"DEATH" When Tomorrow Ends

2007-08-04T19:58:00.000-07:00

Written By

Walter Vaughn

What is this distressing eventuality that casts it's shadow over the strong, weak, rich or poor? Death,[Hebrew-mavet מות] truly touches all living things. For some, the older we get the closer we come to the realization that our seemingly fragile existence rushes towards an end, the final chapter. With this in mind, why are we so shocked, devastated, and completely crushed when we lose a loved one or friend in death? Perhaps it is our own misconception of death that inspires great fear and utter sadness.

We know everything G-d creates is good and nothing evil can come from above. Certainly, death was created by G-d and nothing bad can come from complete goodness. It is written,

וירא אלהים את-כל-אשר עשה והנה-טוב מאד

"And G-d saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good."
Genesis 1:31

We shouldn't forget the one and only thing G-d found not to be good was that man should be alone with no helper. G-d in all His foreknowledge and wisdom creates a help mate that would eventually play a key role in the introduction of death to all mankind.

Our misconception

of death

battles with our immortal make up, perhaps this is what makes it so alien to who and what we think we are. Many imagine the physical body to be the true self but this is only a portion of the picture. There is a duality within man, the spiritual as well as physical. Although we all share the same physical body we differ in character and personality trait. Although our physical bodies are the same the spiritual or inward self reflect many multiple characteristics. These various personalities shape our world and set in motion the making of an outer garment that clothes the physical earth. The condition of the earth mirrors or reflects the spiritual condition of it's inhabitants. Every generation has the divine privilege to become co- creators with G-d. One generation lays down where the new succeeds and on and on it goes one generation to the next. This alone is the greatest proof and testimony that man is created in the Image[Hebrew- tslem צלם = likeness / shadow] of G-d. This inward desire to want to live forever and build things, just as G-d is forever and is always creating, we too desire to share in His eternal and everlasting existence, yes as a tslem or shadow of G-d. Although technology advances our moral character seems to be in decline. This unfortunate reality is a recipe for the utter desolation of our Earth. Thus, the need for Messiah, Hebrew - Moshiach.

The outer body is but a vessel. Who peels an orange, throws away the fruit and eats the outer skin? The real fruit is within where as the outer skin serves to house or cover it's treasure within. G-d in all his grace creates man in this way.

וימר אלהם נעשה אדם בצלמנו כדמותנו

"Let us create man in OUR IMAGE after OUR LIKENESS."

G-d's name, יהוה also known as the Shem haMeforash is the distinct and exclusive designation of the Divine Being. This name when translated in English denotes "absolute existence, the One who Was, who Is, and who will Be." G-d encompasses all phases of time or existence.

G-d created man in his image; in the divine image he created them"

Seeing therefore we are created in His likeness, G-d shares immortality with man.

These passages are excerpted from Heschel's essay (Death as Homecoming", published in Jewish Reflections on death, edited by Jack Riemen. (Schocken Books)

Our Greatness: The Question of an Afterlife and the "Image of God"
There is, furthermore, the mystery of my personal existence. The problem of how and whether I am going to be after I die is profoundly related to the problem of who and how I was before I was born. The mystery of an afterlife is related to the mystery of preexistence. A soul does not grow out of nothing. Does it, then, perish and dissolve in nothing?

Human life is on its way from a great distance; it has gone through ages of experience, of growing, suffering, insight, action. We are what we are by what we come from. There is a vast continuum preceding individual existence, and it is a legitimate surmise to assume that there is a continuum following individual existence. Human living is always being under way, and death is not the final destination.

In the language of the Bible to die, to be buried, is said to be "gathered to his people" (Genesis 25:8). They "were gathered to their fathers" (Judges 2:10). "When your days are fulfilled to go to be with your fathers" (I Chronicles 17:11).

Do souls become dust? Does spirit turn to ashes? How can souls, capable of creating immortal words, immortal works of thought and art, be completely dissolved, vanish forever?

Others may counter: The belief that man may have a share in eternal life is not only beyond proof; it is even presumptuousous. Who could seriously maintain that members of the human species, a class of mammals, will attain eternity? What image of humanity is presupposed by the belief in immortality? Indeed, man's hope for eternal life presupposes that there is something about man that is worthy of eternity, that has some affinity to what is divine, that is made in the likeness of the divine…

[T]he likeness of God means the likeness of Him who is unlike man. The likeness of God means the likeness of Him compared with whom all else is like nothing.

Indeed, the words "image and likeness of God" [in the biblical creation story] conceal more than they reveal. They signify something which we can neither comprehend nor verify. For what is our image? What is our likeness? Is there anything about man that may be compared with God? Our eyes do not see it; our minds cannot grasp it. Taken literally, these words are absurd, if not blasphemous. And still they hold the most important truth about the meaning of man.

