In reply to Lawrence Barnett.

LB,
The statement that it is appointed to men once to die is true, but it is a general statement about general humanity, not an ironclad truth that must be applied to each and every human who ever lived. There are other human beings who didn't die. Genesis says that Enoch "walked with God" and was taken home while he was still living. Elijah didn't die; he was taken up in a fiery chariot (2 Kings) and disappeared before the eyes of Elisha. Clearly, when the Lord returns for His church, millions of Believers will be taken out without ever dying. Even Paul says that "...we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed..." (I Corinthians 15). The statement you reference is true of humanity in the general sense---short of Divine intervention, every human being who is born will grow old and die and then face judgment of whether or not they established a relationship with God. Hope that helps. ;-)
Robert