Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Rick Warren
The Death of Death
Someday soon I will have officiated my last funeral because in the kingdom, there will be no more death. Jesus conquered the grave so that we wouldn’t stay in ours. The Bible says that “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it” (Acts 2:24). As a result, God will someday “wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
The End of Sorrow
After the kingdom arrives, it marks the beginning of something so wonderful that even the Apostle John could hardly describe it (Revelation 22). We know that suffering, sorrow, pain, and death will be gone because God will wipe it all out. Jesus, “who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new’ ” (Revelation 21:5). Since everything is new and all the old things are gone, I say good riddance! Even so, Lord, come quickly!
The Beginning of Eternity
Jesus tells us, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). In other words, whoever believes in Him doesn’t have to fear death anymore. We know that each of us has an appointment with death, and then comes the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). However, for those who have trusted in Christ, their sins have already been judged, which removes the wrath of God (John 3:36). Dying is just the beginning; and even if we die, “yet shall [we] live” again.
Conclusion
Since the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and Jesus never sinned, the grave couldn’t hold Him (Acts 2:24). In the kingdom, there will be no more funerals; and there will be no more grief counseling either because there will be no more pain, sorrow, suffering, or death. The end of death, sorrow, and suffering begins when we enter into the presence of God and finally see His glory, when we will see Him for the very first time face to face (Revelation 21:3, 22:4). That cannot compare with anything we endure in this life (Romans 8:18).
