Revelation 20:6, 14 and Revelation 21:8 describe an event called “the second death.” It is contrasted with those who did not participate in “the first resurrection,” which is the resurrection of all believers at the return of Jesus Christ. Those who are not believers end up experiencing the second death.
So what is this second death?
To put the question another way, if Hebrews 9:27 says that it is destined for humans to die once, then how can John write in Revelation 20:6, 14 and Revelation 21:8 that there is a second death?
Here is what Revelation 20:6, 14 and Revelation 21:8 say about the second death:
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power … Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. … But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
The “Second Death” is not Annihilation
Some argue that the second death is annihilationism … that is, a person who experiences the second death will no longer exist in eternity. They say that at the first death, people die physically, and then at the second death they die spiritually, which means that they cease to exist.
This view would be possible if “death” means “non-existent.” But it doesn’t. The word “dead” never means “non-existent” in Scripture.
Instead, “death” means to be separated from the plan and purposes of God.
When something dies, it no longer functions the way God intended. This is true of physical bodies, sexual reproductive organs, interpersonal relationships, and faith.
So here in Revelation 20:6, 14 and Revelation 21:8, the person who experiences the second death will not be living out God’s plan and purposes for them in eternity.
The second death is simply being separated in eternity from what God originally wanted and planned for humanity.
God wanted humans to live in perfect harmony and unity with Himself, each other, and all creation. But when a person dies apart from Jesus Christ, they will experience eternity apart from Jesus Christ as well.
Then how is the Second Death related to the Lake of Fire?
While John describes this eternal existence apart from Jesus Christ as “the lake of fire,” this does not mean that the unregenerate are swimming around in a lake of fire and brimstone any more than anyone who lives in “Salt Lake” is actually swimming around in a large, salt-filled lake in Utah.
The “Fiery Lake” might be the place that unregenerate people live for eternity, but this does not necessarily mean that they are suffering and burning for eternity within the lake. Furthermore, as I point out in my forthcoming book on hell, the term “Lake of Fire” referred to the body of water we now call the Dead Sea.
So to say that someone was going to be case into the Lake of Fire, or the Dead Sea, is a symbolic or metaphorical way of saying that such people will end up in a place devoid of life.
This is what John goes on to describe. In the afterlife, as part of the second death, people will be subject to the same “lusts of the flesh” that humans are subject to right now here on earth. Just like in this life, people who live in the second death will be cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and liars.
So what is the Second Death?
The second death is not annihilation or eternal torment in flames of fire.
Instead, it is the continuation for eternity of what we experience in this life, but in an amplified way.
It consists of God allowing human beings to live life completely separated from Him. It is allowing them to live as slaves to hatred, violence, envy, immorality, deception, greed, lust and every evil thing.
As such, the second death is the opposite of eternal life. Eternal life is life lived as God always wanted, planned, and desired; eternal death (or the second death) is life lived in the complete opposite way, separated from everything that God intended for humanity.
It is existence in everlasting death. It is ongoing existence that is filled with all the problems and frustrations of this life, but without any end to them. The first death is a blessed escape from the frustrations of this life (which is why death is a blessing). But the second death has no end. It is an eternal existence without an end, while facing the frustrations of life lived without God.
Just as being “born again” does not mean to “start your life all over again,” but instead refers to the transformation of a person’s life so that they head in the direction God wanted, so also, to “die again” does not mean that a person dies a second time, but that a person’s life goes in a direction that is even further away from God wanted and desired.
The “second death” therefore, is not annihilation, or the death of the eternal soul. Instead, it is the act of being entrenched or solidified in the way of rebellion against God.
The second death is an irreversible step on a path that leads away from what God wanted and desired.
Did C. S. Lewis write about Hell?
C. S. Lewis’ theological fantasy book, The Great Divorce, depicts what this sort of everlasting death might look like. (He claims he was writing fiction … but was this really his view of hell and he was afraid of being called a heretic?)
The Great Divorce is a fascinating story of a man who gets on a bus in hell to take a trip to heaven. In the second chapter, Lewis describes what life is like for those who live in hell.
