8 KINDS OF DEATH
Maurice M. JohnsonWe are "DISGUSTED WITH RELIGION" but not with the Christ of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ and His glorious church, "the church which is His body." It is no sect - young or old, big or little. All honest believers in Him are in it and no counterfeits or hypocrites can get in because He, Himself, adds the members to it. See Eph. 1:17-23; 2:19-22: Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 12:12-13.
Eph. 1:17: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19: And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20: Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21: Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23: Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.
Eph. 2:19: Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21: In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Acts 2:47: Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
1 Cor. 12:12: For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
THE CULTS "PROVE" TOO MUCH
When one's arguments or definitions logically prove too much, they do not spiritually PROVE anything. For instance, does Gen. 3:19 give us God's complete description of Adam's death and destiny or can we understand it only by "comparing scripture with scripture" on the subject of man's composition and character as well as his death and destiny? "Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return."--Gen. 3:19.Gen. 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.
Is not one handling the Word God deceitfully who asserts that clause, "unto dust shalt thou return" is God's full description of a man's death? Will the same materialistic "Bible teacher" maintain that first clause, "Dust thou art", is the Divine estimate of man? Note well that the statement is "Dust thou ART and unto dust shalt thou return." Not even the most rabid peddler of the so-called Jehovah's Witnesses propaganda dares that God made nothing but "dust" when He "created man in his own image", and yet that is precisely what their "man" is at "death". Could God have been speaking of anything more than man's physical condition after physical death in that declaration, Gen. 3:19? God was not talking to DUST when He spoke to Adam.
In the light of these and many other clearly revealed facts about man, life, death, and the hereafter, we are Biblically forced to conclude that the Lord, standing there in the Garden of Eden, was describing Adam's loss of his God-given place and "dominion" on earth. Psa. 34:16 was to be Adam's fate, so far as this earth was concerned: "The face of the Lord is against them that do evil; to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth." And, indeed, this was the "fate" of our Substitute and Savior when for us "He was cut off out of the land of the living . . . "--Isa. 53:8.
Psa. 34:16: The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
Isa. 53:8: He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
I doubt if even Herbert W. Armstrong's followers would think it all right to substitute the word, DUST, for Adam in this manner, "And Dust called his wife's name Eve . . . And unto Dust also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skin and clothed them [Dust and his dust-wife]."
THE BIBLE AN INSPIRED RECORD
One does not have to be a profound student of the Scriptures to know that while they are properly called "The Word of God" as a whole, nevertheless, there are many quotations from "the serpent", "the father of lies", and hundreds of others who were speaking only as men, usually not even pretending to be giving GOD'S words. One outstanding instance of this is the book of Job. After God says a few things, then Job and his three friends [finally a fourth] engage in long, drawn-out arguments concerning Job's "misfortunes". At the conclusion of 34 chapters of these "wise" dissertations, God Himself comes in with a rebuke saying to Job: "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee and answer thou me."--Job 38:1-3. Is it not absolutely essential, then, in seeking to understand the true teaching in the book of Job that we notice carefully who is speaking in each chapter? While the entire book is a part of the inspired Word of God, we are explicitly told that only a very few of the 42 chapters contain God's own words.Job 38:1: Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2: Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3: Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
In Genesis, third chapter, we have what God wants us to know concerning what the serpent said to Eve, what Eve said to the serpent, what God said to Adam and Eve, what Adam said to God, and several things Moses adds by divine inspiration. The entire chapter is a living part of the Word of God, though many of the words in it are by no means God's own words. And yet such very obvious features of the Bible are deliberately ignored or wickedly twisted by those who are determined to get rid of the "wrath of the Lamb", the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth", the "shame and everlasting contempt" that awaits all who "obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ".
