Is death the last enemy to be destroyed?

Definition of Death in Scripture

Death, according to Scripture, is the separation of the immaterial essence of a person from the body (cf. Genesis 2:17, which implies the entry of death through sin). It is both a physical reality—returning to dust—and a spiritual consequence that separates humanity from full fellowship with God (Romans 5:12: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin…”). The question of whether death is the last enemy to be destroyed arises from 1 Corinthians 15:26 (BSB: “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”).

Context of the “Last Enemy” in 1 Corinthians 15

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul addresses the resurrection of Christ and the promise of believers’ resurrection. Verse 26 proclaims that death is the last enemy. Paul’s argument builds upon Christ’s resurrection as the historical and theological foundation for the believer’s future resurrection.

He had earlier stated: “For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised” (1 Corinthians 15:16). By affirming the fact of Christ’s resurrection, he shows that the pattern for conquering death has been set (“Christ, the firstfruits,” 1 Corinthians 15:23). Consequently, there will come an appointed time when this enemy, death itself, is annihilated.

Christ’s Victory Over Death

The Gospels record Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection on the third day (Luke 24:6: “…He is not here; He has risen!”). Outside of Scripture, there are passages in early historical documents (e.g., Josephus’ “Antiquities of the Jews,” Book 18, though debated in its exact wording) suggesting belief among early believers that this event was factual. The “last enemy” language is consistent with the conviction that Jesus’ triumph over the grave is a foretaste of complete eradication of death.

The resurrection is central, as validated by multiple lines of manuscript tradition. Ancient Greek manuscripts such as P46 (circa late 2nd century) contain portions of Paul’s letters, demonstrating the consistent theological claim that death could not hold Jesus. The Dead Sea Scrolls, though primarily Old Testament, testify to the diligent transmission of Scripture, supporting the broader biblical narrative that culminates in Jesus’ resurrection victory.

Old Testament Anticipations of Victory Over Death

Though death entered the human experience in Genesis 3, the Old Testament hints several times at eventual victory over this intruder. Job 19:25–27 reads: “But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth…” Isaiah 25:8 declares: “He will swallow up death forever.” These passages preview the fuller revelation that will come in the New Testament, where death is identified openly as the “last enemy” to be defeated.

The Nature of This Enemy

Death is personified as an intruder (Romans 5:12) and enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26) that has wreaked havoc on creation. The genealogies in Genesis and the subsequent record of patriarchal deaths (Genesis 5, 11) underscore humanity’s fallenness and consistent pattern of mortality. Yet these same genealogies, when taken consistently (as many hold in a young-earth framework), present a timeline coherent with a worldwide Flood (Genesis 6–9), an event confirmed by geological formations observed by scientists affiliated with the Institute for Creation Research, who argue these layers can be explained by rapid, catastrophic processes consistent with the Genesis account.

The Future Eradication of Death

According to Revelation 20:14, death and Hades are thrown into the “lake of fire.” This act completes the promise that Paul references in 1 Corinthians 15:26. Believers will be clothed with immortal, resurrection bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42–44), freed from the curse that began with Adam and Eve. Thus, in God’s kingdom, where sin and death are banished, death truly becomes a defeated foe at the culmination of all things.

Miraculous Evidence and Modern Implications

Accounts of biblical miracles—from the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14) to Jesus’ bodily resurrection—are historically rooted events that demonstrate God’s power over all created order, including death. Archaeological evidences, such as the Tel Dan Stele and the Pilate Stone, reinforce the Bible’s historical credibility. Reports of contemporary miracles and healings, corroborated through medical documentation in certain cases, sustain the biblical claim that God’s power over physical reality continues today.

Though modern-day healings are not identical to the final dealing with death, they foreshadow God’s ultimate intention to restore creation fully. Paul’s statement that death is the final enemy to be destroyed highlights that the full defeat of this enemy is in process, secured by the power of the resurrection.

Philosophical and Theological Assurance

Philosophically, the reality of death often prompts ultimate questions about life’s meaning. Biblical teaching assures believers that death will not have the final say. Behavioral research shows that those who hold hope in an afterlife demonstrate resilience and purpose in the face of mortality. Scripture’s consistent assurance across numerous manuscript families reinforces that the promise of resurrection—grounded in the historical event of Christ’s own victory—is dependable, thereby providing hope and perspective.

Young-Earth Perspective and God’s Original Design

According to a young-earth reading of Scripture—drawing from genealogies and historical chronologies similar to those advocated by Archbishop James Ussher—God originally designed the world without death (Genesis 1–2). Sin introduced death as a foreign component, not as a natural process of God’s creation. This transforms the biblical teaching on death into a dramatic intrusion rather than an intended cycle. Some modern biological and geological interpretations (e.g., rapid fossilization during a global Flood) support the notion that death, suffering, and mass extinctions came as a result of sin’s entry, not billions of years of gradual processes.

Conclusion

Death stands as an enemy because it symbolizes separation, decay, and the interruption of God’s original design. Scripturally, it is indeed the last enemy to be destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:26). The resurrection of Christ demonstrates God’s power to overturn the curse, guaranteeing a future reality where death no longer exists (Revelation 21:4: “There will be no more death…”).

Every strand of biblical teaching—from the Fall in Genesis to the prophecies in Isaiah and the resurrection narratives in the Gospels—sets the stage for the final eradication of this enemy. Historical corroborations, manuscript evidence, and ongoing experiences of divine intervention point to the reliability of Scripture’s promise. Therefore, death’s demise is assured, and it will be completely and finally destroyed, confirming the hope that Christ’s victory over the grave is for all who live by faith in Him.