DANCING (see MUSIC)
DEACON In the Greek, this word means “to be a servant, attendant, domestic, to serve, wait upon” (Strong’s). There was a need for these servants because “widows were neglected in the daily ministration.” Deacons were to “serve tables” (Acts 6:2—the word “serve” is the same word translated “deacon” in 1 Timothy 3:10), so that the apostles could give themselves “to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). This need arose because the number of the “disciples was multiplied” to at least 8,000 men (Acts 2:41, 4:4), so the need existed with such a large group. Qualifications for a deacon are given in 1 Timothy 3:8–13.
DEATH “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). There is no reincarnation; we have only one appointment with death, and then comes the judgment. The Bible teaches the resurrection, not reincarnation. Death takes place when our spirit leaves the body (James 2:26). Strong’s gives for the meaning of “death” as “1) the death of the body a) that separation (whether natural or violent) of the soul and the body by which the life on earth is ended.”
Death of a loved one is considered the single greatest hardship one will face in life. And sincere condolences should be given to those who have lost loved ones. Christ went to the grave of Lazarus, and He “wept”; it is arguable why He wept, but He cried, for even the Son of God has emotions (see COMFORT).
Death in the Bible does not mean one ceases to exist, or it could not be said there is the “second death” after the first (Revelation 20:14). “For as the body without the spirit is dead…” (James 2:26). It is a person’s body that sleeps, not his spirit. If a person’s spirit would go into the grave, he is not dead. In the first death, one’s spirit is separated from his body; in the second death, his body and spirit are separated from God in eternal judgment (Revelation 20:11–15; see HELL; see HEAVEN; and SOUL SLEEP; also Psalm 23:4 and John 14:1–6).
When babies die, they do not know what sin is, and therefore they are not accountable for their sins and will go to heaven: “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died” (Romans 7:9). Paul, the apostle who wrote this verse, tells us that he was “without the law once,” but he was born under the law, so how could he have been without it during any time of his life? As a baby, he did not know God’s law or what sin was, but when he grew older and reached what theologians call an age of accountability, “sin revived.” And so, as a baby he had no law, and “sin is not imputed when there is no law” (Romans 5:13). When King David’s baby boy died, he said, “But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). His son had died, and David said, “He shall not return to me,” but he said, “I shall go to him”; when King David died, he entered heaven and got to embrace his son again.
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [death], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).
DEACON In the Greek, this word means “to be a servant, attendant, domestic, to serve, wait upon” (Strong’s). There was a need for these servants because “widows were neglected in the daily ministration.” Deacons were to “serve tables” (Acts 6:2—the word “serve” is the same word translated “deacon” in 1 Timothy 3:10), so that the apostles could give themselves “to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). This need arose because the number of the “disciples was multiplied” to at least 8,000 men (Acts 2:41, 4:4), so the need existed with such a large group. Qualifications for a deacon are given in 1 Timothy 3:8–13.
DEATH “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). There is no reincarnation; we have only one appointment with death, and then comes the judgment. The Bible teaches the resurrection, not reincarnation. Death takes place when our spirit leaves the body (James 2:26). Strong’s gives for the meaning of “death” as “1) the death of the body a) that separation (whether natural or violent) of the soul and the body by which the life on earth is ended.”
Death of a loved one is considered the single greatest hardship one will face in life. And sincere condolences should be given to those who have lost loved ones. Christ went to the grave of Lazarus, and He “wept”; it is arguable why He wept, but He cried, for even the Son of God has emotions (see COMFORT).
Death in the Bible does not mean one ceases to exist, or it could not be said there is the “second death” after the first (Revelation 20:14). “For as the body without the spirit is dead…” (James 2:26). It is a person’s body that sleeps, not his spirit. If a person’s spirit would go into the grave, he is not dead. In the first death, one’s spirit is separated from his body; in the second death, his body and spirit are separated from God in eternal judgment (Revelation 20:11–15; see HELL; see HEAVEN; and SOUL SLEEP; also Psalm 23:4 and John 14:1–6).
When babies die, they do not know what sin is, and therefore they are not accountable for their sins and will go to heaven: “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died” (Romans 7:9). Paul, the apostle who wrote this verse, tells us that he was “without the law once,” but he was born under the law, so how could he have been without it during any time of his life? As a baby, he did not know God’s law or what sin was, but when he grew older and reached what theologians call an age of accountability, “sin revived.” And so, as a baby he had no law, and “sin is not imputed when there is no law” (Romans 5:13). When King David’s baby boy died, he said, “But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). His son had died, and David said, “He shall not return to me,” but he said, “I shall go to him”; when King David died, he entered heaven and got to embrace his son again.
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [death], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).