"DEFINITIONS" THAT DENY AND DESTROY
Without a doubt, when a theory logically "proves" too much, it spiritually proves NOTHING. This is quite obvious in trying to be fair and consistent with the various cults' false definition of "death". We are dogmatically told that death is not only the "opposite of life" but the opposite of existence--that death is NON-existence, cessation of being, or virtual annihilation. We are chided for having ever believed what "only heathens believe" about there being consciousness in death. Not desiring to be idolatrous pagans we will seek to test these definitions of "death" by using them in a few Bible passages.First we will note the King James Version, and then we will give the cults' meaning of "death"--
"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord."--Rev. 14:13
"Blessed are the non-existent which become non-existent in the Lord."
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."--Psa. 116:15.
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the annihilation of his saints."
"She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth."--1 Tim. 5:6.
"She that liveth in pleasure has ceased to be while she liveth."
"For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead and the living."--Rom. 14:9.
"For to this end Christ both became NON-existent, and rose, and revived that He might be Lord both of the NON-existent and the living."
"For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."--Phil.1:21.
"For me to live is Christ and to be annihilated is gain."
"Let the dead bury their dead."--Luke 9:60.
"Let the non-existent bury their non-existent."
"Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him."--Rom. 6:8.
"Now if we be NON-existent with Christ . . . "
The results of thus honestly using the cults' utterly false definitions of "death" are too obviously shocking to need further comment. The cults' "definitions" do not define; they pervert and destroy.
"WORDS WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHETH"
God's definitions of death are as surely divine REVELATIONS as are His definitions of life. Only the Spirit of God can reveal to us the real meaning of Paul's inspired declaration that "She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth".--1 Tim. 5:6. So also with John's statement in 1 John 5:12: "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life". The materialist, whether a professing Christian or a "profound scholar" like Charles H. Welch of England, exclaims, [each in his own words]: "Why, how could a man be living and not living at the same time?" Or, "How could a person be both dead and alive at the same time?" But the Spirit-taught Bible student answers: "Precisely that is very often true"--that there are millions of "living dead people "dead" living people. "Utter foolishness!" retorts the "natural mind".--See 1 Cor. 1:18-25; 2:9-16.1 Cor. 1:18: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19: For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20: Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21: For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25: Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1 Cor. 2:9: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11: For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15: But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16: For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
The Apostle Paul cries out: "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? or who hath given to him . . . " "As it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God . . . But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." "EVIL MEN UNDERSTAND NOT JUDGMENT."--Rom. 11:33, 34; 1 Cor. 2:9-14; Prov. 28:5.
Rom. 11:33: O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34: For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
1 Cor. 2:9: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11: For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Prov. 28:5: Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
GUILTY SINNERS ARE NOT THEIR OWN JUDGE!
It is not one of the characteristics of a guilty criminal that he clearly understands and joyously concurs in the just decisions of the judge as to the exact nature of his crimes and the proper punishment for them. Nor can one who deliberately rejects the Lord Jesus Christ, trampling His precious shed blood under ruthless feet, have any correct understanding or application of the just punishment due his wilful sin of unbelief. Therefore, from those who reject the "gift of God which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord", nothing can be expected but "pious" professions about "the love of God", "a just and merciful God wouldn't punish one of his children worse than a human father would", etc. etc.Though this is not intended to be an examination of the Bible's teaching about punishment, these few words of caution are considered necessary lest the impression be left that God will teach other truth to those who scorn the death, burial and resurrection of His dear Son. Those who reject the truth about Christ's death for them will be taught no other truth. Reader, if you have not passed from death to life as the supernatural result of humbly believing the gospel of Jesus Christ, then you are not only incapable of understanding God's Word concerning death, hell and the final judgment, but you are in exactly the right position to be deceived with whatever religious delusion "the god of this world [the Devil]" selects for your particular type of mind.
The writer is quite familiar with the subtleties and sophistries, the text-twistings and half-truths of most, if not all, of the cults that deny conscious punishment in hell and the lake of fire. The 7th Day Adventists, the "Advent Christians", Watchtower witnesses, A. E. Knoch, Charles H. Welch, Otis Q. Sellers, Herbert W. Armstrong, the 7th Day Church of God [so-called], the "Christadelphians", etc., all stop short of the obviously ridiculous and utterly anti-Christ conclusions that their arguments logically lead to. I will not stop but will finish their line of pseudo-Biblical reasoning on the subject of man, life, death and judgment. Note well!
