Simply put, death that comes a second time is the Second Death. Solomon describes death as an unconscious state of destruction (Ecclesiastes 9:5,6). Even Second Death has the very same attributes and hence it is not a strange death. It is just death but since it is the death that occurs for the second time to a person, it is called as the ‘Second Death’. But, how can death come twice to a person? Those who know the plan of God know the answer to this question. Let us refresh our memories briefly. In the beginning God created mankind to live without end (Genesis 1:28). If that state had continued, death would not have entered into the history of mankind. But, deceived by Satan, mankind came under the punishment of death (Genesis 2:17, 3:19). In such a fashion, death entered into the history of mankind. Indeed, the death that came upon the whole of mankind due to Adamic sin is the ‘First Death’ (Romans 5:12). We saw in an issue of Grace that this First Death would surely come upon the whole of mankind within the same day as Adam sinned, i.e. the day in which God rested, which is still continuing, the Seventh Day of the creation epoch (See Grace – Blossom 26:March 10, para 09).
(2) If first death and second death are of the same nature, why is it that there are no severe warnings in the Bible about first death like the ones about second death? Truly, not only us the church, even the people of the world need not have any fear about first death. Thanks to God, due to His great love for mankind, He gave His own son as a ransom sacrifice to redeem all of mankind from first death (John 3:16). This is the basis of the Christian Faith. As a result of that ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ, all of mankind, including Adam have redemption from first death. What does redemption from death means? Resurrection – ‘For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive’ (1 Corinthians 15:22). Indeed, first death has been transformed into sleep by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Hence, at the beginning of the coming Kingdom of God, all of mankind will rise up like waking up from sleep. That is the reason no one need to be afraid about first death. That also is the good news in Christ. We can also now understand how death can come twice for the same person. If those who resurrected from their first death, owing to the ransom sacrifice of Christ, die again, won’t it be their second death! That is why Bible calls it as Second Death. If so, then we can glean who only will get this second death. Since, only those who have died once can die for the second time, it is clear that only those who had underwent first death and resurrected due to Christ’s sacrifice can die for the second time. Hence, we can be sure that no one from Adam till now (apart from the Church class) could have gone into second death directly. That is why neither the people of Sodom nor the people who died in the flood of Noah’s period or those Israelites who died contravening the Law Covent went into second death. Their death was their first one and hence it was surely first death. So only Bible explicitly states that all of them would resurrect again (Matthew 10:15, Mark 6:11). In fact, this explanation of second death makes it clear why second death is the ultimate punishment. Since, there is the surety of resurrection from first death; it is not the ultimate punishment. But on resurrection from first death, if one becomes liable to a second death, then there is no sacrifice left to redeem him/her. Christ is not going to die again. Adam did not know about the effects of sin when he erred and hence God was willing to redeem him and his offspring. But, there is no point in redeeming those who fault again in their second opportunity to prove their obedience, even after knowing the effects of sin. God is not going to redeem them. That is why second death is the ultimate punishment. It is an eternal punishment from which no one can never ever recover.
(3) That being so, is it possible for the church class to become liable to second death? Most definitely. New Testament writers have indicated this. Note this statement from Paul – ‘If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left…. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?’ (Hebrews 10:26-29). If after knowing the truth and undertaking baptism, a person gets overcome by Satan and loses his way, Paul says that his punishment will be greater than the highest punishment given under the Law Covenant, which was death. But, how can a punishment be greater than death? Unable to figure that, many Christians consider this punishment as the hell fire. But, we know the truth. First death was the punishment that came upon those who broke the Covenant of Moses. There is redemption from that death. What can be a more severe punishment than that? It is the irredeemable second death! That is why Paul says ‘no sacrifice for sins is left’. Since there is no redemption from second death, it is indeed a more severe punishment than first death. Even Peter warns the church regarding such a punishment – ‘If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them’ (2 Peter 2:20,21). Before knowing the truth and getting baptised i.e. ‘at the beginning’, one’s destined for just first death. But if after baptism, one gets entangled and won over by the world then he/she becomes destined for second death. That is why Peter says that he/she is worse off at the end than at the beginning. It would have been better for them to have not found the path of truth. Because, then they would have gone into the redeemable first death and would have resurrected in the Kingdom of God. But now, they would go into second death and be destroyed forever.
