Random thoughts on the Second Death.

The lake of fire represents in the broadest sense the Judgment. The second death, another aspect of Judgment represents the spiritual separation from God during the Judgment. Weeping and gnashing of teeth are associated with the Judgment denoting the unpleasantness of this era.

No discipline is pleasant at present, but, the result is salvation.

Satan being bound does not mean there is no sin or death. Those who are cast out can continue in sin, but, without the justification of Satan's deceptions. No longer will the "rain fall on the righteous and the unrighteous". The wicked will be confronted with the unadulterated truth of a life outside of God's will. The day will reveal as with fire each man's work. The varying degrees with which each is punished is directly related to how close they are to a proper heart condition....the greater the rebellion, the longer it takes to shed the falsehoods and deceptions of sin and accept with a pure heart that Christ is the way to God.

We, like Paul, strive to attain the resurrection of the just or of the elect so as to avoid this fiery separation from God. The end result still is that all in death will die in Christ eventually and be raised to life. Two negatives make a positive.

Rambling thoughts so I won't forget, later. Add any or take away any?

Chris

Voila!!

The Second Death

Rev 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall in no way be harmed by the "second death." '

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him for a thousand years.

Rev 20:14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death, the Lake of Fire.

Rev 21:8 But the cowardly, and unbelieving, and sinners, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and drug users, and idolaters, and all who are false shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

Per our many conversations identifying the "lake of fire" as being in Judgment, I have still been perplexed why the chosen associative terminology is the "second death". The article posted in which the author supposes this to be spiritual death to sin made much sense except for a few items. I had previously come to the same types of conclusions in that the Elect have no part in this death since they have already died to sin and are "dead in Christ" so to speak, but, the terminology of the verses themselves suggests that the second death is something else and not to be wished for.

I do believe that this fiery judgment is a means to bringing about repentance, but, the lake of fire and the second death are too closely linked for the second death to be spiritual death to sin else the lake of fire would also be in existence in any time in which the elect exist prior to Christ's return.

In the first verse quoted, the second death has the ability to harm...

Strong's Ref. # 91

Romanized adikeo

Pronounced ad-ee-keh'-o

from GSN0094; to be unjust, i.e. (actively) do wrong (morally, socially or physically):

Our death to sin does us no harm even in this age. In the second verse, it has authority.

Strong's Ref. # 1849

Romanized exousia

Pronounced ex-oo-see'-ah

from GSN1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence:

....which might still coincide with death to sin except it seems to be in direct opposition to the chosen elect for this to be what is denoted.

The remaining two verses merely add creedance that death and Hades (mortality and sin) only exist in the lake of fire which is outside the city.

Rev 21:27 But there shall by no means enter into it any common thing, and the one doing an abomination and a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, so that their right shall be to the tree of life, and they may enter by the gates into the city.

Rev 22:15 But outside are dogs and drug users and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices a lie.

Once we've shaken the Greek definitions of death...ie.. the flesh dies while the immortal ethereal spirit goes on to whatever destination.... and accept the Bible's view of physical death as deep darkness where God is not praised or known and apply this in a spiritual context, then, yes, death is also spiritual death and separation from God. This bodes well in contemplating the second death, except that spiritual death is in existence now and has been since Adam so why the "second"? Physical death(mortality) was and is a part of Creation, but it was this spiritual death that Adam was supposed to avoid.

Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of Jehovah God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Jehovah God amongst the trees of the garden.

Gen 3:9 And Jehovah God called unto the man, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Surely God knew where Adam was so was He letting us know that He and Adam were now separated by sin and "death"? Consequently Adam was "cast out" of the Garden lest he eat of the tree of Life and live forever in a fallen state. Likewise, those who are not written in the book of Life are similarly "cast out" again, as in for a second time in spiritual death, but, with a few exceptions.

Christ's blood covers all sin as Col 1:20 so very well explains and the final chapter in Revelations further gives Christ's invitation to all who thirst to drink of the water. Hence, I would not believe that those in the lake of fire have no way out (not taking into consideration all the discussions concerning aionian...etc...). Many, if not all, even remain through the 1000 years to be gathered by a newly released Satan to rebel again. Therefore, to the exceptions....during this first death Adam had no real information concerning Christ (faith, lessons..etc...) and the age from Adam until now spiritual death has been supported, influenced and justified by Satan himself, whereas once the Kingdom has been established, those who are cast out will see what life in death is like without the influence and false success that Satan brings since he is thus bound for the age. This I believe, might give a reason for why this spiritual death is different from the present spiritual death giving need to call the lake of fire/judgment the "second death". Sinful mankind will be once again cast out and separated from God, but without the luxury of Satan's lies and without watching the just suffer as the overcomers will be in direct contact with the Father and under His protection.

Isa 65:24 And it shall come to pass that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

No one in this age really benefits from sin, but, this world is in the power of the wicked one, and is deceived. How much more the lesson when sin/death is no longer rewarded during the Kingdom age.

The next question to ask is..." Does the Father send strong delusion to those who will be gathered when Satan is released, akin to how delusion was sent to the Jews? " Knowing that it is His will that all men be saved, it seems unrealistic to us that anyone would still not want life's water free after witnessing the events that will transpire. That is a completely loaded topic that will await further contemplation.

In Christ,

Chris

Testing