THE UGLY ESSENCE OF THE CULTS
Man was made a "living soul". Animals are called "living souls" in the Bible. Men and beasts die exactly alike, Solomon writes. Eccl. 3:18, 19. Death is the opposite of life. Jesus, the man, died, paying the "wages of sin". Therefore Jesus died exactly like a rat run over by a truck. And, since "a man hath no preeminence above a beast ", therefore the death of Christ was of no more importance or value than that of a rat. Hence, and therefore, the Bible argument in Hebrews, 9th and 10th chapters, to the effect that "it was impossible" for the blood of bulls and goats to ever take man's sins away blood of Jesus Christ was a "better sacrifice" and therefore could and did take away man's sins is the BUNK. Man is his own "savior", saving himself from "punishment" that doesn't exist.Eccl. 3:18: I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 19: For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
Heb. 9:1: Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2: For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3: And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4: Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5: And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. 6: Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7: But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
10: Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
11: But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12: Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13: For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15: And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16: For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17: For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 18: Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. 19: For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20: Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21: Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23: It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24: For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26: For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Heb. 10:1: For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2: For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3: But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4: For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5: Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7: Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8: Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9: Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10: By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11: And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13: From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14: For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15: Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16: This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17: And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18: Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19: Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20: By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21: And having an high priest over the house of God; 22: Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23: Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24: And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26: For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27: But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28: He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30: For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32: But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33: Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 34: For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35: Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36: For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37: For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38: Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39: But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
THE CULTS' MORTAL "JESUS"
These satanic denials of God's holiness and justice, of Christ's character and saving work, and of the Bible revelations concerning "everlasting punishment" are nearly always so subtly interwoven with Bible truths that their devilish identity is concealed to the unsaved or careless reader. Though the 7th Day Adventists give far more "gospel" truth than do the Watchtower witnesses, the Mormons, or Herbert Armstrong, nevertheless in their wicked determination to get rid of Biblical punishment, they, too, find that they must attack the person of Jesus Christ. Therefore, along with all who deny consciousness in death and the lake of fire, the 7th Dayists accept the Devil's invention of a "mortal Jesus" so he could "die like a beast". Thus it is that while getting rid of "the wrath of God" that "abideth on" the Christ-rejector, they also get rid of "the Lamb of God without and blemish" who was "manifested to take away our sins; and in whom is no sin . . . [He] knew no sin . . . "--John 3:36; 1 Pet. 1:18-20; 1 John 3:5; 2 Cor. 5:21.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.
1 Pet. 1:18: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19: But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1 John 3:5: And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
2 Cor. 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
The "Jesus" who had a mortal body could not possibly have died for others since he was mortal [already dying]. The Lord Jesus Christ majestically declared: "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again".--John 10:17, 18. See also John 2:18-22; 1 Tim. 2:6.
John 10:17: Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18: No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
John 2:18: Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 19: Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20: Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21: But he spake of the temple of his body. 22: When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
1 Tim. 2:6: Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Just here let me say that the "Jehovah's Witnesses" [as well as many other cults] positively, repeatedly and essentially deny the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They have a "human, no more and no less" who died "and remained forever dead". Then, under the diabolically dishonest use of Bible words, they speak of the resurrection of "Christ". This, of course, is an absurdity since their "christ" did not die, and therefore could not be raised. In other words, they flatly deny and consistently repudiate the gospel that is given so clearly in 1 Cor. 15:3-5. Read it! Read it carefully!
1 Cor. 15:3: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4: And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
THERE IS NO MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION THAN "WHO DIED ON THE ACCURSED TREE?"
