What is the second death in Revelation?

As a phrase, the second death is only mentioned four times in the Bible. All of them occur in the book of Revelation^1,2,3,4. One of these mentioning second death¹ gives a fairly explicit definition. It states that the second death is “the lake of fire”. But what more can Scripture teach us about the second death?

how Scripture answers "What is the second death in Revelation?"

The second death is one being thrown into the lake of burning sulfur⁴ and fire^1,4 for all eternity⁵. It is “second” as it follows one’s physical (or “first”) death^3,7 and is the consequence for one’s evil^4,5 deeds¹. Those subject to the second death will not be named in the Lamb’s book of life^1,6. Conversely, the second death will have no power or hold over those “priests of God” that have shared in the “first resurrection“². These “conquerers”^3,4,6,7 that escape the second death are the ones remaining faithful^3,6 until death⁷ (their first, physical death) and receiving the crown of life from Jesus³.

our answer is built on the following scripture-blocks

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1

Revelation 20:13-15

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. 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.

What does it say?

The sea gave up the dead in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and they were all judged according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire – the second death. Anyone whose name wasn’t written in the book of life was thrown there.

What is the context?

This is part of the much larger vision that John sees covering the entire book of Revelation. He has seen Christ addressing the seven churches (chap 1-3), a heavenly throne scene (chap 4-5), seven seals opened (chap 6-8), and seven angels as part of the seventh seal (chap 8-10). There’s much more to unfold until about chapter 17 where he begins to be shown the results of all that precedes.

We begin to see judgment for “the prostitute” and the city “Babylon the great” and the “marriage supper of the Lamb” in heaven. It’s at this point we come to chapter 20 where it seems two “thousand year” periods are depicted – one where Satan is chained (vss 2-3), and one after the “first resurrection” where the saints reign with Christ (vss 4-6).

How does it apply here?

Anyone who’s name is not in the book of life will receive the second death — being cast into the lake of fire with Death and Hades — which is determined by their deeds⁴.

2

Revelation 20:5-6

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

What does it say?

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended which is the first resurrection. The one that shares in the first resurrection is holy and blessed. They will overcome the second death and be priests of God and Christ – reigning with Him for a thousand years.

What is the context?

How does it apply here?

The second death has no power over those that have shared in, or taken part in, the first resurrection.

3

Revelation 2:11

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.

What does it say?

Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Anyone that conquers will not be hurt by the second death.

What is the context?

A letter to the church at Smyrna from “the first and the last, who died and came to life” (vs 8) warning them specifically of coming persecution and reminding them of their richness of blessings in Christ.

The previous verse 10 (“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life”) defines several things in this verse:

Those that “conquer” are the ones being “faithful unto death” and receiving “the crown of life” from Jesus.
The second death is what follows the first, physical death [for those that don’t “conquer”].
The opposite of receiving the second death is a [second] spiritual life.

Each of the seven letters have a “To the one that conquers…” statement from Jesus, but each with a different ending…

“…I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (2:7)
“…will not be hurt by the second death.” (2:11)
“…I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.” (2:17)
“…and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star.” (2:26-28)
“…will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” (3:5)
“…I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.” (3:12)
“…I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” (3:21)

Gathering all of these statements together, we get a complete picture of what awaits “the one that conquers.”

How does it apply here?

Anyone that conquers will not be subject to the second death.

!! scripture-block context extra important here !!

The previous verse defines “conquers” and explains the nature of both the first (physical) and second (spiritual) death.

4

Revelation 21:7-8

The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 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.

What does it say?

Anyone that conquers will have this heritage, and I will be His God and he will be my son. But the fate of the cowardly, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will be in the lake that burns with sulfur and fire — the second death.

What is the context?

The final scenes of John’s vision, specifically “a new heaven and a new earth” (vs 1). Jesus is seated on His throne (vs 5) and “It is done.” (vs 6)

How does it apply here?

As at the beginning of the book³, we see those that have conquered contrasted with those that have not — those receiving the second death.

5

Revelation 14:9-11

And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.

What does it say?

The third angel followed them [the 144,000 or “blameless” from vs 6], saying with a loud voice that anyone who would worship the beast and its image would receive a mark on their forehead and drink the wine of God’s wrath poured full strength into the cup of His anger, suffering torment with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their torment would rise forever and they would have no rest, day or night.

What is the context?

Chapter fourteen introduces those that “have been redeemed from mankind” (vs 4) and who “are blameless” (vs 5). It follows chapter 13, where the beast had been given authority from the dragon (e.g. Satan) and was permitted by God to “make war on the saints and to conquer them” (13:7).

How does it apply here?

The lake of fire and sulfur (e.g. the second death) is an eternal destination for those that have received the fullness of God’s wrath from worshipping the beast.

6

Revelation 3:4-5

Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

What does it say?

There are still a few individuals at Sardis that have not soiled their garments and continue to be worthy by walking with me in white. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will not blot him his name out of the book of life, confessing his name before my Father and before His angels.

What is the context?

A letter to the church at Sardis, the fifth of seven letters written to the seven churches of Asia from Jesus. They had a reputation of being alive, but Jesus knew them to be dead based on their works (vs 1) and he calls them to “repent” and “wake up” (vs 3).

Each of the seven letters have a “To the one that conquers…” statement from Jesus, but each with a different ending…

“…I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (2:7)
“…will not be hurt by the second death.” (2:11)
“…I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.” (2:17)
“…and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star.” (2:26-28)
“…will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” (3:5)
“…I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.” (3:12)
“…I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” (3:21)

Gathering all of these statements together, we get a complete picture of what awaits “the one that conquers.”

How does it apply here?

There were those at the church in Sardis (e.g. Christians) that were in jeopardy of the second death. While some continued to walk with Jesus, many/most were “dead” with “soiled garments” (e.g. practicing sin).

!! scripture-block context extra important here !!

In addition to Sardis, the other six letters also include an aspect of the reward for “the one who conquers”.

7

Revelation 12:10-11

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

What does it say?

I [John] heard a loud voice from heaven saying that four things (salvation, power, kingdom of God, and authority of His Christ) had all come as a result of the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them day and night before God, being thrown down. These brethren conquered the accuser by the blood of Christ and the word of their testimony, loving Him more than their physical lives even to the point of death.

What is the context?

John’s vision in chapter twelve shifts to that of a scene involving a woman, a child, a dragon, and eventually a beast (chapter 13). John sees in heaven:

a woman giving birth (vs 2) to a son,
a red dragon (vs 3) wanting to devour the child,
the child taken to heaven to his throne (vs 5),
the woman fleeing into the wilderness to a place that is prepared by God and where she will be nourished (vs 6).

Unsuccessful at destroying the son, the dragon (identified as Satan in vs 9) is thrown to earth where he seeks to destroy the woman (vs 13). Still unsuccessful, he seeks to destroy (“make war”) with her offspring, or “those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (vs 17).

How does it apply here?

Faithful and conquering saints (e.g. “brothers”) are those who withstand God’s adversary (the “accuser”), loving God more than their own lives even to the point of death (the first, physical death)³. They do this by/through the blood of Christ and His word.

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What is the second death in Revelation?

how Scripture answers "What is the second death in Revelation?"

Revelation 20:13-15

What does it say?

What is the context?

Revelation 20:5-6

What does it say?

What is the context?

Revelation 2:11

What does it say?

What is the context?

Revelation 21:7-8

What does it say?

What is the context?

Revelation 14:9-11

What does it say?

What is the context?

Revelation 3:4-5

What does it say?

What is the context?

Revelation 12:10-11

What does it say?

What is the context?

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