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DEATH STUDY

Dying is a part of life.

October 17, 2022 • Pastor Robert R. McLaughlin

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DEATH
By Pastor Robert R. McLaughlin

Dying is a part of life.

Death is not something that we should live in fear of or have regrets for.

We know that because there is a supernatural book that says that the earth is round, Isa 40:22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth

There is a supernatural book that says that the earth is suspended in space, Job 26:7.

There is a supernatural book that talks about airplanes before the horse and buggy, Isa 40:31, 60:8.

There is a supernatural book that talks about chariots driving fast in the streets, Nahum 2:4.

There is a supernatural book that talks about boats existing under water, like the submarine, Amo 9:3.

There is a supernatural book that says that the Messiah would have His hands and feet pierced in Psa 22:16.

That they would cast lots for His garments, Psa 22:18.

That not one of His bones would be broken, Psa 34:20, fulfilled in Joh 19:34-36.

That He would be betrayed by a close friend, Psa 41:9, Luk 22:47-48. That the Messiah's side would be pierced, Zec 12:10.
That there would pierce His hands hands and feet, Zec 13:6.

Now, this dame book says that physical death is a matter of the sovereignty of God, Job 1:21, Psa 68:19.

Job expressed this in Job 1:21, "the lord gave, the lord takes away; blessed be the name of the lord."

In other words, the lord decides!

David expressed this in Psa 68:19, "God is to us a God of deliverance, and to Jehovah the lord belongs escape from death."

Until the lord is ready to take us home to be with himself, we are going to continue to live on planet earth.

And the very moment that the sovereignty of God decides to take us home, nothing will keep us here.

Ecc 8:8 No man has authority to restrain the wind with the wind, or authority over the day of death;

So how do you solve the problem with death?

2. The believer must realize that physical death is precious in the sight of the lord, Psa 116:15.

Psa 116:15 "Precious [valuable] in the sight of the lord is the death of his saints."

that refers to all his saints, winners and losers.

The death of any believer is valuable in the eyes of the lord.

The death of the believer is valuable, important, and precious to the lord.

Solomon voiced this same principle in Ecc 7:1, a good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth.

So how do you solve the problem with death?

3. The death of every church age believer, both winner and loser, also means to be face to face with the lord, 2co 5:8.

this is described in 2 Cor 5:8, where we are said to be "absent from the body and face to face with the lord."

What is left behind is the biological part of you, your body. You don't need that body any more.
And we have no idea of the perfect happiness that will come to us when we check out of these bodies.

So how do you solve the problem with death?

4. We know that it will be a state of perfect happiness because everything related to your body that can produce pain is gone, Rev 21:4.

Rev 21:4 "And he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes [comfort]; furthermore, there shall no longer be any death, no longer will there be any mourning, and no more crying, and no more pain; the first things have passed away."

You use your body for mourning, for pain, for many unpleasant things and some pleasant things.

Our resurrection body will have none of these unpleasant things.

So how do you solve the problem with death?

5. You accept the fact that death is an appointment with God that all members of the human race have to keep, Heb 9:27!

Heb 9:27 "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgment [for the unbeliever]." You will only die once.

Only unbelievers will be judged and cast into the lake of fire. Ecc 3:2 A time to give birth, and a time to die;
How do you solve the problem with death?

6. You realize that death is simply a shadow and a valley to pass through to enter into the eternal state.

David said in Psa 23:4, "yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death."

Note "I walk;" not "we walk."

All your life you're accustomed to being herd-bound, having someone to hold your hand.
But in dying you go it alone!

But you have the greatest encouragement in the world, something far greater than anything anyone could say to you: You have the ten problem solving devices and epignosis doctrine in your soul.

How do you solve the problem with death?

7. You realize that death has lost it's power Over believers, Isa 25:8, 1Co 15.

Isa 25:8 He will swallow up death for all time, and the lord God will wipe tears away from all faces,

1Co 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;

1Co 15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.

1Co 15:18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

1Co 15:19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

1Co 15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.
1Co 15:21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.

