Two Deaths

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. Revelation 2:11

In Revelation 2:11, the bible talks about the second death, this implies that there are two deaths; so, what is the first death?

In Genesis chapter two verse seventeen, God told Adam that in the day that he eats the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he will surely die. But we find that when Adam ate the fruit, his physical life didn't cease, he continued to live. The question is, did Adam really die when he ate the fruit? If he died immediately he ate the fruit, then, the death that God spoke of was not physical death. Again, we will have to say that since Adam did not experience an immediate physical death, then, physical death is not the first death. Physical death is the consequence of the first death. This first death, which occurred immediately after he ate the fruit, is a spiritual death, which is separation from the life of God (dead in trespass and sin).

Everyone born into this world inherited the first death, and at the moment of birth, we all begin to die until finally, physical death occurs. We are born dead (spiritual death) headed for death (physical death). When Jesus Christ died on the cross, and was raised from the dead, He made possible the way out of the first death for all who will believe in Him. But believing in Him does not remove physical death. When, therefore, Jesus said in Revelation 2:11 that those who overcome will not die the second death, He was implying that anyone who lived and died in the state of spiritual death will die the second death, which is eternal separation from the presence of God.

The cross is the cure for spiritual death, which is the first death, but there is no cure for the second death, which is eternal separation from the life of God. Physical death is like a horse that transports people from whatever state it meets them into the next life, eternal life or eternal death, which is the second death. If physical death meets a person in the state of spiritual death, it carries such a person into the realm of the second death, which is eternal separation from the life of God. If, however, it meets a person in the state of salvation, it ushers him into the presence of God, where he will be forever and ever. In other words, physical death is a vehicle that carries each person to his eternal destination, depending on what state it meets them, heaven or hell. 

If physical death meets you now, where will it transport you to, away from God's presence, or into His presence? Act today! Call upon the name of the Lord, and you will be saved.

Toni