5 Types of Death

This lesson was preached by Pastor Mallari I think almost four years ago during the first anniversary of Sola Scriptura Baptist Church.  Originally the outline was titled “Four Kinds of Death” and an additional point is added in this post which we’ll discuss further.  The types of death rely heavily on the doctrine of the Trinity:  the soul, body and spirit.

But before going on further we need to define death.  I am a nurse and we encounter death and dying situations numerous times.  Death in the medical field may mean: “the end of life; the total and permanent cessation of all the vital functions of an organism”.  But in the biblical view, death is not a permanent end.

Death means separation.

With this definition you can apply this to any field: science, relationships, electronics and the like.  The death of a relationship simply means they have separated.  A dead light bulb simply means somewhere its circuit has been separated to the power source.  In Biblical terms there is the separation of the body, soul and spirit.

In Our Own Image

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:26-27

Look at the play of words which are highlighted in bold letters (not to change the text but to show emphasis only).  Look how he shifted from OUR to  HIS and HIM.  From a plural form to a singular form.

Another popular verse that is often removed from the modern version or sometimes noted that does not exist on popular manuscripts is 1 John 5:7

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7

Man is made from God’s image. God is a triune being. The doctrine of the Trinity is hard to grasp for the human mind but though the word Trinity in itself is nowhere to be found in the Bible, it’s truthfulness is certainly there.

So we see here man also is a triune being. Each one of us has a soul, a body and a spirit.

The Soul

The soul is self-conscious.  It comprises the intellect that aids us in the present state of existence and emotions, which proceed from the senses. It is man’s own self and reveals his personality.  It is the seat of the emotions, affections, desires, will, and self – the “heart” in Scripture – Matthew 26:38 and John 12:27.  It is where the “self” dwells.  It is the site of the personality.  It is the pivot of the entire being, because man’s volition belongs to it.  It is shaped like the body (Revelation 6:9-11 and Luke 16:23-24) and fits in it like a hand in a glove.  It is attached to the body in a lost man, but detached in a saved man (Colossians 2:11).

The Body

The body is world-conscious. It is the flesh or the casing of the soul and spirit. It is through the corporeal body that a man comes into contact with the material world. It is where senses dwell.

The Spirit

The spirit used to be God-conscious but when man fell the spirit is separated from God thus leading men to sin.  Once a man gets saved and the Holy Spirit dwells in him the spirit is restored (Ephesians 2:1-5).  It is the part by which we commune with God and by which alone we are able to apprehend and worship Him because it tells us of our relationship with God.  It is where God dwells.  It is associated with the mind. – I Corinthians 2:11, Ephesians 4:23, Romans 1:9, Romans 7:25 and  John 4:24.

Those are just the very basic characteristics pertaining to the soul, body and spirit.  It is up to you then dear reader to further your own study on such matter.  Sin causes death and death by sin – Romans 5:12 and Romans 6:23.

5 Types of Death

Though in a general view there are two types of death:  spiritual and physical death, this a more in-depth study on how the soul, body and spirit are separated and what are the conditions of these three aspects on a man that is saved or lost.

Spiritual Death

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2

Spiritual death is the separation of man from God because of sin way back in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:17).

“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:” Romans 5:12

Examples in the Scriptures that man can be physically alive but dead spiritually:

But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. Matthew 8:22

But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. 1 Timothy 5:6

Every man that is born of sin are born with a fallen nature, born as a children of wrath and are born with a dead spirit. When a man is born again he is resurrected spiritually. His spirit is made alive (Ephesians 2:1-5) and his soul is cleansed and is saved from eternal damnation (Titus 3:5).

Physical Death

Physical death is the separation of the body, soul and spirit.  This is the type of death that all of us will experience except for Enoch, Elijah and those who will be included in the Rapture.  It is also commonly known as the natural death where the body fails to perform it’s function.

“Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”  Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

The body returns to the ground but someday will be resurrected whether saved or lost, the spirit shall return to God and soul shall be judged.  By the way, if you’re looking for an interesting study, try to research on the silver cord.

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Hebrews 9:27

Here are some more examples:

All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust. Job 34:15

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:26

And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. Genesis 35:18

Eternal Death

Eternal death happens only to lost souls and is divide into two phases.  The first phase is the separation of the soul from the body and the spirit and is cast into hell.  Once a man dies his soul is judged (Hebrews 9:27).  In this case, a lost man, his soul is tormented in hell for all eternity.  During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He talks about this dreadful place more often than heaven.  Hell is real, it is no joke.  If you say hell is not real, you better be right.

“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4

“In hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”  Luke 16:23

“For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.”  2 Peter 2:4

“He that believeth on him is not condemned:  but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”  John 3:18

The second phase of eternal death is called the second death.

Second Death

“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28-29

Believers in Christ will have a resurrection of life, a glorious resurrection where we will meet the Lord in the air together with the saints of old.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

But lost souls are going to have a resurrection unto damnation at the white throne judgment.

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:11-15

The second death is the reunification of the body and soul of the unsaved from hell just to be judged according to their works and will be cast into the lake of fire.

“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:6

Dear reader, it is indeed a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. This is the reason why the angels rejoice when a sinner makes Jesus his choice.

“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:10

Death to the Flesh

Those of us who are in Christ know that we struggle daily and like as the apostle Paul said, we must also die daily.  We should know that our soul and our body are now separated by the circumcision made without hands keeping the soul pure after salvation.  But we are still trapped in this sinful flesh.

“In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:” Colossians 2:11

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:” Colossians 3:5

Remember that his body is world conscious. This body is worldly. This body will automatically respond to worldly things that’s why we need to separate ourselves from fleshly desires and that is a day to day struggle. That is why God gave us His word so that we may know Him and His precepts and how to live a holy life. This blessed old book is true from beginning to end. It’s the solid foundation that I firmly stand. Sin kept me from it now it keeps me from sin.