Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  9000 Last things  »  9010 Death  »  9020 death  »  9023 death, of unbelievers

The departure from the present life of unrepentant people to await final banishment from God.

Death is inevitable

Psalm 49:10; Psalm 89:48 See also 2 Samuel 14:14; Job 30:23; Psalm 37:36; Ecclesiastes 3:19-20; Ecclesiastes 8:8

The premature death of unbelievers is the consequence of sin

Proverbs 10:27 OT writers, for whom God's blessing on the righteous occurs mostly in the present life, often saw early or sudden death as divine judgment on the wicked. See also 1 Chronicles 10:13; Job 22:16; Psalm 9:17; Psalm 37:1-2,22,38; Psalm 55:23; Psalm 139:19; Proverbs 5:21-23; Proverbs 11:19; Proverbs 14:12; Isaiah 17:14; Ezekiel 3:19; Ezekiel 18:4,20; Daniel 5:30; Luke 12:20

Aspects of the death of unbelievers

They die unforgiven

John 8:21,24

They die without hope

Proverbs 11:7; Ecclesiastes 8:10

God has no pleasure in their death

Ezekiel 18:23 See also Ezekiel 18:32; 2 Peter 3:9

Descriptions of the death of unbelievers

Being destroyed

Matthew 7:13; Romans 9:22

Perishing

John 3:16; 2 Peter 2:12

Being in fire

Luke 16:22-24; Hebrews 10:27

Being in darkness

Matthew 25:30; 2 Peter 2:17

The consequences of the death of unbelievers

The intermediate state of awaiting judgment

Revelation 20:13 See also Luke 16:23; John 5:29; Acts 24:15

The judgment

Hebrews 9:27 See also John 5:29

The eternal consequences

Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41 See also Matthew 18:8; Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:45-48; Galatians 1:8-9; Hebrews 6:2; Jude 7

The challenge of the death of unbelievers

The call to prepare

2 Kings 20:1 See also Ecclesiastes 7:17; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Amos 4:12

The only escape is through Jesus Christ

John 8:51 Death for believers is swallowed up in life, so that they are never personally aware of the pain and sting of death (compare Jn 11:26). See also John 5:24

See also

4826  fire
5295  destruction
5482  punishment
6109  alienation
6732  repentance
8341  separation
8730  enemies of believers
8734  evil
8755  folly
9120  eternity
9210  judgment, God's
9510  hell