The Second death

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won’t be harmed by the second death.”

Revelation 2:12

Death, the universal foe. The body dies and the soul goes on into another dimension. This is the first death. The second death is the permanent separation of the soul from its maker and God. It will happen at the end of time and all those who choose it, will regret it.

“I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.”

Revelation 20:11-15

This is a picture of the great, final assize of the human soul. Those who do not possess eternal life, and who’s names are not written in the Book of Life, are forever thrown out into darkness, to suffer their fate. Death and hell themselves are put into this lake of fire and so it is the second death. The soul and body both go there to pay for the sin committed in this life, and there is no way out. The prospect of salvation is over, and all hope has gone, only torment is left. The body and soul are separated from God eternally, and this is the worst possible scenario for the souls made to love God and enjoy him forever. The deeds done in the body are used to convict the sin infested soul, who has never been forgiven, because it would not come to God and ask for it. The books record these deeds, and these souls are accused by their deeds and condemned by them.

“He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.” He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. But, for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:5-8

In this passage it is spelt out for us again. The Lord Jesus is making everything new and finally and irrevocable dealing with sin and sinners. He tells us who He is. “Alpha and Omega” the “First and Last” the “Beginning and the end” He is the Eternal Son of the One true God. He has always been and always will be. He is the life giver and the life taker. He holds the keys and death and hell and He will decide what happens to these two imposters from His throne, and all who choose their ways. These sinners deliberately gave up the opportunity to have eternal life, and to overcome their sin and be forgiven from it. They did not overcome temptation and fear, but succumbed to it and now face it all eternally.

For those who over come, they receive the very life of God and eternally sonship with their Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ, the judge of all the earth.

The list is here for us to see. Cowards, who refused to suffer with Christ in their life on earth, but chose the comfort of this world instead. They passed up faith and remained dead in their sins, with no spiritual life and no hope of a life with God. Sinners who have the root of sin in their heart and mind – pride and covetousness for the status and filthy goods of this world’s system, which they exchange for the grace of God, thereby rejecting God and never able to enter into life. Abominable people who pollute everything and everybody they meet. Life-haters and takers, unclean living people, who live for sexual gratification and selfish gain. Evil lovers and Satan worshippers, who love his ways rather than the ways of God. Those who refuse to worship God and bow their knees to his Lordship and reign in their lives. All who love falsehood, spread falsehood and live lives of fake godliness and religious legalism. All these face the second death. God will not contaminate human society any more with these depraved people.

”Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years.”

Revelation 20:6

The Blessed and Holy are those who overcome the devils tribulation and are raised in newness of life by God, into the everlasting kingdom to reign with Christ. The difference could not be more stark. We cling on to our natural rebellious heart against God and doggedly pursue our sin, and we reap eternal judgment and death, or we repent, believe and reign with God..!

We now understand why God calls the sinner “foolish.” We are foolish in the extreme when we reject Christ and choose death instead.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won’t be harmed by the second death.”

Revelation 2:11

We must overcome…we can overcome, for Jesus Christ has done it for us already on the cross of Calvary. There is no need for fear, because He has faced it for us already. Let us hear what the Spirit is saying and bow our knees to Him alone.