First or Second Death
Good day to each of you reading this column on death, yes that morbid subject that one day we will all meet.
Let us thank Adam and Eve for death—look no further than Genesis 2:16-17 (NIV) 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
I am sure that so many of you read this passage and remember it so well, but what about those that were created and died without hearing about the Lord, knowing the Lord or to learn about the way to salvation through Jesus Christ.
Again, Jesus said, in John 14:6 (NIV) 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Again, we know this verse by heart, so ask yourself, is there no hope for those above? Do you believe that God, who created all, is a just and merciful God?
While you are pondering those questions, have you ever thought of when you were born that you were born in a Christian land or home? On the other hand, what would have happened if you were born in a country that teaches, Muslim, Hindu, Shinto, Taoism?
Reward, yes for the more advantageous your circumstances of being born into a Christian family and or land along with the opportunity to freely go to Christian church, the more the Lord will require of you as you grow in Christ.
As I read Genesis 2:16-17, Adam and Eve brought forth disobedience into the world and the result, the entire human race became subject to death.
Look what Paul says in 1 Corinthians, 15:22 (NIV) 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Paul provides us with two interesting conclusions, for, as Paul says, we will all die and our hope is Christ who shall make us all alive.
To you, fellow Christian, the minute one is born, then one begins to die, but the good news is that in Christ he or she will be made alive.
Thus begins the first death, where one goes to the grave to sleep and await the call from Jesus who will put death and sin under his feet.
Look to Hebrews 9:27-28 (NIV) 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
As a Christian, our belief is that we shall surely die, but as John says in 1 John 3:14 (NIV) We know that we have passed from death to life.
We will soon tackle those who have not had the chance to hear the gospel, but let me pose the following to you, fellow Christian: Wouldn’t life be miserable, if we didn’t have the promise of everlasting life? Where would the Christian’s hope be, if one did not have Christ and the promise of the resurrection?
Turn to 1 Corinthian’s 15:19-22 (KJV) 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Simply said, this is not hope but the knowledge that Christ for each and all of us and that one-day Christ will, not if, will make us alive.
Look at 1 Corinthians 15:23 (KJV) 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
The Wycliffe Bible Commentary says the order of resurrection in verse 23 is now discussed. Christ is first, followed by believers, them that are Christ’s at his coming for the Church.
Turn to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (KJV) 13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
As we finish the first resurrection, turn to Revelation 20:4-5 (KJV) 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
It is the thought of the writer that the above verses in Revelation show the process of the resurrection of the righteous before our Lord’s millennial rule for This is the first resurrection.
Notice verse 5 where the rest of the dead are still lying in their graves until after the Millenium or the Lord’s millennial rule.
The conclusion before we begin the Second Death—We must all experience the first death so we, as Christians, have been given the opportunity to be a part of the First Resurrection for John says it best in Revelation 20:6 (KJV) 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
When reading Howard Rand documentary studies, he makes the comments to “have power” is to “maintain authority” and the First Death had power over their bodies. But the Second Death will exercise no authority over them whatever, for their part is in the resurrection to life and not to judgment.
The second resurrection or resurrection to judgment will be introduced in Revelation 20:5 until the thousand years or the Lord’s millennium were finished.
Please turn to Revelation 20:12-14 (KJV) 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
I am in full agreement with Howard Rand (Documentary Studies III) that there will be those who will be those who find their names written in the Book of Life as recorded in Revelation 20:13 who may not have heard of Jesus Christ during the first death.
Turn to Acts 10:34-35 (KJV) 34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
On the other side of the spectrum, turn to Revelation 21:8 (KJV) 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Are you fearful of speaking of Christ, the Bible, God’s Commandments, laws and statutes? Do you believe in the Trinity and that Jesus is “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Have you confessed your sins, asked forgiveness and done away with repeating that or those confessed sins? Do you continue to go down the path of sin and be a part of this world’s ways?
God has given us a choice as a Christian of going in the First Resurrection or going in the Second Resurrection—what choice is yours? God is giving you fellow Christian the exercise of free will or to make your personal choice.
I hope that I shed some light on both resurrections and I pray that you or someone you know does not reject the way of God’s salvation for no one knows when death will overtake them. Why take that chance?
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