Recently I met one of the exceptionally well trained Watchtower witnesses, falsely called "Jehovah's Witnesses". This university graduate and Watchtower peddler for fifty years began his part of our joint-discussions by asserting that "a six year old child sees a dog die and be put in the ground, sees a cat die and be put in the ground, and sees grandma die and be put in the ground. But after that child goes to church it is told by the clergyman that grandma was not put in the ground for she went to heaven, even though the six year old saw exactly where grandma was put".In answer to this ignorant and materialistic teaching, I said: "Were it true that a six year old child or a sixty year old man knew by natural observation what death is and where grandma went when she died physically, then , of course, we would need no divine revelation on the subject".
The Watchtower [of Babel] builder then quoted from Eccl. 3:19, 20; 9;5 and Gen. 3:19, as he sought to prove that a man dies precisely like every other form of animal life. I Biblically refuted his dishonest hodge-podge of distorted texts by obeying 2 Tim. 2:15--"rightly dividing the Word of truth". First I called to his attention that the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes declares at least 36 times in that short book that he is writing of things that he, himself, had discovered "under the sun" or "under heaven", as he searched to find "out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven". See Eccl. 1:12-18. I charged him and his whole anti-Christ cult with rank dishonesty in their use of only a disconnected clause in Eccl. 9:5, "the dead know not anything". Were these false "Witnesses" to intelligently use the remainder of that verse, they could never again believe it was God's revelation concerning death and the future. Let me quote the entire verse:
"The living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward: for the memory of them is forgotten."
Eccl. 3:19: For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20: All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Eccl. 9:5: For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Gen. 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.
Eccl. 1:12: And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 13: And the evening and the morning were the third day. 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:
15: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16: And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17: And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18: And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
Surely when an argument logically "proves" too much it doesn't spiritually prove anything. In this case, if the clause, "the dead know not anything", is God's revelation on the subject, then, of course, the remainder of the sentence is also God's revelation on that subject,--"neither have they any more a reward, for the memory of them is forgotten". Not even the "J.W.'s" or the 7th Day Adventists deny a future resurrection of both the just and the unjust, the one to be rewarded and the other to be punished [annihilated, they teach]. And, as in this misused text, so with the others, careful and honest obedience to 2 Tim. 2:15 will show that the subject of where man goes after physical death is not here revealed by God at all. I am referring to Eccl. 3:17-22 and Genesis 3:19.
2 Tim. 2:15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Eccl. 3:17: And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18: Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 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. 20: And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. 21: Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. 22: And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Gen. 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.
"UNCONSCIOUSNESS"
What Devil-induced blindness it is to argue that the deliberate unbeliever who wilfully tramples the blood of Christ under his ruthless feet will receive as his just punishment a "death" that is merely an unconscious non-existence! Even the present results of defying God's laws of health and hygiene, morals and social relations are seen to be indescribably worse than "the sleep of death". This present world is all but filled with conscious suffering, tormenting fears, insatiable hungerings, heart-breaking sorrows, desperate grief, raging jealousies, unbearable humiliations, blasted hopes. Does it make sense that all these mere by-products of man's sin against God should be almost infinitely worse than the real judgment and penalty yet to be met? "It is appointed unto men once to die; but after this the judgment".--Heb. 9:27. "He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"--Heb. 10:28, 29. No amount of priestcraft, whether papal or protestant, no amount of text-twisting, and no amount of appeals to the "original languages" can change the above description of the disbeliever's doom. It will be, "HOW MUCH SORER PUNISHMENT" than the disgraceful physical stoning and tortuous death under "Moses' law"?
