If there is a second death,
then there must be a first death. The first death is our
physical death.
“In
the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground;
for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
(Genesis 3:19 emphasis mine)
“And
as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
(Hebrews 9:27 emphasis mine)
In Genesis 2:17 God tells
Adam, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of
it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
Obviously, Adam did not die
physically until over 900 years later, but on the day he sinned, he began dying
physically. Also, on that same day, he died spiritually.
Death means “separation.” In
physical death, we are separated from our body, or as Paul calls it, our tent
or tabernacle. In spiritual death, we are separated from God.
Someone said, “Born once, die
twice. Born twice, die once.” We who have been born again in Jesus Christ will
experience the first resurrection, but never the second death. We are
overcomers in Christ Jesus. We are “born twice, but die once.” Those without
Christ are “born once, but die twice.”
“He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that
overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” (Revelation 2:11)
“Blessed
and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second
death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall
reign with him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6)
What is an overcomer?
“For
whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that
overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but
he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5)
What is the second death?
“And
death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
(Revelation 20:14)
“But
the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second
death.” (Revelation 21:8)
All of us are partakers of
sin. The difference between the lost sinner and the saved sinner is that those
who have been saved by faith in Jesus are born again spiritually. His blood has
covered our sins and cleansed us (garment of salvation). Not only that, He has
cloaked us with His own righteousness (robe of righteousness), and it is Jesus’
righteousness God sees when He looks upon us.
“I
will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he
hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the
robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a
bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10)
“And
be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but
that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by
faith:” (Philippians 3:9)
“Simon
Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained
like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour
Jesus Christ:” (2 Peter 1:1)
The self-righteousness of the
lost sinner is all he has and will not stand up under the scrutiny of a holy
God.
“But
we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;
and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us
away.” (Isaiah 64:6)
“And
fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but
rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew
10:28)
“Then
shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting
fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the
righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:41, 46 emphasis mine)
All of mankind is born once
(physically). All of mankind physically dies once (with a few Biblical
exceptions, such as the rapture for example).
No believer will die twice,
but every unbeliever will die twice, the second time being cast into the lake
of fire, which is the second death. See again Revelation 20:14; 21:8.
The lake of fire (second
death) is eternal separation from God. It was prepared by God for Satan and his
angels, but those who have never trusted in Christ will also be there for
eternity. See again Matthew 25:41, 46.
Some may think I’m being very
negative in talking about these issues, but isn’t it better to get it out in
the open now? Some may say, “You’re scaring me!” Isn’t it better to be scared
now and do something about it, than to be horrified when it is too late?
Some teach that ‘when a lost
person dies their soul dies along with their body. Therefore, there is no life
for them after the grave.’ I’m sure they have the following passage in mind.
“And
fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but
rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew
10:28)
Let me point out two
important observations in this passage.
1.
The Greek word
for “destroy,” apollymi is meant to be used as follows: The idea is not
extinction but ruin, loss, not of being, but of well-being. (Vine’s Expository
Dictionary of the New Testament Words)
2.
Revelation 20:14
(see above) says clearly that “death and hell” are “cast into the lake of fire.
This is the second death.” Through death, every lost soul goes to hell. Hell,
and every soul therein, are cast into the lake of fire, which is the second
death.
Notice carefully the next two
verses.
“And
the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles
before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the
beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a
lake of fire burning with brimstone.” (Revelation 19:20)
“And
the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone,
where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night
for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10)
In Revelation 19:20 the beast
and false prophet “were cast alive into a lake of fire burning
with brimstone.” One thousand (1,000) years later, at the end of the
Millennium, Satan (the devil) “was also cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are.” The beast and false
prophet are still alive in the lake of fire, 1,000 years later, when Satan (the
devil) is also cast in. All those at the great White Throne judgement will also
be cast alive into the lake of fire. (See verses above.)
Some also teach that the lost
will suffer for a period of time and then will be released from the lake of
fire, but along with the beast and false prophet, all “shall be tormented day
and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10 above)
Every person cast into the
lake of fire will be there because of their rejection of Jesus Christ. Since Jesus
paid for our sins on the cross, their works must either measure up to the works
of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, or they must have called upon Jesus to be
saved while they were alive physically. No one is perfect but God, so that’s
out. Did they put their faith in Jesus and Him only to be saved while they were
physically alive? Since they are at the White Throne judgment, the answer is
obvious. There is no hope.
A man can spend an eternity
trying to “work off” their debt to God, but it is humanly impossible to ever
accomplish that feat. To even think that is possible is the ultimate in satanic
pride.
Also, think about this. Most
everyone, if they knew there was nothing after death but ‘nothingness,’ or if
they could at least ‘work it off’ after a period of time, would spend their
entire lives brow deep in their favorite sins with no intentions of ever
repenting.
Then there are those
shouting, “That’s not fair! I want what’s coming to me!” Every person in the
lake of fire, the second death, will certainly receive that. Those who are wise
will certainly not want what is coming to them. These instead will call upon
Jesus and gladly receive God’s grace, which does not give us what we deserve,
but what we do not deserve, the glorious riches of all that is of God.
The bottom line is that all
who avoid the second death have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, and all
who partake of the second death have refused the only path to God.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am
the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
(John 14:6)
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html