When people first arrive, Lewis writes that people find themselves in the center of a vast, sprawling town, which is very much like any town you mind find on earth, except that everything is free and nobody has any needs. So people move into any house they want, and start living in their new existence. But within a few days or weeks, they have a quarrel with one of their neighbors, and decide to move to a different street.
Lewis writes that this process continues forever, until some people get to the point where they live millions of miles away from anybody else.
In the everlasting second death, each person is allowed to be as selfish and mean as they want, and this causes them to eventually separate themselves from everyone else so that they finally live in complete isolation for all eternity, wrapped up in their own thoughts of everybody else’s faults and failures.
The Second Death is Everlasting Existence without God
In this life, there is an end to the choices we make. As we destroy our families, friendships, and health, we draw into ourselves and become more and more separated from others over time. Death stops this process of separation so that we can finally see ourselves and others as we really are, offer forgiveness and be forgiven, and begin to live in love and grace as God desires.
But in an eternal existence without God, where physical death is not an option, people will continue to separate themselves until eventually, they cut off all contact from everyone, and live solitary lives of self-centeredness and complete separation. For people who were created for community and relationships, this truly is a living hell. But it is a hell constructed by their own choices.
So just as eternal life is a life lived in eternity where we live life to its full potential, so eternal death, or the second death is a life lived in eternity where people achieve none of their potential. It is a life of everlasting death. Of no escape from the consequences of selfish human decisions.
Those who experience the eternal second death (living in the realm of death, but never dying) are living in a hell of their own making. Their eternal existence will be a life dominated by the sins mentioned in Revelation 21:8.
In eternity, where there is no death to deliver a person from the devastation they have brought into their lives, this ongoing death will simply continue forever and ever.
What are your thoughts about this concept? Do you agree? Disagree? Does it still sound like “hell” to you? Is it just and fair for God to let people live in eternity in such a way? Would annihilation be more loving?
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Thank you for this review of what scripture teaches about the first and second death. I have always felt uneasy about the traditional teaching about hell and the lake of fire. Clearly eternal life means exactly that for all people, however we get to choose whether it is eternally with God or eternally separate from God stuck in a never ending cycle of difficulties and evil.
It is a difficult teaching, and I hope that some of what I present invites other people to start thinking through these passages and studying them in a different way. Thanks for your input!
Jeremy your proposition of free will for all is very much supported not only by scripture but also when you look at peoples lives we encounter every day. People make choices daily, good, bad and ugly and God lets them make those choices. I cant see that eternity is any different. If free will doesn’t exist then we are just mindlessly following temptation, manipulation and God of this world. I work with people every day who have made poor choices, it has consequences that ripple through their lives and others. With help that changes and teaching them consequential thinking changes their lives. To me this applies to accepting Jesus for eternal life. Accepting or rejecting Christ has consequences in this life and the next..
First let me say that I enjoy your materials and deeply appreciate all you do for the body of Christ Jesus.
However, I’m believe that the Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ is self described by its title.
It solely unfold the events, judgements, purposes and reasons that lead up to the destruction of the temple, the judgement and death of those that would stubbornly hold to Judaism while persecuting the church. Those of the synagogue of Satan would be eternally destroyed physically.
As you know some consider the Second Death as physical and emotional torment, such as was experienced by those perishing in the fires that destroyed much of Jerusalem and its temple. Hell fire is Gods judgement that leads to destruction and the grave. This is just what happened in AD 70.
I don’t believe hell is a place of eternal punishment, it is the state of the afflicted unregenerate soul whom the consuming fire of HIS judgement has rested on, this judgement is however self inflicted.
One day we shall see him as he is without the body of this death. Paul said we have a law in our members that captures us and brings us in to captivity to do the things that we don’t want to do. This is the case with all men.
I believe that those that have lived a life unto themselves, once free of this body of death will be freed to see the error of their way and the love and glory of the Father, repent which simply means to change their mind, then every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is LORD to the glory of God. Yes we all will live for eternity, but not as you say, some separated and some reconciled. It’s the carnal mind, the flesh that is enmity against God. Once we have received a glorified body, the enmity against God will cease.
I agree with a lot of what you said here. But are you saying that ALL will be regenerated? That is, do you hold to universalism? I can’t quite tell from your comment.
