Let's clear the air. Please state your premises on these simple questions.
1. Sin requires [results in] death and all men die. Jesus died FOR our sins. IS MANKIND PAYING TWICE?
Of course not. In death, Man is experiencing the result of separation from God, the Source of Life.
2. When the Israelites offered their sacrifices to cover their sins--did they die anyway? Why?
Unbelievers die because of separation from the SOURCE of LIFE. Because the sacrifice of animals only Pictured Jesus, and the passover meal only Pictured the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, practicing Jews also died.
Christians on the other hand are in a BLOOD COVENANT unto the death of both signatories with Jesus Christ. So here we have three deaths: (a) unbeliever (b) practicing Jew (c) believing Christian.
In each case they die, albeit for different reasons. The appointment of all is the same.
Heb. 9: 27 it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the Judgment
3.Are we actually talking about physical death, spiritual death, a combination of the two?
In the bible, DEATH = SEPARATION OF SPIRIT/SOUL/BODY . Each of these are spoken of as dead when they are separated from one another. They are alive when they are all together. The bible speaks of each of them as "YOU". Your spirit is YOU, your soul is YOU, your body is YOU. "He is sleeping" = the dead body (you/he) is sleeping.
Understand?
4.In the Garden of Eden did Adam die "on the day you eat of it you will surely die?" ON THAT DAY? Or, do you invent a Jehovah's Witness rubbery "day" that lasted a thousand years?
I believe that Adam's spirit died some sort of death on that very day, and he began to be led by the body (flesh)
5. Did God warn Adam and Eve that disobedience would not only kill THEM but millions and millions of unborn descendants as well or was that just an afterthought?
Wasn't there, don't know.
I have answered ALL of YOUR questions Terry. Fairness demands that you now answer at least ONE or TWO of mine OK? Please answer the questions in bold in the logic below:
If a theif stands before a judge and his relative stands up on his behalf and asks the Judge for mercy stating that he will pay the offended party 10 times the amount stolen if he will release the thief into his custody.... the Judge is NOW faced with TWO POSSIBLE REMEDIES.
(1) He can accept the payment. In that case, the offended party pockets the cash and ALL go home satisfied.
(2) He can reject the offer & pass prison sentence. In this case only the offended party goes home somewhat satisfied.
In either case, Justice is served no? It is the Judges' call.
There was no relative with a ten time payment for Sodom and Gomorrah, hence the Judgment was just then as it is now.
Is it hypocritical to critize God for showing mercy when we enjoy receiving it and at times enjoy giving it?
Well, is it?