Death is fundamentally the absence of life.   

Existence is basic life.   So, non-existence is basic death.   

Having existed is to have experienced some level of life.   

To never have existed is incomprehensible because this very reflection would be impossible.   

Just as is the case with life, there are varying degrees of death.   

Plants live and plants die.   They have a finite period of existence.   

Animals live and animals die.   They have a finite period of existence.   

Both plants and animals live and die with no consideration of either.   

Some humans live and die with little or no consideration of either.   

But the One who created all things is eternal life.   

And unlike the plants and animals He created, man was made in His likeness and His image.   

The Creator observes all His creation and enjoys the work of His hands.   
   → The cosmos is amazing.   
   → The microscopic plant and animal life is amazing.   
   → The cycles of the seasons is amazing.   

But what about humanity?   Does He enjoy humanity?   

What about human suffering and death?   Does the Creator take pleasure in this?   

If not, why is there human suffering and death?   

Very simply, the gift of the Creator to mankind which made man like Himself is the very reason there is human suffering and death.   

Free Will - the freedom to choose - was not given to plants or animals.   But it was given to man so that He would be like His Creator - able to think, to consider, to choose, to create and to destroy.   

So, enters death.   

The Free Will gift had bounds to it.   The Creator could not allow humanity to destroy everything from bad choices.   

So, along with the creation of the material things of which we are so familiar, the Creator instituted physical and spiritual laws which serve to maintain order in His creation.   

It was never the Creator`s will that His prized creation, mankind, should experience death.   Human suffering and death are contrary to the Creator`s will.   

But, the Free Will bit humanity.   Not only did the first man come against the spiritual law of the Creator, he and his offspring have violated His physical laws as well.   

The laws of the Creator contain the power to bless and to curse.   They incentivize for obedience and they incentivize against disobedience.   

The willfull violation of the laws of the Creator resulted in sickness and death.   

So, back to the levels of life and death.   

We have to choose life.   The result of not choosing life is death.   

Obedience to the laws of the creator enhance life while disobedience to those laws tends toward death.   

In considering the cessation of human physical life there are two schools o f thought
   → once are a dead, you are dead
   → we pass from one form of life to another.   

The first school of thought is based on the fact that no one (as far as they know) has ever come back to life who was once dead.   

The second school of thought is based on two things
   → there must be more to existence than a space of 100 years
   → Immanuel - God with us - who lived, died and rose again.   

Those who believe that physical death is the literal, final end of existence, live their span in a feverish, selfish way - getting all they can, canning what they get so they can sit on their cans.   But all the while they live in fear of death.   

And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Heb 2:15 People who live in fear are in bondage.     They are victims of thievery.     They are being robbed of life.      Fear is evidence of unbelief.      Jesus came to make us Free Indeed so that we can enjoy eternal, Abundant Life right now.      Fear Steals the moment.     It steals `now` leaving us hoping for a tomorrow that never comes.      Recognize it for what it is and be set free In Christ Jesus.

Those who believe the evidence of the risen Christ believe His Word, in particular these statements weigh in on this subject.   

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: Joh 11:25 Jesus is life and He has the keys of death and hell in His hands.      There is therefore no reason for a disciple to fear anything.

And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.     Believe you this? Joh 11:26 In order for us to appropriate the truly miraculous we must believe that it has already been provided 2Pe 1:3.      Death is cessation of life.     Those In Christ will never know what cessation of life is.     When their body stops functioning they will immediately, without interrupt be alive in the presence of Christ Jesus 2Co 5:8.      Contrast this with the state of all those not In Christ Jesus.     They live in fear of death and so are in bondage to it all their lives Heb 2:15.

And then there is the teaching from the Apostle Paul:

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Heb 9:27 This is a Spiritual Law.     After our sojourn here on earth we will appear before Jesus at either the Judgment Seat Of Christ or the White Throne Judgment.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of the Lord: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1Th 4:16 The trumpet will herald the appearance of Jesus in the air and the dead and alive In Christ will be caught up to Him..

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. 1Th 4:17 We meet the Lord while He is in the air above the earth and we will never be separated from Him.

But what about those who reject the notion of the Creator, specifically those who reject His revelation in the Lord Jesus Christ?   

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Rev 21:8 It is interesting that of all the vile sins that are enumerated here, the first two are the sins of fear and unbelief.      It could be that these two sins are the seeds from which all other sins sprout.      The last sin in the list is one that has become pervasive in our society.     Lying has become a part of the way many people do business.     It is also part and parcel of our political system.      There is no amount of wealth or power that is worth an eternity in the Lake Of Fire.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before the Lord; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Rev 20:12 Jesus is Lord.     He will judge the quick and the dead.     He holds all authority in heaven and earth.      All those who died having rejected Christ Jesus as Saviour and Lord will stand before Him to be sentenced to the Lake Of Fire.      Here is a sad reality: No one can be saved by works.     Hence all these people are doomed.

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.     This is the second death. Rev 20:14 Jesus destroys death and hell in the Lake Of Fire.

And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Rev 20:15 Everyone who rejects Christ Jesus will be cast into the Lake Of Fire.      Rejecting Christ Jesus is the Unpardonable Sin.

At the end of the day, the Creator is not affected by our choice of life or death, but we are.   Unbelief in the Creator and rebellion against Him result in the same rejection by Him as revealed in the above scripture.   

By virtue of having read this, you are no longer ignorant of the Truth.   

For the Holy Spirit so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Joh 3:16 The Holy Spirit is the eternal, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent Creator of all things by the Word.      What world is John speaking of?         → The earth and all the people born into humanity.      The Holy Spirit is love and love is of the Holy Spirit.      The world was created by our Lord and it is good.     We know that man chose rebellion against the Holy Spirit and so humanity became evil.     But the Holy Spirit loves the people of this world and so He birthed Christ Jesus into the world to redeem it and us.      The Gospel is heard and those who are hungry are lead by the Holy Spirit to believe and receive the Truth.      The Truth sets us free from sin, from death and hell and brings us to Eternal Life by the infilling of the Holy Spirit.      Here is understanding:    → Everlasting Life is Eternal Life    → Eternal Life is union with the Holy Spirit.

For the Holy Spirit sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Joh 3:17 Condemnation is of Satan.     He tempted Eve to cause her to fall into condemnation.     He is our accuser.     He hates humanity.      But the Lord loves us and desires for us to be saved - to experience eternal, abundant life.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2Pe 3:9 The Holy Spirit is love and His love is manifest in Christ who made it possible for us to be born of His Holy Spirit and so be In Christ.      But, He gives us the choice between life and death.     When a person receives Christ Jesus they receive Eternal Life.     When a person rejects Christ Jesus they enter into Eternal Death against the Lord`s will.      This verse totally undermines the false doctrine of Extreme Sovereignty.     We do not see all men coming to repentance so the Lord`s will is not done with respect to every human being.

For whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved. Rom 10:13 What is the `name of the Lord`?     Jesus.      What does it mean to `call upon the name of the Lord`?     It means to come to the Creator calling Him by His name, Jesus, to plea for salvation.      God is just the generic name for deity.      Calling upon God will not save anyone.      Jesus is the express image of the only true and living God.     It is only in the name, Jesus, that anyone is saved.         → Jesus is the name of His Holy Spirit Father.      Understanding this gives real meaning to this important verse which declares the power of salvation in the name of Jesus.      When a person acknowledges that Jesus is Lord by calling on His name, His Holy Spirit performs the work of salvation in the heart of the caller.