Death by the Numbers

Psalm 90:10-12

 Introduction

1.    Longest funeral – 40 years

2.    Began at Kadesh-Barnea – ended at River Jordan

3.    There would have been an average of 80 – 90 funerals per day

4.    Our funeral march begins at birth and ends at death.

 ONE DEFINITION / FOUR VIEWS

1.    Death = end of life on this earth

2.    Death = separation of flesh and spirit

3.    Four common views of death

a.    Cycling and recycling – Buddhists and New Age - reincarnation

b.    Continuation of life – Hindu - enter a mushroom or animal – transmigration of soul – India may come back as a cow

c.    Cessation of life – Sadducees, no after life, this life is all there is

d.    Transition to afterlife – Biblical view

 TWO DEATHS / FOUR COMBINATIONS

1.    Bible is clear – there are two different deaths

a.    Physical death – separation of soul from body

b.    Spiritual death – separation from God

2.    Four combinations

a.    Alive / Dead – 1 Timothy 5:6

b.    Alive / Alive – at conversion

c.    Dead / Dead – the sinner at physical death

d.    Dead / Alive – the Christian at physical death

 THREE EXCEPTIONS / NO EXEMPTIONS

1.    Enoch – Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5

2.    Elijah – 2 Kings 2:11

3.    One remains – those alive when Jesus comes – 1 Thessalonians 4:17

4.    There are no exemptions from death

a.    Job 30:23

b.    Ecclesiastes 8:8

c.    Hebrews 9:27

d.    Romans 5:12

 From tract by Allen Webster