What Is The difference Between The First And Second Death

The next three messages will be based on differences. I just did one based on the differences between the 1st and 2nd resurrections. These are the differences between specific end time events. Since we are told more than 30 times to be watching we might want to know when prophetic scriptures occur so that we know the time of His visitation. Ah no but more accurately the timeline of His return within reason.  

These next three messages will not be long but packed with spiritual clarity. We will lightly touch on the 1st and 2nd deaths and because all of the 1st and 2nd messages are somewhat related overlap cannot be helped. 

The first death and the second death are two distinct stages of human mortality and final judgment described in Christian theology and the Book of Revelation. The first death is physical death on Earth, while the second death is final spiritual judgment and eternal separation from God. 

The First Death

·        Nature: The temporary, natural end of physical life where the body stops functioning and separates from the soul or spirit.

·        Scope: Experienced by all of humanity, including both believers and non-believers throughout history.

·        Reversibility: Considered temporary in theology, because bodies or souls are raised again at the final resurrection. 

The Second Death

·        Nature: The permanent, final judgment symbolized in scripture as the "lake of fire".

·        Scope: Experienced only by those whose names are not found in the book of life; believers who take part in the "first resurrection" are untouched by it.

·        Reversibility: Permanent and irreversible; it represents the ultimate, eternal separation or destruction away from God's presence.

