are in God and God provides many blessings for them (Matthew 5:45,
Acts 14:17, 17:28).
For mankind, “life” is not existence, but rather life
for mankind is God Himself and all of the wonderful blessings of God.
We have already seen verses where God declares that
life for mankind has to do with his relationship to God, who is life. These
verses help us to understand John 5:28-29. We read in those verses:
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.
The believers experience the “resurrection of life”.
That particular word “resurrection” is always used to indicate conscious
existence. It is never used indicate a generic “rising up”, like the rising up
of dust or bones. A related verb is used to indicate a general rising up. But,
for this word in John 5:29, God has been very careful to limit it’s usage to
indicate a conscious existence.
With the help of the above verses that define “life”
as another name for God, we can understand the phrase “resurrection of life”.
It actually is the “resurrection of Christ”. The believers receive a
return to consciousness in their bodies (the definition of the word
“resurrection”) that includes their bodies having “life”, who is God,
indwelling them.
16. We read several verses with the phrase “enter
into life”:
Matthew 18:8:
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut
them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into
life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into
everlasting fire.
Matthew 18:9:
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it
from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than
having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
Matthew 19:17:
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there
is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into
life, keep the commandments.
Mark
9:43:
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better
for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into
the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mark 9:45
And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better
for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell,
into the fire that never shall be quenched:
This word “enter” is used for entering into a place or
room. It is also used a number of times talking about how we “enter” into the
kingdom of God when God saves us (Matthew 5:20, 7:13, 21, 18:3, Mark 10:15, 25,
John 3:5, Revelation 21:27, 22:14).
These verses don’t fit for the definition “life =
existence”. The unsaved already exist just like the believers exist. The
unsaved have existence in both their body and in their spirit. We looked at 1
Peter 3:19 and other verses that show that the unsaved exist, both in body and
spirit.
How could they “enter into existence” or enter
into any more existence?
Also, when we study the Bible closely, we learn that
the unsaved are dead both in body and soul. So, they need to “enter into
life” both in body and soul. The unsaved have not yet entered into life, in
either body or soul, but they do exist, both in body and soul.
However, when we see that the Bible defines that God
Himself is “life” (John 11:25, 14:6, etc) and that for mankind “life” has to do
with his relationship to God (John 6:53, 1 John 5:12, etc.), then the above
verses fit perfectly.
When we become saved we “enter into life”. That
is, we “enter into God”. We don’t enter into existence, but we enter
into God Himself. God comes to indwell us. God energizes us. The Lord Jesus,
who is eternal life Himself, comes to indwell us.
The believers enter into the
These verses again are showing us that for mankind
“life” does not have to do with existence, but rather with man’s relationship
to God, who is “life”.
17. We read in Matthew 7:13-14:
13 Enter ye in at the
strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that
leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is
the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there
be that find it.
Here God is talking about the two different paths upon
which man is going. The strait gate and narrow way leads unto life. Verse 14
tells us that, sadly, most people do not find the path that leads unto life.
In this verse, “life” cannot be existence. The unsaved
already exist. They don’t need to find a way that leads unto existence. They
already exist. However, the unsaved do need to find a way that leads unto God,
who is life.
Also, God did not say “eternal life”. We cannot come
to truth by adding words to verses. In order to understand the Biblical
definition of life and death for mankind, we are going to have to understand
these verses without adding words.
The strait gate of salvation does not lead unto
existence. The unsaved already exist. Rather, it leads unto God, who is life.
It leads unto God and all of the blessings of God.
When we have become saved, we have already entered the
strait gate and the narrow way unto life. We have not entered into existence.
Rather, we have entered into God, who is life.
We can understand this verse when we realize that life
for mankind has to do with his relationship to God. Few people go through the
gate and are on the way that leads unto life, which is God indwelling. Being
indwelt by God comes with salvation.
18. We read in Ezekiel 37:1-14:
1 ¶ The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the
spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was
full of bones,
2 And caused me to pass by
them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley;
and, lo, they were very dry.
3 And he said unto me, Son
of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me,
Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of
the LORD.
5 Thus saith the Lord GOD
unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall
live:
6 And I will lay sinews
upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put
breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So I prophesied as I was
commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and
the bones came together, bone to his bone.
8 And when I beheld, lo,
the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above:
but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he unto me,
Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith
the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain,
that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he
commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon
their feet, an exceeding great army.
11 Then he said unto me,
Son of man, these bones are the whole house of
12 Therefore prophesy and
say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your
graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the
land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I
am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought
you up out of your graves,
14 And shall put my spirit
in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall
ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith
the LORD.
This passage mentions the words “live” or “life” in
verses 3, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 14. Therefore this passage is very relevant to study
of “life” for mankind.
The first question is: Does this passage establish the
principle that literal dry bones can hear the word of God?
1. The first response to this question is that just
because a passage has a spiritual Gospel truth, that does not necessarily mean
that it also teaches a literal physical truth.
It is generally agreed that this passage teaches about
the salvation of the elect. However, does it also establish a literal physical
principle?
We cannot automatically conclude that every parabolic
passage with a spiritual, Gospel truth also teaches a literal physical truth.
For example in John 6:53 we read:
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily,
I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood,
ye have no life in you.
John 6:53 is using parabolic language to teach
spiritual, Gospel principles of salvation. However, we cannot also say that
this passage also has a literal physical application. God is not teaching us
that man is to literally drink the blood of Jesus or eat his flesh. John 6:53
can only be understood in a spiritual, Gospel way. It cannot be applied
in a literal, physical way.
If we want to believe that John 6:53 can have a
literal, physical application, then we have to believe that people could actual
drink the blood of Jesus and eat His flesh.
Therefore, a parabolic passage that teaches Gospel
truth does not necessarily establish a literal, physical principle.
2. Yet, could it be that Ezekiel 37:1-14 still teaches
a physical, literal principle?
Next, we have to keep in mind that we cannot isolate
one verse in Ezekiel 37:1-14 from the whole passage. If this passage
establishes principles regarding literal, physical dry bones, then we must
consider everything that this passage says about these bones.
For example, verse 4 says that these dry bones will
hear the word of the LORD. But, verse 11 gives more information about these dry
bones that can hear. God says in verse 11:
Then he said unto me, Son of man, these
bones are the whole house of
Verse 11 gives more information about these dry bones
that can hear. Verse 11 indicates that these dry bones can also speak. These
bones say “Our bones are dried, and our hope is
lost: we are cut off for our parts.” That is, these bones talk.
These bones can also experience affliction. Notice
that these bones are talking about their miserable condition. These bones
experience affliction and emotion.
We cannot isolate verse 4 from it’s context. If we
want to say that Ezekiel 37:1-11 is teaching that literal dry bones can hear,
then it is also teaching that they can talk and experience affliction.
In that case, those that want to hold to the teaching
that the resurrection of the unsaved will be as dry bones, then those unsaved
people, as dry bones, will be hearing God and they will be talking and will
experience affliction in hell.
So, we’re back to the point that the unsaved, whether
they are raised in a body or as dry bones, will be able to hear and talk and
experience the afflictions of hell. That is, they will awake to consciousness.
A second point is that if this passage is establishing
a principle regarding literal, physical dry bones, then this passage must have
had a fulfillment at some point in the past or will have a fulfillment at some
time in the future. If this passage is really establishing a literal, physical
principle, then it is describing either a past or future historical event.
So, the question is: Has this already occurred or will
it occur in the future? That a literal pile of dry bones are changed into an
group of people?
This has never happened, nor will it ever happen.
Therefore, we can know that Ezekiel 37:1-14 is a
parabolic passage that teaches Gospel truth, but like John 6:53, it does not
have any literal or physical application.
So, we can be quite certain that when John 5:28 talks about
people, both the saved and the unsaved, hearing the voice of God and coming
forth, that these people will consciously hear the voice of God. We don’t find
any reference to mankind “hearing” where the person did not consciously receive
the sound.
Also, 2 Kings 4:31 teaches us that unconscious corpse
cannot hear. If an unconscious corpse cannot hear, then a pile of bones cannot
hear. We read in 2 Kings 4:31:
And Gehazi passed on
before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was
neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him,
saying, The child is not awaked.
We learn from 2 Kings 4:31 that an unconscious corpse
cannot hear. Therefore we can know that dry bones cannot hear.
Remember, John 5:28-29 talks about people hearing the
voice of God and people coming forth. It does not say that the remains of people
will hear and that the remains of people will come forth. It talks about people
coming forth.
Throughout the Bible as God uses the word “hear” in
connection with mankind it means that man consciously “hears”. We don’t find
examples in the Bible contrary to that. Ezekiel 37:1-11 agrees with this truth
also.
Maybe someone can find a verse that talks about an
inanimate object, like a rock, that “hears”. However, John 5:28-29 is talking
about mankind. Ezekiel 37:1-11 agrees with all of the other verses that teach
that for mankind hearing is a conscious process. 2 Kings 4:31 says that an unconscious corpse
does not hear.
So, we can know that when John 5:28-29 talks about
mankind hearing, it is a conscious process.
