The Second Death

The Second Death

Death is something that many people are not prepared to face. Whether it be the death of a loved one or their own death, many of us find it difficult to face this inescapable reality. What many people are more unprepared for however is, what the Book of Revelation calls, “The Second Death”.

It’s a proven statistic; ten out of ten people die. One day you will come to the end of your life. The Bible says that immediately after death you will face a holy God at Judgment (Hebrews 9:27). On that day God will expose and bring into light everything you have ever done, said, and even thought about. He will weigh your entire life against the weight of His Law (the Ten Commandments).

The Book of Revelation tells us what those who do not measure up will be cast into a “Lake of Fire” to be tormented forever. Who are these people who will endure this horrible fate? The Bible tells us.

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.  –Revelation 21:8

Now perhaps you are not a murderer or one of those who “practice magic arts” but who among us hasn’t told a lie? That verse says that even liars shall have their part in the Lake of Fire. The Bible gives us more lists of those who will have to face this “Second Death”.

Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. -1st Corinthians 6:9-10

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.  –Galatians 5:19-21

Maybe most of these “major” sins aren’t in your life. But what about jealousy, rage, envy, getting drunk, and greed? They await the same fate as the murderers, idolaters, and adulterers. Maybe you gave your life to Christ years ago, and are still living in sin. Galatians 6:7-8 says.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

For Christians who choose to despise and abuse God’s free gift of grace and continue to live in sin, the Bible has these sobering words…

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and the raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.   –Hebrews 10:26-27

Don’t deceive yourself. You will have to face God at Judgment upon your death. He is so holy that He sees lust as adultery and hatred as murder. He has declared that using His name in vain is a capital offense and that all liars will have their share in the lake of fire, which is the Second Death.

BUT, Jesus said in John 10:10,

I have come that they may have life and have it to the full

God has no desire to condemn you to the Second Death by casting you in the Lake of Fire for all eternity. 2,000 years ago He sent His Son Jesus Christ to take the punishment for your sin and then He rose from the dead to give you a new eternal life. You still can be saved if you will simply repent (turn from) of your sins, and put your faith in Jesus Christ as your savior.Death may be unavoidable, but the Second Death isn’t. Choose life today.