Death: Beliefs Through The Ages
According to the United Nations World Population Prospects report, approximately 7,452 people die every day in the United States. In other words, a person dies in the US approximately every 12 seconds.
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. (Heb. 4:14-15)
Those two verses in the New Testament book of Hebrews bring up a topic that most people would rather not discuss. As we go through life death is for everyone else but ourselves. But one day it will come and it is probably the scariest thing all we humans face. The cessation of life.
Throughout the eons various civilizations and cultures have tried to understand death. In earlier societies death was a familiar experience. They feared death and didn't believe it was natural. Other societies did not fear death and thought it was but a change of existence into a spiritual realm. Ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and primitive American Indian burial sites, reveal a belief in an afterlife. Socrates (470?–399? B.C.) and Plato (428–348 B.C.) believed people could choose to end their life if they were no longer useful to themselves or the state.
All the major faiths believe that after the spirit has left the body, it moves on to another existence. And how you lived in this life determines your eternal destination. This is the prominent view in Islam and hinduism. It is a good works based concept. In Hinduism how one is reincarnated has been determined by the life they led as well. But in Christianity there is added a person spoken about, from the beginning that will deliver humankind from the perdictiment of death. (How Major religions View the Afterlife)
Even though all societies throughout history have realized that death is the certain fate of human beings, different cultures have responded to it in different ways. Through the ages, attitudes toward death and dying have changed and continue to change, shaped by religious, intellectual, and philosophical beliefs and conceptions. In the twenty-first century advances in medical science and technology continue to influence ideas about death and dying. (Death through The Ages-Encyclopedia.com)
Death in Christianity was brought about because of the disobedience of the human races federal heads. The first created man and women. They were created good, were given a vast garden to tend, but when the devil, satan, the serpent of Old tempted them with an invitation to be like God they succumbed. And rather than believe God who warned them that if they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would die, they were intriqued by the prospect to have control over their own lives and govern themselves. So they partook of that fruit and thus death came into the world. And continues to this day.
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. (Romans 5:12-14)
Death in the Bible is seen as a separation. From all you had while alive. From the wealthy to the poor. Death sinks its teeth into all the living. It's a ravenous beast, never content that enough is enough. All have an appointment with death. And where you spend that eternity isn't based on what you do but on who you know but rather who knows you. For the Gospel offers Hope that death is not the end, but a new beginning for those who believe the gospel message. That's the good news. But with that good news of the gospel there's a darker more sinister end that Jesus called "a weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Luke 13:28;Matthew 13:42;Matt 8:12; )
And gnashing their teeth, at God. God having given them over to their spiritually cold and dead hearts. Given over to their true nature of enmity toward God. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thess. 1: 9 "These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,"....An eternity separated from the God who breathed into them life. The result of them refusing His gift of eternal life.
From the wealthy to the poor. Death sinks its teeth into all the living. It's a ravenous beast, never content that enough is enough. All have an appointment with death.
And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, (Heb. 9:27)
And where you spend that eternity isn't based on what you do but on who you know or rather who knows you. As Jesus the Christ said , " I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd." (John 10:14-16)
Those who have the Son have everlasting life. Those who have not the Son shall not see life. But the wrath abides upon them. (John 3:36)
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