DEATH IS NOT COMPULSORY.

| Spiry Tee

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:27-28).

Too many preachers use the above scripture to insinuate that death is compulsory. They say everyone alive whether a Christian or infidel must and will die. Is this what the Bible says? First, if we look at Bible characters’ experiences, we see folks who bypassed death, tapped into renewal of youth and agelessness. These men knew something about life with God that we must never ignore.

How can they say death is compulsory when Enoch the seventh man from Adam did not die? Was He not born like all of us? It is now revealed in the New Testament that his translation was not a coincidence for Enoch walked with God and had a testimony that He pleased God. “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Hebrews 11:5. This story is featured in God’s hall of faith so that we can learn what faith can do in our lives. By faith in God and our Lord Jesus Christ you can snub the grave.

We also see Elijah who was taken alive by a whirlwind into heaven. “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” 2Kings 2:11). Our very own Master Jesus came back to life and ascended into heaven with His flesh and bones, He did not see corruption. We have too much evidence to the authenticity of the message of life and victory over death.

The context of Hebrews chapter nine is the comparison of the ministry of Jesus as our High priest and the Old Testament priestly ministry. In the Old Covenant the high priest entered the most holy once every year with blood of bulls and goats to offer for his own sins and that of others. So if Jesus was like them, He would have suffered again and again since the blood of the new covenant was His own. God in His wisdom brought Jesus to die ONCE and for all. And since man is appointed to die once, and face judgment, so Christ died our death once as He should. This scripture, in no way does it depict that every Christian must die and face the judgment.

Again remember if you believe in Jesus, you shall not enter into condemnation but you have passed from death into life. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24). So Hebrews 9:27 is not referring to the man in Christ. 

Jesus took our appointment with death according to prophecy. “This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD. For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; to hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;” (Psalm 102:18-20). You were appointed to die once and face the judgment but now in Christ that appointment with death and judgment has been fulfilled. Isn’t this amazing?

SPEAK LIFE

My appointment with death and judgment was fulfilled by my Savior Jesus Christ. Death is no longer compulsory for me. I now stand in the realm of life where death has no claim over me.