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1The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
2“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied.
3“It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’ ”
4“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman.
5“God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
6The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.
7At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. (Genesis 3:1–7 NLT)
There is a topic that children aren’t too aware of it, and they would gain more knowledge about it when they have become teenagers. Some older people just try to evade this subject altogether. When some seniors speak of this matter, they would use other terms to replace the topic. Instead of using the actual word, they prefer to say Mr so-and-so has just kicked the bucket. Yes, many folks simply don’t like to talk about death.
In our daily life, death is so real and it happens around us all the time. We might want to evade this topic, but death will always stick with humanity.
Death is a theme that the Bible talks about it all the time. Not only it speaks about it, it also gives a detailed explanation about the origin of death and the cure to it.
In the Bible, the authors speak about three kinds of death. The first one is physical death. The second is spiritual death. The Third one is second death, that is to say, eternal death.
Let me first talk about physical death.
- Physical Death
The Origin of Death
15The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
16And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,
17but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:15–17 ESV)
When did death first happen in human history? Does the Bible say anything about the origin of death? Let’s turn to Genesis 2 for the answer. When God created our ancestors, Adam and Eve, He clearly gave Adam the instructions of leading a happy life in the Garden of Eden. Our ancestors were granted the freedom to enjoy every fruit, all except the fruits from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Life is all about making the right choices, but sadly Adam and Eve made a wrong decision in the Garden of Eden, they chose to disobey God. They chose to eat the forbidden fruit and the rest is history. Due to the disobedience of our ancestors, death entered humanity.
The decision of eating the forbidden fruit leads to a death penalty, and it will pass on to all future generations of humankind. Although the disobedience of Adam and Eve didn’t lead straight to physical death, they entered spiritual death immediately. This is how death entered humanity. Pay attention to one thing, that is, spiritual death comes before physical death. In short, spiritual death is broken fellowship with God.
Physical Death Is Real
According to one school of Hinduism, they think the world that we live in does not actually exist. It seems to exist, but it is in fact an illusion. Let me give you an example. The things that we perceive are like walking through a jungle at night. We thought to see a snake there. When we went back to the same spot in the light of the day, we found out that the snake was only a rope. The rope only looked like a snake, but it was not a snake at all. Like the snake seemed to exist, the universe appears to exist, but it actually does not. Many Hindus regard they are living in an illusive world.
According to some psychologists, they believe death is simply an illusion. Some even quote from Albert Einstein on the topic of death and deduce that he also believed that death was an illusion. On a similar thinking mode, Christian Scientists believe death is an illusion as well. By the way, Christian Science is a cult because their belief contradict the Bible. Since they think death is simply an illusion, they don’t think Jesus really died on the cross.
Physical Death Is Sad
My daily routine is as follows: have a simple breakfast and a big cup of coffee while I watch the news. On many occasions, most news are about sudden and untimely deaths. I must admit it is not very pleasant to listen to these sad news. As a habit, I pray for the families who have just lost their loved ones. Death is sad.
Death is sad, and it is extremely painful when it happens to those who are dear to you. When I was a young pastor, a young man in my congregation was suddenly ill. Within a few days, he was succumbed to his illness. He was at the prime of his life. He graduated from university and embarked on a promising career. His life was cut short by this sickness. He was only twenty-four years old. Since the senior pastor was on leave, I had to officiate the funeral all by myself. It was a very sad funeral service. I could still remember the uncontrollable tears that his parents and sister shed.
For the past few years, so many people who are dear to me passed away. Death causes much sadness and pain, especially when your loved ones die.
Physical Death Is Unavoidable
Some people think money can buy them happiness. Some even believe money can buy them health, and even prolong their life. It might be true in a way, but the power of wealth is only finite.
Hong Kong was once a British colony. There is a place called Happy Valley in Hong Kong. It was called Happy Valley for a reason. Back in the early 1840’s, there was a military camp in that area. A lot of soldiers died of malaria. Due to the large amount of deaths, the valley became a burial ground for the dead, thus it was renamed Happy Valley, a common euphemism for cemeteries. Happy Valley is famous for its upper income residence, racecourse and cemeteries as well. Within a small area, there are Jewish, Hindu, Parsee, Protestant, Catholic and Muslim cemetery.
