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Some Die Once – Many Die Twice [Part 1]
Today we are starting a new series of blog posts from our upcoming book titled “One Way or Another Your Eternal Destination is Guaranteed” and we are going to look at the, “Definition of Death“
We realize this might be a severe beginning, but some situations deem the best way to love others requires first being callous, then later being kind and gentle.
Definition of Death / Life
Death never denotes nonexistence. Death is the opposite of life. As spiritual life is conscious existence in communication with God, so is spiritual death conscious existence in separation from God. The word death in Greek is thanatŏs [Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible].[1]
According to Scripture the word death has three basic meanings:
Separation of
- man from God,
- the soul from the body, and
- eternal conscious death:
Man from God
Romans 5:12 tells us that death because of sin…spread to all men, because all sinned—but upon believing in God, we are redeemed from the separation and brought back to God. Quoting 1 Peter 2:24: Christ Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree [the wooden cross], that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness. Since the Lord Jesus Christ suffered the shocking, horrific death penalty for us, then simply by believing that He did so and by believing He was raised back to life on the third day, God views the believer as having that perfect righteousness of Himself (Romans 3:22-23). Righteousness is the requirement for being with God in heaven.
The Soul from the Body
The soul is the spiritual part of man. The body is the material part of man. Upon dying, the body ceases to function and turns to dust (Genesis 3:19). Believers’ bodies, while still in the mortal state, die away from practicing sin (Romans 8:10; 1 John 3:7-10), and many have died.
Eternal conscious Death
God’s Word says “This is the second death.” (Revelation 20:14)
H. A. Ironside describes it thus in his book “Revelation: An Ironside Expository Commentary”:
“Will any people be saved who stand before the Great White Throne?” (Revelation 20:11-15) “Not one, if we read the account aright because death and hades are to be ‘[emptied] into the lake of fire.’ All of the lost, whose spirits and bodies they have held in durance so long, will be emptied out into the pit of woe. And God’s Word says, ‘This is the second death.’”… “The lake of fire is the symbol of sorrow immeasurable and of torment eternal.”[2]
Second Death
Unfortunately, there will be more people today who will experience the second death than the few who will be given eternal life. Many will experience the second death. The Lord Jesus said:
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
The Savior also said that He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). The many in verse 13 above are those who will have consciously chosen to reject Jesus as their Savior and will die the first and second deaths. The few in verse 14 are the Church Age believers, and possibly the Old Testament (OT) saints, whom Jesus Christ will supernaturally take up from the earth to meet Him in the air. This biblical prophesied event is called the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Hebrews 11:8-40) and is fully explained later.
Some believers have died the first death, but, since having believed in Christ prior to their death, they will never die the second death. Thousands of years of human history prove that everyone eventually died, with the possible exception of only two (Enoch and Elijah; Hebrews 11:5; 2 Kings 2:11).
Never Die
The Lord Jesus, when speaking of the second death, confirmed that whoever believes in Him has eternal life and therefore will never die (will never die a second death). Scripture does not contradict itself. Many believers have died the first death since the Savior made that statement. The Twelve Apostles all came to believe (as did my parents), but they, also, all died.
The next three verses quote the Lord saying that believers will never die (a second death), and the verses that follow confirm the majority of human beings do, indeed, die this first death.
John 11:26
“And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 8:51
Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.
John 5:24
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
Isaiah 55:3
Incline your ear, and come to Me, hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you—the sure mercies of David.
The First Death
Now, the fact that all men do die the first death:
Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—
Hebrews 9:27
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Rapture
It is difficult to prove whether or not the believers who will be living at the moment of the Rapture event will remain alive or will die and instantaneously be transformed into their new bodies (Philippians 3:21). So as to not be dogmatic or to squabble about it, we will not attempt further explanation.
Live Forevermore
Up to this time in the Church Age, which began 2,000 years ago when the Church began at Pentecost, all people who have died while believing in Christ have died the first death. They will never die the second death (Romans 8:35-39). Of those believers who’ve died in the last 2,000 years, their souls and spirits remain conscious and are present with the Lord in heaven, awaiting their bodies to be resurrected, and will live on forevermore (2 Corinthians 5:8).
Stay tuned for our next blog post, in 2 weeks, titled: “What is the Second Death?”
Blog Posts Related to this Topic:
What is the Church Age and When will it End?
Comments and Questions Welcome
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How to Receive Eternal Life Posts
Would you like to find out why believers have hope of Eternal Life and how to develop a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ? Check out these blog posts if your answer is “yes.”
Receiving Eternal Life as easy as A-B-C-D
Why do I need the God of the Bible?
Resources:
Check Out these Interesting Resources:
Gospel Folio Press – William MacDonald – Believers Bible Commentary
Warren Henderson Publishing
Christ-centered Books and Messages to Enhance Your Spiritual Growth
Solving the Spiritual Dilemma
And check out our latest book “Solving the Spiritual Dilemma” which answers many questions about the hope believers have and how to develop a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.
or go directly to Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble
Scripture taken from the New King James Version, unless stated otherwise. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[1] These explanations and definitions are taken from the Greek Dictionary of the New Testament p. 133, number 2288 in Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible © 2001 by Thomas Nelson Publishers.
[2] Revelation: An Ironside Expository Commentary, p. 199, Originally published in 1920. Reprinted in 2004 by Kregel Publications, a division of Kregel, Inc., P.O. 2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501
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