NOT A JUST PUNISHMENT
FOR CHRIST-REJECTORSHeb. 9:27: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Heb. 10:28: He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
LIVING DEATH
Only an infidel will seek to grab all the divinely inspired descriptions of this "how much sorer punishment" awaiting the wilful unbelievers and sap them of all their frightful and terrifying nature as he forces them into his misuse of the word "death". Such unholy handlers of the Word of God often glibly argue that death is the opposite of life. Starting with that semblance of truth, they will proceed to prove that death is virtually NON-existence as though LIFE were mere existence. A dead tree exists. A rock exists. "She that liveth in pleasure IS DEAD while she liveth"--1 Tim. 5:6. Oh no, my friends, what God calls life and what God intended life to be for man "made in His own image and likeness" is not mere existence. "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."--1 John 5:12. Both "men" included in this verse are physically alive, but one is dead--"dead in trespasses and sins". In fact, his "life" may become such an unbearable "death" -- living DEATH -- that he will decide to commit suicide, wickedly supposing that there is no punishment in death -- physical death, and foolishly believing that "the dead know not anything" in the hereafter.However, physical death will be followed by resurrection to JUDGMENT for all who have rejected the Savior, because "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this [but AFTER THIS, note well] the judgment"! -- Heb. 9:27.
DEATH IS SEPARATION
For instance, every reader of the first three chapters of Genesis knows that Adam and Eve did not die physically "in the day" that they ate the forbidden fruit. [The J.W.'s argument about 2 Peter 3:8 being the explanation of Adam's "postponed" death is too ridiculous to merit a refutation here]. In the light of other revelation, we know that first died instantly upon disobeying God!2 Pet. 3:8: But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
"Your iniquities have separated between you and your God . . ." "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin . . . through the offence of one many be dead . . ." "Let the DEAD bury their dead . . ." "You [Christians] hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins . . ."-- Isa. 59:2; Rom. 5:12, 15; Luke 9:60; Eph. 2:1.
Isa. 59:2: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Rom. 5:12: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 15: But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Luke 9:60: Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Eph. 2:1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Can anyone but a vulgar materialist believe that to be "dead to God", "dead in trespasses and sin", is to be only FIGURATIVELY dead, while to be dead to beans and bacon, to be without physical breath, is the real, the LITERAL death according to God's Word? You had as well say that the DOOR to a mule barn is a LITERAL door while Christ is only a FIGURATIVE door into heaven [a figurative "heaven", I suppose; and , logically then, only a FIGURATIVE Christ, etc., etc. ???]
Testy your present spiritual condition by deciding which, if any, of the following 8 Deaths is [or are] only figurative.
1. DEATH by "the first man's" disobedience.
Gen. 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.
Gen. 2:17; Rom. 5:12-14, 17; 2 Cor. 5:14-17.
This was man's total death -- spirit, soul and body,
brought in by the power of the Devil through Adam's disobedience.
See Heb. 2:14.Rom. 5:12: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14: Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
17: For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
2 Cor. 5:14: For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16: Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Heb. 2:14: Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
2. DEATH by Adam's children sinning.
Rom. 5:12; 7:7-10; Jas. 4:17.Though "by nature children of wrath" [Eph. 2:3]
Rom. 5:12: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
and dying fleshlings [Jn. 3:6; Isa. 40:6, 7; Psa. 51:5],
nevertheless, because of Death #3,
little children are safe and innocent until they personally become trespassers.
Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13; Luke 9:60.Rom. 5:7: What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8: But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 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.
Jas. 4:17: Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Jn. 3:6: That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Isa. 40:6: The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
Psa. 51:5: Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Eph. 2:1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Col. 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;
Luke 9:60: Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
3. DEATH by Christ's obedience.
Gen. 3:15: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Gen. 3:15, 21; 1 Cor. 15:47; Phil. 2:8; Heb. 5:7-9; 2:9-18.
