12/01/2023
For a God who created the universe, breathed life into man, and on more than one occasion raised him from the dead... what is death? We are so small, and our experience so limited to this body, and this existence, that all of our judgements have become founded on this little slice of physical reality that we inhabit. Because of this limited view we have of life and death, as if through a drinking straw, we convince ourselves that we know what it is… but do we? Let’s take a higher level look at death.
Many of us have the misconception of our death as being the end of our existence, but it is not. In fact the Bible tells us that there are two deaths, the first is the physical one we are able to see through our tiny drinking straw, and occurs when our spirit joins and then separates itself from our body.
“And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.”
Revelation 20:13 ESV
However, there is a second death that is much more profound, it is absolute and ends the spiritual life we have known, and that God breathed into us. You could logically conclude that God breathed the physical breath of life into us alone, and that at the end of our days He will inhale that life back into Himself. This might sound reasonable to those who don’t believe in Jesus, but in reality God is both spiritual and eternal, and if we are determined to be believers in Him, and Jesus Christ, then eternity will be ours as well. We will not experience the second and final death that scripture speaks of.
“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 ESV
God has the ability to give us eternal life, but He also has the ability to end life altogether as well. In Revelation this is referred to as taking away our share in the tree of life. Eternal punishment, or the second death, is the absolute end of life. If God destroys Satan, death, and Hades, why would we think that He is going to torment us forevermore?
“and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”
Revelation 22:19 ESV
Some view what Jesus said in Matthew 25:46 to mean that unworthy souls will be tormented forever by Satan in hell, but that can’t possibly be true because Hebrews tells us that Satan will be destroyed. God is not vindictive, but he is good, and just. Let’s read these two verses...
“”And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.””
Matthew 25:46 ESV
And…
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.”
Hebrews 2:14-16 ESV
So there is a first death that we understand because we witness it, and then there is a second death that once complete, at the conclusion of judgement, will bring some souls to an end forever... not torture, but nothingness, an end to their existence, and an absolute separation from God’s presence.
“The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.”
1 Corinthians 15:26-27 ESV
So, let’s grasp the hem of Jesus’s garment and hold on to it for all we are worth. Let’s choose life through Him, and avoid the eternal second death that awaits those who are judged to be unbelievers, and sinful before God. If Jesus returns before we die we will not experience the first death, and if we believe in Him we will not be included with those who follow Satan into the second death either. Let’s worship the Son, and bask in the grace and glory of God. In Jesus Christ we are heirs and joint heirs of our Heavenly Father, and will live with Him in Glory for all eternity. Do we believe?
Prayer:
Father I thank you for your perfect judgement, grace, and mercy. I thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who suffered, died, and was raised from death so that I could find redemption and forgiveness in your sight. Holy Father, never let me lose touch with the truth of His redemption, and through Him let me experience eternal life unmeasurable in you. I praise your name Father, and lift you up in my life, so that after my first death I can stand before you in righteousness and glory to receive eternity with you through your forgiveness, and grace. You are greater than death, you are Lord over all things, and in you all life lives, and love abounds... Praised be your name always, because Holy, Holy, Holy are you our God Almighty who was, and is, and is to come.
“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."”
Matthew 25:46 ESV
Rich Forbes