God avoids the use of the word “life” in connection
with the unsaved in eternity because the Biblical definition of life for
mankind has to do with his relationship with God, who is “life”. Sadly, in
eternity future, the unsaved are completely separated from God. However, they
still exist.
19. We read an important statement in Colossians 3:4:
When Christ, who is our life, shall
appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
God
put clues here and there in the Bible that God, rather than existence, is
“life” for mankind. Here we read another name for the Lord Jesus, “our life”.
God Himself is the “life” that dwells in the true believer so that the believer
has God, who is “life”, indwelling him.
The
Lord Jesus Christ is “life”. When we become saved, Christ becomes “our life”. The
unsaved exist as do the believers, but they do not have “our life”, which is
the Lord Jesus, indwelling them.
The
Lord Jesus is not “our life” for the unsaved.
It
is not that the believers exist and the unbelievers don’t exist. Rather, the
believers have God indwelling, who is “our life”.
In
Colossians 3:4 God is emphasizing that “life” for mankind has to do with his
relationship to God, and not whether man exists.
We
read a verse in the Old Testament that is similar to Colossians 3:4. We read in
Deuteronomy 30:19-20:
19 I call heaven and earth
to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and
death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed
may live:
20
That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his
voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life,
and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD
sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Ancient
This
agrees with other verses that say that the true believers have God indwelling
them, and God is the life. God is the life of the true believers.
Deuteronomy
30:20 agrees with the other verses that teach that “God = life” and for
mankind, the Bible does not define life as existence, but rather “life = God in
man or man in God”.
20.
We read in Galatians 2:19-20:
19 For I
through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
In
verse 20 we read the significant statement “I live; yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me”. This statement is providing further support to an important
truth. This phrase emphasizes that in the believer, the important “life” is
Christ living in him. The true believer has Christ living in him. Therefore, He
has “life = Christ”. The definition of “life” for mankind is not existence, but
rather God, who is “the life”, indwelling the true believer.
We
read in the Bible about how the believer “lives”. By the phrase “I live; yet
not I, but Christ liveth in me”, God gives definition for “life” for the
believer. It is Christ, who is called “life”, that “lives” in the believer.
Therefore the believer has “life” because he has Christ, who is “life”,
indwelling him. This again confirms that “life” for mankind is not existence,
but instead it is God in man or man in God.
Galatians
2:19-20 agrees well with Romans 8:10 that says “the
Spirit is life”. God’s Spirit is the life that is in man,
according to Romans 8:10. This point is emphasized in Galatians 2:19-20. It is
Christ that lives in the true believer.
These
and other verses point to the Biblical truth that life for mankind has to do
with his relationship with God.
Also,
the Bible indicates that the unsaved do “live” while they are here on earth.
Acts 17:28 explains that while they are here on earth, the unsaved “live” in
the sense that they are in God and move in God. While they are on earth, they
are not completely separated from God. God provides for them. They “live” in
the sense that they are in God to some degree.
21.
We read in Revelation 11:7-11:
7 And when they
shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the
bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill
them.
8 And their
dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually
is called
9 And they of
the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies
three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in
graves.
10 And they
that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall
send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt
on the earth.
11 And after
three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they
stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
This passage talks about the 2 witnesses. They
represent the true believers throughout the New Testament era that brought the
Gospel.
They are killed in verse 7. God emphasizes that they
are dead in verse 8 through the reference to their “dead bodies”.
Then, in verse 11 we read that the “Spirit of life”,
which is God Himself, enters into them and they stand upon their feet. They
have “life” again.
A careful study of the 3 ½ days of Revelation 11:9
will show that it represents the 2,300 days of Daniel 8:14. This is the first
part of the Great Tribulation in which almost no one was saved. It went from
May 21, 1988 to September 7, 1994. This was the time when the Holy Spirit was
not working in the true believers to save large numbers of people through the
hearing of the Gospel.
At Pentecost on May 21, 33AD, the Holy Spirit was
poured out so that the true believers were filled by the Holy Spirit. The Holy
Spirit enabled them to carry out God’s command to go into all the world with
the Gospel. God was working in them to bring the Gospel to the whole world.
God uses the language of being “filled” with
the Holy Spirit to indicate that during the New Testament era (except for the
2,300 days), God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, would especially be working
in the true believers to enable them to bring the Gospel to the whole world.
Here are some example verses with this language of
being “filled
with the Holy Ghost”:
Acts 2:4 And they
were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as
the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 4:8 Then
Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and
elders of Israel,
Acts 4:31 And when
they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with
boldness.
Acts 13:9 Then
Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his
eyes on him,
Acts 2:4 describes Pentecost in 33AD when the true
believers were first filled with the Holy Spirit. The other verses repeat the
point that the true believers in the New Testament era were filled with the
Holy Spirit which enabled them to bring the Gospel. The above 4 verses are set
in the context of bringing the Gospel.
The true believers continued to be filled with the
Holy Spirit until the beginning of the Great Tribulation on May 21, 1988, in
which the Holy Spirit was withdrawn for 2,300 days until September 7, 1994.
That was the first part of the Great Tribulation.
During that first part of the Great Tribulation, the
Holy Spirit was not “filling” the true believers like He was starting in
Pentecost in 33AD. That is, God was not working in the true believers to bless
their efforts to bring the Gospel to the whole world.
Then, after the 2,300 days, the Holy Spirit was poured
out a second time, and the true believers were again “filled” with the Holy
Spirit to bring the Gospel in the second Jubilee.
This explanation is important because it will help us
understand why God refers to the 2 witnesses as “dead” in Revelation
11:7-8 and then indicates that they are made alive by the entering in of the “Spirit
of life” in verse 11.
John 16:1-2 has been offered as an explanation of what
God is teaching by the killing and making alive of the two witnesses. We read
there:
1 ¶ These things have I spoken unto you, that ye
should not be offended.
2 They shall
put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you
will think that he doeth God service.
People say that “to be silenced” is equivalent
to being “killed”. It is said that the true believers were silenced or
could not speak for the first part of the Great Tribulation.
However, that explanation is not very accurate. At the
beginning of the second Jubilee on September 7, 1994, the true believers did
not suddenly have more opportunity to bring the Gospel.
Rather, the change on September 7, 1994, the beginning
of the second Jubilee, was that God poured out the Holy Spirit the second time
and now the believers were “filled” again with the Holy Spirit. God was
blessing their efforts to bring the Gospel again.
The real difference is that God was again “filling”
the true believers in the person of the Holy Spirit to enable them to bring the
Gospel in the second Jubilee.
This agrees with the language of Revelation 11:11. The
Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of God”. In this verse, He is called the “Spirit
of life” because God Himself is “life” (John 14:6). In Revelation
11:11, God is using the word “life” as another name for God. God takes
on many names and one of them is “life”.
In this passage, God again teaches that “life”
for mankind has to do with his relationship with God because God is “life”.
God is also teaching that “death” for mankind has to do with being
separated from God.
In verse 8, the two witnesses are dead. This is during
that 2,300 day first part of the Great Tribulation.
The true believers have not ceased to exist.
Rather, God has withdrawn the Holy Spirit from the
true believers in the sense that the Holy Spirit is not “filling” them
to empower them to bring the Gospel. They were separated from God in that
sense. They were “dead” in that sense because “death” for mankind
is separation from God. This is indicated in verse 8.
During this 2,300 days, God was not “filling”
them in the person of the Holy Spirit, which means that God was not energizing
them to bring the Gospel to the world. That is why God says that they are “dead”
in Revelation 11:8. God, who is “life”, has withdrawn from them in the
sense that the Holy Spirit is not “filling” them to enable them to bring the
Gospel to the world. The 2 witnesses are “dead”, or separated from God,
in that sense.
The 2 witnesses have not ceased to exist. Rather, they
are separated from God in that one sense. They are separated from God only in
the sense that the Holy Spirit, who is God Himself, is not “filling”
them to enable them to bring the Gospel to the world. Again, God is using the
word “dead” to mean separation from God, who is “life”.
In verse 11 we read that the “Spirit of life”
entered into them and they stood on their feet. Now, they are no longer “dead”.
They have “life”. That is, they have God “filling” them. They have
“life” because they have God who now “fills” them again to bring the Gospel
during the second Jubilee.
In verse 11, the true believers did not receive any
more existence after the 3 ½ days. Rather, they received God, who is “life”,
in the sense that the Holy Spirit again “filled” them to enable them to
bring the Gospel during the second Jubilee.
In Revelation 11:8-11 we see the transition from death
to life is caused by God, who is called the “Spirit of life”, entering
into the true believers. God identifies the transition from “death to life”
with God entering into man.
God is the “life” that “fills” the true
believers to enable them to bring the Gospel to the whole world.
Revelation 11:7-11 agrees with other passages that
teach that God Himself is “life” and that “life” for mankind has to do with his
relationship with God and “death” for mankind is separation from God.
22.
We read a number of verse in which the Psalmist asks God to make him “alive”.
In our KJV Bible we read the word “quicken”. However, in the original Hebrew or
Greek text of the Bible, this is the word that means “to make alive”.
Below
are a list of verses in which the Psalmist is asking God to “make him alive”
using the Old English word “quicken”.
