Who “Will Never See Death”?

Biblegems #271

Question: In John 8:51 Jesus says: "... if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." Jesus must mean something other than death literally, so why doesn’t He just say what He means, or else explain why He uses “death” figuratively?

Jesus is not using the word “death” figuratively. Rather, He redefines the word to help us see what death really is, from God’s perspective, as opposed to the distorted human understanding of death. To do so He still uses our common vocabulary, yet reinterprets the term by applying it differently.

For example, a carpenter points to an assortment of lumber stacked in piles according to their relative size (2” X 4”, 1” X 3”, 4’ X 8’) and tells his newbie apprentice to go get a full sheet. The apprentice does not know that a “full sheet” refers to standard 4’ X 8’ plywood. Once the carpenter clears up the confusion, the apprentice has a new frame of reference for the word “sheet.”

From the human point of view, “death” typically means that a living biological organism as ceased to function. Since it no longer lives biologically, we say it has died. Interestingly, we can also say that something non-biological has died, such as a microwave oven or an automobile, and expect that others will understand. The way we use the term changes the meaning without requiring further explanation.

Jesus frequently re-defined the meaning of death. Whereas we see biological death as the cessation of life, Jesus treated death as a transitional stage of life, not unlike transitioning from sleeping to waking—a transition he had control over:

Mark 5:39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.”

        

We see death as a state from which there is no return, once decay has set in.  For Jesus, death is not biologically defined. From God’s point of view, once human life has begun it exists eternally. Biological death is an anomaly—an abnormality in God’s created universe brought about by sin:

         Rom. 5:12  …sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people…

Sin not only introduced death to the human experience, but it also traps humanity into an eternal existence cut off from God, who is the author of life.  To correct this, God entered the human race as a sinless human being to rescue us and restore us to eternal life in His presence. This is why Jesus said to Mary, Lazarus’ sister, outside the tomb of her dead brother four days after his internment,

John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

And then—

         John 11:43-46  …Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

Extra-terrestrial Life And The Bible

Biblegems #260

Question:  Does the Bible indicate whether or not extraterrestrial life exists?

First, let’s agree on terms. “Extraterrestrial life” in this brief article means conscious, intelligent life. Most who are curious about this subject wonder about the possibility of humans encountering ET.

The Bible teaches that God created the universe in its present, mature state (Gen. 1-2). The stars within their familiar constellations were created as we see them from earth, animal and plant life were created in their mature state, immediately capable of reproduction according to their kinds. Humanity—in the form of the first man and woman—was likewise created in a mature state, independent of other life forms, ready for reproduction. The Bible portrays a universe that is created, not evolved; mature, not evolving into maturity; and recent (tens of thousands of years), not the result of a Big Bang billions of years past. This means that ET would also have to have been recently created—not evolved over millennia.

Secondly, the Bible teaches that death—indeed, entropy itself (the second law of thermodynamics)—is not native to the universe as originally created, but a devastating cancer introduced by the willful disobedience of the first human couple. There could not have been, therefore, alien civilizations living and dying on distant worlds for millions or billions of years because, prior to Adam and Eve’s sin, there was no death in the “cosmos” (Rom. 5:12).

However, the Bible does plainly teaches the existence of extraterrestrial life: creatures who are not dependent upon planets and star systems for survival, and who are not subject to death, disease and decay. It describes beings who tread upon the stars as we easily as we walk upon a carpet (Ezek. 28:14, 16), and who vary in appearance as widely as animal species on earth. Some possess wings (Is. 6:2), while others do not (Acts 1:10-11). Some have eyes all over their bodies (Rev. 4:6-8) and some have more than one face (Ezek. 1:10; 10:14). Many, if not all, can change their appearance, making it easier for humans to perceive them without fear (Lk. 1:19, 26), or they can make their presence known as wind, fire or other seemingly natural forces (Heb. 1:7). These beings are not hindered by time or physical barriers (Lk. 2:19-14), and their size is likely more a matter of our perception (Rev. 10:2)—not something that applies in their own natural state.

These angels, seraphim, cherubim, etc. were brought into existence early in creation week by the living and eternal God, the Creator of all that exists. They do not require space ships for travel and are not bound by such physical laws as the speed of light. They inhabit the non-physical realm the Bible calls heaven; and all the physical universe of matter, energy, galaxies, solar systems, planets, and all life in the physical universe, exists as an expression of God’s love and creativity.

To demonstrate once and for all His immeasurable power and love, God took on human form and lived among us: Jesus, the Son of God—the Supreme ET on planet earth!.

Heb. 1:2  “…but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”

   

Does A Literal Adam & Eve Matter?

Biblegems # 248

Question: Does the existence of a literal Adam and Eve really matter?

Contemporary science and the Bible propose distinctly different definitions of what it means to be human.

Modern definitions of “human” vary, but all share this fundamental understanding:

         “Human” means the only surviving species that evolved hundreds of thousands of years ago from a common group (Genus) identified as “Homo,” which in turn evolved from the great apes millions of years ago. Homo-sapiens (humans) walk on two feet, possess manual dexterity, have more complex brains and more complex societies than other animals.

The Bible portrays humanity as a distinctly unique “kind” of being, created fully mature, one male and one female, on the sixth day of the universe’s existence, for the purpose of exercising dominion over the newly created earth (Gen. 1:28).

         Gen. 5:1-2  This is the written account of Adam’s family line. When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” when they were created.  (NIV ’11)

Either, one is correct and the other incorrect, or else both are incorrect. Both cannot be true; they are mutually exclusive. One view assumes man is an accidental byproduct of millions of years of evolution, which in turn is the accidental byproduct of billions of years of evolution emanating from the Big Bang. The other view assumes the existence of God, the Creator of all that exists, who brought a fully formed universe and mature human beings into existence for His specific purpose.

         Col. 1:16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

The ramifications of these two conflicting worldviews are profound. According to the current scientific worldview, matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed (First Law of Thermodynamics), and that all matter and energy steadily decays (Second Law of Thermodynamics). In other words, the universe is falling apart.

Unfortunately, these two “laws” are in conflict with each other. The Second Law describes a universe in a constant and steady state of chaos, decay and death, implying that there was once a “beginning” when everything was in perfect order, and that there will be an “end” when everything finally falls apart. But a “beginning” and an “end” contradict the First Law—that matter and energy have no beginning or end!

        

The Bible, however, makes sense of this apparent contradiction:

         Rom. 5:12b   …sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin and in this way death came to all people… (Second Law).

Death and decay are the result of man’s rebellion against God, who created of all matter and energy in the beginning (First Law).

But—

         Rom. 5:17  …if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!