Second Death | Free Bible Plus

The Second Death

What I thought...

I had not a clue about the “second death.”

What I learned...

The “second death” occurs after judgement. The second death = thrown into the lake of fire.

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.

REVELATION 20:14-15

More on what I learned, the second death....

Prior to studying Revelation, I'd never heard of the second death. How is that possible? We’re all familiar with our pending first death, it seems we should be quite interested in learning about what the bible defines as the second death.

The concept of the second death is introduced in the last book of the bible, Revelation. The words “second death” appearing only four times. Because there is so little scripture, we’ll go through each verse, sequentially. The first mention of the “second death” is in a message to the church of Smyrna. Messiah says those who “overcome” will not be hurt by the second death.

'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.'

REVELATION 2:11

At this point we don’t know what the second death is, just that “overcomers” will not be hurt by it. Incidentally, “overcomes” appears only 10 times in the bible, to see the verses, click here.

Before we get into the next mention of second death, I must point out there are multiple resurrections. What? Yes. The “first resurrection” occurs when Messiah returns, before His millennial reign. If the concept of Him reigning on earth blows your hair back, you’re not alone. The resurrections and millennial reign are outside of the scope of this page but must be mentioned because both events are intertwined with the next mention of the second death. Let’s read what Revelation has to say.

Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them.

And I [saw] the souls of those who had been beheaded

because of their testimony of Yahusha and because of the word of Elohim,

and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image,

and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand;

and they came to life and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years.

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.

This is the first resurrection.

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 priests of Elohim and of Messiah and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

REVELATION 20:4-6

At this point, we know the second death has no power over those in the first resurrection. However, the second death is yet to be defined. Enter the judgment scene. Anyone who wasn’t resurrected with Messiah will be resurrected for judgement. I ASSUME this is the final resurrection. The dead will all be judged based on the deeds written in the books (plural).

There are two fates after judgement: (1) entrance into the new (or renewed) heaven and earth OR (2) being thrown into the lake of fire. See also study on deeds and judgement and new heaven and earth. In this last scripture, we learn the second death is being thrown into the lake of fire. Terrifying.

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it,

from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.

And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened;

and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life;

and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it,

and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them;

and they were judged, every one [of them] according to their deeds.

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.

REVELATION 20:11-15

Conclusion - second death...

The first death is a foregone conclusion, we are all going to die. The second death is what we’re trying to avoid. Whether or not we experience the second death is up to us. Our Creator wishes for none to perish in the second death, but for all to come to repentance.

YHWH is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,

not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

2 PETER 3:9

We do not want to “perish” but to live eternally with our Creator and the Messiah Yahusha. To avoid the second death and attain eternal life, repent we must. My recommendation for anyone seeking our Creator is to bring your life into immediate obedience to the 10 Commandments and seek Him through individual study of His word.

(1) "You shall have no other gods before Me. EXODUS 20:3

(2) "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, YHWH your Elohim, am a jealous Elohim, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. EXODUS 20:4-6

(3) "You shall not take the name of YHWH your Elohim in vain, for YHHW will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. EXODUS 20:7

(4) "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of YHWH your Elohim; you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days YHWH made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore YHWH blessed the sabbath day and set it apart. EXODUS 20: 8-11

(5) "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which YHWH your God gives you. EXODUS 20:12

(6) "You shall not murder." EXODUS 20:13

(7) "You shall not commit adultery." EXODUS 20:14

(8) "You shall not steal." EXODUS 20:15

(9) "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." EXODUS 20:16

(10) "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor." EXODUS 20:17