Dealing with death
(Unsplash photo)
Several of us have been dealing with more death issues than usual recently.
A few weeks ago my wife and I attended the funeral of my geographically nearest relative. She was a smoker and basically died of lung cancer. She would have been 85 this week. That said, she had long been my favorite relative outside my immediate family, and according to some of her children, she felt the same way about me. Anyway, she was nominally Roman Catholic and at the funeral the priest mentioned places like purgatory, which, of course, does not exist (see also Did the Early Church Teach Purgatory?). Purgatory was essentially a replacement for what early Christians believed after the Roman Catholic Church dropped the teaching of apocatastasis (see also Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation).
Last week, the troubled (cf. Acts 9:5) Aleksandar ‘Sasha’ Veljic died (see Aleksandar ‘Sasha’ Veljic died). I have known of him since 1994 and started communicating with him directly since about 2015. After leaving WCG, Sasha was once part of UCG, then COG aic, then independent, then CCOG, and then left to become the leader of ‘Hope of Israel.’
This week, the niece of a member died. I did not know her, but the member I have known for some time. She also lost her sister a few years ago.
Then there are wars and deaths impacting people in many lands including Israel, Gaza, Russia, Ukraine, the Congo, Somalia, Haiti, etc.
Furthermore, yesterday, a cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge and reportedly six people likely died (see Francis Scott Key Bridge collapses, government rules out terrorism, former general won’t).
Strangely, also yesterday, my wife received notification that a younger dear friend had been killed in an automobile accident by a drunk driver. What was strange was:
- My wife received notification when the most recent post at the COGwriter Church of God News site was: ‘Expect that you will see deep fake ads, social media posts, and links’.
- My wife later found out that this accident did not happen, her friend was alive, and somebody put out a fake post on social media.
Now as far as death goes, I recently made a post titled: Why Do Christian People Die?
The webmaster (Gary Leonard) at the anti-COG site Banned by HWA posted against what that article scripturally teaches.
And while he despises the late Herbert W. Armstrong, he posted the following suggesting that I contradicted him on death:
HWA made a statement I remember, something about: “no, death is not a friend, but an enemy!”
And Bob’s article too many times cites death as being “welcome” or logical or needed or well-timed, & not even HWA would refer to death as a “friend”.
But the article does have the following:
The Bible teaches:
1 The righteous perishes,
And no man takes it to heart;
Merciful men are taken away,
While no one considers
That the righteous is taken away from evil.
2 He shall enter into peace;
They shall rest in their beds,
Each one walking in his uprightness. (Isaiah 57:1-2)Notice that when God’s people die, they rest. As other scriptures show, death is like sleep.
Why do they die when they do?
Because they die when it is best for them. …
The New Testament teaches:
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
All things would include death.
Notice also:
13 The Lord looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men.
14 From the place of His dwelling He looks
On all the inhabitants of the earth;
15 He fashions their hearts individually;
He considers all their works. (Psalm 33:13-15)God considers all our works and has all work together best for us.
Because of that, it has long been my view that God has people die when it is spiritually best for them as well as for those who knew the deceased.
God is love (1 John 4:8,16).
What God does and allows is ALWAYS motivated by love–EVEN IF WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT (cf. Isaiah 55:8-9).
Love is why He sent Jesus to die for us:
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
The truth is that people die when it is best for them.
Does that contradict what Herbert W. Armstrong wrote?
No.
The quote from the Banned by HWA site actually comes from the 12th chapter of Herbert Armstrong’s book The Incredible Human Potential.
No, death is not a friend, but an ENEMY! Christ came to DESTROY DEATH — to make a happy, peaceful, abundant life possible for all — for each in his own due time. He came that we might have LIFE, “and have it more abundantly.”
There most certainly is life after death — and Christ made possible a transcendent human potential so great it seems incredible. He came to DIE in our stead — to pay the penalty we have incurred for us, and to GIVE US LIFE!
