Why The Second Death Must Have No Power Over The Elect

[Posted February 24, 2020]

I was asked how to explain that we are not hurt of the second death, so I want to take this opportunity to do that with the scriptures which speak to the subject of “the lake of fire [which] is the second death”.

I have taken James Bernini’s email and added a lot more to it. This is long, but I tried to leave no stone unturned on this subject which has caused so much confusion to so many:

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 20:6 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.

If we begin our discussion with a wrong premise, we will arrive at a wrong conclusion. Therefore it is of utmost importance that we have biblically sound definitions of every word. Revelation 20:14 tells us what the second death is. It tells us very plainly, “…the second death… is… death and hell [being] cast into the lake of fire.” Therefore death and hell being cast into the lake of fire “IS the second death”.

The Greek word for ‘hell’ here is ‘hades’. It is not Gehenna, which IS another Greek word referring exclusively to the lake of fire… the second death.

What is so very confusing about this subject for most people is their failure to understand the meaning of the word ‘death’ in the phrase “the lake of fire… this is the second death.”

The word ‘death’ here has nothing to do with physical death, which Christ did not even regard as death.

Mat 9:23 And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
Mat 9:24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

Joh 11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
Joh 11:12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Joh 11:13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
Joh 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

Christ had to tell His disciples plainly “Lazarus is dead” because they, and we, do not just naturally think of death in the way Christ and His Father think of physical death. To Christ and His Father, physical death is merely taking a nap. Physical death is just a type of the death which is the real “wages of sin” (Rom 6:23). The death from which Christ saves us is being cast into “the lake of fire [which] is the second death”:

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire [second death].

What is the ‘fire’ of this small ‘lake’ into which all whose names were not in the book of life are cast to be “judged, every man according to his works”?

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened [Psa 139:16 ASV]: 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.
Rev 20:13 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.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

If we can determine by the scriptures exactly what the lake of fire is, then we will, with the eyes of Christ, see that those who are judged first, in this present time, have already been judged through the same fire by the time of the fulfilling of this prophecy. We will see that they were judged first by the same ‘fire’, and because they were judged first, they are now incapable of being hurt of the second death. Such a blessing places those in the first resurrection in the position of being the judges in whose mouths is the same ‘fire’ which had earlier, in “this present time” (Rom 8:18), judged them, and which same ‘fire’ will now accomplish the same burning up of all the false doctrines which are still in all who will be cast into ‘the lake of fire’.

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

Those who are being judged in “this present time” (Rom 8:18) through the judgment which has even now “begun at the house of God” (1Pe 4:17), are beyond the scope of the work of the lake of fire/second death because they have no more need of being purified. The reason being that they, with Christ in them, ‘died daily’, overcame sin, and were judged in “this present time”, and as we will see, they are now promised in both the Old and New Testaments to never again be required to endure a second time that fiery judgment. Furthermore, they are also promised a kingdom, and a crown of life where they themselves will be the judges who are tasked with the work of judging and purifying through the “lake of fire/second death” the heavens of all men of all time who were not given to have a part in “the blessed and holy… first resurrection” (Rev 20:1-6).

Having our part in that first resurrection, and having already experienced the judgments of the fiery Word of God (Jer 5:14), places those few who died to sin in this life beyond the scope of the purifying flames of the second death.

Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word [in this age], behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them [in the lake of fire which we are, Isa 33:14-15].

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell [without being hurt – Rev 2:11] with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

If we are the first to be purified while living in these clay vessels, then we are the first to die to our carnal minds, and we are beyond the reach of the lake of fire, which is the second death of the carnal mind of those who were not the first to die to that ignorant and rebellious carnal mind. In other words, it is not possible for those who are the first to die to their carnal minds… for them to be hurt of the fires they now are administering to the second group who are destined to come up through great tribulation and wash their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. That is why there are two separate groups, distinguished from each other in Revelation 7. The first group is purified in this age, “this present time”, and is symbolized by the limited number of 144,000. In other words “the second death” is ordinal, not numeral, and has only to do with the order in which it occurs. “The first resurrection” is the resurrection of those who are the first to die to their carnal, rebellious mind – “The firstfruits unto God and the Lamb.” (Rev 14:4)

Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
Rev 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel [“The Israel of God” of Gal 6:15-16].

Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

One of the earliest writing posted on the IWWB website was Who Are The One Hundred Forty and Four Thousand? It is worth the read here.

