No Victory For Death

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57

THE REAL STING of death is not dying. It’s what happens after. The Bible reveals there are two possible fates for all people. One is ending up in heavenly bliss with God by believing in Christ. The other is spending eternity in hell, forever separated from God.

God will live among the believers in heaven. The Bible tells us there will be no more pain or sorrow there (see Revelation 21:4). Neither the sun nor the moon will be necessary because the glory of God will provide light (see verse 23). “Nothing evil will be allowed to enter” (verse 27). Heaven will be a wonderful place for believers.

For those who do not believe, however, there is final judgment and then consignment to punishment in hell. That is called “the second death” in Revelation. People debate whether hell will be active punishment (the application of torture, pain, and fire) or passive punishment (deprivation, solitude, and all one’s senses active but unable to be satisfied). Either way, it is not a happy place.

The promise is that God has eliminated the possibility of hell for all who believe in Christ. Because Jesus paid for our sin on the cross and because he rose from the dead, death has no power over the believer. Ever.