Understanding Death

Let's examine a few things about death: the angel of death, a bad death versus a good death, the resurrection of the dead and the death of death.

The Angel Of Death

The angel of death is a force that kills. It kills indiscriminately; however, what it kills makes all the difference:

• If the angel of death kills our internal quality of bestowal, then it's a bad thing because it means we're becoming immersed in selfishness (seeking to benefit ourselves) and we're becoming separated from God in quality. This is where we are today, immersed in selfishness and separated from God.
• If the angel of death kills our internal quality of selfishness, then it's a good thing because it means we're attaining the quality of bestowal (seeking to benefit others) and we're returning to God in quality. Today, we have to attain bestowal and we have to return to God in quality.

Each time we draw nearer to God in quality (or further away), our state changes. One state cancels (kills) a previous state. Two states don't exist together.

For example, a 20 year old - cancels (kills) his previous 10 year old self (state). His 10 year old self no longer exists, it's replaced by his 20 year old state.

A Bad Death Versus A Good Death

The two types of death - the death of bestowal and the death of selfishness - are both mentioned in The Bible and The Quran.

The Bible and The Quran also mention the various states we go through as we become increasing separated or similar to God in quality.

One has to understand the context in order to understand which death is being reference.

• The Death of Bestowal - A Bad Death:
• The death of bestowal is considered a bad death because when our internal quality of bestowal dies, we become immersed in selfishness and we become separated from God in quality.
• Here are examples from The Bible and The Quran:
• God said, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17, NKJV)
• "For in death there is no remembrance of You ..." (Psalms 6:5, NKJV)
• "Adrift among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, and who are cut off from Your hand." (Psalms 88:5, NKJV)
• "Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers - upon them will be the curse of Allah ..." (Quran 2:161, Sahih) 
• The Death of Selfishness - A Good Death:
• The death of selfishness is considered a good death because when our internal quality of selfishness dies, we attain the quality of bestowal and we return to God in quality.
• Here are examples from The Bible and The Quran:
• "Every soul will taste death." (Quran 21:35, Sahih)
• Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." (John 11:25, NKJV)
• "And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah, "They are dead." Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not." (Quran 2:154, Sahih)
• "... kill the polytheists (meaning the quality of selfishness) wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent (meaning return to bestowal), establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way." (Quran 9:5, Sahih)

The Resurrection Of The Dead

The Bible and The Quran also talk about the resurrection of the dead. The quality of selfishness (seeking to benefit oneself) is considered dead, and the quality of bestowal (seeking to benefit others) is considered alive.

When our internal qualities change from selfishness to bestowal, the dead shall live, the dead shall be resurrected to life. As it is written:

• "Your dead shall live ..." (Isaiah 26:19, NKJV)
• "But the dead - Allah will resurrect them; then to Him they will be returned." (Quran 6:36, Sahih)

The Death Of Death (The Death of Selfishness)

When our internal qualities change from selfishness to bestowal, the quality of selfishness shall cease to exist, it will be completely cut off, wiped out and we'll attain 100% bestowal. As it is written"

• "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Revelations 21:4, NKJV)
• "...in the generation following let their name be blotted out ... That He may cut off the memory of them from the earth ..." (Psalms 109:13,15, NKJV)
• " ... and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more." (Psalms 37:10, NKJV)

We've looked at the angel of death, a good death compared to a bad death, the resurrection of the dead and the death of death.

Do not be afraid, The One True God, The Infinite God, The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is with us and to Him we shall all return.

Copyright © 2013, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.