The fact that the second death is called a mere “lake”, instead of ‘the sea’, tells us that those who comprise that ‘lake’ are very few, as compared to the waters of the seas which give up their dead to be cast into this little ‘lake’.

Rev 20:13 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.

It is the fire of that ‘lake’ which judges all who are cast into it, and this in accord with the words of Christ Himself when He tells us this:

Luk 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
Luk 12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
Luk 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: [‘Fire’ indeed!]

Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the [fiery] word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day [The lake of fire/second death].

Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, [in this age] behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them [in the lake of fire which, according to Isaiah, we are].

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell [comfortably] with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

That is the little ‘lake’ which effectuates the death of the carnal mind of every man whose name was not written in the Lamb’s book of life at the time of the first resurrection, which resurrection takes place at the beginning of the thousand year reign of Christ.

The Thousand Years Reign

Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Rev 20:4 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.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 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.

The Second Death Is Not The First Death

Speaking of things that are not as though they were (Rom 4:17), Christ made this statement:

Luk 20:37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
Luk 20:38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Christ telling us “…the dead are raised… God… quickens [gives life to] the dead”, should make it clear that:

1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1Co 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

Of course the fact is that “Christ… is risen from the dead” (Luk 24:6 and 34) and all men will, “each in his own order… pass from death unto life” (1Co 15:22-28). But “if Christ be not raised”, and until we all come to love all men, we all “abide in death”:

1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

It is in that sense that Christ made this statement to a man who had hesitated to follow Him:

Luke 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Luke 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Loving our brother is defined as being obedient to God is these verses:

1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

The first death and the second death are both spiritual in nature, not physical.

Satan and his angels, like all who will come up in the second resurrection, are spiritually dead by being created into this world with a carnal mind. However, this is not the death that will be experienced by those in both the first death and resurrection and the second death and resurrection. Both deaths are spiritual deaths to the carnal mind. The ‘sea’ of mankind, the vast majority of mankind, will die to their carnal mind along with Satan and his angels by being cast into “the lake of fire/second death” to be perfected at the hands of those who died first to their carnal minds.  The “second death” is an ordinal death. It is not a numeral death. “It is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment” (Heb 9:27).

Jer 18:2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
Jer 18:3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter [carnal minded]: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

There are only two ages that involve salvation

There is this age which started when the first spirit angel was created by Christ and ends when the fire comes down from heaven at the end of the symbolic 1,000 years. It is only after the coming of Christ that salvation was first made accessible to mankind. We know this is true because of these two New Testament witnesses. The first witness is Christ Himself.

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

It is only from the death and resurrection of Christ, actually from the first Pentecost after the death and resurrection of Christ, that the spirit of Christ, which is the holy spirit, was made accessible to mankind. Those who are given the holy spirit in “this present time” (Rom 8:18) are given the opportunity to “overcome the wicked one” and all of the influences of “the wicked one” which he has been given to exercise over the nations of this present world.

1Jn 2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
1Jn 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

The influence of the wicked one comes to a screeching halt at the beginning of the thousand-year reign of Christ and His Christ:

Rev 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Rev 11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
Rev 11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Rev 11:14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Overcoming the wicked one is no longer needed during the thousand-year reign of Christ and His elect because there is no “wicked one” to overcome:

Rev 20:1  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Couple that knowledge of a thousand-year reign of Christ and His elect over “the kingdoms of this world” with the fact that Christ Himself reveals to us there are just two resurrections, one at the beginning of the thousand year reign, “the resurrection to life”, and the other after the little season of rebellion which follows the thousand year reign. That second resurrection is called “the resurrection of damnation [Greek: krisis, judgment, the “great white throne… judgment”].  Therefore everyone who lives on this earth during the thousand-year reign will by default be destroyed by the fire that comes down from God out of heaven following the rebellion which follows the thousand-year reign and will come up in the great white throne judgment to be cast into the lake of fire/second death.

Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [Greek: krisis, judgment, “Great white throne judgment” – Rev 20:11].

Rev 20:4  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.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 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.
Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarers of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Judgment Before the Great White Throne

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12  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.
Rev 20:13 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.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life [a thousand years earlier] was cast into the lake of fire.

The next age is from the beginning of the lake of fire and ends at the end of the lake of fire period of time.