1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at his coming,

1Co 15:24 Then comes the end, when he delivers up the kingdom to the God and father, when he has abolished all rule and all authority and power.

1Co 15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

1Co 15:26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

So death has lost its power over believers.

Look at vs 51! 1Co 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

1Co 15:53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1Co 15:54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "death is swallowed up in victory.

1Co 15:55 "O death, where is your victory? o death, where is your sting?"

1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the lord.

So how do you solve the problem with death?

8. The believer also realizes that people have been held in bondage and slavery all their lifetime because of not understanding the victory over death, Heb 2:15.

Heb 2:15 And might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

And so having confidence while living will give you confidence while dying.

so the apostle Paul said, 2ti 4:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.

2Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;

ECC 12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no delight in them";

ECC 12:2 before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain;
ECC 12:3 in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men stoop, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and those who look through windows grow dim;

ECC 12:4 and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly.

ECC 12:5 Furthermore, men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags himself along, and the caperberry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal home while mourners go about in the street.

ECC 12:6 {Remember Him} before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;

ECC 12:7 then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

JOB 1:21 "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

JUD 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,

JUD 1:25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

For the Psalmist said in Psa 116:15 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."

The death of any believer is very valuable in the eyes of the Lord.

And that is because death is not really an end in itself but a change of status for everyone!

For the believer death means to be absent from the physical body and face to face with the Lord Jesus Christ, as Paul said in 2Co 5:8.

In fact, what is left behind is simply the biological part of you, your body. You don't need that body anymore!
And we have no idea of the perfect happiness that will come to us when we check out of these bodies.

Jam 4:13 says Look here, you people who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to such and such a town, stay there a year, and open up a profitable business."

Jam 4:14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Or as our Lord said in MAT 16:26 "For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

The writer of the book of Hebrews says death is an appointment with God that all members of the human race will keep.

For we read in Heb 9:27 "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgment [for the unbeliever]."

However, only unbelievers will be judged because believers have believed that TLJC who was judged for them in their place.

This is something that our Lord said just before His death!

In LUK 23:27 And there were following Him a great multitude of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him.

LUK 23:28 But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

Don't weep for me, I now have perfect happiness, but for those of you who are not sure whether or not you have eternal life, weep for yourselves.

For the Bible says behold, now is "the acceptable time," behold, now is" the day of salvation "--

For the Bible says ACT 16:31 "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved,

Dying is a part of life.

Dying is a part of Christian experience which does not depend upon the volition of the believer, but on the sovereignty of God.

And if you like living in God’s plan, you will love dying.

In the living phase of God’s plan, the believer has control over his life for successes or failure, for execution of God’s plan or failure to do so.

Therefore, the believer approaches dying as a winner or as a loser, as an invisible hero or as one who has fragmented his life.

In the dying phase of God’s plan, the believer has no control over the time, place, or manner of his death.

The physical death of the church age believer is a matter of the wisdom, integrity, and sovereignty of God.

And because the integrity of God cannot be unfair or unjust, the time, place, and manner of our physical death is a perfect decision from him.

And because of the infinite and eternal wisdom of God, he cannot be wrong in any decision he makes.

This means that anytime you become critical or upset, blaming God for the

departure of a loved one, you're in a state of blasphemy.

Because it isn't a matter of when we think the death should be; it is a matter of when God has decided.

And God cannot be unfair.

His decision about the death of any person is never unfair. Some die healthy; some die ill.

And if God decides to take you out by some terrible disease, all the health food and vitamins in the world won't help you; you will die of disease.

the point is that nothing will prolong your life beyond God’s time for your to die.

Now, this does not imply that long life means that you have advanced spiritually.

It simply means that God in his own wisdom has made the decision regarding the death of each one of us.
All of us will die with the exception of the rapture generation.

Prin-since the omniscience of God knows all the facts in each individual case, the time, place, and manner of our physical death is a wise decision.

And all decisions from the sovereignty of God are made in perfect and eternal wisdom, including the time, place, and manner of dying.
so, for the believer who has the ten problem solving devices, dying is the ultimate experience of all.

