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What Is The Second Death? By: Garland M. Robinson |
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What Is The Second Death? By: Garland M. Robinson |
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Revelation 2:11 says, "...He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." The “second death” is spoken of three other times in scripture. Two verses speak of not being hurt by the “second death” and the other two identify what it is. In Revelation 20:6 we read: "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power...." What ever the second death is, it is something to be avoided.
Revelation 20:14 and 21:8 identify what is it: "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death" -- "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." Without a doubt, the “second death” is eternal hell spoken of so often by Jesus (Matthew 10:28; 11:23; 23:33; 25:41) and the apostles (II Thessalonians 1:7-9; II Peter 2:9).
We may properly think of three deaths the Bible speaks about that men may experience: physical, spiritual, hell. All men die physically. "...It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). All who sin, die spiritually -- the first death. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Those who continue in sin and depart this life will experience the “second death” -- the torment of everlasting hell. It is a conscious death. "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night" (Revelation 14:11).
If men will believe in Jesus the Christ, the saviour of the world (John 4:42; 8:24), repent of their sins (Luke 13:3), confess Christ to be the son of God (Romans 10:10), and be baptized (immersed) in water for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16), live faithful to the Lord’s commands throughout their life (Revelation 2:10-11), they will escape the “second death” or as Revelation 2:11 says, "shall not be hurt of the second death." Don’t you want to escape this death? We can’t avoid physical death, nor even spiritual death when we sin, but the second death can be avoided! Those who die “in the Lord” will not experience it (Revelation 14:13).