Articles
The Second Death
Death is a subject that many people would rather not talk about. This is especially true when it concerns self. Avoiding the topic will not prevent the inevitable, which is; “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). With each passing moment we are all getting older, meaning getting closer to our death. The only people that this does not apply to are those who are alive when Christ returns (I Thes. 4:17).
Before we can deal with the issue of the second death, we need to establish some important facts about the first death. When the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote about death, he stated “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” (12:7). This gives us some insight as to what does and doesn’t happen when we take our last breath. Although a death will take place, not everything dies. We read in James 2:26, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” As we see, our spirit does not need our physical body to live while our body does need our spirit to live.
Knowing that there is life after death, we can begin to understand the idea of a second death. We are clearly not talking about a second physical death since the Hebrew writer stated plainly that we die once. Wherever it mentions in the Bible about another death, it must pertain to the soul of man. Not only that, there must also be a connection between this second death and judgment. This will be brought to light as we examine some Bible passages.
In the book of Revelation, we read these words in the 21st chapter, “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (vr. 8). There it is, the connection with judgment day and the second death. The spirit of man will not escape its death if found unfaithful.
It would be wrong to say that everyone will face a second death. Just because we cannot prevent the first death from happening, it doesn’t mean we have no control over our second death. Also, in Revelation chapter 2, we can read, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” (vr. 11). Spiritual death is nothing like physical death. With the former, the body returns to dust (Gen. 3:19) and the soul returns to God as the Ecclesiastes writer stated. However, let us not forget judgment.
Again, the 20th chapter of Revelation reveals some more information. We learn, “Then death and hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (vrs. 14-15). This punishment is not like the first death. The physical pain associated with dying ceasing when a person dies. When a person is cast into the lake of fire, the suffering is everlasting (Matt. 25:46).
Everyday people do what they can to supply nourishment to keep their physical bodies alive. But how much effort is given to prevent the second death? People work so hard to prevent what will eventually happen, yet exert little effort towards what doesn’t have to happen. The one body is temporary; the other is eternal. This is why Jesus uttered, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).
You might have someone say at your funeral, “He had a good long life here on earth.” But, will you die in the Lord, prepared to spend eternity with Him? Think about it.
