Scriptures About Death: Biblical Perspectives on the End of Life

Death is a profound and often daunting subject, but the Bible offers comforting and hopeful perspectives on what lies beyond this life.

It provides guidance, encouragement, and a deep sense of peace for those facing the end of life or grieving the loss of loved ones.

This article explores 45 scriptures that address death, offering insights into God’s promises and the assurance of eternal life.

Table of Contents

Scriptures About Death

1. John 11:25-26

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.’”

2. 1 Corinthians 15:55

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

3. Revelation 21:4

“‘He will 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.’”

4. Psalm 23:4

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

5. 2 Corinthians 5:8

“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

6. Philippians 1:21

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

7. Romans 14:8

“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

8. Hebrews 9:27

“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”

9. John 14:1-3

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

10. Job 19:25-26

“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.”

11. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.”

12. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

“Brothers and sisters, we want you to be informed about those who have passed away, so that you do not grieve like others who have no hope.”For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”

13. Psalm 116:15

Psalm 116:15

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.”

14. Isaiah 57:1

“The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.”

15. Matthew 5:4

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

16. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

17. John 5:28-29

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.”

18. 1 Peter 1:3

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

19. Revelation 14:13

“Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’”

20. 1 Corinthians 15:22

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”

21. John 8:51

“Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”

22. Acts 7:59-60

“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep.”

23. Psalm 49:15

“But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.”

24. Romans 8:38-39

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

25. 2 Corinthians 1:9

“Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”

26. Isaiah 25:8

“He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.”

27. Matthew 10:28

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

28. John 11:11

“After he had said this, he went on to tell them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.’”

29. Ecclesiastes 12:7

“And the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”

30. 1 Thessalonians 5:10

“He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.”

31. Psalm 90:10

“The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.”

32. John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

33. Psalm 34:18

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

34. Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

35. Revelation 20:14

“Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.”

36. 1 John 5:11-12

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

37. 2 Samuel 12:23

“But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

38. Psalm 116:7

“Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”

39. Philippians 1:23

“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.”

40. Romans 5:12

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”

41. Revelation 7:17

“‘For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

42. John 14:19

John 14:19

“Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”

43. Romans 8:11

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

44. Matthew 22:32

“‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

45. Luke 23:43

“Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”

Answers to Key Queations

1. What does the Bible say about the assurance of eternal life?
The Bible promises eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16, 1 John 5:11-12), assuring believers of a future with God beyond death.

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2. How can we find comfort in the face of death?
Comfort can be found through God’s promises, such as His presence in times of trouble (Psalm 34:18) and the hope of resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:55).

3. What is the Christian perspective on the fear of death?
Christians are encouraged to overcome the fear of death by trusting in God’s promises and the victory of Jesus over death (1 Corinthians 15:55, Hebrews 2:14-15).

4. How does the Bible describe the state of those who have died?
The Bible describes the dead as being in a state of rest or sleep, awaiting resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, Revelation 14:13).

5. What hope does the Bible offer to those grieving the loss of loved ones?
The Bible offers hope through the promise of resurrection and eternal life, comforting those who mourn with the assurance of reunion (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

6. How does the Bible view death in relation to life?
Death is viewed as a transition to eternal life with God, not an end but a passage to a new existence (Philippians 1:21, John 11:25-26).

Scriptures About Death

1. John 11:25-26

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.’”

2. 1 Corinthians 15:55

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

3. Revelation 21:4

“‘He will 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.’”

4. Psalm 23:4

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

5. 2 Corinthians 5:8

“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

6. Philippians 1:21

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

7. Romans 14:8

“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

8. Hebrews 9:27

“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”

9. John 14:1-3

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

10. Job 19:25-26

“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.”

11. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.”

12. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

“Brothers and sisters, we want you to be aware about those who have passed away, so that you do not mourn like others who have no hope.” For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”

13. Psalm 116:15

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.”

14. Isaiah 57:1

“The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.”

15. Matthew 5:4

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

16. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

17. John 5:28-29

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.”

18. 1 Peter 1:3

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Scriptures About Truth: Embracing the Word of God

19. Revelation 14:13

“Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’”

20. 1 Corinthians 15:22

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”

21. John 8:51

“Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”

22. Acts 7:59-60

“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep.”

23. Psalm 49:15

“But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.”

24. Romans 8:38-39

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

25. 2 Corinthians 1:9

“Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”

26. Isaiah 25:8

“He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.”

27. Matthew 10:28

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

28. John 11:11

“After he had said this, he went on to tell them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.’”

29. Ecclesiastes 12:7

“And the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”

30. 1 Thessalonians 5:10

“He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.”

31. Psalm 90:10

“The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.”

32. John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

33. Psalm 34:18

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

34. Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

35. Revelation 20:14

“Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.”

36. 1 John 5:11-12

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

37. 2 Samuel 12:23

“But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

38. Psalm 116:7

“Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”

39. Philippians 1:23

“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.”

40. Romans 5:12

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”

41. Revelation 7:17

“‘For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

42. John 14:19

“Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”

43. Romans 8:11

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

44. Matthew 22:32

“‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

45. Luke 23:43

“Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”

Answers to Key Queations

1. What does the Bible say about the assurance of eternal life?
The Bible promises eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16, 1 John 5:11-12), assuring believers of a future with God beyond death.

Relevant Post:  40+Biblical Insights on Inclusion

2. How can we find comfort in the face of death?
Comfort can be found through God’s promises, such as His presence in times of trouble (Psalm 34:18) and the hope of resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:55).

3. What is the Christian perspective on the fear of death?
Christians are encouraged to overcome the fear of death by trusting in God’s promises and the victory of Jesus over death (1 Corinthians 15:55, Hebrews 2:14-15).

4. How does the Bible describe the state of those who have died?
The Bible describes the dead as being in a state of rest or sleep, awaiting resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, Revelation 14:13).

5. What hope does the Bible offer to those grieving the loss of loved ones?
The Bible offers hope through the promise of resurrection and eternal life, comforting those who mourn with the assurance of reunion (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

6. How does the Bible view death in relation to life?
Death is viewed as a transition to eternal life with God, not an end but a passage to a new existence (Philippians 1:21, John 11:25-26).

Conclusion

Scriptures about death provide us with profound hope and comfort, framing death as a transition rather than an end. The Bible reassures us of eternal life, the resurrection, and the comfort of God’s presence.

As we navigate the challenges of grief and the fear of death, these scriptures offer a foundation of faith and encouragement.

Embracing these promises helps us find peace and hope, knowing that death is not the end but a passage to a new beginning with God.

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