Thank you. On eternal life and the second death, you have validated my beliefs in death, dying and hell.
Wow! A very clear explanation and devastatingly horrific. I find it hard to imagine a worse hell. Even the view of burning forever in the Lake of Fire might in some ways be a kinder view than this awful separation from God and from others. And somehow a complete annihilation would be kinder. It is what many unbelievers hope for: obliteration. As I read your article I was increasingly aware of my connection with the Divine, My God, Jesus, and so very achingly thankful for that.
Hmm. Well, I wasn’t trying to go for something worse than annihilation or burning forever in flames of fire. I thought it sound more gracious and loving. The way I see it, it is something a lot like this life … but without an end. Which is exactly what many people want. They want to live forever … but without God. So God lets them.
Did the omnipotent, omniscient God not know before He created people that many, if not most, would be lost in an eternity of “a hell of their own making”?
I find this incompatible with the God of love and grace I find in Jesus. Perhaps Calvinists and Arminians have no problem with a weak or uncaring “god”.
Did Jesus not say that ALL knees would bow to Him and ALL tongues would confess that He is Lord? (Phil 2:9-11; Rom 14:11; Isa 45:23).
Maybe I need to be a bit more careful in my wording. It is not that God is weak or uncaring, but that in love, He let’s people who want to live without Him do so. What else can God do? He cannot force people to love Him, can He? This is akin to rape. And I don’t think God can annihilate part of His creation, for He is not a destroyer. So he let’s people live their life, just as He does in this life, even when it leads them into some dark places. Is God weak or uncaring because He lets people go their own way in this life? If not, then how would it be different in the next life?
I am open to being persuaded of something else, but so far, I have not found anyone who provides a better explanation of these difficult texts from Scripture, and I am unwilling to write them off as “errors in the Bible.”
I apologize for responding in a seemingly negative, pessimistic and haughty tone.
I meant to say that Jesus, in spite of what many have been brought up believing, is the One Who opens our minds to truth. No one can come to Him unless He calls us. (Am I correct?)
Therefore, in His own time and way, He will enable ALL to surrender to Him – like when Jesus healed the Gerasene demoniac and his mind was made right, then he wanted to follow Jesus (Mk 5:1-17; Lk 8:26-37).
I find the following very comforting:
God “is the Saviour of ALL men” (1Tim 4:10). He will justify ALL (Rom 5:18). He will reconcile ALL unto Himself (Col 1:20). He will give life to ALL (1Cor 15:22) and that finally when all enemies have been subjected, and death is abolished, that God will be “ALL IN ALL” (1Cor 15:28).
Yes … on the issue of universalism, call me a hopeful agnostic. Jesus definitely died for all and wants all to receive eternal life, but does this mean that all will ultimately believe in Jesus? I cannot definitely says “Yes” on that question.
Jeremy, there was no “reply” button under your comment on what I wrote (??) – so I will put my answer here, under your reply to my co-believer in christian universalism. You asked about my view on Revelation 21:8. For me the 2nd death must be similar to new birth, and life that procedes from it. First came earthly creation (subjected to sin and death), then the one from above. 2nd death is indeed spiritual – but NOT the reinforcment and prolongation of the 1st one (as if the 1st and 2nd are the same, resultin in non-ending death), but the 2nd one is REVERSE, opposite, replacement of the 1st one, “killing”, eliminating, destroying everything that pertains to “old”,sin and 1st death. New and better order replaces the old one. If you are in Christ you are NEWcreation… old is gone. Well, that’s what happens with those who believed. We DIED to sin already (in God’s eyes, in Christ). And still dying… Unbelievers are not there…YET. Which means- we passed/are passing through 2nd death now. They WILL (sooner or later). Are we not ALL (in ourselves) liars, murderers, did abominable things, at least in our hearts and imaginations? I believe Rev. 21:8 concerns all of us, all the world. Jesus died for us (the world) through Spirit- “if you are in Christ your body is dead because of sin, but the spirit lives on account of righteousness.” Unbelievers “just” miss that second part, life …for the time being. Rev. 21:8, to me, means beneficial “destruction” of what is not good, that’s good news, not the scary one :-). Besides, note this: their “share” (portion) is in the lake of fire (it IS the second death). It does not say, their “final destination”, nor “destruction”, nor “their end”. Share, portion.. Makes me think that God’s creation is restored while ungodly things that corrupted the creation are gone. Otherwis, God would be looser and devil the winner.