TOTAL DEATH [Spirit, soul and body] suffered by "the Just for the unjust that He might bring us to God".-- 1 Pet. 3:18. "THE Second Man" perfectly fulfilled the law [Gal. 4:4-5; Matt. 5:17-18; 17:5; 2 Cor. 5:14-21; 1 Pet. 1:18-21]. Then after proving that He had perfect dominion over everything lost by "the first man" [Adam], He voluntarily and majestically endured the death that destroyed forever "the enemy death" and "him that had the power of death, that is the Devil!"-- Jn. 2:19-22; 10:14-18; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; Heb.2:1-18; 1 Cor. 15:1-28; Matt. 27:52; Jn. 12:24 [re-read with 1 Cor. 15:20-23]; Rom. 3:23-26; 4:24-25; 5:8-10; 6:3-9; 7:4; Gal. 1:4; 2:19-20; 6:14; 2 Cor. 5:19; 1 Pet. 3:22; Eph. 1:19-22; Col. 2:13-15; Heb. 2:14; 1 Jn. 3:8; Rev. 1:18; Rom. 14:8-9; 2 Tim. 1:10. These passages prove nothing if they do not prove that Jesus Christ has already reigned victoriously where "the first man" was tempted and lost his God-given dominion! 2 Cor. 5:18-19.21: Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
1 Cor. 15:47: The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
Phil. 2:8: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Heb. 5:7: Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8: Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9: And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Heb. 2:9: But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10: For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11: For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12: Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13: And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. 14: Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15: And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16: For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17: Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18: For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Gal. 4:4: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5: To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Matt. 5:17: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Matt. 17:5: While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
2 Cor. 5:14: For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16: Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19: To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1 Pet. 1:18: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19: But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21: Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Jn. 2:19: Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20: Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21: But he spake of the temple of his body. 22: When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
Jn. 10:14: I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15: As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16: And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17: Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18: No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
1 Tim 2:5: For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6: Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Heb. 2:1: Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2: For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3: How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4: God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? 5: For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 6: But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 7: Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9: But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10: For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11: For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12: Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13: And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. 14: Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15: And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16: For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17: Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18: For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
1 Cor. 15:1: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2: By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4: And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7: After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8: And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9: For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10: But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11: Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. 12: Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13: But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15: Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16: For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18: Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19: If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20: But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21: For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22: For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23: But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24: Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25: For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26: The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27: For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28: And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Matt. 27:52: And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Jn. 12:24: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
1 Cor. 15:20: But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21: For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22: For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23: But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
Rom. 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26: To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Rom. 4:24: But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25: Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Rom. 5:8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9: Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10: For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Rom. 6:3: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4: Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5: For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7: For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8: Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Rom. 7:4: Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Gal. 1:4: Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Gal. 2:19: 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.
Gal. 6:14: But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
2 Cor. 5:19: To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
1 Pet. 3:22: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Eph. 1:19: And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20: Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21: Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Col. 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; 14: Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15: And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Heb. 2:14: Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
1 Jn. 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Rev. 1:18: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Rom. 14:8: For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 9: For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
2 Tim. 1:10: But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
2 Cor. 5:18: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19: To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
4. DEATH by "obeying" [submissively hearing] the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2 Cor. 5:14: For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16: Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
This is the penitent sinner's death with Christ and to sin.
In a glorious spiritual sense this is a total death for him. 2 Cor. 5:14-17; Gal. 2;20; Rom. 6:1-18; Eph. 2:1-10; Col. 2:6-12; 3:1-11. To say this death is merely figurative is to flatly deny every spiritual reality of the gospel of the grace of God and real salvation.Gal. 2:20: 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.
Rom. 6:1: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2: God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4: Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5: For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7: For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8: Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10: For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11: Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12: Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13: Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15: What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16: Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17: But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18: Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Eph. 2:1: 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;) 6: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9: Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
2 Cor. 2:6: Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. 7: So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8: Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 9: For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10: To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 11: Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 12: Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
2 Cor. 3:1: Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2: Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4: And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6: Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7: But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9: For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10: For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11: For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
5. DEATH by disobeying "the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus" [Rom. 8:2].
Rom. 8:2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
This is only physical, disciplinary death.
While physical death is common to all children of fallen Adam [Heb. 9:27; 1 Cor. 15:21-22], this is uncommon because it is inflicted by God as a result of "a sin unto death!" -- 1 Jn. 5:16; Deut. 32:48-52; 1 Cor. 5:1-5; 11:30-32. This disciplinary death can in no way affect the Christian's eternal salvation. See Jn. 5:24; Rom. 4:8; Col. 3:1-4; Heb. 10:38-39.Heb. 9:27: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
1 Cor. 15:21: For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22: For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1 Jn. 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.
