What is the Second Death?
What is “the second death” all about? Revelation 2 includes a letter to the Christian community in ancient Smyrna written by the prophet John on behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is “the first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life” (v. 8).1 The letter is meant to encourage believers in Smyrna. They were reminded that the Lord knew of their tribulation and poverty, albeit they were spiritually rich (v. 9a). He also knew the persecutors were “a synagogue of Satan,” and that they would endure tribulation and imprisonment for a season of “ten days,” but they were to “be faithful until death” (vv. 9b-10). The Lord then offers the following promise, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death” (v. 11).
The concept of “second death” is further elaborated in Revelation 20, wherein John makes the following contrast: “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priest of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years” (v. 6).2 The revelator goes on to add, “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (v. 14-15). Again John writes in Revelation 21, “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake of fire that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (v. 8).
The “second death” is then equated with “the lake of fire” or the final judgment of the unrighteous. The words “second death” aptly describes the ultimate end to those who suppress whatever truth of God they have received and substitute it for a lie (Rom 1:18-23). People who have a right relationship with God have the hope of resurrection, which means that they can experience true life in whatever circumstances that comes about in their earthly existence, for they know their life shall extended beyond the grave, and they have the hope of being raised from the dead, just as their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Conversely, there is no future hope for people living apart from a right relationship with God. These shall continue to exist apart from the goodness and glory of God, and they shall ultimately face the final judgment of eternal punishment in hell, which can only be described as a “second death.”
1. All Scripture quotations are from the Updated New American Standard Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999).
2. Christians debate on the nature of the millennium and the contrast between “first resurrection” and “second death.” Premillennialist understand the “first resurrection” as the bodily resurrection saints at the beginning of the future millennial kingdom. At the end of the millennium, all unrighteous people are raised to face the final judgment, wherein they are cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. As for the saints who either died or lived through the millennium, premillennialist presume they too will receive glorified bodies. Postmillennialists, or those who believe a millennial kingdom or golden age would be experienced prior to the Second Coming as the result of the advancement and expansion of the church though the preaching of the Gospel, understand the “first resurrection” to be the new life received on earth continues on in heaven after death. In similar fashion, Amillennialists take the millennial kingdom to be something other than an earthly golden age before or after the Second Coming, and understand “first resurrection” as the life of departed saints that continues on in heaven (For discussion, see Steve Greg, Revelation: Four Views, A Parallel Commentary [Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1997], 464-482). The nature of the millennium is an issue that Christians can debate but not divide.
The concept of “second death” is further elaborated in Revelation 20, wherein John makes the following contrast: “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priest of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years” (v. 6).2 The revelator goes on to add, “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (v. 14-15). Again John writes in Revelation 21, “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake of fire that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (v. 8).
The “second death” is then equated with “the lake of fire” or the final judgment of the unrighteous. The words “second death” aptly describes the ultimate end to those who suppress whatever truth of God they have received and substitute it for a lie (Rom 1:18-23). People who have a right relationship with God have the hope of resurrection, which means that they can experience true life in whatever circumstances that comes about in their earthly existence, for they know their life shall extended beyond the grave, and they have the hope of being raised from the dead, just as their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Conversely, there is no future hope for people living apart from a right relationship with God. These shall continue to exist apart from the goodness and glory of God, and they shall ultimately face the final judgment of eternal punishment in hell, which can only be described as a “second death.”
1. All Scripture quotations are from the Updated New American Standard Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999).
2. Christians debate on the nature of the millennium and the contrast between “first resurrection” and “second death.” Premillennialist understand the “first resurrection” as the bodily resurrection saints at the beginning of the future millennial kingdom. At the end of the millennium, all unrighteous people are raised to face the final judgment, wherein they are cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. As for the saints who either died or lived through the millennium, premillennialist presume they too will receive glorified bodies. Postmillennialists, or those who believe a millennial kingdom or golden age would be experienced prior to the Second Coming as the result of the advancement and expansion of the church though the preaching of the Gospel, understand the “first resurrection” to be the new life received on earth continues on in heaven after death. In similar fashion, Amillennialists take the millennial kingdom to be something other than an earthly golden age before or after the Second Coming, and understand “first resurrection” as the life of departed saints that continues on in heaven (For discussion, see Steve Greg, Revelation: Four Views, A Parallel Commentary [Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1997], 464-482). The nature of the millennium is an issue that Christians can debate but not divide.
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