The Bible mentions two types of death. There is spiritual death and physical death. Spiritual death consist of two layers. Spiritual death due to Adam's sin and then final death, or separation from God, which is called the second death. The first death took place when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden. Adam died spiritually the moment he sinned thus spiritual death was passed from Adam into mankind because Adam and Eve sired the entire human race. According to spiritual law everything shall bring forth after its own likeness and after it's own kind. Because Adam and Eve were spiritually dead and conceived humanity in a fallen state (their spirits were dead and separated from God) all of their offspring and descendants were also born into this world spiritually dead. This includes the entirety of humanity.
Most people will pass through physical death in order to get to judgment. Some people will not see physical death because they will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air when the rapture occurs.
I will start out by talking about death first, or in the case of those who pass from this life to the next believing that Jesus died for their sins, the Bible says they merely fall asleep.
Sin must be judged. There is coming a time when every human being will have to give an account for their sins. God sent Jesus to die for the sins of the world. Whoever believes and accepts Jesus's blood for the atonement for their sins will be saved from the penalty of sin, which is eternal death. Once eternal judgment is passed upon an individual there is no coming back from it. A person chooses their own destiny by either accepting or rejecting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Death Number 1 - Adams sin in the Garden of Eden. Initial separation of man from God. A person is capable of horrendous deeds in this state. A dark and dead spirit, a mind that isn't renewed, and a fleshy nature with hardly any restraints, adds up to potential for some horrible things.
Death Number 2 - Physical death - We die physically because of Adams failure in the Garden of Eden. Spiritual death led to physical death.
Death Number 3 (Also known as the Second Death) - Eternal Separation From God - The Lake of Fire - Everlasting Punishment - Eternal Damnation - Worm That Never Dies - Fire That Is Not Quenched - Outer Darkness
The Fall of Adam - Death Number 1 - Also called the first death.
Genesis 2:15-17 KJV
(15) And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
(16) And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
(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.
- God forewarns Adam that if he eats from the tree of knowledge of good and evil that he would SURELY DIE.
- Adam died spiritually the moment that he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. THIS IS THE FIRST DEATH !!!!!
- Adam didn't die physically until he was 930yrs old.
Genesis 5:5 KJV
(5) And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
Genesis 3:1-12 KJV
(1) Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
(2) And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
(3) But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
(4) And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
(5) For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
(6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
(7) And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
(8) And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
(9) And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
(10) And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
(11) And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
(12) And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
The devil saw fit to use the serpent because the serpent was already cunning and crafty.
- First - The Devil brought question to the Word of God. Verse 1
- Second - Eve added on to Gods word. God never said you couldn't touch it. Verse 3
- Third - The Devil made a direct contradiction to the Word of God. Verse 4
- Forth - The Devil put a twist on the Word of God. He told them they would be like God, knowing good and evil.
- Fifth - Eve was sucked in by the works of the flesh.
a. It was good for food. Although they had a garden full of trees they could have eaten of.
b. It was pleasant to the eyes. It looked good.
c. It would make one wise.
- Sixth and most important - Adam just partook because Eve told him to. Then he blames Eve for his failure.
Although they both were in transgression the fall of mankind is directly related to Adams disobedience.
Romans 5:12-21 KJV
(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.
(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.
(16) And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
(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.)
(18) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
(19) For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
(20) Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
(21) That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
- We are not sinners because of what we do. We are sinners because Adams fall made us that way.
1 Corinthians 15:13-23 KJV
(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.
- We have another scripture explaining how Adam's fall affected all of humanity. Verse 22 says that "in Adam all die"
Romans 5:12-21 KJV
(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.
(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.
(16) And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
(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.)
(18) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
(19) For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
(20) Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
(21) That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
- By one man, (that man is Adam), sin entered into the world and because of Adam's transgression death came upon us all. That is spiritual death and physical death. Verse 12
- Because of Adam's disobedience all of humanity were made sinners. God had a fix for Adam's sin that messed us all up and that fix came in the way of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, that took away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
- Jesus paid the price for all of humanity but each individual must accept what He did for them when he shed his sinless blood for the atonement for their sins.