Duet. 32:48: And the LORD spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying 49: Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: 50: And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people: 51: Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel. 52: Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel.
1 Cor. 5:1: It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. 2: And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3: For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5: To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1 Cor. 11:30: For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31: For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32: But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Jn. 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.
Rom. 4:8: Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Col. 3:1: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3: For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4: When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Heb. 10:38: Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39: But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
6. DEATH in sins. -- Jn. 8:24; Prov. 21:16; Jn. 3:36; Heb. 10:26-27.
Jn. 8:24: I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
The physical death of the willful unbeliever.
Already "dead in trespasses and sins" he now DIES IN his sins, and "remains in the congregation of the dead."Prov. 21:16: The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
Jn. 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.
Heb. 10:26: For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27: But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
7. DEATH by "falling asleep", "dying in the Lord", "putting off" the physical body, our "earthly tabernacle".
Acts 7:60: And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
See Acts 7:60 [HALLELUJAH!]; 1 Cor. 15:6, 18; 1 Thess. 4:14; 2 Cor. 5:1-8; 2 Pet. 1:14. This "precious" and "blessed" death in no sense is an "enemy" to the believer in the Risen Christ, Who is now "LORD both of the living and the dead".-- Rev, 14:13; Psa. 116:15; 1 Cor. 3:21-23; Rom. 14:8-9; Js. 2:26.1 Cor. 15:6: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 18: Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
1 Thess. 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.
2 Cor. 5:1: For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2: For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4: For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5: Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6: Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8: We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
2 Pet. 1:14: Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
Rev. 14:13: And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Psa. 116:15: Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
1 Cor. 3:21: Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22: Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23: And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
Rom. 14:8: For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 9: For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Js. 2:26: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
8. DEATH "in the lake of fire" is "the second death"--the irrevocable doom of all the "twice dead" [Jude 12].
Jude 12: These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
See Rev. 20:5-15; 21:8. No amount of ungodly text-twisting and prating about "the original language" can void the horrible fact that all unbelievers will "be [not CEASE to be] unjust . . . filthy still." Only such restless punishment could be "much sorer" than the stoning of Heb. 10:26-31; Psa. 11:6; 75:7-8; Rev. 14:10-11. Read also with a holy hush, Prov. 19-28; 28:5; Rev. 6:16; 22:11; Rom. 2:8.Rev. 20:5: But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 7: And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8: And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9: And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 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. 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. 13: And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
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.
Rev. 21:8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Heb. 10:26: For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27: But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28: He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30: For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Psa. 11:6: Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
Psa. 75:7: But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. 8: For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.
Rev. 14:10: The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 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.
Prov. 19:1: Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. 2: Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. 3: The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD. 4: Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour. 5: A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. 6: Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. 7: All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him. 8: He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good. 9: A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish. 10: Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11: The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. 12: The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass. 13: A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. 14: House and riches are the inheritance of fathers and a prudent wife is from the LORD. 15: Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16: He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. 17: He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
18: Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. 19: A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again. 20: Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. 21: There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. 22: The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar. 23: The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. 24: A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25: Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. 26: He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach. 27: Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. 28: An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity. 29: Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
Prov. 20:1: Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. 2: The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. 3: It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. 4: The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. 5: Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. 6: Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? 7: The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. 8: A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. 9: Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? 10: Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. 11: Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. 12: The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. 13: Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. 14: It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. 15: There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16: Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. 17: Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. 18: Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. 19: He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. 20: Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. 21: An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. 22: Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. 23: Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good. 24: Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? 25: It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. 26: A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. 27: The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28: Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. 29: The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head. 30: The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Prov. 21:1: The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. 2: Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. 3: To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. 4: An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. 5: The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. 6: The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
7: The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment. 8: The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right. 9: It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. 10: The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. 11: When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. 12: The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness. 13: Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. 14: A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath. 15: It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. 16: The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. 17: He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. 18: The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. 19: It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. 20: There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. 21: He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. 22: A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof. 23: Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. 24: Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. 25: The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. 26: He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. 27: The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? 28: A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. 29: A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way. 30: There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. 31: The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.