Funny enough, there is a famous private hospital in Happy Valley. As you know, the more fortunate and wealthier people can enjoy private healthcare. Some super rich people who were dying, were admitted to this hospital, paying million of dollars just to prolong their lives. They hired top doctors and the most sophisticated equipment just to extend their lives to the fullest extent. However, money is finite. Death eventually comes.
At the entrance of the Catholic cemetery, there is a couplet written on the wall. It is written in Chinese. The meaning is more or less as follows: My body returns to my homeland tonight; some day the same will happen to you too.「今夕吾軀歸故土，他朝君体也相同」In a nutshell, it states that nobody on earth can escape death.
Physical Death Is the Consequence of Sin
12When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (Romans 5:12 NLT)
At a glance, the death that the Apostle Paul mentioned here was only about physical death. If you link up this verse with Genesis 3, the conclusion of death is not simply physical death, but it includes spiritual death as well.
After eating the forbidden fruit, our ancestors did not immediately die. Their sin introduced mortality. To sum it up, bodily death is separation of body and soul; spiritual death is the separation of human beings from God.
Escaping Physical Death
23Enoch lived 365 years,
24walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.(Genesis 5:23–24 NLT)
Enoch
In the Bible, there were two people who escaped death. The first person was Enoch. Enoch was a pious person who was walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day God took him to heaven. He was the first person in the whole humanity who escaped death.
Have you heard of the rapture? The Apostle Paul spoke about it in one of his letters. In his own words, he says,
14For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
15We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.
16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.
17Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:14–17 NLT)
God took Enoch to heaven without him tasting death gives a glimpse about the future rapture of the Church.
Elijah
11As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven.12Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress. (2 Kings 2:11–12 NLT)
The second person who didn’t taste death was Elijah. He was one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament times. Like Enoch, Elijah didn’t experience death. God carried Elijah away to heaven by a whirlwind. It is another good example to foretell the future rapture of Christians.
Rapture
According to what I have observed so far, not a lot Christians know and care about the rapture. According to some theologians and Bible teachers, they equate the rapture with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Based on my study on the last days for the past few decades, both events are completely different. The rapture is different to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The rapture is about the removal of all living Christians on earth and the resurrection of dead Christians. On the other hand, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is about the establishment of God’s eternal Kingdom on earth.
- Spiritual Death
What Is Spiritual Death?
In the case of Adam and Eve, spiritual death is a result of their sin (Romans 5:15-16). However, their bodily death does not begin at once. As a result, all of their descendants will born spiritually dead and will die eventually. In short, spiritual death is separation from God. Adam and Eve lost their relationship with God right at the moment when they chose to rebel against their Creator. Also, they have lost their fellowship with God. That said, human beings still have the capacity to understand and respond to God’s saving grace.
Consequences of Spiritual Death
8When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. (Genesis 3:8 NLT)
Loss of Relationship
Right after Adam and Eve sinned, they hid from God among the trees. It was an act of stupidity. As God is all-knowing, no humans can hide from Him. It was an indication that our ancestors didn’t regard and behave toward God as before.
Before the Fall, Adam and Eve were God’s children, but right after they sinned, they didn’t regard God as their Father. Also, they tried to run away from their Creator.
Nowadays most people don’t see God as their Father, and they don’t have the initiative to seek God.
Let me share with you a real story. When I was a young believer, I often sought the opportunity to share the Gospel with my non-believing friends and relatives. On one occasion, I preached the Gospel to a non-believer. During our conversation, strangely, all of a sudden, she covered her face with both of her hands. She simply wanted to hide her face from God.
Loss of Fellowship
Another consequence of spiritual death is loss of fellowship with God. Fellowship means communion or intimate communication. It is the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings. Fellowship involves mutual trust between God and humans. Additionally, fellowship is more than friendship.
Symptoms of Spiritual Death
1And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
2in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
3among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV)
Based on Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:2–3, there are three symptoms of spiritual death: the first one is following the ways of this world; the second symptom is following the influence or control of Satan; the third is carrying out the desires of the body and the mind.
Follow the Temporal Values of the World
As for the spiritual dead, they will live a life according to the temporal values of the world (2:2). A lot of people are influenced by their peers. We just want to keep up with the Joneses.