It is at the end of that harvest (the end of the lake of fire period of time) when all those in the lake of fire are saved, which will be all at the same time and not one before the other. They are all the great multitude which come out of the great tribulation (the lake of fire period of time) at the same time together as Rev 7:9 -14 demonstrate:

Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the [great white] throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Rev 7:11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Rev 7:12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation [the lake of fire/second death], and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Remember, these verses come immediately after the revealing of a group of people who can easily numbered as 144,000 (The symbol for the number of the few elect). It is this first group, this symbolic 144,000, who die to their carnal minds first, in “this present time” (Rom 8:18), who are judged first, as Peter tells us… “[now] judgment must begin at the house of God” (1Pe 4:17). We, the elect, are the first to die to our carnal mind, and it is we who will rule with Christ a thousand years (Rev 20:1-6), who will dwell comfortably in the devouring fire and the everlasting burnings (Isa 33:14-15; Dan 3:25), and will “judge angels” in the lake fire (1Co 6:3) prepared for the devil and his angels (Mat 25:41). It is through the mercy of the symbolic 144,000 that the purification of the “great multitude which no man could number” will be accomplished. Aso, it is the purification of that “great multitude which no man can number” which will usher in the “all in all” (1Co 15:28):

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming [“A kind of firstfruits… the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb” – Jas 1:18 and Rev 14:4].
1Co 15:24 Then [in the ordained “order” of verse 23] cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1Co 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Here it is a second time! It is “the church which is His body [which shows His mercy to all the rest of mankind and is thereby] the fulness of Him that fill all in all”:

Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them [“The nations which are in the four quarters of the earth” – vs 8]

Rev 7:9 After this [After the numbering of the ‘firstfruits unto God and the Lamb’, 144,000, Rev 7:4 and 14:4] I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These [the ‘multitude which no man could number’] are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
Rev 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

We shall never see death

Joh 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Joh 8:52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
Joh 8:53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

As pointed out earlier in this discussion, Christ does not consider Abraham, Isaac or Jacob to be dead. He considers them to be “asleep”, and is therefore speaking a language which the Jews cannot receive, as He told this in this very same chapter of John:

Joh 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

When Christ says in verse 51: “If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death” it is evident that He is speaking of the age to come. Christ is telling us who have ears that hear we shall never see death (the second death).

Joh 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

In John 11:26 it says “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die”. Again it is evident that Christ is speaking of the age to come when we who have been the first to be “crucified with Christ [in] this present time” (Gal 2:20 and Rom 8:18-23) are raised up in the first resurrection. Then we shall never die (the second death).

Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

In the first three gospels (Mat 16:28, Mar 9:1, and Luk 9:27) it is repeated three times, “There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death.” Again it is evident that it is speaking outwardly of what happens in the very next verses of scripture, which happen to be in the next chapter:

Mat 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
Mat 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

The word “and” at the beginning of all three of these verses connects what is about to be said to the preceding thought. Therefore verse one is connected to the thought of verse 28, the last verse of the preceding chapter, and we are being told in the outward sense that Peter, James and John, “some who were standing [there] saw Christ coming in His kingdom” in a vision “after six days”.

But as our brother Dennis points out, for those with spiritual eyes who can see both the positive and the negative message in Christ’s words, Christ had just lectured all twelve of His apostles about “denying himself, and taking up his cross and following [Christ]. He had just told them that they would have to lose their lives to find them and that it would profit them nothing to gain the world but lose their souls.

Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mat 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Knowing that Judas would betray Him, He told them all that when He came He would “reward every man according to his works”.

In the negative sense “there be some standing here who shall not taste of death till they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom” is a prophecy that Judas would not die to His carnal mind until He sees the Son of Man coming in His kingdom in the lake of fire.

What about, “It is appointed unto men once to die”? (Heb 9:27)

In Heb 9:25 it says “Nor yet that he should offer himself often”. While there is no denying that the sacrifices of the Old Testament were physical in nature, and that Christ Himself physically died, it is yet obvious that the death of Christ was much more than just a physical death. That is why Paul continues with the words, “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world.” Instead of “often suffering since the foundation of the world” Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many [spiritually]” so all men can now be resurrected to spiritual life. The elect who happen to be standing here on this earth when Christ returns will still have to put off this physical body of fleah and blood and be “changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…” into a glorified spiritual body.

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

It is a spiritual ‘death’ which God’s elect must suffer with Christ, who suffered the same spiritual death to His own fleshly mind. We know this is so because Peter tells us:

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

If ‘judgment’ comes only after the “once… appointed” death, how is it possible that judgment has begun at the house of God?