What else can He do?!? Well… He could have said long ago, to Adam and Eve: “Well… you chose. I specifically told you… i was clear…. now you have it.” People don’t choose – they are slaves. So they don’t SEE the light of the Good News. They need personal intervention not a new judgment. What you say is like God is saying: “Ok now I did the best I could, ALL I could do – and you don’t want it? Fine, your choice.” Again, He could have said THAT in Eden to Adam and that would be the end of it for the world. I suggest to you some deeper diving into christian universalist thougth, tentmaker.org possibly. Also, the “eternal” death is human construction, there is no indication in the Bible of its existence. Life PREVAILS. What kind of life is it, and what kind of ultimate victory IF not ALL creation goes back to its original purpose, to give God glory, to be united with Him?
So you want God to force people to do what they don’t want to do?
Force? Depends on how you view God’s “forcing”. God’s force is Love! Forgiving all, long-suffering, never-ending … Will God’s love ever cease to have that qualities? Are you suggesting that God’s “forcing” is something other than beneficial for His creation? (When we were “forced” as children to eat vegetables, or wash our teeth, was it a bad kind of “forcing”?) Besides, human free will is overrated. I would gladly give up my “free will” if i really, really knew (have completely “informed choice”) that exercising my “freedom” would bring me the most horrific outcome. But no one can make a real “informed choice” without first knowing God as He is!! Slaves don’t choose. Baby cannot birth itself. Unfortunately all the hell-fire and/or eternal separation preaching is not helping people to even want to get “saved”by such a God. All humans need supernatural intervention to be freed of their twisted devilish “wills” and misconceptions about God – and for many of us only death brings that complete liberation. Also, why don’t you consider that the 2nd death is possibly another TYPE of death? If the 1st one was spiritual (followed by physical), why you think the 2nd death must be the same type (spiritual, and”eternal”?) 2nd creation, new one, is not like the 1st, right. Also, death has its end in the lake of fire (which is the second death). Revelation 20:14. Death of death! 2nd death of the 1st death that created so much trouble and pain!! That is wonderful.. And are we not passing through fire… “putting to death the misdeeds of the body..by Spirit”. Can THAT be the 2nd death that Revelation talks about? And then: no more death. Can we really reconcile that plain statement (“no more death”) with the theory of “eternal death”? Can we really reconcile Jesus victory over death with “eternal death”? Somethin is not right here. Bible says “no more death” and preachers talk about “eternal death”. ??
Yes, “force” is a tricky word to define. God’s love certainly is compelling! Regardless … so you don’t like my view … okay, how do you understand the term “second death” in Revelation 21:8?
Interesting take. I’d say it still falls under the umbrella of ECT, though the torment is participatory in that it is both self inflicted but sustained by God. Will you elaborate on the ‘eternal soul’ in your book or in future posts? It’s an obstacle for me and perhaps for others too.
It probably does fall under ECT, but without the fiery burning torture chamber.
I will do a Gospel Dictionary entry on the word “soul.” In it I will explain that I don’t exactly believe in an eternal “soul.” Did I say that I did?
Yes, it says just under the Me myself and I image, “The “second death” therefore, is not annihilation, or the death of the eternal soul”. I figured there might be some Platonic thought in there but perhaps it was poorly worded or a quote you were trying to distance your own thoughts from and I took it wrong? I really need to do your gospel dictionary course, soul and firewill both be fascinating studies 🙂
Do you think people who choose to not follow Him in this life will get a second change in the second death?
I know it sounds like grace and love to keep them alive ever lasting but I don’t know. I think being dead in never return would be much more appriciated now it still sounds like punishment.
Or would you think people would be able to love even if they would be separated by God?
THAT is what I don’t know. I would say “Yes” for people who never heard the Gospel. I think it is only just to at least give people a chance.