Psalm
80:18:
So will not we go back from thee: quicken
us, and we will call upon thy name.
Psalms
119:25:
DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken
thou me according to thy word.
Psalms 119:37:
Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken
thou me in thy way.
Psalms 119:40:
Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken
me in thy righteousness.
Psalms 119:50:
This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy
word hath quickened me.
Psalms 119:88:
Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
Psalms 119:93:
I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou
hast quickened me.
Psalms 119:107:
I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD,
according unto thy word.
Psalm
119:144:
The righteousness of thy testimonies is
everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.
Psalms 119:149:
Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O
LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.
Psalms 119:154:
Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me
according to thy word.
Psalms 119:156:
Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken
me according to thy judgments.
Psalms 119:159:
Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O
LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.
Psalms 143:11:
Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my
soul out of trouble.
The
Bible uses different language in describing “life” for mankind. The Bible says
that we have “life” when we become saved because we have God, who is “life”,
indwelling us (John 6:53, 1 John 5:12). This is really parallel to the above
verses that ask God to “make us alive” or “quicken us”. These verses are a
petition that God would give us “life”, which is God Himself coming to indwell
us.
The
above verses are not asking God to make us “exist”. The unsaved are dead, both
in body and soul, yet they still exist. The unsaved have existence in both
their body and their spirit-essence. 1 Peter 3:19 and other verses show that
the unsaved also have a spirit. The believers don’t have any more existence
than the unsaved. Yet, the believers have “life = God” indwelling. That is
equivalent to being “made alive”.
In
these verses, the Psalmist is asking God to make him alive. The Bible indicates
that before salvation we are dead, both in body and soul. Therefore, we need
“life” in both body and soul. We are made alive in the soul at the time of
salvation, and in the body at the time of the Rapture.
These
verses won’t fit for the definition of “life = existence”. They are not pleas
to God to “Make us exist”. The unsaved already have existence in both their
body and their spirit.
However,
these verses agree with the definitions “God is life” and “life” for mankind
has to do with his relationship with God. The Psalmist is asking for life, he
is asking for salvation. He is asking for “life”, which is God Himself, to
indwell him and energize him. That request is for both his body and his soul.
We
don’t want to disregard these verses. There are 14 verses here alone. God is
making a point here.
The
request “make me alive” is really a request for God, who is life, to come into
the person, so that he now has “life” which is God Himself indwelling.
23.
We read in John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal,
and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they
might have it more abundantly.
Jesus
says that he came so that “they might have life”.
He is saying that when He saves someone, He gives that person “life”. Then that
person has “life”.
Did
the Lord Jesus come that we might have “existence”?
No.
The unsaved already “exist”, both in body and spirit. When someone becomes
saved, they don’t have any more “existence” than the unsaved have.
However,
when we become saved we do receive God indwelling us. This verse goes along
with John 6:53 and 1 John 5:12. In John 10:10 also, God is showing us that
“life” for mankind does not have to do with existence, but rather “life” has to
do with man’s relationship to God. Christ came that we might have “life”.
Unsaved man already has “existence”. But, he does not yet have God, who is
life, indwelling him. God is life (John 11:25, 14:6).
When
God saves someone, then he has God, who is life, indwelling him.
If
this verse had said “that they might have eternal
life” then there would be no problem with holding to the traditional
definition that “life = existence”.
But,
God said that they might have “life”. Before salvation, we’re not lacking
“existence”, but we are lacking God, who is life, indwelling us and energizing
us.
The
next part of the verse is interesting. God says that “they might have it more abundantly”.
This
phrase can be read different ways.
When
we become saved we receive life, which is God Himself, indwelling us. Now we
have life, which is God, “more abundantly”.
God indwells us and energizes us. According to Acts 17:27-28, the unsaved do
“live” in the sense that they are in God. They can pray humbly to God with the
hope that God will hear them and God provides blessings. But, when we become
saved, God, who is the “life” promised in John 10:10, comes into us “more abundantly”. God indwells us and God
energizes us.
You
cannot have existence “more abundantly”.
Someone either exists or he doesn’t exist. Every usage of this word “more abundantly” refers to more of an item. It
is not used to refer to a longer duration of time for having the item. So, one
cannot have existence “more abundantly”.
For
example this same Greek word is found in these verses:
Mark
6:51 And he went up unto them into the
ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond
measure <4053>, and wondered.
Mark
14:31 But he spake the more vehemently <4053>,
If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said
they all.
Ephesians
3:20 Now unto him that is able to do
exceeding abundantly <4053> above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh in us,
1
Thessalonians 3:10 Night and day praying
exceedingly <4053> that we might see your face, and might perfect
that which is lacking in your faith?
1
Thessalonians 5:13 And to esteem them
very highly <4053> in love for their work’s sake. And be at
peace among yourselves.
In
each of these verses, this Greek word means more of the item and not the item
for a longer duration.
When
we become saved, we’re not just in God like all of mankind is in God (Acts
17:27-28). We now have God, who is life, indwelling us and blessing us “more abundantly”.
So,
John 10:10 helps to confirm that “life” for mankind has to do with his
relationship with God. Unsaved man “lives” to some degree in that he is in God,
but when salvation comes, he has “God = life” far “more
abundantly”.
24.
We read in John 6:33
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from
heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
This
passage is talking about Christ coming as the savior, as the “bread of God”.
This passage is not talking about Christ creating this world or a baby in his
mother’s womb.
Here
the Lord Jesus says He has come to give “life unto the world”. He is
talking about when people become saved. Jesus is talking about “bread” and He
is referring to Himself as the “bread of life”. This verse is talking about
salvation.
This
verse is effectively saying that before salvation we don’t have life, because
Christ has not yet given life to us.
Christ
comes from heaven and gives “life” to someone when He saves him. The Lord Jesus
does not give “existence”. The unsaved already have existence, both in the
spirit and body. Rather, Christ gives God, who is life, when He saves us. God
comes to indwell us when God saves us.
This
agrees with Mark 9:43 and other verses that say that when we become saved we “enter
into life”.
These
are not theoretical statements that we can just pass over.
When
we become saved, God gives us “life” in our soul. We “enter into life”
and we “pass from death unto life”. These things actually happen. We
don’t gain any more existence. Rather, we gain God, who is life, indwelling our
soul.
In
John 11:25, 14:6 and other verses, the Bible declares that God is life. When
God saves us, He gives us God Himself, indwelling. God is the life that the
believers receive.
This
verse supports the truth that for mankind “life” is not existence, but rather
“life” for mankind has to do with his relationship with God.
If
these verses had said that Christ gives “eternal life” then we could conclude
that “life = existence”. However, they say “life” and we cannot make that
substitution and come to truth.
25. We read in John 5:40:
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
The
Lord Jesus is talking about the sad condition of the spiritual leaders in
National Israel. They would not come to Him. They would not humble themselves
before the Word of God that they might have life. When Christ says “life” here,
He is referring to salvation.
Finally,
God has to save us. We do come to God through the Bible and prayer, hoping that
he might save us, hoping that we might have life.
This
verse indicates that before salvation, we don’t have “life”. The word “life”
cannot refer to “existence”. The unsaved already have “existence”, both in body
and spirit. The believers don’t have any more “existence” than the unbelievers.
Rather, “life” here refers to God Himself indwelling the true believer. God is
the “exceeding great reward” that the
believers have when God saves them (Genesis 15:1).
26. We read in two verses:
John 20:31:
But these are written, that ye might believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life
through his name.
1
John 5:16
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is
not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not
unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
There
are a number of verses like these.
In
these verses the request is made for “life”. It is really a request for
salvation. This request finally must be granted for both the body and the soul,
since both are dead. The request is not for “existence”. Unsaved man already
exists just like saved man exists. The request is to have God, who is life,
indwelling.
We
receive “life” when we become saved. We don’t receive existence in any part of
our nature. Rather, we receive God, who is life. God comes to indwell us when
He saved us.
These
verses are talking about salvation as receiving life. The unsaved already
exist, so these verses don’t fit for the definition; “life = existence”. We
would not say “might have existence through his name”. That is not what
salvation is.
Rather,
the hope is that we “might have God through his name”. When we become
saved, God, who is “life”, comes to indwell us.
27. We read in John 3:36:
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and
he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth
on him.
John
3:36 says that the unsaved “shall not see life”. God put the word “life”
there, and not “everlasting life”.
How
do we understand this verse? The unsaved see living people all around them.
Tomorrow they “shall see life” in people
all around them.
However,
if we recognize that the Bible defines “life” as another name for God, then
this verse is effectively saying that the unsaved “shall not see God”.
This
matches Matthew 5:8 that says that the true believers “shall see God”.
From John 1:51 we know that to “see” can mean to “know”. The believers shall
“know God” but the unsaved will not “know God” in a saving way.
The
point is that God often refers to Himself as “life”. The believers “see life”
in that they see or know God in a saving way. As long as someone remains
unsaved, he shall not God, who is “life”, neither tomorrow, the next day nor in
eternity. He exists, but he does not see God. That is, he does not “know God”
in a saving way.
28. We read in John 6:63:
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth
nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they
are life.