Follow Satan
Satan is called the god of this world. As Satan is a perverter of God’s truth, non-believers will often conform to the rule of Satan.
Artificial intelligence is great. Modern technology is good as well. We can use these things to the betterment of our lives. However, Satan can inspire evil human beings to use AI and modern technology to spread misinformation and disinformation.
Follow Sinful Inclinations
It is normal for spiritual dead to choose whatever they like in their hearts. This is the third symptom of spiritual death.
We are living in a me-first world. Like many people think and do, whatever tickles my fancy, I like it and want to have it.
These are the three symptoms of spiritual death.
Nominal Christians
There are a lot of jargons in the Christian circle. For example , there is a confusing term called born-again Christians. It is confusing because all believers in Christ should have born-again experience. The reason they come up with this terminology for a good reason. Since many so-called Christians are not sure of their salvation, evangelicals come up with this term, so they can stress on the importance of born-again experience.
There are so many nominal Christians around the World. According to the Lausanne Committee, there are five types of nominal Christians.
The first group is those who attend church regularly, worship devoutly but they are without any relationship with Jesus Christ.
The second category is those attend church regularly, but only for cultural reasons. People who grew up in Christian environment or under the influence of Christian culture, who might appreciate or adhere to Christian values. However, they don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and born-again experience.
The third class is people who attend church only for major church events. Many secular Christians only attend church on special events. On so-called holy days, more nominal Christians would flock to churches.
The fourth kind is those who hardly ever attend church but maintain a church relationship for reasons of security, emotional or family ties, or tradition. Many second or third generation of Christian families belong to this category.
The fifth group is those who have no relationship to any specific church and never attend but consider themselves believers. All in all, these five categories of people are not Christians.
Dear friends, are you a Christian, are you sure of your salvation?
You might respond and say to me, “Hey, I went to church before you were even born. I was baptised by that famous pastor Dr So-and-so.”
My question to you is that have you had the born-again experience? Religion can be cold and dead. Christianity is all about one’s personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Many people have head knowledge about Jesus Christ and the Christian faith, but they don’t have a living relationship with Him.
At the end of this message, I sincerely urge you to reflect on your own salvation experience.
Let me talk about the final point — eternal death.
- Eternal Death
12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
13And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12–14 ESV)
The Other Name of Eternal Death
Revelation 20 talks about a major event that will happen in the future, that is, the final judgement of all unbelievers throughout history. These people will be judged on the basis of their works (Revelation 20:12–13). The outcome is all these people will enter second death.
The other name for second death is eternal death. It is the final state of non-believers. It is the finalisation of spiritual death. At this stage, all non-believers will separate from God forever.
It is called second death for a reason. As for the unsaved people, they are born physically but will experience death twice, physically and eternally.
Conquering Eternal Death
The Good News is that all the names of Christians are contained in the book of life. Due to the fact that their names are inscribed in this book, they will have eternal life.
Save People from Eternal Death
As Christians, we should do our very best to save our non-believing friends and relatives from eternal death.
Let me borrow a verse from Proverbs 24:11. It says, 11Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. (Proverbs 24:11 ESV)
Over the years, I have developed a curriculum for new believers. In the area of evangelism, I think there is a set of ABCD that is essential for the outreach of the lost. A stands for ask. We should ask God for the opportunity and wisdom for evangelism. B represents befriend. We should befriend non-believers, and act as their friends. Give them support and pray for them. Grab the opportunity to share the Good News with them. C is communicate. Christians should learn how to communicate the Gospel to the non-believers. Therefore, you have to learn how to share the Gospel with your friends and relatives. D is drill. Knowing how to communicate the Gospel to the non-believers is a must, but you have to put it into practice. As Christians, we need to preach the Gospel with words and deeds. In essence, we need to live out the Gospel.
- Conclusion
A word of caution is that we shouldn’t use eternal death to frighten non-believers. Instead of talking about eternal death, I incline to speak of God’s love and people’s need of receiving the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
As eternal death is real and separation from God forever is so painful, we must by all means to save people from this horrible ordeal.
Kenneth Thumb Ministry 譚約珥事工 