Obscure as the meaning of these terms is, they undoubtedly denote something unearthly, something that belongs to the sphere of God. Demut [likeness]and tzelem [image]are of a higher sort of being than the things created in the six days. This, it seems, is what the verse intends to convey: Man partakes of an unearthly divine sort of being.

We are taught there are three parts to the soul, neshamot chaim-breath of life, ruach-wind or spirit that acts as a channel to facilitate or connect G-d's breath to the nefesh-rest upon the blood body. G-d's life giving breath (neshama) travels or is sent to us by means of wind (ruach/spirit) and rest (nefesh/ blood body/animal soul) upon the flesh.

The body or outer shell has no life in and of itself. G-d created a vessel or body(Nefesh) for Adam, but it wasn't until G-d blew into his nostrils the "breath of life"(Nishmat Chaim) that enabled Adam to live. The soul [Hebrew Neshameh - נשמה is the breath of G-d, and comes from G-d's inner most being, the sharing His breath with man.

It the book of Genesis G-d created everything by speech or word of mouth, but when he created man, is was by a Divine kiss, His own breath.

In today's society many allow their animal soul [Hebrew- behamot nefesh] to govern their life. This shouldn't be surprising because the flesh needs material things in order to survive on the physical plane. Unfortunately, it's easy to allow the lowest aspect of our soul to guide our life and to influence others. If one looks about the world with all the injustice, violence, and suffering, we see a world run by the lowest portion of the soul, the animal side. We have forgotten our true essence and just how special we truly are to G-d and our responsibility as Co-Creators with Him. It is our reluctance or lack of knowledge that leads the world into self destruction. These days of spiritual famine must usher in Messiah [Hebrew-Moshiach] to redirect mankind on their proper path and partnership with G-d. Man must learn to exercise his (Nishmat Chaim) the higher spiritual to govern their life and influence others. No longer will man allow his animal soul to govern the earth, but by the true spirit of life. It is written,

"And it must occur in the final part of the days that the mountain of the house of יהוהwill become firmly established above the top of the mountains, and it will be certainly lifted up above the hills and to it all the nations must stream. And many people will certainly go and say, "Come, you people, and let us go up to the mountain of יהוה to the house of the G-d of Jacob and he will instruct us about his ways and we will walk in his paths." For out of Sion law will go forth and the word of יהוה out of Yerusalem. And he will certainly render judgement among the nations and set matters straight respecting many peoples. And they will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war any more." Isaiah 2: 2-4

In the Messianic days we learn the true nature of our real self. You, are a spark of divinity, crowned with a divine kiss. The flesh or animal soul at the moment of death returns to where it was taken, the dust. But the breath [Hebrew- Ruach/Spirit] of life, the real you returns to spend eternity with it's source.

"And the spirit [ruach] shall return unto G-d who gave it." Eccles xii.7

The Torah was written for the living, the here and now within the context of time. Not much is written about death. But we do have a few references to the afterlife.

"Then Avraham expired and died in a good old age, old and satisfied,and was gathered to his people." Genesis 25:8

"Then die on the mountain into which you are going up, and be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and got to be gathered to his people;" Deuteronomy 32:50

"That is why here I am gathering you to your forefathers, and you will certainly be gathered to your own graveyard in peace and your eyes will not look upon the calamity that I'm bring upon this place."
2 Kings 22:20

The Torah speaks of the dead as being gathered to "their people" or family at death. This may are may not happen immediately after death. Some spirits for reasons unknown remain for a period of time before returning to their forefathers or family.

From the writings of Dr. Pim van Lommel, M.D.: Continuity of Consciousness

4.3. The Encounter with Deceased Relatives

If deceased acquaintances or relatives are encountered in an otherworldly dimension, they are usually recognized by their appearance, while communication is possible through thought transfer. Thus, during an NDE (Near Death Experience) it is also possible to come into contact with fields of consciousness of deceased persons (interconnectedness). Sometimes persons are met whose death was impossible to have known; sometimes persons unknown to them are encountered during an NDE. Quotation:

“During my cardiac arrest I had a extensive experience (…) and later I saw, apart from my deceased grandmother, a man who had looked at me lovingly, but whom I did not know. More than 10 years later, at my mother’s deathbed, she confessed to me that I had been born out of an extramarital relationship, my father being a Jewish man who had been deported and killed during the second World War, and my mother showed me his picture. The unknown man that I had seen more than 10 years before during my NDE turned out to be my biological father.”

Please visit Dr. Pim van Lommel, M.D.: Continuity of Consciousness web site for more incredible testimonials!