But if it is a “Yes” for them, then what about for those who did hear it, but were mentally handicapped? I would say they would be given additional chances as well.
But if “Yes” for them, then what about those who heard a deficient or distorted version of the Gospel? I hope that God would give them some clarity as well.
And if “Yes” for all of these groups … then we’ve pretty much included everybody….
But if at this point, people see God and themselves in truth, and somebody still rejects God … does He keep trying for eternity? I sort of think so. But if people continue to ignore the invitation of God, what more can God do?
It is a very difficult question.
What do you think about Isaiah’s words when he talks about the “refuge of lies and the “covenant with death, and hell that they were with agreement” that the the “scornful men of jesusalem” made? Was he prophecizing, the Zionist “Jews” I couldn’t help but think of Revelation and the Synagouge of Satan. This has been boggling my mind for the last year, and with the death of G. H.W. Bush, I have been looking for more clues. Did the S.O.S. make a pact with god, and then turn their back on him, and could this be an on going story though out history? The Jews have actually been kicked out of more countries than any other people combined. Is it because they have not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior? I’m not anti-semetic, but I do have Jewish friends who cringe when you mention the word Zionist to them. I’m just looking for clues as I think this is a very overlooked clue. It continues on to say “hail shall sweep away refuge of lies, and the water shall overflow it’s hiding place” With all the talk about Israel right now and their stronghold on America, Trump effect, and Occupation of Palestine, and deceitful media. Is this prophecy overlooked importance, or is it more of metaphor for something else? I find this very fascinating! What do you think!? Thanks!
If only Christ has immortality, as scripture states, then I think we need to get over the idea that physical death has anything at all to do with sin. If that is the case, then physical death is simply the result of man’s mortal nature (from dust to dust). Therefore our “first death” is not physical death but the death we died “in Adam,” due to sin, for “the wages of sin is death,” and “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Right?
Jesus came to bring salvation. Salvation from what? In your book “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus,” which I am currently reading, you say we are saved from sin and death. Right? I agree. How? And when?
I don’t believe “eternal life” has anything to do with a post-mortal life that is lived “in eternity” with God. It is the (abundant) “life” that we live now in the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ. Therefore the “Second death” isn’t a sort of “eternal death” that we live “in eternity” outside of the presence of God, either. (It’s not possible to be outside of the presence of a God who fills all things, who will one day be “all in all.”)
As I have come to see it, for about the last 13 or 14 years, the “second death” is our baptism into Christ’s death, through which we become partakers of “the first resurrection,” HIS resurrection! The second death and the first resurrection seem to intersect at the cross. It’s not that believers have no part in the second death, that is not what scripture says, it says they are “not hurt” by it. The same way Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were “not hurt” when they were “cast into the fire,” because of the fourth man that was in the fire with them, one like the Son of God. They were cast into the fire “bound” (by men), but were “loosed” in the flames, the same flames that killed the men who cast them into the fire in the first place.
Who has part in the second death? “The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars.” As you point out in your video presentation that kind of sounds like “everyone,” right? And did not Jesus say: “And, I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me”?
It is appointed unto men “once to die,” but we can be “twice dead,” and “if one died for all, then were all dead.” Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. In others words, when we were already “dead” in sin when Christ died for us. And it is by being baptized into His death that the bonds of death are severed, for death has no power over Him… and our baptism into His death has placed us “in Him,” making Him Lord “both of the living and the dead.” And because we were buried with him in death, we were also raised with Him out of death when God raised Him from the dead.
That the scriptures speak of a “first resurrection” implies that there is more than one, though there is no mention of a second, or third, or fourth, etc… only that “in Christ shall all be made alive, but every man in his own order.” Perhaps that is because the only one that matters is the only one that is being “counted”… the FIRST… HIS… the one we are to “have part in.” I believe we do that by also taking part in “the second death,” through which “the resurrection of the dead” comes.
Love how you explain it.
Thanks for sharing this. It totally bears witness to me in the Spirit. God’s judgments are pure & true but still reflect mercy.
Sorry to burst your bubble but: The wicked do not live forever and there is no eternal life for those who experience the second death.
I don’t know were you got this from but, it is not biblical.