Christ Himself taught that there is LIFE AFTER DEATH.
Herbert Armstrong taught that Christians will have life after death “for each in his own due time.”
Which means?
While he did not directly teach it, his writings support that truth that people die at the time it is best for them.
The truth about the timing of death has been restored in the Continuing Church of God.
Last Sabbath, Steve Dupuie and I did a video which is the recommended sermonette for the week:
Why Do People Die?
What does the Bible teach about death? Why do people die? Do all die in Adam? Are the wages of sin death? What is sin? Why do righteous people die? Are people who are dead suffering or are they merely sleeping in their graves awaiting the resurrection? Did Jesus die so we can live again? Is there a time to die? Do people die at the time it is best for them as well as others affected by their death? Does this have biblical support? Is death one of “all things that work together for good”? Can death be a form of correction and/or and end of suffering from God? What about the second death? If we are to be resurrected, why die in the first place? Can this mortal put on immortality and this corruptible put on incorruption? What about love and John 3:16? Is there really a glorious eternity ahead? Should we be comforted by prophecies of Jesus’ return and the resurrection? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these matters.
Here is a link to our video: Why Do People Die?
In that video I read and stated the following:
The New Testament teaches:
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
All things would include death.
Steve Dupuie commented that he had not considered that verse that way, but because since God said it and God is not a liar, it must be so.
What must be so?
People die at the time that it is best for them.
So, while there is sorrow with the sting of death, we need to understand that God really does have a plan and that God’s plan is best.
There are resurrections after death (Revelation 20:4-13) and Christians are to be comforted by that per 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
Do not let the death of people dissuade you as the Bible also teaches that death will be destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:26) and there will be “no more death, nor sorrow, or crying” (Revelation 21:4).
More on God’s loving plan can be found in the free online book: The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You?
Those interested in early Christianity may wish to check out the following to learn more:
What Happens After Death? Is death like sleep, or is that a cultic idea? Can you speak to the dead? Here is a link to a related sermon: What really happens after death?
A Better Resurrection Is it better to be called now? Is it better to be Philadelphian? Here is a link to a related sermon: The Better Resurrection.
What Did Early Christians Understand About the Resurrections? Is there more than one future resurrection? Did early Christians teach a physical resurrection? Did early Christians teach three resurrections? Here is a link to a related sermon: Understanding the Resurrections.
The Second Death The New Testament speaks of something called the “second death.” Who will be subject to it? How does it end? Here is a link to a related sermon: First death, Second death.
Study the Bible Course Lesson 15: What is “Hell”? What are the different words translated as “hell” in English? Does Gehenna mean something different than Hades. What happens? What about worms dying not?
Are The Wicked Tormented Forever or Burned Up? How does one explain Revelation 14:11 in light of Malachi 4:3? What happens to the incorrigibly wicked?
Did Early Christians Teach They Were Going to Heaven? What do the Bible and scholars teach? What about ‘near-death experiences’? Here is a link to a related sermon: Heaven and Christianity. A shorter video is Dante Aligheri’s Inferno, Heaven, and The Real Hope.
Did Early Christians Believe that Humans Possessed Immortality? What does John 3:16, and other writings, tell us? Did a doctrine kept adopted from paganism? Here is a YouTube video titled Are humans immortal?
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection; here is a message in Spanish: Me Está Llamando Dios Hoy? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Will all get a fair chance at salvation? This free book is packed with scriptures showing that God does intend to offer salvation to all who ever lived–the elect in this age, and the rest in the age to come. Here is a link to a related sermon series: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair?, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.
The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You? This free online book helps answers some of the biggest questions that human have, including the biblical meaning of life. Here is a link to three related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan, Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan, Mystery of Race, and The Mystery of YOU. Here is a link to two videos in Spanish: El Misterio del Plan de Dios and El Misterio de Satanás, el Misterio de la Verdad, el Misterio del Reposo.
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