What is the Second Death?
All those who reject the Savior by not repenting of their offences toward God and not believing in Him will experience the “Second Death”.
The First Death
Who will experience the “First Death?”
All people will die the first death according to Scripture:
Genesis 3:19
“In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”
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 it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
The Difference between the First and Second Death
Have you ever asked the question: “What is the difference for?”
According to Scripture -Romans 6:23- the difference is in the fact whether you are a believer or unbeliever. A believer will die only once, and the unbeliever will experience the second death!
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.
Again, the difference is whether you believe or not.
So, what does that mean and what does it have to do with the word “Eternal” as underlined above?
Eternal / Lake of Fire
We cannot overemphasize the importance of that word eternal. After all, the second death is also … eternal meaning it is eternal suffering in the Lake of Fire.
Believer vs Unbeliever
For the believer who is already in his grave, even though he has died before us, his spirit and soul are still alive today, resting and waiting to be raptured and receive a new body.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast [brag that they do not need the Savior to save them].
While the believer is waiting for his new body, the unbeliever is waiting for his second (eternal) death:
Jeremiah 21:12
“Execute judgment in the morning; and deliver him who is plundered out of the hand of the oppressor, lest My fury go forth like fire and burn so that no one can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.”
Mark 9:43b, 45b
to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched…
Destiny
The following verses show the contrast between the believer and unbeliever’s destinies:
Revelation 21:7-8
“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 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.”
In this second death the unbeliever just keeps dying; it is eternal punishment in the lake of fire which will never be quenched (Isaiah 66:24; Jeremiah 7:20; Ezekiel 20:47-48; Mark 9:44, 46, 48; Jude 7; Revelation 20:11-15).
Revelation 20:11-15 (NIV)
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Book of Life
What is the Book of Life and whose name is written in the Book of Life?
Believers’ names will be in the Book of Life. They have received and accepted that gift. The Second Death has no power capable of changing believers’ eternal lives.
Revelation 20:6b Over such the second death has no power.
The Book of Life and the Second Death
The Book of Life omits all unbeliever’s names. Their Second Death is going to be eternal suffering in the Lake of Fire, and it will never be quenched.
Is your name written in the Book of Life or are you facing the Second Death?
If you are facing the Second Death, there is still time to change your destination.
Feel free to let us know your thoughts in the comment section or contact us with any questions.
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More Blog Posts Related to this Topic:
How can I Receive Eternal Life?
Eternal Life as easy as A-B-C-D
Why do I need the God of the Bible?
What is the First and Second Resurrection?
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GotQuestions.Org is also a good resource for any questions concerning God, faith, belief and the Bible!
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Thanks for explaining this clearly so others can understand it as we do. God bless.