I'm going with the assumption he is dead. He could have very well set up all of those things, but he couldn't have faked the Phoenix's lament. JKR has also said, "When you are dead, you are dead. There is no coming back, not even in the wizarding world." I would absolutely love it if he were still alive, but I don't think that is the case here.
so who do u guys think will die in book 7 cause i really think Harry will somehow find a way to defeat voldermort or else these books were all pointless