The concept of the soul's mortality stands in stark contrast to the widely accepted doctrine of an immortal soul within worldly Christianity. This erroneous belief, rooted in a flawed interpretation of God's Word, distorts the clear evidence of God's Plan for humanity and undermines the foundation of truth. God's Word reveals that man is mortal, and at death, the physical body decomposes into dust, mirroring the fate of animals, as both belong to the same natural, material order. Scripture clarifies that humans possess a spirit, a gift from God that imparts understanding and intellect, distinguishing them from other creatures. However, there is no indication in the Bible that this human spirit holds inherent life or sentience; it requires a living being to function. At death, as stated in Ecclesiastes 12:7, the dust returns to the earth, and the spirit returns to God who gave it, held in safekeeping. The Bible frequently describes death as a sleep, with the spirit of understanding ceasing to function as life ends. God's Plan includes the promise of immortality as a gift to believers, bestowed at specific times according to His order. Scriptures such as Revelation 20:4 and Daniel 12:1-2 indicate that all mankind who have died remain in their graves until resurrected—some to eternal life and others to judgment. Immortality is not inherent but is granted through the gift of God's Holy Spirit, as affirmed in Romans 6:23, where eternal life is described as a gift in Christ Jesus our Lord. The example of King David further illustrates this truth. Despite being a man after God's own heart, David is dead and buried, his body decayed, and he has not ascended to the heavens. Like all humanity, he awaits a future resurrection, demonstrating that God shows no partiality in His pattern of life and death. God's glorious plan holds a future for David and all who choose to live according to His way.

Do not fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28). The word soul, derived from the Greek psuche and the Hebrew nephesh, refers to a living, breathing creature, whether man or animal, and simply means life. It pertains to the physical life of any being, as seen in Leviticus 17:11, where the soul of the flesh is in the blood. Jesus gave His life, His soul, as a ransom by pouring out His life's blood for sin (Mark 10:45; Isaiah 53:12). The Bible shows that a soul can perish, as Ezekiel states, The soul who sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:4, 20). While man can destroy a physical life, resulting only in the first death, God has the power to both impart life and take it away, either temporarily or forever (Luke 12:4-5; Hebrews 9:27). If God judges a person unworthy of His Kingdom, that person will be cast into the Lake of Fire, the second death, from which there is no resurrection, and both body and soul will be destroyed forever (Revelation 20:14-15; Malachi 4:1). Therefore, we should not shape our lives by threats from men, for if they kill us, it is only temporary, but if God kills us, it is forever.

The Bible indicates that souls are mortal by nature, as evidenced in various scriptures. When the fifth seal was opened, John saw under the base of the altar the souls of those who had been slain, symbolizing the martyrdom of saints. These souls, representing Christians who would be martyred, are told to rest a little while longer in their graves until the number of their fellow servants and brethren, who would also be killed, was completed. The depiction of these souls crying for vengeance is not literal, as the dead do not speak, but rather it mirrors the symbolic imagery of Abel's blood crying to God from the ground. Thus, the vision of souls under the altar serves as a figurative representation of the martyrdom that has occurred and is yet to come on earth before Christ's return.