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Hello, this is Ken, your podcast preacher. Welcome back to my podcast Deep Waters. This podcast is brought to you by Applied Strengths Ministry, where we believe working together on our strengths is the effect of working out the will and calling of God and into our lives. Thanks for joining me. Let's open up in prayer. Blessed be the God and Father of your Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Just as he chose you and him before the foundation of the world, that you should be holy and without blame before him in love, having predestined you to adoption as a son or daughter by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, which he purposed in himself, to the praise of the glory of his grace by which he made you accepted in the beloved. In him ye have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, which he made to abound towards you in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to you the mystery of his will, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times you might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth in him. I ask that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, and the knowledge of the mystery of him, to the deepest knowledge of him that you are willing and able to receive, that the eyes of your understanding would be open wider, and that you would be enlightened to who he is, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in you, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power towards you who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, that he would grant that you would be strengthened with might through his spirit in the inner man, and into your spirit and heart, consistently walking in the spirit so that you would be able to stand against the appetites of your flesh, the corrupted spirit of this world, the devil in his demons, and any in all fleshly desires and temptations. I pray that your love may abound more and more in all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be real about your Christianity, and unoffendable till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, which are by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit to the glory and praise of God. I ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will and all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him, being fruitful in every good work, strengthened with all might according to his glorious power, giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints who walk by the Spirit and in the light. I pray that your hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love and unity, and that you would attain to all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which has been given to each of my listeners by Christ Jesus, that you are enriched in everything by him, in all utterance and all knowledge, so that you do not come short in obtaining or operating in your calling and purpose, nor in using any spiritual gifts or talents to perform mighty miracle signs and wonders, that we would do the greater works of Jesus yet to be accomplished, that we would be found eagerly waiting for the continued revelation of our Lord Jesus, who will confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the near coming of the day of our Lord. God is faithful by whom you were called into the fellowship of his son Jesus. Okay, so now therefore, my sisters and brothers in Christ, when things get tough, think about whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and whatever things are of a good report. If there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things alone. I pray that in these very end of end time days that you would let your love be without hypocrisy. Show people your faith by your works and service and love. Hate and loath what is evil, cling to what is good and righteous, be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor, giving preference to one another, not lagging in diligence, fervent and fully engulfed in spiritual fire, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, walking in the peace of God, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, distributing to the needs of the saints, that is each other, and that you would be given to hospitality. May the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like minded towards one another, according to Christ Jesus, that we learn to be of one mind and one accord, striving to get along no matter what disagreements we may encounter, operating completely and fully in love, always striving for the working out of God's specific will for each of our lives, while working in partnership with each other within the church and the Holy Spirit, as he manifests his miracle signs and wonders through the daily activities of our ministry and kingdom work, and while we also go out preaching the gospel in word and deed. Let us love and serve one another, our enemy, and those who wouldn't expect us to do so, considering each person better than ourselves. Bind up any words or thoughts that are contrary to the love of God, or which would set you back in your Christian walk. Guard your hearts from anything that would hinder the growth of your character. Never forget that you can do all things in Christ, and never forget this means all things. Step out in faith today and walk with God and with each other, being assured that nothing will separate you from Him as long as you abide in Him. Call those things that don't exist as though they do. Remember the faith of God of which we have, created the universe by the ramen and logos word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. All you need for this life is invisible until you apply your faith to receive it. But make sure you make your request known to God without fear, doubting, and unbelief. Always remember that he that is in you is greater than he that is in the world. Be more than a conqueror today, submitting to the will of God and everything. Never forget that you can do all things through Christ who will strengthen you this very day. Let each of us express uncompromising love towards one another in humility while maintaining a teachable spirit, seeking to grow no matter how much it challenges our current thinking. I pray that God will give you the revelation within this message that He intends you to receive with the understanding. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. In Jesus' name we pray amen. The title of this message is What is the difference between the first and the second death? The next three messages will be based on differences. I just did one based on the differences between the first and second resurrections. These are the differences between specific in time events. Since we are told more than thirty times to be watching, we might want to know when prophetic scriptures occur so that we know the time of his visitation. No, but more accurately, the timeline of his return within reason. These next three messages will not be long, but packed with spiritual clarity. We will lightly touch on the first and second deaths, and because all of the first and second messages are somewhat related, overlap cannot be helped. The first death and second death are two distinct stages of human morality and final judgment described in Christian theology and the book of Revelation. The first death is a physical death on earth, while the second death is final spiritual judgment and eternal separation from God. So the first death, the nature is, the temporary natural end of physical life where the body stops functioning and separates from the soul and spirit. The scope experienced by all of humanity, including both believers and non believers throughout history. I wonder if they had to put that in there. Reversibility, considered temporary in theology, because bodies or souls are