Is there a certain day and hour that you are meant to die? Are there "grim reapers" like this photo who are waiting their next assignment? A lot of people believe that. I've heard them say things like, "When your numbers up there's nothing you can do about it." or "When it's your time to go then God's going to take you." I've even heard this in regards to accidental deaths as though God was using the accident to "take you". If you believe that, then you have some serious issues with the following: what about diseases - is God using the disease to slowly kill you so you die at the "right" time. If so then why are you trying to be cured of the disease? Is God manipulating accidents so they kill all the right people at just the right time? Even hundreds on airplanes? How about murders? Is the murderer fulfilling God's will by killing someone at just the right time? Then how can he be found guilty of murder because he was doing what God wanted. If someone kills themselves by any means then was that their time to go? People believe and say a lot of things that are not right. Let's see what God says...
Hebrews 9:27,28 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.
This verse is not referring to an "appointment" to die on a certain day and time, it is rather simply referring to the fact that you will die someday, sometime. There is no appointment, but it will happen. (It also refers to the fact that there is no reincarnation for the human soul, but rather you face judgment when you die. You don't come back to Earth to try again to do better - nonsense. The Biblical teaching is that no matter how good you are you will never be good enough - that's why you need a Savior because you cannot save yourself from the judgment.)
Ecclesiastes 3:1,2 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;...
Again, it is not referring to a particular time to die just as there is no appointed time to pluck up that which was planted, but it is referring to the fact there there will come a time when you die. In fact this verse says there is a season not a specific time. Such as when you get old and have lived your life and fulfilled your purpose then you will enter the final season of life and you should prepare for death. Make a will, settle your affairs, etc.
It is God's will that you live a long and prosperous life.
Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God gives you.
Perhaps some are dying too early because they have chosen to ignore God's promises and therefore are not enjoying a long and prosperous life. That would certainly be true for someone who abuses themselves with alcohol, and drugs and suicide.
I Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
Elijah was being persecuted and marked for death and he prayed that he might die. Instead God sent an angel who gave him something to eat and later he went on his way to fulfill his purpose in life.
II KIngs 20:1-6 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’” Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. And I will add to your days fifteen years.
Now It was not Hezekiah's time to die, but the prophet said he would die - the sickness was killing him not God! Then Hezekiah turned to God who healed him and said he would live fifteen more years. Again God is not setting an appointment for him to die he is just giving him the information to him that he will live fifteen more years. Remember God knows when you will die, but that does not mean has appointed that for you. It just means that's what's going to happen - just as the prophet told him he was going to die, but then it was changed by his prayers!
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
There is a real devil and he wants to kill and destroy you physically, mentally, emotionally, and steal your future and your life from you. You need to be aware of this and resist his efforts against you whether they come from someone else committing a crime against you or if they come from the devil himself such as through confusion, depression, drugs, or your behavior that might lead to your death such as committing murder, armed robbery, suicide, or risk taking.
I went on a canoe trip and at a certain place on the river there was a big sign that said DANGER 7 PEOPLE HAVE DROWNED HERE - GO AROUND. Even so some people continued to attempt to go down that way and many more have drowned. Accidents occur when the possible consequences of death and injury have not been properly avoided or prepared for. People drive on ice and even though they may be excellent and capable drivers, the person next to them is not and runs them off the road. My cousin was killed by someone who was using a laptop while driving. Their wrong choices resulted in my cousin losing her life. None of these people died because it was their time to die. No, they died because of choices and consequences that could have been avoided were not.
Also, there is no such angel of death mentioned in the Bible. I have heard many stories of people who died and came back. Some came back from hell and some came back from heaven. In all cases there was an angel escorting them, but not a dark demonic being such as in the photo above. In the Bible angels are created by God and are sent on assignments or tasks to minister to people.
There is not a certain time for you to die, but death could occur at any time. Are you ready to die? I ask because you will die someday and after that comes the judgment. Your life may be cut short at any moment. So be ready for that day by believing and surrendering to Jesus as your Savior and Lord and the only one who offers you eternal life. You must have eternal life before you die. It is a gift that Jesus gives you when you surrender yourself to him. Why not do that today? Do it now.
Hebrews 9:27,28 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.
This verse is not referring to an "appointment" to die on a certain day and time, it is rather simply referring to the fact that you will die someday, sometime. There is no appointment, but it will happen. (It also refers to the fact that there is no reincarnation for the human soul, but rather you face judgment when you die. You don't come back to Earth to try again to do better - nonsense. The Biblical teaching is that no matter how good you are you will never be good enough - that's why you need a Savior because you cannot save yourself from the judgment.)
Ecclesiastes 3:1,2 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;...
Again, it is not referring to a particular time to die just as there is no appointed time to pluck up that which was planted, but it is referring to the fact there there will come a time when you die. In fact this verse says there is a season not a specific time. Such as when you get old and have lived your life and fulfilled your purpose then you will enter the final season of life and you should prepare for death. Make a will, settle your affairs, etc.
It is God's will that you live a long and prosperous life.
Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God gives you.
Perhaps some are dying too early because they have chosen to ignore God's promises and therefore are not enjoying a long and prosperous life. That would certainly be true for someone who abuses themselves with alcohol, and drugs and suicide.
I Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
Elijah was being persecuted and marked for death and he prayed that he might die. Instead God sent an angel who gave him something to eat and later he went on his way to fulfill his purpose in life.
II KIngs 20:1-6 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’” Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. And I will add to your days fifteen years.
Now It was not Hezekiah's time to die, but the prophet said he would die - the sickness was killing him not God! Then Hezekiah turned to God who healed him and said he would live fifteen more years. Again God is not setting an appointment for him to die he is just giving him the information to him that he will live fifteen more years. Remember God knows when you will die, but that does not mean has appointed that for you. It just means that's what's going to happen - just as the prophet told him he was going to die, but then it was changed by his prayers!
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
There is a real devil and he wants to kill and destroy you physically, mentally, emotionally, and steal your future and your life from you. You need to be aware of this and resist his efforts against you whether they come from someone else committing a crime against you or if they come from the devil himself such as through confusion, depression, drugs, or your behavior that might lead to your death such as committing murder, armed robbery, suicide, or risk taking.
I went on a canoe trip and at a certain place on the river there was a big sign that said DANGER 7 PEOPLE HAVE DROWNED HERE - GO AROUND. Even so some people continued to attempt to go down that way and many more have drowned. Accidents occur when the possible consequences of death and injury have not been properly avoided or prepared for. People drive on ice and even though they may be excellent and capable drivers, the person next to them is not and runs them off the road. My cousin was killed by someone who was using a laptop while driving. Their wrong choices resulted in my cousin losing her life. None of these people died because it was their time to die. No, they died because of choices and consequences that could have been avoided were not.
Also, there is no such angel of death mentioned in the Bible. I have heard many stories of people who died and came back. Some came back from hell and some came back from heaven. In all cases there was an angel escorting them, but not a dark demonic being such as in the photo above. In the Bible angels are created by God and are sent on assignments or tasks to minister to people.
There is not a certain time for you to die, but death could occur at any time. Are you ready to die? I ask because you will die someday and after that comes the judgment. Your life may be cut short at any moment. So be ready for that day by believing and surrendering to Jesus as your Savior and Lord and the only one who offers you eternal life. You must have eternal life before you die. It is a gift that Jesus gives you when you surrender yourself to him. Why not do that today? Do it now.