1032. What Occurs at a Christian's Death?

What Occurs at a Christian's Death?

"Present (at home) with the Lord" (2Co_5:8)

In order to understand more fully the significance of physical death, we will consider five distinctive statements as to what occurs when the believer dies.

1. There is a putting off of this tabernacle. 2Pe_1:13 : "Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me." The Apostle Peter had been told of the Lord that he would die, and in speaking of this he reckons it as laying aside his earthly tabernacle,–the body in which he had dwelt for a number of years. This is always true in death. The tabernacle is laid aside.

2. There is an unclothing. 2Co_5:4 : "For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life." In 2 Corinthians 5, we have the same tabernacle as in 2 Peter 1; but here death is spoken of as an unclothing of the spirit. The spirit is said to be "naked," in 2Pe_1:3; that is, when disembodied the spirit exists; but it exists separate from the body. The body was its earthly habitation; through the body the spirit manifested itself, upon the earth. In death, the spirit is unclothed, but it waits to be clothed upon at the coming of the Lord.

3. There is a sleep. 1Th_4:15 : "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."

1Th_5:10 : "Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him."

Act_7:60 : "And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

Joh_11:11 : "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."

1Co_15:51 : "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed."

In all of the passages above, the believer is spoken of as being asleep, in Jesus. The Word does not mean "non-existent." It is, however, suggestive of rest and of peace. The one who is dead has rested from his labors, his toils, and his strife. He is asleep in the sense that he is at rest with the Lord.

4. There is an exodus. 2Pe_1:15 : "Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance."

(1) The Apostle Peter said: "Until my exodus." He uses here the very same word which was used on the Mount of Transfiguration, in Luk_9:31, where the Word reads that Moses and Elias met with Christ and talked of His "exodus." If we want to know the meaning of the word "exodus" we can find it again in Heb_11:22, where it says: "By faith Joseph, when dying made mention of the departure (or exodus) of the children of Israel." The second Book of the Bible is called Exodus, because it is the Book of the going out of the children of Israel. Death is a "going out."

5. There is a departure. Php_1:23 says: "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ; which is far better." In this passage the Apostle Paul may have been thinking of a ship, tied to its mooring, abiding at the cable. Paul urges that the untying of the cable and the departure of the ship is far better. Tennyson's "Evening Bells" is appropriate here:

"Twilight and evening bell,

And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

When I embark;

For though from out our bourne of time and peace

The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

When I have crossed the bar."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR