POST 10 - Does God Control Death?

by William W. Orr, A.B., M.A., Th.B., D.D.. Pastor and Teacher.

     As we look at death from the human side, we see man causes for it.  Some people simply grow old and die.  For them there is usually plenty of warning.  They anticipate death for months or years.  To others, death comes abruptly, with startling suddenness.  They die as a result of accidents, heart attacks, sudden strokes, rapid cancer, and a variety of other diseases.  Death comes to infants, youth, and those in the prime of life -- people of all ages.

     The question is then raised:  Is death merely the result of human foolishness, carelessness, wrong decisions, improper judgment, and unavoidable circumstances?  Or does God without exception control all factors in every life?  Does anyone die part from God's plan?

     Or, does God control the death of Christians only?  Does He allow the inflexible laws of life and death to terminate the lives of non-Christians, too?

     Let us consider what happened to several individuals.  In the case of Moses, the long-time, honored servant of God,  the day of his death was set.  God also marked the place of his death and buried him (Deut. 32:48-52; 34:1-6).  The plight of good King Hezekiah was especially interesting.  In the will of God, the day of His death was determined ,  and the prophet Isaiah was sent to tell him about it.  When the king "wept sore"  before the Lord, however, God granted him additional time, fifteen more years, after which he died and "slept with his fathers" (II Kings 20:1-21).

     A man named Onan displeased the Lord and was immediately slain (Gen. 38:10).  Elijah predicted the wicked queen Jezebel's death, and it occurred just as he had declared I Kings 21:23); II Kings 9:30-37).  Israel's first king, Saul, lost his right to reign over Israel through disobedience and the already-departed prophet Samuel reappeared and foretold his tragic death (I Sam. 28:18,19; 31:2-6).   The Lord, through the prophet Nathan, described in advance the death of the infant son of King David (II Sam. 12:14).

      Sennacherib was a mighty king of the Assyrian empire.  Because of his blasphemy against the true God he underwent a violent death which was foretold by the prophet Isaiah (II KIngs 19:7, 33, 37).  Daniel told of the coming death of Babylon's king, Belshazzar, as a result of the grievous sin in his life (Dan. 5:26-30).

      To be sure, many died without the direct statement that God specifically caused their deaths.  But these examples furnished a key to help us understand a little more about this subject.

     Turning to the New Testament, the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira are highly indicative of God's control in this matter.  This Christian couple secretly withheld part of the proceeds from selling their property.  Because of their deception they were slain instantly.  God directly and instantaneously intervened to cause thier death.  As a result of this judgment, a reverential fear fell upon the entire Church (Acts 5:1-11).

     The first Christ martyr was Stephen, who was stoned to death at the time of God's choosing (Acts 7:54-60).   Our Lord discussed the future deaths of both Peter and John.  The time of their departures was not revealed, but the implication is that these events were within the knowledge and control of God (John 21:18-23).

     In Paul's last lettr to Timothy, he indicates that the time of his own death was near.  To be sure, this information may have come to im from the court of the Roman emperor Nero, but Paul does not speak of his "departure" as the sentence of a heathen king but the as an event planned long before by his Lord (II Tim. 4:6-8).  Peter, in his second letter, speaks of his coming death as putting off "this my tabernacle, " or as another version of graphically expresses it, "I know that shorthloy my tent will be struck, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me) (II Pet. 1:14, Berkeley).

     We must remember that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28).  This promise would be only partially true if God did not also control that entrance into the glory land which we call death.

     We should bear in mind, too, tdhat while death terminates activity on earth, it begins new activity in heaven.  Apparently God will provide temporary bodies so that we will be able to move about freely.  Later we will appear at the judgment seat of Christ and have a place at the supper of the Lamb (II Cor. 5;10; "Rev. 19:7-10).

     God's control of the departure of both believers and unbelievers from the earth is in keeping with the New Testament emphasis that God cares for even the insignificant creatures of His hand.  Not even a sparrow falls to the ground without His notice (Matt. 10:29).

     Is such teaching of God's control of death fatalistic?  The answer is "No," for this is not blind fate, but the powerful hand of an all-wise God, who not only loves His children but whose great heart also yearns for the salvation of the entire human race which He created (II Pet. 3:9).

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