What Does the Bible Say About Death?

Death is an active part in our lives here on Earth, and God gave us the Bible to help us understand. The Bible answers all our questions about death, even starting from the beginning:

“Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12, ESV). 

This verse refers to when Adam and Eve sinned (Genesis 3), and reminds us that death entered into the human experience as a consequence of sin, Adam’s sin (Romans 5:12). 

But before we get into that, let’s briefly see what Jesus said about death. A compelling story in the Bible gives us a glimpse at how we should view death. 

Luke 8:51-53 tells how Jesus went to a man’s house to heal his sick daughter, but she died before Jesus arrived. Mourners had already gathered and were wailing outside. Upon his arrival, Jesus told the crowd to stop crying.

“She is not dead but asleep.” 

The crowd laughed at him because they knew she was dead. But Jesus went into the house and raised the girl to life. 

Jesus understood death to be like sleep; an unconscious state that renders the person no longer a participant in this life. And in following His example, that is also how Adventists view death.