Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I would say that the imagery of death being swallowed referred to the total and complete manner in which Christ's victory over death through His resurrection did away with the eternal consequences of death (separation from God) that had existed prior to that time for humans.

Instead, humans could now share in Christ's victory by placing their faith in His sinless life, atoning death, and resurrection, rather than in their own imperfect works or righteousness, for reconciliation to God and the attainment of eternal life, which had previously been unattainable due the universality of human sin.

Following Christ's resurrection, death's finality had been abolished as surely as an object in the mouth disappears after being consumed or swallowed.

February 21 2020 • 4 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

Of course, death swallows up all the strength of life. Who can number the victims of materialism, alcoholism and licentiousness? Even spiritual sins exercise their influence on corporal life; envy is a rottenness of the bones (Prov 14:30) Herman Bavinck

The Brown, Driver, and Briggs (BDB) Lexicon says, "swallow" (בָּלַע = bala). It is used "object reflexive in sense Ecclesiastes 10:12; = annihilate Isaiah 25:7-8." 

But death is to be swallowed up in victory. "The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces” (Isa. 25:7–8 niv, Wiersbe). Aren't you looking forward to hearing a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

October 21 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report