raised again at the final resurrection, and I would say that you get a new body and a restored soul, and the spirit, and the Holy Spirit at the final resurrection. The second death, nature, the permanent final judgment symbolized in Scripture as the lake of fire. Scope, experienced only by those whose names are not found in the book of life. Believers who take part in the first resurrection are untouched by it. Reversibility, permanent and irreversible. It represents the ultimate eternal separation or destruction away from God's presence. It's interesting to note that there are two things that are permanent. One is death, everybody's going to go through dying, and the other is a separation from God or living with him forever. Those are the permanent things, and things that should be considered by every human being on this planet. The second death is also known as the Great White Throne Judgment. Revelation twenty eleven fifteen. Then I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away, and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead small and great standing before God, and books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, and each one according to his works. Then death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, and anyone not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. The second death is also known as the event where Jesus is separating the sheep and the goats, sheep representing the authentically born again believers, and the goats representing the fake believers, make believers, nonbelievers, the religious crew, known as the Pharisees, Sadducees, religious attorneys, and false scribes, the group of falsies such as the false Christ, false teachers, false apostles, and false prophets, and wolves in sheep's clothing, as well as those stuck in the valley of indecision. If you designate yourself as anything other than an authentically born again Christian, then this is you. And but know that it's not too late to change your eternity. Matthew twenty five, thirty one through forty six. When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory, all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, as the shepherd divides his sheep from the goats, and he will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right hand, Come you blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when do we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When do we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? Or when do we see you sick or imprisoned and come to you? And a king will answer and say to them, Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, my brethren, you did it to me. Then you will also say to those on his left hand, depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Notice he didn't say it was prepared for humanity. The only way humans get into hell is by free will. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not take me in, naked, and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison, and you did not visit me. Then they will also answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, or stranger, or naked or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you? Then he will answer them, saying, Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me, and these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. So let's visit a deeper understanding of death from the view of the Bible. The book of Revelation explicitly mentions the second death exactly four times. These verses outline who was affected, who is exempt, and what does the second death actually represent? Revelation two hundred eleven, the promise to the faithful. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be heard at all by the second death. Again, the second death is also known as the great white throne judgment, which results in separation of sheep from the goats. Context of Revelation two hundred eleven. This is a part of the letter to the persecuted church in Smyrnia. It serves as an encouragement that physical martyrdom, the first death on earth, cannot harm a believer's eternal soul. Revelation twenty six, the first resurrection exemption. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection, the second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him for a thousand years. Context This occurs during the description of the millennium, the thousand year reign of Christ. Its meaning is that it establishes a timeline where those resurrected in faith are permanently sealed away from the threat of final judgment, also known as the second judgment, resulting in the separation of the sheep from the goats. Yes, I am being redundant, as redundancy is a teaching technique that can help you to retain the message knowledge. Revelation twenty fourteen, the definition of the lake of fire. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is a result of the second death or final judgment. The context is that it takes place at the great white throne judgment after the final defeat of Satan. Its meaning is that it explicitly defines a second death, not as a cessation of existence, but as a final destination, lake of fire, where even death itself is permanently destroyed. Revelation twenty one eight the list of those who are judged. In other words, these are the behaviors that will surely end up getting you in hell if you do not receive Christ and repent of these things. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars, they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. These are the consistently practiced, unrepentant of activities that will escort you to the second death and final judgment. So the context is that this is spoken by God from his throne, right as the new Jerusalem is being revealed. Its intended meaning is to provide a moral and spiritual catalog of those who face this final judgment due to unrepentant sin and a rejection of God. Why should you know the definition of these events? Because in the great deception or falling away, also known as the apostasy, many of us who feel as if we are prepared and never would in any way ever deny Jesus as the only Savior of the world will fall for the lives of the enemy. Why? A lack of soberness and practicing proper spiritual behaviors that reshape and redesign your character into the new man that God has made us into, further developing to maturity the newly created you that occurred when you got caught by Jesus and became authentically born again. The Bible tells us to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith. Second Corinthians thirteen five. Faith is proven by our works. The Bible talks about faith being proven by works most directly in the book of James two, fourteen through twenty six. Let's break this scripture into relevant bits and pieces. I would encourage you to read the entire scripture or even going beyond this and reading the whole book of James, which is easily done in one sitting. So the key verses are James two seventeen. Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James two eighteen. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. Notice how he says that his faith is confirmed by what he does. James two twenty four. You see then that a man is justified by works and not by faith only. James two twenty six, as a body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead, and you can't get saved with a dead faith. Do you want to take a biblical litmus test to find out where you are? You don't need anybody for this assessment, but you must be honest with yourself. If you so choose to get outside feedback, get it from somebody who will be straight up honest with you. Matthew three eight, therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance. What might some of that fruit look like? Luke three, ten through fourteen. So the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? He answered and said to them, He who has two tonnocks, let him give to him who has none. He who has food let him do likewise. Then the tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, Teacher, what shall we do? And he said to them, Collect no more than what is appointed for you. Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, And what shall we do? So he said to them, Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages. This is a small list of fruits, but it is a representative sample. Let's finish with the following. Galatians five twenty two through twenty three states But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Against such things there is no law. Are these behaviors improved in your life? You don't have to be perfect, but are they improving from year to year? You should know by how you behave towards others when the heat is on. Oh, that heat is defined as trials, temptation, testings, persecutions, tribulations, and being unjustly treated for your faith, just to name a few. But no, let's further define what those behaviors and associated activities are so that we don't accidentally come up with our own definition. Love is unselfish concern and active care for others. Joy is an inner gladness rooted in God's presence. Peace is calmness and harmony that comes from trusting God. Patience is being slow to anger and enduring difficult times. Kindness is acting in love to help and improve the well being of others. Goodness is a virtue and a clear desire to do good deeds. Faithfulness is loyalty, reliability, and an unwavering trust in God. Gentleness is humility and a steadily spirit that uses strength for good. Self control is power over one's own impulses, desires, and actions. And a final thought or measuring stick is in no doubt more important than even operating in supernatural gifts and offices. Though I speak with tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal, and though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries, and have all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing, and though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long, and is kind. Love does not envy, love does not parade itself, it is not puffed up, it does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, it thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails, but where there are prophecies they will fail. Where there are tongues, they will cease, where there is knowledge, it will vanish away, for we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part will be done away with. When I was a child I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, for I thought as a child, but when I became a man I put away childish things, for now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I am also known. Now abide, faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love. Look, God is a source of love. Meaning every true expression of love originates from His character, a character that should eventually be thoroughly formed and developed in us. This activity is what leads us to spiritual maturity or as becoming a Christian mother and father. Love requires action. Scripture emphasizes that love is proven through behavior and sacrifice, famously summarized by Jesus in John fifteen thirteen. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. And also we are told to love our enemies, which is to serve them. Listen as we close. Matthew five forty four. Jesus says, But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Luke six twenty seven. Jesus says, But to you who are listening, I say, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you in Luke six thirty five. Jesus adds, but love your enemies and do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. With scriptures like that you can see why people don't want to read their Bible, but in truth we need to, and with God's help, we can become just like that and do exactly what those scriptures are telling us to do. The Old Testament roots. The Hebrew scriptures also share this principle of helping and not taking revenge on adversaries. Exodus twenty three four through five instructs people to return a lost ox or donkey to an enemy and help them unload a fallen animal. Proverbs twenty five, twenty one through twenty two says, If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. So rightly there in Proverbs twenty five, twenty one through twenty two, in the Bible it tells us to give water to our enemies, and but also the apostle Paul repeats this teaching in the New Testament in the book of Romans. Let's look again, and but also see why we should do these things, or to say it another way, manifest this fruit of the Spirit and the character attributes of God who is defined as love. Proverbs twenty five twenty one through twenty two. If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you. Romans twelve twenty. Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him a drink, for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. The meaning of these verses is as follows showing kindness God asks believers to respond to hostility with practical help instead of revenge. So this activity keeps you from the self destructive behavior of judging others or taking things into your own hands. Burning coals the phrase means your unexpected kindness will make your enemy feel deep shame and repentance for their wrong actions. The timing of when this takes place in your enemies is between them and God. We do not push them to change because of our helping them. And God's reward is that He promises to notice and reward this difficult choice to show mercy. God sees everything, including our whippy snappy, illegitimate thoughts. We get away with nothing, but a true authentically born again believer wouldn't worry even if they could see God in everything that they do, say, think, or see. Why? Because they're abiding in Christ, and they want to mature, and they know the activities of the flesh produce the wrong fruit, and the only way that we can produce the right fruit is to be transparent with our God. Let's close in prayer. May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before your God and Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Now may the God of peace, the one in whom we call wonderful, counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, may He Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. To our Lord of Lords and our King of Kings, to our high and lifted up great eyed priest, who has once and for all paid the price, that you might see and hear God, may he hear and respond to our prayers. To our God we stand and pray as he too always lives to make intercession for you, while seated at the right hand of the Father. May the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you what is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom we glory forever and ever. Now to him who was able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. To him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations. Forever and ever, amen. Well that's it for today. Remember it's not what you find wrong or disagree with regarding these messages, but it's what you can take away from it. Together we can do more to impact the kingdom than if we work alone. Let's flip the script and kill, still, and destroy the works of the enemy and create space for the light of life to shine through into people's lives. Find a seed and click on the like and subscribe button. Repost on your social media platforms and help us to make disciples. Link this message out or teach from it in your Bible study, your life or sale group, and yes, even in your church. You can be assured it comes from one call to teach, and though imperfect, you have the word of God to use to test everything I say. Let's build this ministry together. Thanks and see you next time in Deep Waters.