Facing the Last Enemy

Facing the Last Enemy: Death and the Christian offers a biblical and pastoral guide to understanding death, preparing for it, and ministering to those who are dying or grieving.

Dr. Guy Prentiss Waters organizes the book in three parts. The first, “Defining Death,” examines what Scripture teaches about the nature and origin of death, what happens after death for believers and unbelievers, why Christ died, and why Christians still die. The second part, “Encountering Death,” addresses how Christians should face the deaths of others, how to help the dying and grieving, and how to prepare for one’s own death—including ethical considerations at the end of life. The third part, “Beyond Death,” turns to the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, and the Bible’s teaching on heaven and hell.

Throughout, Waters grounds each topic in careful exposition of Scripture, drawing on the Reformed confessional tradition to clarify doctrines that are often misunderstood or avoided. The book originated as a Sunday school series prompted by a dying friend’s question—”How do I prepare to die?”—and retains that accessible, pastoral character. It is written for pastors, caregivers, those facing terminal illness, and any reader seeking to understand what the Bible teaches about mortality and eternity.

Key Themes

• The biblical definition of death as a consequence of sin, not a natural feature of creation
• The believer’s communion with Christ in glory after death
• Pastoral guidance for ministering to the dying and grieving with gospel hope
• The bodily resurrection, final judgment, and the eternal states of heaven and hell

Featured Quotes

“Not only is sin removed from us, but we are removed from sin and all its effects and influences on our souls.”

“The good news that Jesus Christ has died and been raised from the dead for sinners transforms our experience of grief.”