BR_Death

A living Adamic person is created when the breath of life ("spirit") is infused into a body formed from the dust of the ground:

Gen 2:7 - And {Yahweh} the {mighty one} formed {Adam} of the dust of the ground, and

breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and {Adam} became a living {person}.

The death of an Adamic person is the exact reversal of the preceding creation of life, and consists in the separation of the spirit from the body, with the subsequent disintegration of the body:

Eccles 12:7 - Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto the

Death results in the complete extinction of the person -- with no surviving physical or conscious existence whatsoever. The person who dies ceases to exist. To be sure, he is scheduled to be resurrected at some time in the future, but until that time arrives, he has no conscious existence.

[12] So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be

[14] If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change

[15] Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

[21] His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth

Psalms 6:5 - For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

Psalms 115:17 - The dead praise not {Yahweh}, neither any that go down into silence.

[5] For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they

[6] Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any

more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

Eccles 9:10 - Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor

device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Isaiah 38:18 - For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down

Proof: Since a dead person has no conscious existence, he is incapable of any form of

(2) The Dead cannot experience any form of pleasure or of pain and suffering.

Proof: Following death, and prior to the restoration of life by the resurrection, the Dead have no

conscious existence, and are therefore incapable of experiencing pleasure or pain and suffering.

(3) The doctrine of Purgatory is false, as it contradicts the biblical doctrine of death.

Proof: The Church of Rome teaches the existence of a Purgatory, where the Dead remain for a

period of time, being purified by suffering terrible pain, in atonement for their sins. However, no

such place can possibly exist, since the Dead, having lost all conscious existence in death, are

incapable of suffering or experiencing any pain whatsoever. For this reason, and for other

scriptural arguments not considered in this brief, the doctrine of Purgatory must be rejected as

(4) The doctrine of Hell is false, as it contradicts the biblical doctrine of death.

Proof: The Church of Rome, and certain other confessions, teach the existence of a Hell -- a

terrible place of continuous pain and suffering --, where those who, in the Last Judgment having

been condemned to the Second Death, are imprisoned and tormented for all eternity. However, no

such place can possibly exist, since the condemned Dead, having, for the second time, lost all

conscious existence in death -- the Second Death -- are incapable of suffering or experiencing any

pain whatsoever. They have ceased to exist. For this reason, and for other scriptural arguments

not considered in this brief, the doctrine of Hell must be rejected as irreconcilable with biblical

truth. It will be noted by the reader that the word "hell" does not occur in the present corrected

KJV, as it was proven to be a mistranslation of the Hebrew and Greek source words; this matter

being taken up in detail, in two related briefs which are shortly to follow. Hell can not, and does

(5) The dead person has no awareness of time elapsed between his death and his resurrection.

Proof: Without a conscious existence, there can be no awareness of the passage of time.

Therefore, it will seem to every person that his own resurrection occurred immediately following

his death, without any elapse of time, even though he may have been dead for a thousand years.

All of us have experienced a loss of awareness of elapsed time in normal sleep, and on occasion

where our normal consciousness has been temporarily suspended, either by (a) anesthesia in

surgery; or (b) by loss of consciousness in a severe accident.

Proof: The scriptural verses cited above have established that a person who dies is utterly

extinguished, losing all conscious existence, and does not go anywhere. He will eventually be

resurrected; will resume his conscious powers; will be judged; and will proceed either to eternal life

in the kingdom of heaven, or to the lake of fire and the Second Death, ceasing to exist for all

eternity. In this latter case, the condemned will perish in the lake of fire, and he will experience no

further suffering beyond that point. This conclusion is also required by the scriptural doctrine that

(7) Prayer to supposed "saints in heaven" is contrary to scripture, and must be rejected.

Proof: In this context, "saints" are those persons who have died an apparently "holy" death, having

successfully availed themselves of the glorious salvation and redemption of the Saviour, and who,

upon eventual resurrection, will, it is expected, be judged worthy of eternal life. However, holy or

not, they are still just as dead as if they had lived a wicked life, and are just as devoid of all

conscious existence. They are, therefore, utterly incapable of any form of communication,

including hearing prayers from the living. There can, therefore, be absolutely no praying to the

supposed "saints in heaven," on the grounds mentioned here, as well as on other weighty scriptural

(8) Dead "saints" do not make prophesies, nor work miracles for anyone.

Proof: To make prophecies, or work miracles, it is a first prerequisite of the "saint" that he be in

firm possession of conscious existence. But if he is dead, the scriptures guarantee that he has no

conscious existence whatever. Therefore, we shall have to assign the supposed prophesies and

miracles to someone other that the dead "saints" with whom we thought that we were

communicating. Dead "saints" can not, and do not, prophesy and work miracles.

(9) The doctrine of the "immortal soul" is false, and repudiated by the scriptures.

Proof: The above-cited scriptures establish that death consists in the dissolution of the person,

with the loss of all conscious existence. No personal identity survives death. We cannot find in the

scriptures any such thing as an "immortal soul" that defies and survives death. The first deceiver

to teach the immortality of the "soul" was Satan, contradicting Yahweh in speaking to Eve:

Gen 3:4 - And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.

The "immortal soul" cannot be reconciled with the scriptures, and therefore does not exist.

The scriptures teach that death is the total extinction of life, resulting in the loss of all conscious existence, and disintegration of the body. Nine practical consequences of this doctrine were enumerated above, contrary to unscriptural beliefs and practices common among many of the Christian faithful.




