The Crocodile Hunter Will Live Again

Steve Irwin's death shocked the world recently. But there's hope!

News of Steve Irwin's death spread quickly last month. Known on television as the "Crocodile Hunter," Irwin's brushes with death and serious injury often amazed his audience. At times, even he was surprised at his luck with the crocodiles, cobras and sharks he handled on national television (click on the link for video clips of near misses involving these and other animals). It was therefore all the more shocking when Irwin died from a stingray barb to the heart while filming a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

This isn't the first incident involving a chest injury by a stingray. In 1988, a 12-year-old boy from Australia died of a similar wound. And in October, a stingray jumped into a Florida man's boat and pierced his heart, causing life-threatening injuries.

In many ways, these bizarre incidents illustrate the urgent need for God's Kingdom to be established on earth. In the book of RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25)., God promises that there will ultimately be no more death, sorrow, crying or pain (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 21:4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
See All...). He even foretells a time when the nature of the animals will become peaceful (Isaiah 65:25The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.
See All...). These prophecies are repeated numerous times throughout the ScripturesThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18). and give us hope for a better world to come.

Even more significant is God's promise of a resurrection—not just for true believers, but also for those who may not have known about God's way of life. The BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. teaches that once Christ returns to the earth, He will set up His Kingdom and reign for a thousand years (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 20:4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
See All...). At that time, those who have died in the faith will be resurrected to reign with Christ as kings and priests. After this golden age of peace and happiness, God will resurrect the untold billions of people who have died without full knowledge of His truth. Once they have received an opportunity to repent of their sins and obey God, they will finally be judged and rewarded according to His wisdom (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 20:5-13 [5] But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
[6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
[7] And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
[8] And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
[9] And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
[10] And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
[11] And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
[12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
[13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

See All...).

Steve Irwin will be missed by many. However, we can take comfort in knowing that we haven't seen the last of the Crocodile Hunter. One day, he and so many others will have an opportunity to enjoy a life without fear of pain, death...or crocodiles! VT