- Unless a person accepts the fact that Jesus died for their sins, and paid the price for their sins they will have to pay the full penalty for their transgressions.
One of the things that must be distinguished when we talk about the resurrection, is that everyone is not actually dead or have actually died. Those who's bodies have died in Christ is most accurately described as haven "fallen asleep"
God is not the God of death, but the God of life. In God, in Jesus, in the Holy Spirit there is no death, but outside of God there is total destruction and total death.
Those who transition in Christ are asleep, not dead. Their physical bodies are asleep in the earth.
Daniel 12:2 KJV
(2) And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
- God knows where every molecule is that constituted every persons physical body. At the time of the resurrection every molecule will be brought together and the physical body of each individual will be reconstituted. After that, their spirit will re-enter the body and they will be restored to a single unit and brought back to life. The resurrected person will again change states, this time as a single unit. Body, soul, and spirit joined together once again.
- Some will go into everlasting life and others into everlasting damnation.
In John 11:25-26 Jesus is talking about the first resurrection and the rapture of the Church.
John 11:1-16 KJV
(1) Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
(2) (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
(3) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
(4) When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
(5) Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
(6) When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
(7) Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
(8) His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
(9) Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
(10) But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
(11) These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
(12) Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
(13) Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
(14) Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
(15) And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
(16) Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
(17) Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
(18) Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
(19) And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
(20) Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
(21) Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
(22) But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
(23) Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
(24) Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
(25) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
(26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
(27) She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
- In John 1:11 - Jesus describes Lazarus as being asleep, not dead.
Matthew 9:18-26 KJV
(18) While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
(19) And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
(20) And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
(21) For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
(22) But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
(23) And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
(24) He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
(25) But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
(26) And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
- In verse 24 Jesus says the maid is not dead, but asleep.
Matthew 22:23-33 KJV
(23) The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
(24) Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
(25) Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
(26) Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
(27) And last of all the woman died also.
(28) Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
(29) Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
(30) For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
(31) But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
(32) I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
(33) And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
- God is the God of the living, not the God of the dead. Those, in Christ, whose physical bodies are in the ground are actually sleeping. They are NOT DEAD at all. The bodies of those who died in their sins are actually dead and not asleep.
Mark 12:18-27 KJV
(18) Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
(19) Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
(20) Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
(21) And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.
(22) And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
(23) In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
(24) And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
(25) For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
(26) And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
(27) He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
Matthew 27:45-56 KJV
(45) Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
(46) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
(47) Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
(48) And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
(49) The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
(50) Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
(51) And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
(52) And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
(53) And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
(54) Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
(55) And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
(56) Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV
(13) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
(14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
(15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
(16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
(17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
(18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
- Verse 13 and 14 says that they are "sleep".
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 KJV
(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.
- Verse 6 says "some are fallen asleep."
1 Corinthians 15:13-23 KJV
(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.
There are two resurrections.
1. The resurrection of life
2. The resurrection of damnation
John 5:29 KJV
(29) And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
- Every person that is dead or sleeping will be resurrected. Some to life, most to damnation.
Revelation 20:4-6 KJV
(4) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
(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.
- The first resurrection lasts from the rapture of the church all the way through the tribulation period. They were executed because the didn't worship the beast or his image and they didn't receive his mark in their right hands or foreheads.
Matthew 22:23-33 KJV
(23) The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
(24) Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
(25) Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
(26) Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
(27) And last of all the woman died also.
(28) Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
(29) Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
(30) For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
(31) But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
(32) I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
(33) And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
- There won't be any sexual relations when we are resurrected. Reproduction as we know it today will cease to exist.
Luke 20:27-40 KJV
(27) Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,
(28) Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
(29) There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
(30) And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.
(31) And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.
(32) Last of all the woman died also.
(33) Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.
(34) And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
(35) But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
(36) Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
(37) Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
(38) For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
(39) Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.
(40) And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.
- There won't be any reproductive things going on after the resurrection.
Luke 14:12-14 KJV
(12) Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
(13) But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
(14) And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
- Another reference to the resurrection of those that are saved.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV
(13) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
(14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
(15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
(16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
(17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
(18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
- Another reference to those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior are merely sleep and not dead.
Every person will be resurrected. It is a matter of being resurrected to life or resurrected to death. Make the correct choice, you know what it is.