The problem solving devices are just as pertinent in dying as they are in

living.

The person who has been using them while living is ready to die.

Therefore, the death of every believer, winner or loser, is always God’s victory.

Psa 116:15 "precious in the sight of the lord is the death of his saints."

Death is always God’s victory.

Some believers will die as losers; some will die as winners however, all
go to heaven.
And since it is God’s decision when and how we die, it's his victory.

It's impossible for God to be unfair, to make a mistake or a bad decision. Therefore, when it's your time to die, that is the perfect time for you to die. Your timing may be off in life, but it will never be off in death.

Now, the death of the church age believer includes the manner of his dying, which is a matter of the sovereignty, wisdom, and integrity of God.

God has perfect integrity and perfect wisdom, and therefore he makes a right decision in the case of every believer, whether he is as winner or loser.

and because of the infinite and eternal wisdom of God, he cannot be wrong in determining the time, manner, or place of our death.

We will depart just exactly where, when, and how he determines.

all decisions from the sovereignty of God, including death, are made in perfect righteousness, eternal wisdom, and gracious love.

God is eternal, immutable, and perfect, therefore, his wisdom never makes a mistake in the time, manner, or place of our death.

So, in Christian death, we experience what God has provided for us.

Therefore, the dying and the death of the believer is a matter of the sovereignty of God.

Now, only in the living phase do you have the option to make good decisions from a position of strength which will result in your receiving the most wonderful dying blessings.

then you will be able to say with Paul (phil 1:21), "for me, living is Christ and dying is profit."

Dying is profitable for the believer who advances to spiritual maturity through the perception of bible doctrine.

all decisions with regard to the Christian way of life as to whether we are winners or losers are made by us; these decisions are related to our intake of doctrine.

But our death is not our decision.

the exception to this of course is suicide, which is the blasphemy of superimposing your own will over God’s will, saying you know better than God your time to die.

Psa 31:15 my times are in thy hand;

Once you settle in your mind this very simple principle that God decides perfectly the time and manner of your death, then you no longer have a

problem with death.
So how do you solve the problem with death?

1. Physical death is a matter of the sovereignty of God, Job 1:21, Psa 68:19.

job expressed this in job 1:21, "the lord gave, the lord takes away; blessed be the name of the lord."

In other words, the lord decides!

David expressed this in Psa 68:19, "God is to us a God of deliverance, and to Jehovah the lord belongs escape from death."

Until the lord is ready to take us home to be with himself, we are going to continue to live on planet earth.

And the very moment that the sovereignty of God decides to take us home, nothing will keep us here.

Ecc 8:8 no man has authority to restrain the wind with the wind, or authority over the day of death;

So how do you solve the problem with death?

2. The believer must realize that physical death is precious in the sight of the lord, Psa 116:15.

Psa 116:15 "precious [valuable] in the sight of the lord is the death of his saints."

That refers to all his saints, winners and losers.
The death of any believer is valuable in the eyes of the lord.

The death of the believer is valuable, important, and precious to the lord.

solomon voiced this same principle in Ecc 7:1, a good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth.

So how do you solve the problem with death?

3. The death of every church age believer, both winner and loser, also means to be face to face with the lord, 2co 5:8.

this is described in 2 Cor 5:8, where we are said to be "absent from the body and face to face with the lord."

What is left behind is the biological part of you, your body. You don't need that body any more.
And we have no idea of the perfect happiness that will come to us when we check out of these bodies.

So how do you solve the problem with death?

4. We know that it will be a state of perfect happiness because everything related to your body that can produce pain is gone, rev 21:4.

rev 21:4 "and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes [comfort]; furthermore, there shall no longer be any death,

no longer will there be any mourning, and no more crying, and no more pain; the first things have passed away."

You use your body for mourning, for pain, for many unpleasant things and some pleasant things.

Our resurrection body will have none of these unpleasant things. So how do you solve the problem with death?
5. You accept the fact that death is an appointment with God that all members of the human race have to keep, Heb 9:27!

