Page 41 - Prophetic Word Newsletters Archive 2006 by Pastor Randy Shupe

THE BIBLICAL ARGUMENT FOR BURIAL
OF THE BODY OF A BELIEVER

“FOR WHATEVER THINGS WERE WRITTEN
BEFORE WERE WRITTEN FOR OUR LEARNING,
THAT WE THROUGH THE PATIENCE AND HOPE

OF THE SCRIPTURES MIGHT HAVE HOPE.”
Rom. 15:4

There are numerous examples in Scripture of the burial of the followers of God, but no record exists of
any believer being purposely cremated, although the practice was in existence throughout a heathen
world. Here is a list of burial references of the people of God for your consideration:

EXAMPLES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT:

1. Abraham buried his wife, Sarah ( Gen 23:3-4, 17-20 )
2. Abraham was buried by his sons ( Gen. 25:8-9 )
3. Deborah was buried ( Gen. 35:8 )
4. Rachel was buried by her husband Jacob ( Gen. 35:19-20 )
5. Isaac was buried by his sons ( Gen. 35:29 )
6. Jacob buried his wife Leah in the family tomb ( Gen. 49:31)
7. Jacob requested to be buried in the same place ( Gen. 47:29-31, 50:2,13 )
8. Moses buried his wife Miriam ( Num. 20:1)
9. Moses was buried by God Himself! ( Deut. 34:5-6 )
10. Joshua was buried in the land of his inheritance ( Josh. 24:30 )
11. Samuel was honored with a national burial ( 1 Sam. 25:1 )
12. David and his son Solomon were buried in the city of David ( 1 Kin. 2:10, 11:43 )

(There are also numerous references to the burial of the various kings of Judah and Israel)

EXAMPLES FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT:

1. Jesus Christ was buried in another man’s tomb ( Mat. 27:57-60, 1 Cor. 15:4 )
2. John the Baptist was buried after he was beheaded ( Mat. 14:12 )
3. Stephen was buried after his martyrdom ( Acts 8:2 )
4. Even Ananias and Sapphira were buried by believers after God slew them for lying ( Acts 5:10)

From the recorded evidence above, we cannot say that we do not know what is God’s will for the body of
a believer. How this is borne out in the single fact that God Himself buried the body of Moses! God’s
people are not fully aware of the significance of the body in God’s economy! Have you ever wondered
why this scenario took place after the death of Moses?

““YYEETT MMIICCHHAAEELL TTHHEE AARRCCHHAANNGGEELL,, IINN CCOONNTTEENNDDIINNGG WWIITTHH TTHHEE DDEEVVIILL,,
WWHHEENN HHEE DDIISSPPUUTTEEDD AABBOOUUTT TTHHEE BBOODDYY OOFF MMOOSSEESS……SSAAIIDD,, ‘‘TTHHEE LLOORRDD RREEBBUUKKEE YYOOUU!!’’”” JJuuddee99

God has further need for the body of Moses. He is prophetically to return to earth in his resurrected body
as one of God’s two witnesses ( see Rev.11). Read this story carefully and note how interesting it is that
the world, in retaliation against these two witnesses, “…do not allow their dead bodies to be put into
graves” (Rev. 11:9). Is not this an open defiance and mockery against what is known by man to be God’s
will for the body of His followers? Why do you think that so many martyrs were burned at the stake by the
haters of God? It is an open challenge and desire to prevent God’s desire for the honor of the burial of a
believer in anticipation of the resurrection to come.
As long as it is within the power of the believer to control the destiny of his/her physical body, burial
should be that choice. Certainly, recorded history will attest that there has been countless numbers of
believers who were burned at the stake for their faith (see Foxe’s Book of Martyrs). Others have perished
by means of the destructive force of house fires, etc. In such instances, the all-powerful God will not be
limited in restructuring the bodies of those believers destroyed in such manner. Adam was created from
dust, therefore God can resurrect a destroyed body from burned ash. Even the recent discovery and use
of DNA should illustrate that point. It takes very little evidence to establish the DNA of an individual. Do
you think God who “numbers the hairs on our head” (Mat. 10:30) does not know the DNA of every person
that He created? Cremation cannot, and will not, prevent God from resurrecting the body, even the body
of unbelievers (see Rev. 20:12-15).