We
read here that it is the spirit that quickeneth or makes alive. Therefore, the
spirit referred to here is God Himself. Only God makes alive. That happens to
us in our soul essence when we become saved. When God saves us, He does not
bring our soul into existence. Rather, God enters our soul and now indwells it
and energizes it.
Then
the Lord talks about the words that He speaks. Those words are the whole Bible
which identify with God Himself. Notice, Christ says that those words are
spirit. That is, those words, the Bible, are God Himself. The spirit was
defined as God Himself in the beginning of the verse. Also, those words are
“life”. The Bible, or God Himself is “spirit” and “life”. This verse also
agrees that “life” is another name for God. So, in this world the believers
have life, which is God Himself, indwelling them.
This
verse supports the definition that “life” for mankind has to do with his
relationship with God.
29.
We read in Romans 7:18:
For I know that in me (that is, in my
flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to
perform that which is good I find not.
This
verse is an important support to the truth that life for mankind has to do with
his relationship with God.
We
learn from John 5:24 and 1 John 3:14 that the believer has “passed from
death unto life”. We know that this has occurred only in his soul
existence. That is, God has come to indwell his soul. Now, in his soul he has
“life”, which is God Himself indwelling. This matches Romans 8:9 that says that
God indwells the true believer.
However,
the believer’s body is still dead (Romans 8:10, 1 Corinthians 15:29). Does the
Bible says anything about God indwelling the believer’s body here on earth?
Romans
7:18 tells us that the Bible emphasizes that God indwells the believer’s soul,
but not his body.
In
Romans 7:18 God says that no “good thing” indwells a believer’s body. In the
Greek text, this word is simply the word “good”. God is the “good thing” or
simply the “good” that does not indwell the body according to Romans 7:18.
The
Greek word here is actually the word “good” which points directly to God. So,
this verse is saying that God, “the good thing”, does not indwell the
believer’s body. That goes along with the truth that the believer’s body is
still dead. It is still separated from God.
Therefore,
Romans 7:18 helps to confirm that life for mankind has to do with his
relationship with God.
The
believer’s soul has “life”, because God indwells it, but his body is still
dead. His body is still separated from God. God does not indwell his body.
30.
We read in 1 Timothy 5:6:
But she that liveth in
pleasure is dead while she liveth.
This
is a very important verse because it describes the nature of unsaved man in
this world.
The
word “dead” is actually in the perfect tense which puts more force in the
meaning. It should be translated “But she that
liveth in pleasure has died while she liveth.”
The
Bible teaches us that the unsaved are “dead”. Actually, they are dead both in
body and soul. God does not put any qualifications on this word “dead”. God
does not say they are “dead from the life in Christ”. God simply says the
unsaved have died, both in body and soul.
This
verse also helps us to see that for mankind death is not a cessation of
existence nor is life existence. Otherwise, this verse would be saying “But she that liveth in pleasure has ceased to exist,
existing”. In considering this verse we must remember that the Bible
teaches that the unsaved have died both in body and soul. So, the “ceased to
exist” would have to apply to both body and soul. However, man cannot have
already ceased to exist in body and soul, yet still exist.
This
verse says that the unsaved are dead. They are dead both in body and soul. If
death is a cessation of existence, then they have ceased to exist. They could
not be in this world as the verse declares.
Actually,
this verse helps a lot to understand the state of unsaved man.
Unsaved
man has died, both in body and soul. Yet, while he is in this world, he is
living. This sounds contradictory only because we do not have the right
Biblical understanding of life and death for mankind.
1.
Unsaved man has died, both in body and soul. He is separated from God, both in
body and soul. He is not energized by God (Philippians 2:12-13). He is not
indwelt by God in either part of his personality (Romans 8:9). He is dead, both
in body and soul.
2.
But, unsaved man is not completely separated from God who is “life”. Matthew
5:45 & Acts 14:17 give examples of God’s care for the unsaved. Acts
17:27-28 says that while he is in this world, unsaved man “lives” in the sense
the he is in God and he moves in God, who is life Himself.
So,
we can see how unsaved man has died in his full personality and yet lives.
When
we understand that God Himself is “life” and that life for mankind has to do
with his relationship with God, and that death is separation from God, then 1
Timothy 5:6 fits in perfectly. The unsaved person is dead, both in body and
soul. Both in body and soul, he is separated from God. He is not energized by
God; nor indwelt by God. However, it is not a complete separation. While he is
in this world he still “lives” in the sense that he is in God according to Acts
17:27-28. He is not far from God. He moves and has his being in God and God
provides for him. That explains how the unsaved person “is dead while she
liveth”.
But,
once he dies from this world, he is separated again from God and has become
eternally separated from God.
31.
Ephesians 2:1-5 helps to define what it means that unsaved man is “dead”
We
read in Ephesians 2:1-5:
1
¶ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to
the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the
spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation
in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh
and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4
¶ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath
quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
What
is particularly interesting about this passage is that God says twice that the
unsaved are “dead”.
This
is important because when God doubles up He is placing extra emphasis in what
He is teaching (Genesis 41:32).
In
Ephesians 2:1-5 God is actually giving a definition of what is means that
unsaved man is “dead”.
God
starts out in verse 1 by declaring that the true believers were “dead”. Then
God describes nature of unsaved man because he is “dead” or separated from God.
Finally, God wraps up the discussion by saying again that the true believers
were “dead”.
By
using the word “dead” twice and bracketing the description of the unsaved by
the word “dead” at both the beginning and the end of the description, God is
describing what it means that unsaved man is “dead”.
Ephesians
2:1-5 describes what it means that the unsaved are “dead”. God is not saying
that the unsaved don’t exist. Rather, God is describing the nature of man who
is separated from God, who is “life”.
Unsaved
man goes his own way according to his own sinful desires.
In
verse 2 God indicates that the devil “worketh” in the unsaved to
encourage them in sinful directions. The Greek word translated “worketh” in
Ephesians 2:2 is the same Greek word translated “worketh” in Philippians 2:13.
It is a word that means to “energize”.
According
to the Bible, unsaved man is “dead”, both in body and soul. He has not ceased
to exist. Rather, he is separated from God, who is life. He is not energized by
God nor is he indwelt by God.
What
is the result of this separation from God?
God
describes the result of the fact that unsaved man is “dead” or separated from
God in Ephesians 2:1-3.
Man
follows his own will and is very sinful. Instead of being energized by God, he
is energized by the devil.
Ephesians
2:1-5 gives a good description of the nature of unsaved man. This passage
describes what it means that unsaved man is “dead”. Unsaved man is separated
from God and from His energizing. As a result, unsaved man is very sinful, goes
his own way and is energized by the devil.
Now
that we have the Biblical definition of “life” for mankind we can see an
important connection between Acts 17:25 and verses like 1 John 5:16.
We
read in those two passages:
Acts
17:24-28:
24 God that made the world and all things
therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples
made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as
though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all
things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men
for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before
appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they
might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our
being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his
offspring.
1
John 5:16:
If
any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask,
and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin
unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
There
is an important commonality between these two passages. In Acts 17:25 God says
that He gives “life” to all mankind. Then, in 1 John 5:16, and other
verses, God says He gives “life” to us when He saves us.
How
do we relates these two passages?
When
we understand that God Himself is “life” and that life for mankind has to do
with his relationship to God, then these passages fit together perfectly.
The
context of Acts 17:24-28 is all mankind. In Acts 17:25, God says that He gives
“life” to all mankind.
When
we read a verse like Acts 17:25 we can immediately think this verse is saying
that God gives “existence” to all mankind. However, when we study the Bible
more closely, we find that “life” for mankind has to do with his relationship
to God. This teaching is supported by the passage Acts 17:24-28.
How
does God give Himself to all mankind?
God
gives the answer in verse 28. We read there:
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as
certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
God
has given Himself to all mankind in that we are “in God”. We are in God and in
all of His blessings. We have already examined Matthew 5:45 and Acts 14:17 in
which God teaches the many blessings that all mankind receive because they are
“in God”. God gives many blessings to mankind.
Acts
17:28 says that all mankind is “in God” and “moves in God”. Because God Himself
is “life”, in that sense, unsaved man as well as saved man “lives” because he
is in God, who is “life” Himself.
When
we examine Acts 17:25-28 carefully, we see that it fits perfectly with the
Biblical definition of “life” for mankind.
So,
Acts 17:25-28 teaches that God gives all mankind “life”, who is God Himself, in
that they are in God and move in God and as a result receive blessings from
God.
1
John 5:16, and other passages, teach that when God saves us, He gives us “life”
also. Again, God is the “life” that He gives us.
However,
when we become saved, we are given “life”, who is God Himself, in a much
greater way.
Now,
God comes to indwell us and to energize us and God gives us many eternal
blessings and promises.
So,
when we become saved, we are again given God, who is “life”, but now we are
given God in a much greater way. Also, we are given God for evermore.
God
has given God, who is “life”, to all mankind, in that all mankind is in God,
moves in God and is blessed by God. However, when we become saved, God gives us
“life”, who is God Himself, in a much greater way. We are energized by God and
indwelt by God and receive eternal promises and blessings from God, who is
“life”.
