Is there such a thing as a good death? Scripture answers this question in the affirmative.
When studying the time of the kings we see the ten northern tribes known as Israel had only evil kings, the first being Jeroboam. He was so wicked the Lord promised him that his entire house and descendents would be taken away "as one takes away refuse until it is all gone." (I Kings 14:10) God also spoke this: "The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Jeroboam and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field. (v. 11)
That prophecy did come to pass concerning the house of Jeroboam. (I Kings 15:25-30) Except for one member of Jeroboam's house - his son, Abijah. Abijah became sick and Jeroboam and his wife sought to have him made well and live. The Lord God had a different plan: "Arise therefore, go to your own house. When your feet enter the city, the child shall die. And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he is the only one of Jeroboam who shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something good toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam." (I Kings 14:12-13)
God expounds on this through the prophet, Isaiah: "The righteous perishes, and no man takes it to heart; merciful men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous is taken away from evil. He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness." (Is 57:1-2)
God found faith in Abijah. We know this because "the just shall live by faith" and "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Heb 10:38; 11:6)
By faith the Old Testament saints, strangers and pilgrims on the earth, looked forward to the coming Redeemer (who would be the Christ; ref. Genesis 3:15) and a heavenly country. "Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." (Heb 11:13-16)
By faith us New Testament saints, sojourners and pilgrims on the earth, look back at the coming of the Redeemer (Jesus Christ) and now forward to "the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Rev 21:2) It is with this assurance that we can join the apostle Paul and declare: "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." And "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord." (Phil 1:21; II Cor 5:8)
Finally, the great 15th chapter of I Corinthians is a glorious treatise on the death of believers in Jesus Christ. Is there such a thing as a good death? For everyone in Christ the answer is "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?...thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Vs. 55, 57)