Pillar 2 - Growing in Faith
Second Death
The Bible reveals a second death.
Most people think about physical death — Scripture reveals a second death that is far more significant, and that every soul is already on a path toward or away from.
Do You Not Know?
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars…”
Have You Not Heard?
“… they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
HELL - ENDLESS AGONY WITH SATAN IN THE LAKE OF FIRE
OR
HEAVEN - ETERNAL LIFE OF JOY, PEACE AND LOVE WITH CHRIST JESUS
The Choice Is Yours!!
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”
John 3:36
Where Will You Spend Eternity?
This is the truth in its simplest form — the same words printed inside every Second Death Truth Card:
Do not move past this too quickly.
If this is true, it changes everything about your life.
What Scripture Says About A Second Death
Whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” John 3:36 God’s judgment is holy, just and necessary. Those who reject God’s provision claim: “I do not need reconciliation”; “I will define truth”; I will rule myself; or “I know better than God”. Such rebellion creates hardened hearts, moral decay and spiritual blindness.
Physical death separates the body and the soul. The soul of every person is held in Hades until time for the Great White Throne judgment. The righteous are held in comfort while the wicked are held in suffering. Upon the second coming of Christ, those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus will be resurrected to eternal life. This is the first resurrection that ushers in the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth.
At the end of this time, Revelation 20:11-12 says, "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done." All humanity will stand before God and be judged according to their deeds and their acceptance of Christ. Those who have rejected the gift of Christ are condemned to the lake of fire – the second death.
Those destined to the fiery lake are described in Revelation 21:8: “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Of those destined to the fiery lake, observe the first noted: the cowardly. Do not be cowardly in proclaiming the gospel, speaking God’s word or in acknowledging Christ. Instead, declare boldly in your word and deeds to proclaim Christ Jesus to the glory of the Father. This will be to the Trinity’s pleasure and delight!
While God does not delight in the death of anyone, Hell (Gehanna) is the final outcome for persistent rejection of God’s love, mercy and grace. Make Christ your inheritance. “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will become priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him.” Revelation 20.6
“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:12
Again – “Whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” John 3:36
The choice is yours!
Choose life! Or choose death!
(Hint: Once dead, there is not a second chance - and there is not a third option.)
What Others Ask
Q. What is the second death in the Bible?
A. The second death is described in Revelation 20:14 as 'the lake of fire.' It refers to the final, eternal separation from God that follows the last judgment. The first death is physical — the end of earthly life. The second death is spiritual and eternal — the ultimate consequence of rejecting God's offer of salvation through Christ.
Q. Is hell real, and what does the Bible actually say about it?
A. Jesus spoke of hell more than any other biblical figure. He described it as a place of eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46), utter darkness, and weeping (Matthew 8:12). Revelation portrays it as the lake of fire — a state of permanent separation from God and all good. Scripture treats hell as a real and sobering reality, not a metaphor.
Q. What is the lake of fire in Revelation?
A. The lake of fire appears in Revelation 19–21 as the final destination for those whose names are not written in the Book of Life (Revelation 20:15). It is described as the second death — an eternal state of separation from God. Revelation presents it as the culmination of divine judgment following the resurrection of all the dead.
Q. What is the difference between physical death and spiritual death?
A. Physical death is the separation of soul from body — the end of earthly life. Spiritual death is the separation of the soul from God — a condition every person is born into because of sin (Ephesians 2:1). The second death is the eternal confirmation of spiritual death for those who never received reconciliation through Jesus Christ.
Q. Can someone escape the second death, and how?
A. Yes. Revelation 20:6 says those who are in Christ will not be harmed by the second death. Salvation through Jesus Christ is the only escape — not by earning it, but by receiving it. God does not want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). The door remains open in this life, but not beyond it.
Digging Deeper Introduction
The “second death” is among Scripture’s gravest and most sobering concepts – a final and irreversible judgment eternally separating the condemned from the presence of God. Unlike physical death, in which there is separation between the body and soul, the second death is the separation of the soul from the very source of life, mercy, grace and love for eternity.
Physical death is the consequence of sin entering the world. Since the Fall, all mankind has been born with a sinful nature. For believers, this physical death has been defeated. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 Physical death destines all to Hades (Sheol in Hebrew used in the Old Testament). This is the realm of the dead where all deceased go – both righteous and wicked.
While being separated from the active presence of God, those in Hades are awaiting final judgment. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man in Hades speaking with Abraham is told “between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ Luke 16;26 This suggests Hades has “sides” – one side of comfort for the righteous and another side of suffering for the wicked. Both “sides” of Hades are a temporary state awaiting final resurrection and judgment.
The choice is yours! Choose life! Or choose death!
(Hint: Once dead, there is not a second chance - and there is no third option.)
Someone’s eternity depends on it!
Awaken the sleeper!
Continue the Journey
Explore the foundational truths step by step
Next in Pillar 2 - Growing in Faith