Heb 9:27 "it is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgment [for the unbeliever]." you will only die once.

Only unbelievers will be judged and cast into the lake of fire. Ecc 3:2 a time to give birth, and a time to die;
How do you solve the problem with death?

6. You realize that death is simply a shadow and a valley to pass through to enter into the eternal state.

david said in ps 23:4, "yea, though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death."

Note "i walk;" not "we walk."

All your life you're accustomed to being herd-bound, having someone to hold your hand.
But in dying you go it alone!

But you have the greatest encouragement in the world, something far greater than anything anyone could say to you: you have the ten problem solving devices and epignosis doctrine in your soul.

How do you solve the problem with death?

7. You realize that death has lost it's power Over believers, isa 25:8, 1Co 15.

isa 25:8 he will swallow up death for all time, and the lord God will wipe tears away from all faces,

1Co 15:16 for if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;

1Co 15:17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.

1Co 15:18 then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

1Co 15:19 if we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

1Co 15:20 but now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.
1Co 15:21 for since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.

1Co 15:22 for as in adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.

1Co 15:23 but each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at his coming,

1Co 15:24 then comes the end, when he delivers up the kingdom to the God and father, when he has abolished all rule and all authority and power.

1Co 15:25 for he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

1Co 15:26 the last enemy that will be abolished is death.

So death has lost its power over believers.

Look at vs 51! 1Co 15:51 behold, i tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1Co 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

1Co 15:53 for this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1Co 15:54 but when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "death is swallowed up in victory.

1Co 15:55 "o death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"

1Co 15:56 the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;

1Co 15:57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 15:58 therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the lord.

So how do you solve the problem with death?

8. The believer also realizes that people have been held in bondage and slavery all their lifetime because of not understanding the victory over death, Heb 2:15.

Heb 2:15 and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

And so having confidence while living will give you confidence while dying.

so the apostle Paul said, 2Ti 4:6 for i am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.

2Ti 4:7 i have fought the good fight, i have finished the course, i have kept the faith;

The dying testimony of the greatest winner in all the church age, the apostle Paul, is found in Phi 1:20.

Phi 1:20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that i shall not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Phi 1:21 for to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Paul knew that he was a winner, and that everything in the future would be the best.

he knew the best is saved until last: dying, death, heaven, resurrection, and the eternal state.

Paul would not be put to shame in dying, in death, in living in heaven, in resurrection, or in living in the eternal state.

Why?

because through epignosis doctrine and advancing to spiritual maturity, Paul came to the realization that God had saved the best for him until last.

We know he had a wonderful life and that's why he said, "for me, living is Christ;"

You can't have a more wonderful life than that!

That is occupation with Christ which equates living with dying and adversity with prosperity; that's the ultimate in happiness.

and "dying is profit" because dying is the beginning of the last, and the last will last forever.

God saves the best for last, to include dying, death, heaven, resurrection, and the eternal state.

There's nothing better!

The dessert, as it were, goes on forever.

Now, why did he say, in vs 20, "Christ is exalted in my body?"

Why didn't he say "Christ is exalted in my soul" where all that metabolized doctrine is?
Or why not "in my human spirit"?

The answer is because the body experiences dying. the last body experience you have is dying.
And Christ is exalted in the body in dying because he chose the time, the place, and manner of that death.

It's all his decision.

For the individual with the ten problem solving devices, it is the most fantastic experience in the world.

It doesn't matter whether it's short or prolonged; Now, death is really very private.
Only you go through the valley of the shadow of death.

and while you're going through it, that epignosis doctrine makes your death very profitable.
It makes your death far, far greater than living!

You may have had a lot of fun in life, but dying will be even more fun. If you like living, you will love dying.
God has saved the best until last.
Those who enjoy living are winners, and love dying, So in dying, God has saved the best until last.
rom 14:8 "for if we live, we live for the lord; or if we die, we die for the lord. Therefore, whether we live or whether we die, we are the lord's."

