Scripture cites the beginning of death with God’s promise: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:17 KJV). And, the “last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1Corinthians 15:26), when our Sovereign God, in the end, announces that “there shall be no more curse” (Revelation 22:3).

Some may question our Creator’s promise of death, since Adam and Eve were still physically alive after they sinned, but the first genealogy of Genesis is accompanied by the words, “and he died” (Genesis 5:5), eight times. Physical death is a process, which ends when the spirit of man finally departs our physical body. “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven” (2Corinthians 5:1-2).

The NT further reveals, “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). So, physical death passed upon all humanity, and spiritual death, likewise, reigns wherever humanity sins. “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).

Question: Was there any kind of physical death in the Garden of Eden before Adam and Eve sinned? Was the biological process, apoptosis (PCD, “programmed cell death”) active? 

Answer: Yes, actually apoptosis is necessary for cell maintenance and growth. Though the early genealogies of Scripture speak of unusually long Pre-Flood lifespans, e.g., Adam, 930 years (Genesis 5:5), Methuselah, 969 years (5:27), none but Enoch was exempted from death (5:24). All cells must die. Cells must be removed or deleted from the body. Apoptosis is not the death promised by Jehovah, as His curse upon humanity’s sin (2:17). Sin’s curse is physical disability, physical deterioration, passing on physical death to subsequent generations, final physical death, but worst of all, separation from God. “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).

Are we born dying? Yes, in a manner of speaking. Especially since the Fall of Man, all have the physical necessity to die. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Infants grow by maturing faster than they are dying; while, the older generation is dying faster than it is growing. Red blood cells die after 120 days, and humans typically die before the end of 120 years. 

Unless we are like Elijah, who was given the understanding the LORD would shortly take him up to Heaven (2Kings 2), we must momentarily be ready to meet the LORD, by physical death or Rapture. “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” (1Thessalonians 4:16-17). 

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). 

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints” (Psalm 116:15).  

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13). 

LORD, may we be prepared to meet You. Make us to be ready. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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