1561. The Second Death

The Second Death

"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death" (Rev_20:14).

If men must die, and if after death, there is the judgment, why not pull back the curtain and look within?

The Word of God does not give us a picture of the damned in order to startle us, or to scare us into submission.

The Word of God presents before us the Great White Throne and the judgment of the wicked because these scenes are true and sure.

Let us then look into these things.

1. There is the immediate picture, the scenes which follow quickly upon the death of the wicked. The rich man died and "in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments." Between the moment of his death and his consciousness in the flames of hell, there was no appreciable interval of time. He died and opened his eyes, in torment. He was there in the region of the damned in the full possession of his mental powers. He thought of his brothers, and he pled with Abraham in their behalf. He was told, "Son, remember." He sought water for his parched tongue.

2. There is the final picture of the second death. This is after hell has given up the spirits of the wicked dead. Their bodies have been raised, and they stand before the Great White Throne.

This is after the books have been opened, and full rewards have been made according to their deeds.

Now, death and hell are cast into the lake of fire,–this is the second death.

It is a death that includes all of those whose names are not found in the Lamb's Book of Life.

It is a death where the worm never dies and where the fire is not quenched.

It is a death where the wicked shall be punished forever and ever; and where the smoke of their torment shall never cease to rise.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR