The Dance of Death, Hans Holbein (1497-1543) 

You can be sure that when or if the secret of physical immortality is acquired (and it is a goal being actively pursued) then only a favored few will be given the prize.

Then the Earth will become even more a kind of Hell. 

Then the only way we will be able to rid ourselves of our Masters will be to kill them. 

Death has been our friend. 

He visits the rich and the poor alike in his rounds. 

When the privileged purchase the ability to stay his knock on the door, this planet will  enter a stasis.

 We shall be burdened with the same masters for thousands of years.

If we have not been already.