1. What is death?

 "I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better." - Philippians 1, 23.

 Temporal death is not an annihilation of man, but is the end of man's temporal life brought by the separation of his immortal soul from his mortal body.

2. What is the cause of death?

 "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." - Genesis 2, 17.

 The cause of temporal death is not that man was originally created mortal or that the matter of which man's body consists is in its very nature perishable.  The Bible directly says "The wages of sin is death."  All calamities, such as pestilence, storm, famine, flood, war are the instrumental causes of death, that do not in themselves bring about the destruction of life.

3. Who is subject to death?

 "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." - Romans 5, 12.

 The Bible teaches plainly that all descendants of Adam are subject to death.  The only way in which sinful man can be freed from death is through faith in Christ, "who hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light." - 2 Timothy 1, 10.

4. How does the Bible describe the death of the wicked?

 "When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth." - Proverbs 11, 7.

 The temporal death of the wicked is a consequence and punishment of sin.  It also leads the soul, spiritually dead, into eternal death.

5. How does the Bible describe the death of believers?

 "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." - Philippians 1, 21.

 "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." - Revelation 14, 13.

 Although the temporal death of believers is also a consequence of sin, it is no longer a punishment for sin; rather, it is the end of sinning in this life, and the passing from a spiritual life of faith and hope into eternal life of perfect bliss with God.

6. Will all men have to face physical death?

 "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." - 1 Corinthians 15, 51.

 "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.  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." - 1 Thessalonians 4, 15 and 17.

 The Bible definitely teaches that one generation of man will live to witness Christ's second coming.

7. Where is man's soul between death and the resurrection?

 "He went and preached unto the spirits in prison." - 1 Saint Peter 3, 19.

 "In hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy one me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." - Saint Luke 16, 23 and 24.

 The souls of the ungodly after death and before resurrection are "spirits in prison," where they suffer painful and endless torments.  Death leads them directly into everlasting anguish and agony.

 "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better." - Philippians 1, 23.

 "Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise." - Saint Luke 23, 43.

 "I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." - Revelation 14, 13.

 On the other hand, Scripture assures us that the souls of the godly are in God's hands, that they are with Christ in paradise and that they are supremely happy.  The souls of the believers are in a condition of perfect blessedness and the constant enjoyment of God.

 Test Paper - Lesson 25

1. Is the following statement true or false? "As he was originally created, man was immortal and therefore live forever." ....................................

2. Complete the following Bible passage: "The wages of sin is ......................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................." - Romans 6, 23.

3. What is the cause of death? .......................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

4. What is the difference between death of the believer and the unbeliever? ...................................
...................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................

5. Is it true that some people will still be living at the time of Christ's Second Coming? .................

6. Where are the souls of the ungodly after death and before resurrection? ....................................

7. Where are the souls of the believers after death and before resurrection? ...................................

8. Complete the following Bible passage: "For me to live ..............................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................." - Philippians 1, 21.

9. Complete the following Bible passage: "Blessed are the dead ....................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................." - Revelation 14, 13.

10. What is the only way in which men can be freed from death? ...................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

Make every effort to fill in the answers from memory.  If you are not sure of certain answers, you may look them up in the lesson.  Your paper will be graded according to the following standard: 10 correct: perfect; 9 correct: excellent; 8 correct: very good; 7 correct: good.