There is the utilization of one's personal sense of destiny.

Prin-winners utilize the ten problem solving devices of the ppog, both while living and while dying.

The winner enjoys dying because he has accumulated in the living stage a tremendous inventory of bible doctrine.

He has +h while living and +h while dying. Therefore, he loves both living and dying.

He is occupied with Christ while living; he is occupied with Christ while dying.

He has a personal sense of destiny while living, and he has a personal sense of destiny while dying.

He has personal love for God the father while living; he has personal love for God the father while dying.

He has impersonal love for all mankind while living; he has impersonal love for all mankind while dying.

He has grace orientation while living; he has grace orientation while dying.

He has doctrinal orientation while living; he has doctrinal orientation while dying.

He has faith-rest while living; he has faith-rest while dying.

He has the filling of the spirit while living; he has the filling of the spirit while dying.

He uses rebound while living; he uses rebound while dying.
we have now covered four categorical problems in our study of problems and problem solving;

A. Distraction from self and others,
B. Fear and other emotional problems,
C. The problem of rejection.
D. The problem of death.

CHRISTIAN SUFFERING & THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD.

Pastor Robert R. McLaughlin

SEE PDF BOOKLET ATTACHED

HEAVEN ENVISIONED BOOKLET

Pastor Robert R. McLaughlin

“Heaven Envisioned” is a glimpse of our eternal home where all believers will live forever in perfect happiness. Although we cannot comprehend exactly what heaven will be, the Word of God gives us magnificent descriptions of what God has prepared for us, and once we learn what awaits us at our final destination, we will be even more motivated to serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who made it all possible.

COMFORT & CONSULTATION IN DEATH

Pastor Robert R. McLaughlin

McLaughlin Bible Ministries – Consolation and Comfort in Death Grace Bible Church Pastor Robert R. McLaughlin CONSOLATION AND COMFORT IN DEATH IS DEATH A DEPARTURE OR AN END? Dying is a part of life. It is an appointment with God that all members of the human race will have to keep. If you have personally believed in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, 1 Thessalonians 4:13 states that you have a hope that death is not an end but simply a departure from one place to another. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope.1 Regarding the question that has come up concerning what happens to those who have already died and are buried, the apostle Paul says that we don’t want you to be in the dark any longer. First of all, you must not carry on as those people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word or the end. As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you should have tremendous confidence and assurance that death is merely a departure from this life to a life of no more sorrow, no more pain and no more suffering. However, for the unbeliever who has refused to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, his appointment will be at the Great White Throne Judgment, also known as the last Judgment of Christ, prior to being sentenced to the Lake of Fire for all eternity. Revelation 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from Whose presence, earth and Heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; and they were judged, every one according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. The believer, on the other hand, at the time of his death, will meet the Lord Jesus Christ face to face. 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Physical death is an experience that we all must face alone. Just as the spiritual life must be lived individually, so also the journey from life on earth to life in eternity will be unique for each one of us; no two will have the exact same experience or departure. No one can live your life for you and no one can die for you. Apart from the Rapture generation just before the Lord Jesus Christ comes back, all believers will experience physical death. Hebrews 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment; McLaughlin Bible Ministries – Consolation and Comfort in Death Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under Heaven – a time to give birth and a time to die … The Rapture refers to the resurrection of believers who have died during the Church-age, after which those believers alive on earth will be caught up with the newly resurrected believers to meet Christ in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we, who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. The Bible teaches that life is divided into two general categories, living and dying. For the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, the experience of dying can be a glorious occurrence. Whether it is seeing a loved one passing on into the eternal state, or whether it is a personal experience that you have to face yourself, you will have the opportunity to trust in God to the fullest, and you will come to understand that He has saved His greatest blessings for the dying part of life. Therefore, functioning in the plan of God and using the problem solving devices that He has provided are just as important in dying as in living. The person who has been living in the plan of God and utilizing the Word of God is ready to face death. In fact, dying will be his greatest experience. Each believer approaches dying as a winner believer or as a loser believer, as an invisible hero or as one who has shattered his own life. For those who have made good daily decisions in living the Christian life, whose number one priority was the Word of God, the prospect of death will be the ultimate experience, and something to anticipate with joy. For those believers who have rejected God’s plan and have followed their own path, death will not be something to look forward to. Let us learn to live our lives so that we might one day say, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 2 Timothy 4:7. Four Reasons Not to Fear Death 1. The believer’s death is a matter for the sovereignty of God. Once you settle in your mind that God decides perfectly the time and manner of your death, and the time and manner of the death of a loved one, including a child, you will no longer have a problem with it. You may have sorrow for a short period of time but ultimately, if you trust in the character and nature of God, you will know that whatever He does or allows, there is a justified reason for it. Job 1:21 Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Dying is the one part of the Christian’s life that does not depend upon the individual’s free will or his volition; it depends entirely on the sovereignty of God. The timing and manner of death is not a matter for us to decide; nothing will prolong or shorten a believer’s life beyond God’s timing for his death. Psalms 68:20 God is to us a God of deliverances, and to God the Lord belongs escape from death. The believer has no control over the time, place or manner of his death; it is a matter of God’s sovereignty, wisdom and integrity. Until the Lord is ready to take us home to be with Him, we are going to continue to live on this earth. Mankind has no authority or choice over when or how he will die. Ecclesiastes 8:8 No man has authority to restrain the wind with the wind, or authority over the day of death; … McLaughlin Bible Ministries – Consolation and Comfort in Death The dying stage of a Christian’s life may be short or it may be prolonged, it may be a period of suffering or it may be pain free. Whatever it is, it will be perfect because God is perfect and all of His decisions are perfect. He is never wrong, unfair or unjust. Any time you become critical or upset, blaming God for a decision He has made concerning death, take a step back and remember: He is never wrong, He can never make a mistake, and everything that He has ordained is perfect and right. Since the omniscience of God knows all of the facts in each individual case, the matter of the physical death of a believer is always a wise decision. 2. Death has lost its power over the believer. The greatest encouragement in the world that each and every believer should take to heart is the absolute truth that death has lost its power over him. Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, … 1 Corinthians 15:16-26 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Death is simply a shadow and a valley that we must pass through to enter the eternal state. Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Once the believer understands that he is eternally united to the One who has gained the victory over death, the Lord Jesus Christ, he can live in confidence, free from the bondage and slavery that the fear of death causes. Hebrews 2:14-15 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 3. The believer’s death is precious in the eyes of the Lord. The death of every believer, winner or loser, is always valuable and precious in the eyes of the Lord. Even though some will die as losers, all believers go to Heaven, and this is a triumph for God over Satan. Any time a person makes a decision to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, God is glorified, and when that person is brought home there is joy in Heaven. Psalms 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones. This scripture applies to all the saints, both winners and losers. 4. Death means being face to face with the Lord in a state of perfect happiness. At the moment of death, the believer is immediately transported into the presence of the Lord. He leaves behind his physical body, which is no longer needed, and enters into Heaven with his soul, spirit and interim body. McLaughlin Bible Ministries – Consolation and Comfort in Death 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord – for we walk by faith, not by sight – we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Heaven will be a place of perfect happiness and contentment. None of the problems and pressures we face here on earth will follow us there. Our interim bodies will suffer nothing unpleasant; there will be no mourning, no crying, and no pain. Revelation 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” The apostle Paul, in the book of Philippians, stated the attitude we should all have toward death. Philippians 1:20-21 According to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Why did Paul say in verse 20, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body? Why didn’t he say that Christ would be exalted in his soul or his human spirit? The answer is because the body experiences dying, not the soul or spirit. And the death of a believer comes at a time of the Lord’s choosing; it is entirely His decision. Paul knew that he was a spiritual winner. He knew that Christ Jesus had everything under control and that the future would be extraordinary. Paul knew that God saves the best for last, lavishing blessings in dying and death, while making the final preparations for life in Heaven throughout all eternity. Why did Paul have such peace and confidence? Through metabolized doctrine and advancement to spiritual maturity, he came to the realization that God had everything under His total control and was saving the best for last. Paul had lived a wonderful life, absorbed with his relationship and service to the Lord. He was a man in a state of contentment as he stared death in the face; he knew that dying was actually the beginning of a life that would last and endure forever. The loser believer, on the other hand, will face dying as a time of anxiety, worry and fear. There will be no dying grace, and no tranquility of soul or peace of mind. The cosmic Christian is a loser in both life and death. However, the day he dies is still better than the day he was born. He will meet the Lord Jesus Christ face to face, and he will live with Him for eternity. But as the cosmic Christian was a loser in living and dying, he is also a loser in the eternal state, for any greater blessings and rewards will be lost to him forever. How to Deal With the Loss of a Loved One Most people carry great sadness in their soul for friends and loved ones who have died. Though memories are filled with sorrow and compassion, we learn from Bible doctrine that life must go on; God still has a plan and purpose for you, and that includes growing in grace and in knowledge of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You are not abandoning the life of a loved one if you continue to live your life. The first lesson to be learned during this time of loss is to never let your grief turn into resentfulness. True sorrow should remind you of the grace of God and of all the wonderful provisions He has lavished upon us. Use these provisions to grow, and use them to comfort others who are also grieving. It is a time to develop tenderness and compassion for those who have also lost loved ones, especially for widows and widowers who have lost their dearest and most beloved lifetime companion. It is a time to come to understand and rejoice in the fact that your loved one is face to face with God in a place of perfect happiness and contentment. Their journey is complete, they are at home with the Lord, and they have the best of everything. McLaughlin Bible Ministries – Consolation and Comfort in Death Remember that one day you will be reunited with them. This thought alone should be a source of great comfort — knowing that your loved one is now a citizen of Heaven. Life must go on, but this doesn’t mean you should forget your loved one. Instead, it is a chance to cherish the times you shared together, and it is a chance to learn about the grace of God as it relates to physical death. John 14:1-3 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you, for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” The Departure of a Child One of the greatest sorrows is the passing of a small child. The life of an infant or toddler so quickly taken away always raises the question, “Why did God allow the death of such a small child?” We must remember that the death of this child is just a beginning of no more sorrow, no more pain, no more death. And he will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death; there will no longer be mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away, Revelation 21:4. