The Second Death: A Biblical Review of Hades, the Great White Throne, and the Lake of Fire

Digging Deeper

The Second Death

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.

Upon Christ’s second coming, the righteous will be resurrected for the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth.  This is the first resurrection.   “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    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.   Revelation 20-13-14 notes “The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.” 

Unlike physical death which is defeated through faith in Christ, the second death is a permanent spiritual death reserved for those who reject the gift of Christ in continued rebellion against God.  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.”    Here they will be joined by the devil, the beast and the false prophet  - “and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”  Revelation 20:10

Jesus refers to this place at Gehenna.  It is what we call “Hell”.  Gehenna derives its name from the Valley of Hinnom (in Hebrew: Ge-Hinnom) which is a ravine south of Jerusalem where continual fires burn refuse and the corpses of criminals.  The constant flames and smoke make a vivid image of the eternal destruction of Hell.  Gehenna, or the second death, has no end, no escape and no pardon path.  Jesus noted in Mark 9:43, 48, “It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell (Gehenna), to the unquenchable fire …where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.”

Be careful to note the first description of those assigned to the second death – the cowardly.  Do not be cowardly in proclaiming the gospel, speaking God’s word or in acknowledging Christ.  Make Christ your inheritance.  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!

The second death will not touch those in Christ Jesus.   As Jesus was dying on the cross, He experienced spiritual separation from the Father then he cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  Supernaturally, Christ absorbed the spiritual death we deserve, descended into Hades, conquering death and the realm of the dead (Hades) and now holds “the keys of Death and Hades.”  In Revelation 1;18 Jesus says “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” 

“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