(4) But, we saw earlier that ‘second death’ is the second death of a person and hence no one can get second death before dying once. Then how come the church class alone becomes directly eligible for second death, if overcome by world? After all, they also are yet to die once! Indeed, without dying once, no one can become liable to second death. But, the church class has died once already – ‘don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?’ (Romans 6:3). Our baptism is our first death. Each class of people are utilizing the redeeming effect of Christ’s sacrifice in their own due time (1 Timothy 2:6, See Grace – Blossom 19:August 09, para 03). Only after utilizing the ransom sacrifice of Christ can anyone be free of genetic sin and have relationship with God. For the people of the world, the redeeming effect of Jesus’ sacrifice is applied only after their first death (Their resurrection itself is a result of the application of the redeeming effect of Christ’s sacrifice). Hence, they can have fellowship with God only after their resurrection. But, we utilize the redeeming effect of Christ’s sacrifice now itself and have fellowship with God. And hence if we fail in this chance, we are left with no other redemption option. But, even the Old Testament faithful utilized the same sacrifice of Christ and had fellowship with God as all the sacrifices of the Old Testament typified the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ (See Grace – Blossom 19:August 09, para 05). That being the case, if the people of the Old Testament times, who had fellowship with God and later proved unfaithful did not become liable to second death, then why only the church class becomes liable to second death? It is important to understand the reason for this. The covenant made with the Old Testament faithful by God were regarding earthly things only. God promised Abraham only land and earthly blessings (Genesis 17:7,8). Even the Israelites were promised only earthly blessings (Genesis 28:12-15). For example, we saw in an issue of Grace that how Zerubbabel is to receive an earthly position in the Kingdom of God as a reward for building the Second Jerusalem Temple (Haggai 2:23, See Grace – Blossom 07:September 08, para 15). The ultimate reward promised by God to the faithful of the Old Testament was earthly eternal life. Likewise, in the coming Kingdom of God, those who followed God faithfully during the Old Testament times, will receive their promised lands, posts and other blessings along with an earthly eternal life (See Grace – Blossom 26:March 10, para 08). On the other hand, those who had the opportunity to prove their faithfulness to God in the Old Testament times, but blew it, will not receive eternal life and will resurrect like the other ordinary men of the world. That is their punishment. They can receive eternal life only after getting tested by Satan like the rest of mankind. And since they wasted their precious chance to obtain eternal life in their first life itself, they would be condemned and be ashamed (Matthew 12:38-42). For example, Jesus said that it will be more bearable for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah than for the people of the unrepentant cities of the Judea of his time (Matthew 10:15, 11:23). Because, though the unrepentant people of Jesus’ time will resurrect (Matthew 12:38-42), since they did not repent even after hearing the words of Messiah, they will be condemned more than the people of Sodom. They will be ashamed more. Due to their grander transgression, their hearts would have been hardened more and hence to rectify them harsher and tougher tools will have to be employed in the Kingdom (See Scripture Study – Blossom 04:May 10, para 12). In this fashion, the those who wasted their chance to secure eternal life in the Old Testament times will be punished. However, they cannot become liable for second death. Because, none of them went through a death symbolizing baptism like us. Though the passing of the Israelites through the Red sea symbolized a baptism, it was towards only earthly goals (Canaan).
