We continue once again with our subject,

Death and Resurrection

Seventh Day Adventist state:

What is the Second Death?

Those who are raised in the second resurrection will face judgement. They will die a final death that lasts forever.

“Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14, ESV).

We have already addressed the fact that we agree the “lake of fire” is symbolic of second death, but as for the foregoing statement it is only partially right.

It’s true that those raised in the second resurrection will face judgement, “the resurrection of judgement”, but this is NOT a judgement in the sense of a final decision, this judgement is not based upon their past lives, past sins, those were all atoned for by the sacrifice of Christ.

Remember 2 Cor 5:19 “… God was in Christ reconciling THE WORLD to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them (but reckoning those trespasses unto his Son Jesus, who died for our sins, the just for the unjust, that he might reconcile us to God. (1 Pet 3:18)”

For he is “the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins (the Church), and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)

The word “judgment” as used in John 5:29 “the resurrection of judgment”, is from Strong’s # 2920, which in the Greek is rendered, “krisis,” a decision, or “turning point”, subjective or objective, for or against, a tribunal, the process of trying or testing the fitness, truth, strength, and/or other quality of a person or thing, thus “the process of judgment”.

In contrast the word judgment as found in 1 Pet 4:17, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God…” is Strong’s # 2917 “krima,” the results of judging, the final decision or conclusion of judgment, conclude, determine, sentence to, the judgment (pronounced).

The krima or final decision for or against an individual will not be rendered until the conclusion of their trial, and for the world this will not take place until near the end of the thousand years, or millennial reign during the “little season” (Rev 20:3).

As explained in our last post those who are raised in the second resurrection (as well those living who survived Armageddon) will take their part in the resurrection of the unjust (the unjustified; those not yet justified to life; unapproved, but redeemed, atoned for as are all men). During this time, they will be brought to an accurate or personal knowledge of the truth, and given an individual judgement or trial for life, which will include every available assistance to their recovery. The Lords counsel being, chose life through obedience to God and live, not just for few years as we do now, but everlastingly.

The only ones who will, “die a final death that lasts forever” i.e., suffer second death AT THAT TIME will be the incorrigible, those who will not comply or put forth any effort to their recovery.

And so, it is written:

“Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed to everything He says to you. And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet (The Christ, head and body) shall be utterly destroyed (cut off) from among the people.’” (Acts 3:22, 23)

“It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it (his life) of him.” (Deut 18:19)

The only ones who could suffer second death (Rev 20:14, eternal destruction, annihilation, extinction of being) AT THIS TIME (that is presently and likewise during the great time of trouble which is to bring about the conclusion of this age) are the spirit begotten, they are the only ones who have at present passed over the first death (Adamic death).

“There remains no question as to the fact that “by one man (Adam) sin entered the world, and so (as a result) death (the first death, destruction of being) has passed upon all men (all Adam’s posterity). Rom 5:12

The term death signifies destruction, extinction, and although the second destruction (or death) begins quite early in regards to the great systems of error (i.e., Babylon, Christendom), it does not reach men as individuals until they have first had a full trial.

Note: the first death at present however is not consider the destruction of the being; Adamic death is but a sleep as it is the Lord’s intention to awaken the dead in due time. It is actually death, but it was likened to a sleep, in view of the resurrection. (Dan 12:2; 1 Thess 4:14)

Those who perish during Armageddon (viz. mankind) are still under the original curse (the Adamic curse) and thus have not yet been brought out from under the first or original sentence. The ransom has yet to have been applied to the world and won’t be until the completion of the Church and the establishment of the kingdom, thus they have not yet passed over the first death (or penalty) in order to be susceptible to the second penalty, or second death.

To do so, to make them accountable to second death presently (or before their individual trial) would be unjust, double jeopardy as the Lord intends the release of the prisoners (Isa 61:1) by means of the ransom, eventually but not yet.

“After having come out from under the first death penalty because of Adam, mankind will stand on their own cognizance and face the judgment of Jehovah God before “the great white throne” in their final trial for life everlasting or eternal destruction as the penalty for disobedience.”

“However, none can come under the sentence of the second death, pictured by Gehenna, until he has first gotten out from under the sentence of the first death, Adamic death. The first death (held against the individual) must be abrogated or set aside in some manner, before the second death would be possible. The Lord purposes to do this by means of the ransom and the New Covenant arrangement. The destruction of the first death and hades commences with the beginning of the millennial reign and continues to its close.”

In our next post we will examine the final statement made by our Adventist friends under the subject Death and Resurrection.