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:57. Because of the substitutionary salvation work of Jesus Christ on the cross, any child or adult who has not reached the point of accountability is automatically saved. King David understood this when he told his servants, after knowing that his son, who was born seven days prior, had died, [He said,] “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” 1 Samuel 12:22-23. It is so important to understand that the child did not die in vain. God had a reason and a purpose for it that only He truly knows and understands. WHY I’ve sat beside a tiny crib and watched a baby die As parents slowly turned toward me to ask, oh Pastor, why? I’ve held the youthful husband’s head and felt death’s sting and sigh A widow looked with tears and said, dear Pastor, tell me why I’ve seen a gold star mother weep and hold a picture nigh Her lonely breast and softly ask, why, oh Pastor, why? I’ve walked away from the cemetery where stillborn babies lie A mother stretches empty arms and asks me, Pastor, why? I watched my drunken father leave our home and say goodbye While I looked into my mother’s face I asked, please tell me why I’ve heard the white tip-tapping cane that leads a blinded eye And then a darkened lonely voice cries, Preacher, show me why I’ve caught a fiancée’s burning tears and heard her lonely cry She held an unused wedding gown and shouted, Oh pastor, why? I’ve heard a cancer patient say, it is gain for me to die Then he looked into his daughter’s face and mutely whispered, why? I’ve seen my mother stand beside two tiny graves and cry And though she never let me know, I know she wondered why I’ve heard an orphan faintly say, who gazed into the sky, McLaughlin Bible Ministries – Consolation and Comfort in Death Though Mom and Dad have gone away, my Preacher will know why I tiptoed to my Father’s throne so timid and so shy To say, Dear God, some of Your own are wanting to know why I heard Him say so tenderly, their eyes I’ll gladly dry Though they must look through faith today, tomorrow they’ll know why If now they find the reason that their hopes have gone awry In Heaven they will miss the joy of hearing Me tell them why And so I found it pleases Him when I can testify I’ll trust my God to do what’s best and wait to find out why (Author Unknown) Another lesson to be learned concerns our relationship with those around us who seek to be a comfort to us. We should never impose our sorrow on others or demand that they remain with us in a state of grief and remorse. We cannot ask our friends to stop living simply because we are carrying a heavy burden; to do so is arrogant. This type of arrogance is called the demand syndrome. It is not right to resent others who seem to be having a good time while we are mourning. We must eventually release friends from any obligation they may feel to share the sorrow we will bear for the rest of our lives. It is not fair for us to cast a shadow of gloom, and then expect all of our friends to enter into it. This is not the way God intended for us to face the death of a loved one. The reason for this is twofold: (1) From the inventory of Bible doctrine, the Word of God in our souls, comes the realization that our loved one is in a state of perfect happiness, regardless of whether they were spiritual winners or losers in the execution of the predesigned plan of God; and (2) We can take comfort in the fact that the Lord loves us very much. He knows everything that we are going through, and He will carry us on to victory. Remember the principle, with your sorrow you have the chance to carry the comforting fragrance of the memories of your loved ones, and with that fragrance you will never resent the laughter and the happiness of those around you. Ecclesiastes 3:4 is an important verse that helps us remember that we do not honor our departed loved ones when we perpetuate grief into abnormality: A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance. The words laugh and dance are used merely to represent social life. The communion table is a great example of what our attitude should be toward those loved ones we have lost to death. When Our Lord said in Luke 22:19, “http://....do this in remembrance of Me,” He was challenging us to remember His life and death without turning it into abnormal grief. This principle is again explained in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26: For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Notice the emphasis on the Lord’s death. We are instructed to call to remembrance His death and what it accomplished for us. We are instructed to remember Him who died for us. Likewise, we can remember loved ones without being arrogant. We can remember them and carry our burden of sorrow without entering into the demand syndrome. We will all carry sorrow one day, but it is not an excuse to carry it in arrogance. Remember this important principle: Your loved ones are McLaughlin Bible Ministries – Consolation and Comfort in Death in Heaven enjoying perfect happiness. They do not want you to have anything less here on earth. In summary, when your heart is broken and others around you are laughing and enjoying life, remember — do not despise or resent them, and do not impose your heavy burden on them. Your sorrow is a private matter between you and the Lord. Your loneliness belongs to you, and it is a tribute to the ones you love who are now in Heaven. Christian virtue does weep with those who weep, and it does rejoice with those who rejoice, but there comes a time when those who weep should be as those who do not weep. Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 1 Corinthians 7:30 And those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; With Bible doctrine as a guide, you can turn the sorrow of a lost loved one into joy and tenderness. This is expected of Christians. There should never be even one moment of bitterness; Jesus Christ has given us the victory over death. The winner believer will not fear dying because he has accumulated a tremendous inventory of Bible doctrine while alive. Just as he used the ten problem solving devices while living, he uses them in his dying days. The problem solving devices include the rebound technique, the filling of the Spirit, the faith-rest drill, grace orientation, doctrinal orientation, a personal sense of destiny, personal love for God the Father, impersonal love for all mankind, +H or sharing the happiness of God, and occupation with Christ as the priority solution to life. Each of these problem solving devices functions in the life of the winner just as much in dying as in living. For the mature believer especially, life goes on centered around the Lord. When we are occupied with Christ, sometimes we laugh, sometimes we cry, but we never have regret. When we are occupied with the Lord, sometimes we are filled with joy, sometimes we are filled with sorrow, but never are we bitter. This attitude allows us to echo the words of Paul in Romans 14:7- 8, For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. ____________________ 1All verses are taken from the New American Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted. Corrected translations by Pastor Robert R. McLaughlin from the original Greek or Hebrew text appear in brackets.