95 – Temporal Death
TEMPORAL DEATH
§ 95. Temporal death, the termination of temporal life by the separation of body and soul,1 though not a law of nature,2 is, in consequence of sin,3 in the course of nature since the fall of man 4 and, coming on either by the dispensing providence of God at the moment fixed by His decree,5 or under His permissive providence at a period determined by or consequent to the acts of men,6 terminates the evil activity on earth of those whose temporal life it brings to its close.
1.Temporal death, the termination of temporal life by the separation of body and soul,
Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.
II Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
Philippians 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.
II Corinthians 5:1, 4, 8 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (4) For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (8) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
2. though not a law of nature,
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
3. is, in consequence of sin,
Genesis 2:17 For in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
4. in the course of nature since the fall of man
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
II Samuel 14:14 For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person.
Psalm 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
5. and, coming on either by the dispensing providence of God at the moment fixed by His decree,
Luke 2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
Numbers 20:25–26 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor: and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.
Deuteronomy 32:48–50 And the Lord spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying, Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: and die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people.
6. or under His permissive providence at a period determined by or consequent to the acts of men
I Samuel 31:4–6 Then said Saul unto his armor-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armor-bearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, that same day together.
Matthew 27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
II Samuel 17:23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
See also ESCHATOLOGY.