The Second Death
by
John David Clark, Sr.
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. On such
theSecond Death hath no power."
It is generally understood that the wicked, after death, are cast into the
tormenting flames of Hell. However, the final destination of the wicked is far
more fearful than that. Their eternal judgment is so horrible, so full of
unimaginable terror and torment, that clear description of it eludes all human
expression. In Revelation it is called "The Second Death". This Second Death
is not Hell; it is a place of such pain and terror that, at the end, Hell itself is
cast into it (Rev.20:11-15)! Hell is now used by God only as a holding pen for
the unrighteous dead until the Final Judgment is completed. After that, all who
are in Hell - and Hell itself - are cast into the "Lake of Fire". This Lake of Fire
is The Second Death (Rev.20:11-15).
The Scriptures reveal frighteningly gruesome details of this Second Death
which awaits the damned. Of the sad
destiny of the wicked, the Psalmist wrote, "They shall never see light" (Ps.49:19).
What a terrifying thought, to be tightly bound forever, unable to die, in a
sepulchre of pitch blackness! The Lake of Fire burns
with a flame which gives no light! Three times, Jesus referred to this as "outer
darkness" (Mt.8:12; 22:13; 25:30), always adding, "There shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth." Solomon glimpsed this miserable place and called it "obscure
darkness" (Prov.20:20). Peter (2Pet.2:17) referred to the suffocating thickness
of the dark as a "mist of darkness". Jude used the phrase, "blackness of
darkness" (Jude 13). With the inadequate tool of earthly language, these wise
men attempted to describe an indescribable, chilling fact of eternity.
Of the Second Death, Jesus suggested a dreadful element beyond the darkness
when he said, "Bind him hand and foot and cast him into outer darkness" (Mt.
22:13). In the Lake of Fire there will be no choices. No, not so much as to lift
a hand or turn the head. The damned will be tightly bound in blackness
forever.
The most impressive testimony I have heard concerning this came from a
sister who was taken in a vision to this final abode of the damned. With deep
emotion, she labored to describe the darkness. The blackest darkness in this
world, she said, has a grey tint in comparison to that darkness. It is an
oppressive darkness, in which the individual is overwhelmed, there for the first
time, with the sense of absolute hopelessness, the utter absence of choice. Oh,
the awesome wrath of God! An eternity of being bound in thick darkness and
unrelenting pain! My dear friend, let us obey God, that we may be counted
worthy to escape these things. The sister who tasted of the Second Death told
of returning to consciousness with an awareness of someone in that horrid place
screaming wildly in terror, only to find, when she awoke, that the screams were
her own. Needless to say, she wept a great while after experiencing this
awesome vision.
But there is even more to the Second Death. More than the thick, terrifying
blackness. More than the eternal absence of all choice. More than the terrifying
hopelessness. For there is also in the Second Death the element of unimaginable
torment - likened in the holy Scriptures
to being burned alive. It is a place of "everlasting punishment" where "the fire
is not quenched" (Mt. 25:41-46). Jesus warned us that the torment of the
damned would be so insufferable that, if necessary, it would be wise to cut
off
parts of our bodies to avoid it (Mt.18:8-9; Mk.9:43-48).
After Christ's millennial reign on earth, the Devil shall be cast into "the Lake
of Fire burning with brimstone, . . . and shall be tormented day and night for
ever and ever" (Rev.20:10). Then, following the great White Throne Judgment,
death and Hell itself "and whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life"
are all cast into the Lake of Fire, "which is the Second Death". We can scarcely
imagine such horror. There is nothing in this universe like it.
The Fear of God
Paul knew "the terror of the Lord" (2Cor.5:11), but the wicked do not fear
God (Ps.36:1; Rom.3:18). Jesus himself feared God (Heb.5:7-9), and he warned his
disciples to do the same (Lk.12:4-5). Yes, the love of God casts out all fear
(1Jn.4:17-18), but the fear it casts out is the fear of everything except God.
The fear of God is clean (Ps.19:9), for it causes those who have it to hate
ungodliness (Prov.8:13). It keeps us humble (Rom.11:17-22) and places us in a
position to receive the blessings of God (Ps.103:11-17). It inspires us both to
speak against evil (Ps.139:19-20) and to praise and worship Him Who inhabits
eternity (Rev.14:7; 19:5). Noah was moved by fear of God to build the ark (Heb.
11:7), and those who are of like faith today are moved by that same fear to
prepare for the coming destruction of this creation, for "the day of the Lord
will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with
a great noise, and the elements shall melt with a fervent heat. The earth also,
and the works that are therein, shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these
things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy
conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day
of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements
shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for
new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2Pet.3:10-13).
Yes, the heavens and the earth which exist now will be destroyed, and God
will create new heavens and a new earth for His chosen people. "Heaven and
earth shall pass away," said Jesus, "but my words shall not pass away."
Destruction is determined for this creation, and, except for those who obey
Christ, it is inescapable. How thankful we are for Jesus, our refuge from the
approaching storm! He is the only hope for mankind, and he is the only hope
we need. There is none other by whom we can be saved from the coming wrath
(Acts 4:12). Let us quickly humble ourselves to him who died for us!
We rejoice because the only one who is able to save us from the Second Death
dearly loves us. God's offer of forgiveness and cleansing from sins through the
name of Jesus Christ is still being made. Thankfully, the Spirit's call, voiced by
the ancient prophet Isaiah, has not yet been repealed: "Seek ye the Lord while
He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his
way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. And let him return unto the Lord,
and He will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon"
(Isa.55:6-7). Christ Jesus offers us hope of eternal life, hope of escaping the
terrors of the damned. May God grant us grace to appreciate the value of this
precious offer, and to take advantage of it.
For a free copy of Pastor Clark's sermon,
"The Second Death",
simply Click Here and ask for Tract#10, "The Second Death"!
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