32. We read in Revelation 20:11-12:
11
¶ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the
earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the
books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of
life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the
books, according to their works.
Revelation
20:11 shows us that this scene in Revelation 20:11-12 is happening after this
present world has passed away, after October 21, 2011. Verse 11 says “the
earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.” It
is written in the past tense. In this vision there is no place for the first
earth and heaven. They are gone. Therefore, in this vision John is seeing God
on the throne after this present world has passed away.
This
passage is written in a similar manner to Revelation 21:1-2. We read there:
1 ¶ And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven
and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy
city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband.
Here,
John is seeing a new heaven and a new earth. John is seeing these when “the
first heaven and the first earth were passed away”.
Examining
Revelation 21:1-2 helps us to understand that Revelation 20:11-12 is teaching
that the unsaved stand before God after this present world has passed away.
In
Revelation 21:1, he saw the new heaven and new earth. It says that the first
heaven and earth were passed away. Then in verse 2 he sees the holy city, new
Jerusalem (the body of believers), coming down from God. This occurred after
the first heaven after the first earth were passed away (verse 1).
We
know from 2 Peter 3:10-13 that God will destroy the first heaven and earth and
then create a new heaven and earth. That agrees with Revelation 21:1.
Revelation 21:1 declares that he sees a new heaven and new earth and that the
former heaven and earth were passed away. Then in verse 2, he sees the body of
true believers, the holy city, coming down from God. The event of verse 2 is
happening after the event of verse 1.
We
have parallel language to Revelation 21:1-2 in Revelation 20:11-12.
In
Revelation 20:11, John sees God sitting upon the great white throne and the
earth and heaven fled away. Then God emphasizes that they are gone by saying “there
was found no place for them”. This verse is parallel to Revelation 21:1. It
shows us that God is sitting on the great white throne after the first heaven
and earth have passed away.
Then
in Revelation 20:12 he sees the dead (the unsaved) stand before God. From
Revelation 20:11 and 21:1, we can know that this occurs after the earth and
heaven fled away and there was no place found for them, as indicated in
Revelation 20:11.
Especially
with the help of Revelation 21:1-2, we can see that the dead, which are the
unsaved, stand before God in Revelation 20:12 after this world has passed away.
This
is important because it means that the unsaved are cast into the lake of fire
after October 21, 2011, and, therefore the “day and night” of Revelation 20:10
does not refer to our solar system. Rather, it refers to a “continuous” action
that goes on forever. God uses the phrase “day and night” in a similar way in
Isaiah 34:10 and Revelation 7:15.
Does
the term “day and night” in a verse limit duration of the event described to
this world’s existence?
God
teaches us more about how He uses the phrase “day and night” in Isaiah 34:10
and Revelation 7:15.
Consider
3 verses with the phrase “day and night”
Isaiah 34:10 It
shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever:
from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it
for ever and ever.
Revelation 7:15
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night
in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Revelation 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be
tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Many
people assume that the term “day and night” describes an event that will end
when this world comes to an end. Is that really true?
We
must remember that God uses figures from this world to describe spiritual
truth. For example, Jesus says that the “night” comes when no man can work
(John 9:4). He is using the word “night” to point to a spiritual truth, not a
physical statement about how dark it is.
God
also talks about the new moons and the sabbaths in the new heaven and new earth
(Isaiah 66:22-23). The new moons and the sabbaths require the passage of “day
and night” cycles. Isaiah 66:22-23 is an example where God is using references
to the time keepers of this world to speak about things that will occur in
eternity future.
Let’s
consider the 3 verses above that use the term “day and night”
Isaiah
34:10 describes the fires of God’s wrath that shall not be quenched “day and
night”. In the original Hebrew it says “day and night”. Actually, from Jeremiah
17:4, Mark 9:43, 44, 45, 46 & 48 and other verses, we learn that the fires
of God’s wrath shall never be quenched. They shall burn forever.
So,
the fires of God’s wrath described in Isaiah 34:10 shall not be quenched night
nor day and that goes on forever. They shall not be quenched forever.
So,
in Isaiah 34:10 the term “day and night” does not limit duration to this
world’s existence. The fires of God’s wrath shall not be quenched forever.
Let’s
compare Isaiah 34:10 with Revelation 14:11. We read in Revelation 14:11:
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth
up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the
beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Revelation
14:11 says that the unsaved “have no rest day nor
night”. From this statement one might assume that the unsaved will
have rest once this world comes to an end. However, this language is parallel
to Isaiah 34:10 that says that the fires of God’s wrath “shall not be
quenched night nor day”.
From
Isaiah 34:10 we might assume that the fires of God’s wrath will be quenched at
the end of this world. However, the above explanation shows that this is not
true. Other verses teach that the fires of God’s wrath shall not be quenched
forever.
So,
the phrase “shall not be quenched night nor day” in Isaiah 34:10 is not
a proof text that the fires of God’s wrath shall be quenched at the end of the
world. In the same way, we cannot conclude from the phrase “have no rest day nor night” in Revelation 14:11
that the unsaved will finally have rest when this world comes to an end.
In
fact, we can put Isaiah 34:10 and Revelation 14:11 together. The fires of God’s
wrath shall not be quenched “day and night” and that goes on forever. The
unsaved have no rest “day and night”. Because of Isaiah 34:10, we know that the
phrase “day and night” in Revelation 14:11 gives no proof that rest comes when
this world ends.
Revelation
7:15 also shows that the term “day and night” does not limit the event
described to this world’s existence.
Revelation
7:15 describes the believers in heaven serving Christ. The setting of
Revelation 7:9-17 is heaven with the 24 elders and the 4 beasts (living
creatures). A careful examination of these verses shows that there is nothing
in them that confines them to this world’s existence nor with the duration of
this world.
The
temple in verse 15 is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The believers will be
before the throne of God serving Him day and night in His temple (the Lord
Jesus) forever. The believers will never cease to serve God in His temple (The
Lord Jesus) forever. The language in Revelation 7:17 of God wiping away tears
is parallel to Revelation 21:4 that describes the new heaven and new earth. It
means that there will be no future sadness.
Revelation
7:15 uses the term “day and night” to describe something that goes on forever.
In
Isaiah 34:10 and Revelation 7:15 God is using the term “day and night” to
describe something that is going on continuously without end. Therefore, the
term “day and night” does not necessarily limit the duration to this world’s
existence.
Here
are some more example verses which use the term “day and night” with the sense
of a continuous action:
Joshua
1:8 This book of the law shall not
depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that
thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then
thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
1
Kings 8:29 That thine eyes may be open
toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou
hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer
which thy servant shall make toward this place.
1
Kings 8:59 And let these my words,
wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our
God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of
his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:
Nehemiah
1:6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and
thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray
before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and
confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee:
both I and my father’s house have sinned.
Psalms
1:2 But his delight is in the law
of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psalms
32:4 For day and night thy hand was
heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
Psalms
42:3 My tears have been my meat day and
night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
Both
Isaiah 34:10 and Revelation 7:15 we have the term “day and night” to describe
something that goes on forever. With the help of other verses that use the term
“day and night” we can understand that this term can signify a continuous
action. Isaiah 34:10 and Revelation 7:15 are talking about things that go on
“continuously” and we know from other passages that they will go on forever.
Therefore,
when we read Revelation 20:10, the term “day and night” is not a proof text
that the event described stops at the end of this world. We have two examples
of the term “day and night” describing something that goes on forever. In the
same way, the “day and night” of Revelation 20:10 is not limited to this
world’s existence.
The
assertion that the torment of Revelation 20:10 comes to an end at the end of
this universe is really ignoring the last part of this verse, “… for ever and
ever”. God put that into the verse, so we cannot ignore it. The answer given is
that this is saying that the unsaved can never come back to a right
relationship with God does not have any Biblical support. Revelation 20:10 is
talking about tormenting which is a conscious affliction. It is not simply
talking about the condition of being under the wrath of God.
God
uses other terms from this universe to describe things that go on forever.
We
read in Genesis 1:14:
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of
the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for
seasons, and for days, and years:
We
read this verse and assume that God is limiting terms like “day and night”,
“days”, “years”, etc. to describe the passage of time in this world. Most of
the time this is true, but not always.
This
verse does not indicate that every time we see the terms, “day and night”,
“days”, “years”, that the event described ends at the end of this world’s
existence.
For
example, we read in Zechariah 14:16:
And it shall come to pass, that every one that
is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from
year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of
tabernacles.
This
verse is using parabolic language to describe the new heaven and new earth for
the believers.
Zechariah
14:16 describes something that goes on in eternity future using the term “from
year to year”.
God
talks about “years” along with the “day and night” in reference to this world’s
time keepers in Genesis 1:14. However, Zechariah 14:16 is talking about
eternity future. This verse shows that God is not limited to using terms like
“day and night”, “days”, “years”, etc. to only to refer to this world’s time
keepers.
The
same Hebrew wording in the phrase “year to year” is used in Deuteronomy 15:20
and 1 Samuel 7:16 to describe events that occurred from year to year in this
world:
Deuteronomy
15:20 Thou shalt eat it before
the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou
and thy household.