(5) The baptism of the church has an entirely different objective. Our goal is not earthly eternal life. Our calling is a heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1). But, we cannot hope to lay hands on a heavenly calling, just like that. To receive this heavenly calling, we permanently let go of our earthly resurrection. That is, the earthly resurrection which is available for the entire mankind is something we are also worthy to receive. But, when we baptize, we covenant with God that instead of that earthly resurrection, we aim for a heavenly resurrection. That is why our baptism is akin to the first death that occurs to the people of the world. We strive to die to the world and live for Christ. Our world becomes not this one but the coming one (John 8:23, 18:36). The Law Covenant people were supposed to give one in ten as tithe to God. But, we have to die to this world and hence give ten out of ten to God. If we live that way, God is willing to give us a heavenly resurrection. But, if we fail to fulfill the commitments of our baptism covenant, our natural death becomes our second death, since baptism was our first death and we would be destroyed forever. Since, we received the opportunity to run for a heavenly resurrection only on forfeiting our earthly resurrection rights, no one who baptized and entered into the church class can attain an earthly resurrection. Either they can fulfill their calling and obtain a heavenly resurrection (as part of the body of Christ 144000 or as part of the great multitude) or they can fail in their race and become liable to second death. These are the only options available for the church. Some may ask why was the opportunity to run for the heavenly prize not given during the Old Testament times. Is it not partial that God did not give them that opportunity? No. Paul says that ‘the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ’ (Galatians 3:24). Before the experiences of the Law Covenant and other Old Testament periods, mankind was not ready for Christ’s heavenly calling. It is those experiences that taught the concept of sin (Romans 7:7). Hence, the people of the Old Testament were not ready for the heavenly calling. It is only their experiences that enriched and enabled mankind to be able to receive the heavenly calling now (Galatians 3:24). Giving the people of the Old Testament the heavenly calling prematurely (when they certainly would have failed), would have resulted in them going into second death as the heavenly calling involves that punishment. So, God was acting wisely and appropriately.
(6) Many get disturbed by the question that when/why/how a person who is baptized becomes liable to second death. Some, after erring few times, worry whether God has marked them for second death. It discourages them in their spiritual race. It is true that if one sins continually he/she would attain second death. But, God does not keep an accounting of our sins and determine that those who sin over this count are destined for second death. God forgives and forgets our sins when we seek forgiveness (Hebrews 8:12, See Grace – Blossom 01:February 08, para 06). That is why Christ asks us also to forgive the sins of others boundlessly (Matthew 18:22 – seven being symbol of completeness). In the same way, based on our worldly wisdom, we think of some sins as great and others less. Some think that if one indulges in the great sins, then they would become liable to second death as God would not forgive them. That is also a wrong assumption. In the eyes of God, there is no such thing as great sin and lesser sin. That is why James says that if one transgressed even a small commandment of the Law Covenant, it amounts to transgressing the whole covenant (James 2:10, See Grace – Blossom 10:December 08, paras 02,03). If so, then when does a Christian become liable to second death? Paul writes the following about those who become liable to second death – ‘How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?’ (Hebrews 10:29). Note the words ‘insulted the spirit of grace’ in the above verse. ‘Spirit of grace’ refers to divine forgiveness. God gracefully forgives our sins. But, those who attain second death are those who ignore and insult divine forgiveness by refusing to accept their mistakes and thus not asking forgiveness for them. That is why Paul calls them as those who ‘deliberately keep on sinning’ (Hebrews 10:26). God forgives anyone who genuinely asks for forgiveness. Indeed, when we repent from any sin and pray for forgiveness, God ‘is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9). Hence, after repenting and seeking forgiveness for a sin, it is unnecessary to worry whether God would have forgiven us or not. Moreover, no one becomes liable to second death overnight. God is patient and He gives many opportunities for a sinning brother/sister to repent. Only those who refuse to accept their mistakes and repent even after God gives them many warnings, thereby ‘trample the Son of God under foot’, who has won forgiveness for them and ignore the purifying ‘blood of the covenant’ that is able to clean them become liable to second death (Hebrews 10:29). Hence, if we repent from any sin and come to ‘throne of grace’ boldly, God forgives and forgets our sins (Hebrews 4:16). We should be careful not to be self righteous and have a hardened heart such that we prove unrepentant from any sin.