	Death Defined by Bible


		Death: Scriptural Doctrine and Consequences INTRODUCTION. A living Adamic person is created when the breath of life ("spirit") is infused into a body formed from the dust of the ground: Gen 2:7 - And {Yahweh} the {mighty one} formed {Adam} of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and {Adam} became a living {person}. DEFINITION OF DEATH. The death of an Adamic person is the exact reversal of the preceding creation of life, and consists in the separation of the spirit from the body, with the subsequent disintegration of the body: Eccles 12:7 - Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto the {mighty one} who gave it. CONDITION OF THE DEAD. Death results in the complete extinction of the person -- with no surviving physical or conscious existence whatsoever. The person who dies ceases to exist. To be sure, he is scheduled to be resurrected at some time in the future, but until that time arrives, he has no conscious existence. Job 14: 12, 14-15, 21 [12] So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. [14] If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. [15] Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. [21] His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them. Psalms 6:5 - For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? Psalms 115:17 - The dead praise not {Yahweh}, neither any that go down into silence. Eccles 9:5-6 [5] For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. [6] Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. Eccles 9:10 - Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. Isaiah 38:18 - For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. CONSEQUENCES OF THE ABOVE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF DEATH. (1) Communication with the Dead is impossible. Proof: Since a dead person has no conscious existence, he is incapable of any form of communication. (2) The Dead cannot experience any form of pleasure or of pain and suffering. Proof: Following death, and prior to the restoration of life by the resurrection, the Dead have no conscious existence, and are therefore incapable of experiencing pleasure or pain and suffering. (3) The doctrine of Purgatory is false, as it contradicts the biblical doctrine of death. Proof: The Church of Rome teaches the existence of a Purgatory, where the Dead remain for a period of time, being purified by suffering terrible pain, in atonement for their sins. However, no such place can possibly exist, since the Dead, having lost all conscious existence in death, are incapable of suffering or experiencing any pain whatsoever. For this reason, and for other scriptural arguments not considered in this brief, the doctrine of Purgatory must be rejected as irreconcilable with biblical truth. (4) The doctrine of Hell is false, as it contradicts the biblical doctrine of death. Proof: The Church of Rome, and certain other confessions, teach the existence of a Hell -- a terrible place of continuous pain and suffering --, where those who, in the Last Judgment having been condemned to the Second Death, are imprisoned and tormented for all eternity. However, no such place can possibly exist, since the condemned Dead, having, for the second time, lost all conscious existence in death -- the Second Death -- are incapable of suffering or experiencing any pain whatsoever. They have ceased to exist. For this reason, and for other scriptural arguments not considered in this brief, the doctrine of Hell must be rejected as irreconcilable with biblical truth. It will be noted by the reader that the word "hell" does not occur in the present corrected KJV, as it was proven to be a mistranslation of the Hebrew and Greek source words; this matter being taken up in detail, in two related briefs which are shortly to follow. Hell can not, and does not, exist. (5) The dead person has no awareness of time elapsed between his death and his resurrection. Proof: Without a conscious existence, there can be no awareness of the passage of time. Therefore, it will seem to every person that his own resurrection occurred immediately following his death, without any elapse of time, even though he may have been dead for a thousand years. All of us have experienced a loss of awareness of elapsed time in normal sleep, and on occasion where our normal consciousness has been temporarily suspended, either by (a) anesthesia in surgery; or (b) by loss of consciousness in a severe accident. (6) No one dies and "goes right to heaven." Proof: The scriptural verses cited above have established that a person who dies is utterly extinguished, losing all conscious existence, and does not go anywhere. He will eventually be resurrected; will resume his conscious powers; will be judged; and will proceed either to eternal life in the kingdom of heaven, or to the lake of fire and the Second Death, ceasing to exist for all eternity. In this latter case, the condemned will perish in the lake of fire, and he will experience no further suffering beyond that point. This conclusion is also required by the scriptural doctrine that the punishment of sin is death -- not eternal suffering. (7) Prayer to supposed "saints in heaven" is contrary to scripture, and must be rejected. Proof: In this context, "saints" are those persons who have died an apparently "holy" death, having successfully availed themselves of the glorious salvation and redemption of the Saviour, and who, upon eventual resurrection, will, it is expected, be judged worthy of eternal life. However, holy or not, they are still just as dead as if they had lived a wicked life, and are just as devoid of all conscious existence. They are, therefore, utterly incapable of any form of communication, including hearing prayers from the living. There can, therefore, be absolutely no praying to the supposed "saints in heaven," on the grounds mentioned here, as well as on other weighty scriptural grounds not within the scope of this brief. (8) Dead "saints" do not make prophesies, nor work miracles for anyone. Proof: To make prophecies, or work miracles, it is a first prerequisite of the "saint" that he be in firm possession of conscious existence. But if he is dead, the scriptures guarantee that he has no conscious existence whatever. Therefore, we shall have to assign the supposed prophesies and miracles to someone other that the dead "saints" with whom we thought that we were communicating. Dead "saints" can not, and do not, prophesy and work miracles. (9) The doctrine of the "immortal soul" is false, and repudiated by the scriptures. Proof: The above-cited scriptures establish that death consists in the dissolution of the person, with the loss of all conscious existence. No personal identity survives death. We cannot find in the scriptures any such thing as an "immortal soul" that defies and survives death. The first deceiver to teach the immortality of the "soul" was Satan, contradicting Yahweh in speaking to Eve: Gen 3:4 - And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die. The "immortal soul" cannot be reconciled with the scriptures, and therefore does not exist. CONCLUSION. The scriptures teach that death is the total extinction of life, resulting in the loss of all conscious existence, and disintegration of the body. Nine practical consequences of this doctrine were enumerated above, contrary to unscriptural beliefs and practices common among many of the Christian faithful. Dr. R. P. Carroll 01/24/2006