1
Samuel 7:16 And he went from year to
year in circuit to
We
read in Isaiah 66:23:
And it shall come to pass, that from one new
moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to
worship before me, saith the LORD.
Isaiah
66:23 is talking about eternity future in the new heaven and new earth. In this
verse God is again using time figures from this world to speak about eternity
future. Each of these references has a symbolic meaning, but not a literal
meaning like they do in this world.
Here
God refers to the passing from one new moon to another. That is a passage of 29
or 30 days in this world. God also refers to the passing from one sabbath to
another. That is a passage of 7 days in this world. Back in Genesis 1:14 God
talked about “days” in connection with the time keepers of this world. However,
that does not mean that God is limited in His use of the term “days” to only
speaking of this world. Isaiah 66:23 shows that God can use figures from the
passage of time in this world to describe things that will go on in eternity.
This shows that God can use terms like “day and night” to speak of events in
eternity also.
We
read in Psalm 21:4:
He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it
him, even length of days for ever and ever.
Here
God talks about a length of days, for ever and ever. The promise to the
believers is “life”, which is God Himself and all of His blessings for ever and
ever. God uses the term “days” (plural) going on for ever and ever. Again, God
is taking a figure that is used to refer to this world and applying it into
eternity future to speak of something that will go on forever. A day is
composed of one “day and night” cycle.
This
does not mean that there will be literal days or “day and night” cycles in
eternity future. Rather, God is using terms taken from this world and applying
them in a symbolic way to eternity future. Therefore, when we read about “day
and night”, it does not mean that the duration in view is necessarily limited
to this world. Rather, God is using a figure, like he uses “days”, “from year
to year”, “from one new moon to another” or “from one sabbath to another” to
represent something in eternity. The term “day and night” can be used to give
the sense of “continuously”.
We
read an interesting verse in Psalm 121:6:
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by
night.
This
verse is a promise of God’s protection for the true believers.
If
we think about this verse, it has nothing to do with the sun and moon of this
universe nor does it have anything to do with the “day and night” of this
universe.
The
reason for that is because the Gospel makes no promise for protection in this
world. If a country has a drought or famine, the true believers in that country
will suffer along with the unbelievers. If there is no rain and the sun is
beating down in a land, then all the people of that land suffer. That includes
both the true believers and the unbelievers. As the physical sun smites the
unsaved of that nation, it also smites the true believers of that nation.
This
verse only refers to spiritual protection. In this verse, the four words,
“sun”, “moon”, “day” and “night” cannot be understood in a physical way. We
have to look at them from a Gospel perspective. The “sun” refers to the Lord
Jesus. The “moon” refers to the law of God, the Bible. If we are saved, the
Lord Jesus, as the judge, and the law of God, will not come against us. They
will not smite us.
Also,
this verse is not saying that we have protection from Christ during the day and
the law of God during the night. No, rather, the phrase “day and night”
indicates that continuously we are protected from the wrath of God. We are not
merely protected during a literal day and night. The true believer’s protection
by God is continuous and it goes on forever. The believer’s protection is a
continuous protection for ever and ever.
On
the other hand, the unsaved will suffer continuously the wrath of God according
to Revelation 14:10 & 20:10.
The
above verses show that God uses terms taken from the time keepers of this
world, like “day and night”, “year to year”, “days”, “from one sabbath to
another”, to speak about things that will occur in eternity future. The
presence of these terms is not a proof that the events described are limited to
the duration of this world.
The
dead stand before God in Revelation 20:12
Going
back to Revelation 20:12, we see the “dead” standing before God. They are dead
both in body and soul. They are separated from God both in body and soul, like
they were while they were on the earth. 1 Peter 4:6 says that the unsaved in
this world are “dead”. Romans 8:10 and 1 Corinthians 15:29 assure us that the
unsaved in this world are dead, both in body and soul. The unsaved are separated
from God; both in body and soul; yet they still exist, both in body and soul.
Revelation
20:12 depicts a vision of after the world has passed away. The unsaved still
exist like they existed on the earth.
But,
there is a big difference between the unsaved standing before God in Revelation
20:12 at the end of the world and the unsaved in this world. While the unsaved
are in this world, God says they “live” in the sense that they are in God (Acts
17:27-28). They are separated from God, but while they are on earth, it is not
a complete separation. God is not “far” from them. God cares for them, etc.
They “live” to some degree in the sense that they are in God, who is “life”
Himself.
However,
when the unsaved die from this world they are separated again from God. They
are completely and eternally separated from God. They do not have “life”, which
is God Himself, in any sense.
The
word “life” is never applied to the unsaved in eternity not because they don’t
exist, but because they are completely separated from God, who is “life”.
In
Revelation 20:12 we have these same “dead” unsaved people. They receive the
resurrection on the last day, but not the resurrection of life, which is a
resurrection to a body with God, who is life, indwelling. The unsaved
experience the resurrection to a body that is still dead in sins, like they
have in this world.
They
will awake to consciousness in their body, like the believers. They will hear
the voice of God and will come forth, like the believers.
While
they are in this world, the unsaved are dead, in body and soul. In Revelation
20:11 when they shall stand before God they will still be dead, body and soul.
That is, they will remain separated from God, both in body and soul. But, then
they will be completely separated from God in every sense; completely separated
from any blessing of God.
There
is a contrast between John 5:28 and Revelation 20:12. The believers receive the
resurrection to a body with God indwelling. God is “life”. The believers
receive the resurrection of “life = Christ, indwelling“. The unsaved receive a
resurrection to conscious existence also, but they are still dead in sins, both
in body and soul.
33.
If “death = cessation of existence” then this should be seen in the definition
of the “second death”. However, when God describes the “second death” He does
not describe a cessation of existence, but rather conscious affliction.
We
read in Revelation 20:10, 14 & 15:
10 And the devil that
deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and
the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and
ever.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of
fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the
book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
In
verse 14 God defines being cast into the lake of fire as the “second death”.
Verse 10 describes the lake of fire as an on-going torment, day and night.
Revelation 14:10 also describes the lake of fire as being a condition of
torment. As indicated, the lake of fire cannot be a physical fire. Those cast
into a physical fire go unconscious in a few seconds or minutes. They are not
tormented day and night.
The
definition of the second death given in Revelation 20:10, 14 & 15 includes
torment which is a conscious affliction.
Many
people believe that the definition of death is cessation of existence. However,
that definition of death does not agree with the Biblical definition of the
second death. A cessation of existence does not require any conscious
affliction. But, the Bible defines the second death as a conscious affliction.
Also,
the definition of the “second death” given in Revelation 20:10, 14 & 15
does not make any reference to cessation of existence.
The
definition of death as cessation of existence does not fit with being
tormented. Rather, Deuteronomy 28:15-68 describes a death of eternal separation
from God that is a continuous conscious affliction.
Two
key points about the lake of fire from these verses:
A.
The lake of fire is not the physical fire of 2 Peter 3:10.
The
fire of 2 Peter 3:10 is enough to melt the elements. You cannot be tormented
day and night in a physical fire. Those cast into a physical fire become
unconscious in a few seconds or minutes. They do not suffer day and night as
Revelation 14:10-11 & 20:11 indicate that the unsaved will suffer.
B.
Those cast into the lake of fire must be conscious because the definition of
the lake of fire is to be “tormented day and night … “ (Revelation 20:10) or
“tormented with fire and brimstone …” (Revelation 14:10).
The
corpse or bones of a person cannot be “tormented” because this word always
refers to conscious suffering. Therefore, whoever is cast into the lake of fire
must have conscious existence because Revelation 14:10 and 20:10 declare that
those in the lake of fire will be tormented. Remember, God says that the
unsaved will be cast into the lake of fire, not just their remains.
The
lake of fire is not a literal fire, as pointed out above. Rather, according to
Revelation 14:10 & 20:10, the lake of fire signifies to be tormented day
and night, a suffering that comes from God, who is a consuming fire.
Therefore
those thrown into the lake of fire must be conscious. The bones or other
remains of people cannot meet the definition of the lake of fire in Revelation
14:10 & 20:10.
Revelation
20:15 says that whosoever was not written in the book of life was cast into the
lake of fire. This includes all of the unsaved throughout time. To fulfill Revelation
20:10, 14-15, they must be resurrected to conscious existence to experience the
lake of fire.
34.
We read in Acts 17:27-28:
27 That they should seek
the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not
far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and
move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we
are also his offspring.
We
looked at verse 28 earlier, but a closer look at these two verses will give
more insight into how unsaved man relates to God while he is in this world.
Unsaved
man is dead both in body and soul. That is, he is separated from God in both
body and soul. However, while he is on this earth he still is in God to some
degree. In that sense, he lives. Verse 28 says that in God he lives. Unsaved
man also moves in God and has his being in God (or literally, he is in God),
while he is on this earth. This ties into Matthew 5:45 which says that God
brings the sun and rain upon the unsaved. It ties into Acts 14:17 which says that
God supplies man’s needs on this earth.
God
is “not far” from the unsaved. This is an important statement. Unsaved
man is dead. He is separated from God. However, God is “not far” from
him. God provides for him and cares for him, even though God does not indwell
him nor energize him.