(7) It is these willful sins that John calls as sins that lead to death (1 John 5:16). All wrongdoing is sin. But, if we repent from any sin and ask for forgiveness from God, since that sin is forgiven by God and He purifies us completely, that sin does not lead to death (1 John 1:8, 5:17). On the other hand, the sin which we do not repent, howsoever small it may appear in our human eyes, will lead to death. In our case, lead to second death. That is why, if someone continues to sin despite repeated warnings from us and fails to repent owing to a hardened heart, it is not advisable to even pray for such a person who is committing a sin that leads to death (1 John 5:16). In the verse 1 John 5:18, John explains the reason for this. Some older English translations render this verse wrongly by putting ‘whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself’. Such a translation is not only wrong but also against biblical truths. Same sort of mistakes have been made in the translation of 1 John 3:6,9 (‘sinneth not’, ‘doth not commint sin’, ‘cannot sin’). If we say we do not have sin (‘sinneth not’, ‘cannot sin’), we will only be deceiving ourselves (1 John 1:8). Newer English Bibles like NIV and ESV render them correctly – ‘We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him’ (I John 5:18). This rendering is based on Wescott & Hort Greek Text which is based on the Oldest New Testament Manuscripts of Codex Vaticanus & Codex Sinaiticus. In the same way, correct rendering of 1 John 3:6,9 should have ‘keep on sinning’, ‘continues to sin’ & ‘continue to sin’, cannot go on sinning’ (NIV). Anyway, in 1 John 5:18, the point is that anyone born of God does not continue to sin, i.e. go on sinning without repenting at some point. Because, the Holy Spirit which he/she has received, thanks to the sacrifice of Son of God, works in his/her conscience and try to make them repent. The ones who listen to the Spirit and repent are kept safe from the evil one by the purification offered by the sacrifice of the son of God. But the ones who refuse to repent, continuing in their sin are the ones on a path to second death. Like John says, it is not advisable to even pray for them. They are no longer born of God. That is why, even Jesus asks us to treat someone who continues to sin after repeated warnings as strangers (Matthew 18:15-17). On the other hand, the sins which one repents of are the sins that do not lead to death and we can pray for such a brother (1 John 5:16). That is, sometimes, due to fleshly weaknesses, some find it difficult to let go of certain sinful behavior even after they themselves accepting it as sin and repenting (Romans 7:14-25). We can pray for such brethren. Then God will help those brethren to get released from the grip of their sinfulness. Prayer is powerful. Even Jesus asked his disciples to pray for him during his trials. Critically, our repentance must be genuine. God does not recognize a mere superficial repentance. No one can cheat Him, who can read our hearts. On the other hand, God will not turn away anyone who genuinely repents.
(8) We explored in detail about Second death. Especially, we saw how one in the church becomes liable to second death if he/she fails to repent and sins willfully. But, even after getting the Holy Spirit, how come some hearts get so hardened, so as to indulge in willful sin? Faith without works dies (James 2:17,18). In an earlier issue of Grace, we saw that since not sinning is our basic duty, God is not going to give heavenly blessings for doing just that. We saw that we need to do works of faith (Gospel preaching/Church works), in order to attain heavenly blessings (See Grace – Blossom 24:January 10, paras 5,6). Not only that, in this sinful world, we can avoid willful sinning only if we are filled in the Spirit by doing works of faith continually. It is works of faith that not only win us heavenly blessings but also prevent us from willfully sinning/obtaining second death. To die to the world and to live for Christ is our baptism. What we need to understand is that, without living for Christ by doing the works of faith, we cannot die to the sinful world. Hence, if we fail to do the works of faith, Spirit drains, our faith dies, heart hardens, and we willfully sin and become liable to second death. Let us be careful!