What does the Bible say about death
The Bible does not hide from death: it calls it an enemy, acknowledges the pain it causes, and does not treat it as something trivial. But its central message is one of hope: because of the resurrection of Jesus, death does not have the last word.
1. Death is real for everyone
The Bible is honest: every human being dies. It connects death with sin entering the world and presents it as something that affects every person, without exception.
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27, KJV)
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23, KJV)
2. Jesus promises life beyond death
At the tomb of His friend Lazarus, Jesus made one of the most quoted promises in the whole Bible: whoever believes in Him will live, even though they die.
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:25-26, KJV)
3. It is okay to grieve, but not without hope
The Bible does not ask believers to pretend it does not hurt. Jesus Himself wept at the death of Lazarus (John 11:35). Paul encourages Christians to grieve differently: with sorrow, but with hope.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, KJV)
4. God is present in the darkest valley
Psalm 23 is one of the most read passages at funerals, because it describes God being present even in the hardest moment.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (Psalms 23:4, KJV)
5. The end of the story: no more death
The last book of the Bible describes a future in which God will take away all pain and death will be no more. Christian traditions explain some details of what happens right after death differently, but they share this final hope.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4, KJV)
If you are going through the loss of someone you love, you can also read "What does the Bible say about grief and losing a loved one" in this same section.
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