In
this world unsaved man can pray to God for salvation and hope that God will
hear and save him. There is that possibility in this world. The Biblical
evidence is that King Ahab never became saved. However, we read that he humbled
himself and prayed to God and God did bring some relief to him (1 Kings
21:20-29). This shows that in this world God can even respond to some degree to
the prayer of a non-elect person. That is a part of the fact that unsaved man
is not yet completely separated from God.
However,
once he dies from this world, then he is completely separated from God and His
blessings. All of God’s goodness that he has provided for man has been taken
from him. Unsaved man dies a second time. That is, he is separated from God
completely and eternally.
We
can see how God can talk about unsaved being “dead” body and soul without any
qualification or limitation on the word “dead” and then say that he dies.
Unsaved man dies twice. He is separated from God twice. This fits perfectly the
definition for mankind of “death = separation from God”.
35.
We read some verses where God gives us help in understanding how He uses the
word “dead” for mankind.
James
2:26:
For as the body without the spirit is
dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Romans
6:2:
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live
any longer therein?
Romans 6:11:
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be
dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Colossians 2:20:
Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments
of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
In
these verses God helps us to see that God defines death for mankind as separation. When we think about “death =
cessation of existence” verses like Romans 6:2, 11, and Colossians 2:20 don’t
make any sense. However, when we see that for mankind “death = separation”,
then we can understand these verses.
In
James 2:26 God defines a dead body as a body separated from the spirit. God
also says that a dead faith is a faith separated from works. In both examples,
the definition “dead = separation” will fit the context.
In
Romans 6:2 & 11 God says the believer is dead to sin. The believer has not
ceased to exist in any way. Rather, when
we study what God is saying in Romans 6, we find that the believer is
“separated” from sin in his soul. Because of his body, the separation from sin
is not yet complete. But, now that God indwells the believer’s soul and is
working in his soul, sin is not initiated in the believer’s soul. The
believer’s soul is separated (or dead) from sin. Therefore, the believer should
not give into the desires of his body to sin.
In
verse 11 notice the contrast God makes. The believer is dead to sin. That is,
he is separated from sin. The believer is alive to God. He now has God, who is
called “life”, indwelling him. In that sense, he is “alive to God”. The
believer has not come into existence. Rather, He has God, who is “life”,
indwelling him.
This
verse is really saying “Likewise reckon ye also
yourselves to be separated indeed from sin, but having God indwelling through
Jesus Christ our Lord.”
It
is through the Lord Jesus that we are able to be saved and to have God
indwelling us.
Colossians
2:20 uses the word “dead” to mean “separation”. If we make this substitution,
the teaching of the verse is clear: “Wherefore if ye be separated with
Christ from the rudiments of the world …”. When we are saved, we are with
Christ and are to be “separated” from the things or rudiments of this world.
Our hopes and desires are not to be focused upon this world. Rather, they are
to be focused upon the
In
the above verses, God is using the word “dead” to mean “separation”. These
other verses that use the word “dead” to mean “separation” help us to
understand the definition for mankind that death is separation.
36.
We read two important verses in Luke 15 concerning the prodigal son:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again;
he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be
glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is
found.
Twice
God emphasizes that the prodigal son was dead and is alive again.
Because
this passage is a parable, it is not as good a proof text as the above
passages. However it is still a noteworthy passage, particularly because God
doubles up on what He says. Also, God
does use this same language to describe man. Unsaved man is “dead” and upon
salvation he passes from death unto life. This is the exact language that God
uses in this passage.
We
notice in the above two verses that God says the son was dead and is alive
again. God also says the son was “lost”. This word “lost” is the past tense for
a common New Testament verb translated “perish” or “destroyed”. It is used in
John 3:16 to say that the unsaved will “perish”. It is used in Matthew 10:28 to
say that God will “destroy” the body and soul of the unsaved in hell. Luke 15
uses this same Greek word to indicate that this son was already
“perished” or “destroyed”. It was translated as “lost” but normally this Greek
word is translated “perish” or “destroy”.
These
two verses, and other verses, help us to understand that the Greek word
“perish” (as found in John 3:16), or “destroy” (as found in Matthew 10:28) does
not necessarily mean annihilation. The prodigal son was already
“perished” or “destroyed”. That is, he was “lost” or separated from God and His
blessings. This agrees with other verses
that teach that unsaved man is already “dead” or “perished” both in body and
soul. He is separated from God; not indwelt by God nor energized by God.
Regarding
the word “life”, notice the parallel language. The prodigal went away from his
father and then returned. God explains two times that he was dead and is now
alive. This agrees with other verses that teach that for mankind death is
separation, specifically from God, and life for mankind has to do with his
relationship to God.
Also,
God says that the prodigal son was “lost” or “perished” or “destroyed”. He was
separated from God and His blessings. Now, he is found. Now He is back with
God.
So,
God is giving parallel language in these two verses that agrees with other
verses that teach that death for mankind is separation from God and not
cessation of existence. These verses also affirm that life for mankind has to
do with his relationship with God and not existence. Unsaved man is already “lost” or “perished
(separated from God)” or “destroyed”, according to the Bible.
God
describes two things that happened to Adam because of his sin
We
read two verses describing two things that happened to Adam because of his sin.
They are actually different events:
Genesis
2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest
thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis
3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou
eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for
dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
We
have a tendency to say that both of these verses are describing the same event,
but if we read these verses carefully, we will see that this is not the case.
These two verses are describing two different events.
Genesis
2:17 declares that in the day that Adam sinned he died. We think “spiritually
died”, but God simply says “surely die”. The phrase “surely die”
is repeating the word “die” or “death” twice. By this, God is placing special
emphasis on this truth. We substitute “spiritually die”, but God just says “surely
die”.
We
also know from Romans 8:10 and 1 Corinthians 15:29 that Adam died, both in body
and soul. This happened on the day that Adam sinned. Adam did not cease to
exist in any way, but Adam became separated from God, both in body and soul.
After Adam sinned, he was not indwelt by God in either body or soul, and he was
not energized by God in either part of his personality.
Separation
from God results in man living very sinfully. This sinful nature is seen in
both the body and soul of unsaved man.
However,
Genesis 3:19 says that later on (actually, it was hundreds of years later)
Adam’s body would return to the dust. Adam would die a second time (Genesis
5:5). That is the time that his body fell asleep. The returning to dust of
Adam’s body and the loss of consciousness in the body is indicated by the
Biblical declaration that when man dies, his body sleeps (Daniel 12:2, etc.).
The
Bible uses the word “sleep” to refer to the fact that there is no consciousness
in the body and that the body returns to the dust. Man’s body falls asleep at
the same time that he dies the second time. The Bible uses the word “death” for
mankind to speak of separation, specifically separation between God and man.
If
Adam died unsaved, then he died a second time in both body and soul. That is,
he was separated from God, both in body and soul, a second time. That second
time is a complete and eternal separation.
The
unsaved are separated from God, both in body and soul, in the same manner Adam
became separated from God, both in body and soul, in the day that he sinned.
The
unsaved are not energized by God, nor indwelt by God in either body or soul.
But, while the unsaved are in this world, they “live” in the sense that they
are in God (who is life) and God is not far from them (Acts 17:27-28). God
cares for them, blesses them and provides for them (Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17).
However, when they die from this world, they die a second time. They are
separated from God a second time. They are completely separated from God and
from any blessings from God.
The
fact that Genesis 3:19 declares that Adam was dust, does not mean that Adam was
not saved and ceased to exist upon death from this world. God says the believers
are dust in Psalm 103:13-15. We read there:
13 Like as a father pitieth
his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our
frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of
the field, so he flourisheth.
Verse
13 is talking about the believers. In verse 14 the “for” is in the Hebrew text,
tying verse 14 as an explanation for verse 13. Also, the context of verse 14
ties back to verse 13. Verse 14 explains some of the reason why God pities the
true believers. He knows their limited “frame” and he knows that they are
“dust”. That is, they have a body made of the “dust” of the earth with all of
it’s weaknesses. But, this does not mean that the believers do not also have a
spirit essence.
Verse
15 potentially begins a new idea. However, verse 14 is linked to verse 13.
Also
Abraham, a true believer, refers to himself as “dust” in Genesis 18:27.
In
the same way, Genesis 3:19 is making reference to the fact that Adam had a body
made of the dust of the earth, but that does not mean that he does not have a
spirit essence also.
So,
Genesis 2:17 and Genesis 3:19 describe the two times that mankind dies; the two
times that he is separated from God. Genesis 2:17 and 3:19 support the definition
for mankind: “death = separation from God”. They do not support the definition
that “death = cessation of existence”.
What
about the “breath of life”?
We
read about man receiving the “breath of life” in Genesis 2:7. Animals also have
the “breath of life”.
When
man dies from this world he gives up the “breath of life”. Does this teach us
that “death = cessation of existence” for the unsaved?
The
“breath of life” uniquely has to do with the body of man. When man dies from
this world, his body also “sleeps” according to the Biblical language. Sleeping
for the body identifies with the failing or destruction of the body. That is
when man gives up the “breath of life”. This is what we think “death” is for
mankind, because this is what we can see.
