Is dying really a consequence in Mortal Kombat?

I actually haven't play a MK game in a while(I vaguely remember playing it as a child who couldn't even read), mostly due to the fact I suck at fighting games, but regardless, I'm still interested in understanding the story, to be more specific, despite all the brutal deaths that occur, how a lot of the characters still manage to miraculously come back to life appear appear in the next game?