Prov. 22:1: A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. 2: The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all. 3: A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. 4: By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. 5: Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. 6: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. 7: The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. 8: He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. 9: He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. 10: Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. 11: He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. 12: The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor. 13: The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. 14: The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein. 15: Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. 16: He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want. 17: Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18: For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19: That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20: Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21: That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? 22: Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 23: For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. 24: Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. 26: Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. 27: If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee? 28: Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. 29: Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
Prov.23:1: When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: 2: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. 3: Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat. 4: Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
5: Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. 6: Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. 8: The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words. 9: Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. 10: Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: 11: For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee. 12: Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. 13: Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
14: Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. 15: My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. 16: Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things. 17: Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. 18: For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. 19: Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. 20: Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: 21: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. 22: Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. 23: Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. 24: The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. 25: Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. 26: My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. 27: For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. 28: She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. 29: Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30: They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 31: Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32: At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 33: Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. 34: Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. 35: They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Prov. 24:1: Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. 2: For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. 3: Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: 4: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. 5: A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. 6: For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellers there is safety. 7: Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. 8: He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. 9: The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. 10: If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. 11: If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 12: If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works? 13: My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: 14: So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off. 15: Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: 16: For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. 17: Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. 19: Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; 20: For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. 21: My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: 22: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both? 23: These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. 24: He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: 25: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. 26: Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer. 27: Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. 28: Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips. 29: Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work. 30: I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31: And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. 32: Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. 33: Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 34: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
Prov. 25:1: These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. 2: It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. 3: The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. 4: Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. 5: Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. 6: Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: 7: For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. 8: Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. 9: Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: 10: Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away. 11: A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. 12: As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. 13: As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. 14: Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. 15: By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. 16: Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. 17: Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. 18: A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19: Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. 20: As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. 21: If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
23: The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. 24: It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. 25: As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. 26: A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. 27: It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. 28: He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Prov. 26:1: As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. 2: As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. 3: A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. 4: Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 5: Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6: He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. 7: The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. 8: As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. 9: As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. 10: The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. 11: As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. 12: Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. 13: The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. 14: As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. 15: The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. 16: The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. 17: He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. 18: As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, 19: So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? 20: Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. 21: As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. 22: The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 23: Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. 24: He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; 25: When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. 26: Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. 27: Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. 28: A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Prov. 27:1: Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. 2: Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. 3: A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.
4: Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? 5: Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6: Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. 7: The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. 8: As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place. 9: Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. 10: Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off. 11: My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me. 12: A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. 13: Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. 14: He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. 15: A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. 16: Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself. 17: Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. 18: Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured. 19: As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
20: Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. 21: As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise. 22: Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. 23: Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. 24: For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? 25: The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
26: The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. 27: And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.
Prov. 28:1: The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. 2: For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged. 3: A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food. 4: They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them. 5: Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things. 6: Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. 7: Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father. 8: He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. 9: He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. 10: Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession. 11: The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out. 12: When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden. 13: He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. 14: Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. 15: As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. 16: The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days. 17: A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him. 18: Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once. 19: He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. 20: A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. 21: To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress. 22: He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. 23: He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue. 24: Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer. 25: He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat. 26: He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. 27: He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse. 28: When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.
Prov. 28:5: Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
Rev. 6:16: And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Rev. 21:11: Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Rom. 2:8: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
NOTE: the words "death", "perish", and "destruction", as God uses them, never, never mean cessation of being, annihilation, or non-existence. Compare Scripture with Scripture, and not Scripture with Greek or any human dictionary. "The words which the Holy Spirit teacheth" are not like ordinary words.-- 1 Cor. 2:9-16; Isa. 55:9; Luke10:21.
Every man can AVOID everlasting punishment [Jn. 3:36], but no man can VOID it. See Prov. 29:1.
1 Cor. 2:9: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11: For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15: But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16: For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Isa. 55:9: For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Luke 10:21: In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
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.
Prov. 29:1: He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.