However,
if we let the Bible guide us in defining the “death” for mankind, we learn that
unsaved man dies, both in body and soul, twice. God says that Adam died both in
body and soul the day that Adam sinned (Genesis 2:17, Ephesians 2:1, 1 Peter
4:6, Romans 8:10, 1 Corinthians 15:29). God does not limit that word “die”. God
clearly says that Adam “died”, both in body and soul, when Adam sinned. That is
because death for mankind is separation from God. Adam, and all mankind, became
separated from God, both in body and soul.
Then,
when man’s body fails, it falls asleep and man dies a second time.
Man
dies twice. This second time man dies happens at the same time that the body
sleeps.
That
is because when the body sleeps, it is again separated from all of the care of
God it received in this world (Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17, 17:27-28). With the
“sleeping” or failing of the body comes the loss of the “breath of life”. The
Bible calls this “falling asleep”. The body sleeps in the dust of the earth.
Acts
17:27-28 tells us that unsaved mankind “lives” in the sense that he is in God
while he is in this world. God is “life”. So, according to Acts 17:27-28, while
he is in this world, unsaved man “lives” in the sense that he is in God and God
cares for him (Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17, 17:27-28). Part of that care is that
God gives him the “breath of life” for his body. It is really “breath from
God”.
Man’s
body needs that breath to function and once man’s body fails, he loses that
breath of life. Unsaved man dies from this world. He dies a second time. He
actually is separated from God a second time. Once he dies from this world he
is completely separated from God and all of the blessings of God recounted in
Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17 and Acts 17:27-28. This includes the “breath of life”
or “breath from God” since God is life. Unsaved man is now eternally separated
from God with no possibility of reconciliation.
So,
there is nothing particularly special about the “breath of life”. It identifies
with the functioning of the body. As long as unsaved man is in this world, he
lives in the sense that he is in God and God cares for him. That includes God’s
care for his body. God is the “life” in which unsaved man lives or dwells. Part
of God’s care for him is that God gives him the “breath of life” or “breath
from God” for his body.
God
uses the term “sleep” to refer to the failing of the body and the lack of
consciousness in the body. This occurs the second time that unsaved man dies,
both in body and soul. That is when unsaved man is completely separated from
God and His blessings.
The
second time man dies coincides with the destruction of the body. We can see the
destruction of the body, so we think of death for mankind as the destruction of
the body. However, we’re ignoring the verses that declare that unsaved man is
already dead, both in body and soul.
For
mankind, the Bible defines “death” as separation from God. We think of death as
destruction of the body because the second time man dies coincides with his
body “sleeping”. The “sleeping” of the body is the destruction of the body and
unconsciousness in the body.
The
second time man dies is also referred to as “sleep” for the body. This figure
is used for both the saved and the unsaved (1 Kings 2:10, 11:21, 16:28, 2 Kings
10:35, 14:29, 15:22, 16:20, Acts 7:60, 1 Corinthians 15:20, 1 Thessalonians
4:14).
This
is because that upon death from this world, there is no consciousness in the
body, for both the saved and the unsaved. For both groups, their bodies are “sleeping”
in the dust. [For the believer, his soul is conscious in heaven. For the
unbeliever, we have no reason to doubt that his soul is also asleep until the
resurrection of the last day.]
God
uses the term “sleep” to signify the failing of the body.
We
think of “death” as the failing of the body. However, God declares that unsaved
man is already dead, both in body and soul. Then, unsaved man dies a second
time. Death for mankind is separation from God. Unsaved man is separated from
God twice.
To
help us understand what happens to mankind, God uses the term “sleep” to
describe the failing of the body. The term “sleep” is used to refer to the
failing of the body and the loss of consciousness in the body. These happen the
same time that unsaved man dies a second time from this world.
The
bodies of both the saved and unsaved return to dust. They sleep in the dust
according to Daniel 12:2.
But,
this “sleep” or state of unconsciousness in the body, for both the saved and
the unsaved is temporary. Daniel 12:2 declares that the bodies of both the
saved and unsaved will “awake” at the end. That is, there will be a return to
consciousness in their bodies at the resurrection of the last day.
Why
does the second time that man dies, both in body and soul, correspond with when
his body sleeps in the dust?
While
unsaved man is in this world, he is dead, both in body and soul, according to
the Bible (Romans 8:10, 1 Corinthians 15:29, 1 Peter 4:6). That is, he is
separated from God and His blessings in the sense that God does not indwell him
like God indwells the true believer (Romans 8:9). Also, God does not energize
the unsaved like He energizes the true believer (Philippians 2:12-13).
However,
while he is in this world, unsaved man is not completely separated from God and
His blessings. According to Acts 17:27-28, unsaved man lives in the sense that
he is in God and he moves in God. Matthew 5:45 and Acts 14:17 indicate that God
provides many blessings to unsaved man while he is in this world.
But,
finally unsaved man’s body fails and he sleeps in the dust. That is, his body
returns to the dust and there is no consciousness in his body.
When
his body sleeps in the dust corresponds with the second time that man dies,
both in body and soul, because when the body fails that unsaved man is
separated from God a second time. He is no longer in God nor moves in God
according to Acts 17:27-28. He is no longer under the blessings of God’s
provision in this world (Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17). He is separated from all that
God gave him as recounted in Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17, 17:27-28.
When
his body fails and sleeps in the dust, unsaved man is separated from God a
second time. So, in that sense, he dies a second time, both in body and soul,
when his body fails.
The
problem is that we see that unconscious corpse and identify that as death. But,
the unconscious corpse is the sleeping in the dust. Death is the separation
from God that occurs when that body fails.
Unsaved
man will “awake” in his body that “sleeps” in the dust, but he will still be
“dead”
Daniel
12:2, along with John 5:28-29, teach that unsaved man will “awake” in his body
that is sleeping in the dust meaning he will return consciousness in his body.
However, he will still be “dead”, both in body and soul, because he will still
be separated from God, both in body and soul.
The
difference for the unsaved between this present time and the resurrection of
the last day is that at the resurrection of the last day, he will be completely
separated from God, who is life.
An
illustration
A
good illustration of how the Bible uses the word “dead” for mankind is based
upon
When
he becomes saved, he has “passed from death unto life” in his soul. God now
indwells his soul, but not his body (Romans 7:18, 8:9), so God is there to
energize his soul. His body will receive life, which is God Himself,
indwelling, at the Rapture.
What
makes it complicated is that while unsaved man is this world, he is not
completely cut off or separated from God yet. Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17,
17:27-28 and other verses show that God still provides and cares for man. In
this world, man lives in the sense that he is in God to some degree. But, when
he dies from this world unsaved, he has actually died twice, both in body and
soul. At that point, he is completely and eternally separated from God.
If
“life” for mankind has to do with his relationship with God and not with
existence, then what is the significance of “life” for man?
The
significance of “life” for mankind is the blessing of being in God. We see this
in the following verses. These verses do not prove that life for mankind is not
existence. Rather, they show that when God speaks of life for mankind, God
focuses upon the eternal blessings that the believers receive by being in God
and not eternal existence.
Psalms
16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of
life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are
pleasures for evermore.
Psalms
23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
for ever.
Psalms
27:4 One thing have I desired of
the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all
the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his
temple.
Psalms
34:12 What man is he that
desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
Psalms
133:3 As the dew of Hermon, and as
the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD
commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
SUMMARY
All
of the above verses fit with the definitions that God Himself is “life” and
that for mankind, “life” has to do with his relationship with God, and death is
separation from God. The above verses do not fit for the man-made definitions
of death is a cessation of existence and life is existence.
Let’s
get back to the central question of the life of the unsaved in eternity future.
The
reason the Bible does not speak of life in eternity future for the unsaved is
not because they do not exist, but because they are completely and eternally
separated from God who is “life”.
In
this world the unsaved did not have “life” in the sense that they did not have
Christ indwelling them (John 6:53, 1 John 5:12). However, they “lived” in the
sense that they were in God. God was not far from them and provided many
blessings for them (Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17, 17:27-28). In this world they
were separated from God, but not completely, so God could talk about the “life”
of the unsaved. This is confusing language, but it is the language of the
Bible.
Upon
the resurrection of the last day, they will hear His voice and come forth,
meaning they will awake and they will be conscious. However, they will be
completely separated from God, who is “life” Himself.
God
avoids the word “life” to speak of the eternity of the unsaved to emphasize
that they are completely separated from God, who is “life”.
Now
that we can see that the Bible declares that God is “life” and that “life” for
man has to do with his relationship to God, we can understand what God means by
the resurrection of life and the awaking to everlasting life.
The
“resurrection of life” in John 5:28 that the true believers receive, is a
return to consciousness in a body with Christ, who is “life”, indwelling the
body. It’s the “resurrection of Christ”. The resurrection with Christ now in
the body.
The
“awake to everlasting life” in Daniel 12:2 is a return to consciousness in a
body with Christ, who is “eternal life”, indwelling the body.
The
Bible teaches that “life” for mankind has to do with his relationship with God.
The reason that we do not read about “life” for the unsaved in eternity future
is not because they don’t exist. Rather, it is because they will be completely
and eternally separated from God. While they are in this world they are not
completely separated from God. But, in eternity future, they will be completely
and eternally separated from God.