Please carefully consider the texts that I have placed below.
1 Timothy 6:16 16 – who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
It is clear from this text that God alone has immortality, Not man.
Romans 2:3-16
New King James Version
3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your [a]impenitent heart you are [b]treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the [c]Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
From the above text (Excerpt blow)
eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
That is saying that eternal life is set aside only for the righteous.
The word “Immortal Soul” is never used in the Bible.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (New King James Version)
51 Behold, I tell you a [a]mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
This is again, talking about the righteous Note that it starts out saying that “we shall not all sleep… meaning that some will stay asleep at the second coming and some will rise. The dead in christ will rise fiist and then the living righteous will ascend to meet him in the air.
Acts 2:34
New King James Version
34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
David is asleep in the grave, awaiting the first resurrection.
Psalm 115:17(New King James Version)
17 The dead do not praise the Lord, Nor any who go down into silence.
This fits with what Jesus said when he said that Lazarus was sleeping.
And.
The dead know nothing.
Psalm 6:5-8
New King James Version
5 For in death there is no remembrance of You;
In the grave who will give You thanks?
The dead know nothing.
Ecclesiastes 9:5
New King James Version
5 For the living know that they will die;
But the dead know nothing,
And they have no more reward,
For the memory of them is forgotten.
Because, the dead don’t know anything.
Job 19:25-26
New King James Version
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
26 And after my skin is [a]destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,
Job was a righteous man and he new that he would see God at the resurrection, even though his body had decade. and rotted away. He new that his spirit would return back to God, but not his body, until the resurrection.
What a day that will be.
Ezekiel 18:4
New King James Version
4 “Behold, all souls are Mine;
The soul of the father
As well as the soul of the son is Mine;
The soul who sins shall die.
This is saying that a sinful soul will die. meaning that it will know nothing. and as for the second death, that means, forever knowing nothing.
Romans 6:23
New King James Version
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the [a]gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The sinner dies but those that are covered by the lamb of God, Jesus Christ will live forever. it is one or the other, you live forever or you die forever. We have all been given freedom of choice. to live our live as a living sacrifice unto God or choose a master that will lead us to eternal death.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
New King James Version
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
In saying that, those that dread the second coming of Christ, will not get this reward, they will be struck down by the brightness of his appearance and the wicked that are dead will stay asleep until the judgment.
Death is the absence of life.
The last book in the last chapter, of the bible says this.
Revelation 22:12
New King James Version
Jesus Testifies to the Churches
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
Jesus will meter out a just reward to everyone according to there works.
eternal life or eternal death. The dead know nothing, therefore the eternal dead know nothing, for all eternity, they have no life.
May God bless you all, be well and stay safe.
RIC
Wherever, whatever you believe the 2nd death is, I won’t be in front of the great white throne to find out.
Revelation 20:14
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” (KJV)
Death means ceasing to exist, not living in some other place away from God. Jesus died the second death and even He didn’t mention anything about any life after death. It is called death for a reason. Malachi 4:1,3 is very clear that the wicked will be burnt up, and Revelation 20:14-15 is clear that it is the second death and they die. Jesus came to give eternal life. John 3:16 says that when people accept Jesus, they won’t perish. It’s either eternal life, or they perish.
This may seem on the surface to be what an angry agnostic or atheist desires. But they do not realize the horror of such an inevitability apart from Christ. Truly, this is no less a terrifying doctrine that ECT.
I don’t believe you proved your points at all. You did not back up your view scripturally at all, that death does not mean to cease to exist. While there is some evidence of that, as with Adam and Eve, the Bible does not explicitly define death anywhere that I know of, so in eternity, it may very well mean to cease to exist (which would be more compassionate of God). And the Salt Lake example was purely human thinking.
Also, if you put things in print, you should make sure there are no typos, and that they are grammatically correct.
Do you have a proof reader?
The line “…so to say someone is “case” into the lake of fire,” should read cast.
I am left being thankful we do not understand everything, and hopeful that in eternity, death does mean to cease to exist. God is merciful after all, even to the unbeliever. “The rain falls on the just and the unjust…” “His mercy endures forever.”
I was scared to hell, but I’m now convinced, thanks