Death Is The Absolute Judgment

Death Is The Absolute Judgment 

The wise man of old declared the day of death better than the day of birth because “that is the end of all men” (Ecclesiastes 7:1-2). Death is a cruel master that cares not for station in life, fame, fortune or power. There will be inequalities in life but all men share the same fate in realizing that death comes to all (Hebrews 9:27). The case of death has been presented in the courts of men’s wisdom since the beginning of time but only through the revealed word of God are we able to glimpse into the dark abode of eternal dwelling. While few were raised from the dead illustrated in text of Holy scrip none but the Son of God has risen and remains alive. No one living today has possessed the realm of death and returned to fill our minds with the wonderful and fearsome realities of the eternal world of Hades. Jesus overcame the power of death raising the third day to give all who believe in Him power over death also. As people of God we do not fear death.

When man passes through the valley of death to eternity his fate is sealed. The moment of death is the moment eternity begins and will never change. In the story of the rich man and a beggar named Lazarus Jesus shows the absolute finality that death imprints on the soul of every man. “So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried” (Luke 16:22). In life the rich man had bountiful blessings while Lazarus suffered. Death equalized the two men in judgment and bound the rich man to torment (Luke 16:23) and Lazarus to rest in the bosom of Abraham. Justice was equal for both for the rich man received his just reward as did Lazarus.

Pleading with Abraham the rich man asked for relief from his torment. Abraham explained, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us” (Luke 16:25-26). There is no change of eternity when death enters to door. Our last breath is our first breath in a place that we will never leave. Death is final. Death is complete. Death is the absolute judgment of all men.

Hades is filled with all those who bask in the glory of Abraham’s bosom and those who scream in eternal terror of everlasting torment. The day appointed by God to judge all men will serve to adjudicate the justice of a loving God upon those who have rejected Him and rebelled against His will; and to give comfort and peace to His saints who have loved and sought His grace in their lives. Satan, his angels, death and Hades will be cast into the lake of fire “and anyone not found written in the Book of Life” (Revelation 20:15).

The love of God has been given to man through His Son Jesus Christ that in life we can find eternal peace in preparing for death. Children of God have victory in death and know that life is not in vain when eternal glory is promised (1 Corinthians 15:50-58). Death has no sting because the venom of sin has been removed by the blood of Christ. “There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4) All our tears are wiped away.