Here is how that is possible:

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul repeats this doctrine of us being a living sacrifice many times:

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

This ‘crucifixion with Christ’ is in the eyes of His Father just as much a ‘death’ as the crucifixion of Christ who in His own words was bearing His cross every day of His life:

Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Mar 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

That is how “judgment [can even now] begin at the house of God” after the “once… appointed” death we must all first know before we can begin to be judged in this age:

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Matthew 25:31-40 explains all of this as the judgment we will endure in this life, at this present time, if we are granted to be in “the blessed and holy first resurrection” and be perfected and receive our reward of “a crown of life”:

Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Anyone who is not in “the blessed and holy first resurrection” will be in the second resurrection and suffer the loss of ruling with Christ as kings and priests for a thousand years.

Every ‘king’ is given a crown, and our ‘crown’ is called “a crown of righteousness” or “a crown of life” or “a crown of glory” all of which are one and the same:

2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

This is not promised to those who are not overcomers in this life.

Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

This promise is not made to those who do not “overcome the wicked one” in “this present time”.

1Pe 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

If “our old man is [the first to be] crucified with Christ” (Rom 6:6); If we are His “firstfruits… baptized into His death” (Rom 6:2) in “this present time” (Rom 8:18), then we are “groaning and travailing in pain together [with] the whole creation” (Rom 8:22), and we are the first to die (1Co 15:31), and we are the first to be judged in “this present time” (1Pe 4:17 and Rom 8:18). That is the doctrine of Christ which Paul made so clear:

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us [His firstfruits, Rom 8:23].
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the [firstfruit] sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Notice that word “firstfruits” in verse 23:

Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

“The whole creation [is] waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body… ourselves… which have the firstfruits of the spirit”. It is the ‘firstfruits’ who are granted to show mercy to all the rest of mankind.

Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

Our heavenly Father has a plan which requires His firstfruits to be the first to inherit life. The reason we “have the firstfruits of the spirit”, the reason we are called “a kind of firstfruits” and the reason for calling us “the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb” is that there are many others who will receive the spirit of God “through our mercy” (Rom 11:31) at the great white throne… judgment… the lake of fire [which] is the second death… the resurrection to judgment” (Joh 5:28-29).

It is called “the second death” for the same reason we are called “the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb”. Those who are in the great white throne judgment are paid last (Mat 20:10-11), and they are “hurt of the second death”, but “the second death… hath no power over” those who were paid first, who were the first to be judged after being the first to die with Christ in “this present time (Rom 8:18) for this purpose:

Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 20:6 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. [beginning at the first resurrection].

That is a promise we are given in both the Old Testament and in the New Testament. In both Testaments we are promised that we will never have to die a second time after being the first to die and being the first to be judged in “this present time”. It is all the rest of mankind who will “be hurt of the second death” and over whom the second death will “have… power”. But even that is but one death (Heb 9:27), “the second death”, those who get life last.

Here is that promise in the Old Testament:

Isa 54:4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
Isa 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
Isa 54:6 For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
Isa 54:7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
Isa 54:8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
Isa 54:9 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
Isa 54:10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

Not enduring the second death is a covenant the Lord has made with His elect, “as the waters of Noah”, which He  swore He would never again bring upon the whole earth. While God promised never to again destroy the earth by water, He did not say it would not be destroyed at some point.

2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Here is that same promise in the New Testament:

Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Living by every Word of God requires that we believe those words, which include this promise to “He that overcometh [in] this present time” (Rom 8:18). Twisting those words to make them say ‘He that overcometh shall “experience the purifying fires of the second death”’ is a slap in the face of our Lord who tells us the exact opposite, and instead He contrasts the second death with ruling and reigning with Christ a thousand years:

Rev 20:6 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.

This is how the scriptures describe this “second death”, and this is when the second death does its work. No one is or will experience “the second death [in] this present time” (Rom 8:18):

Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

“Fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them… when the thousand years are expired” is the first step to the destruction of death. From this point on “there is no more sea”, meaning there is no more flesh:

Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
2Pe 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

“The sea is where the Lord has placed Leviathan to do His work in ‘the sea’. The lake of fire is Leviathan’s judgment:

Psa 104:26  There [in ‘the sea’] go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.

Isa 27:1  In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea [within us].

The “fire that comes down from God out of heaven, devours… the nations in the four quarters of the earth”, and that is the very meaning of this statement:

Re 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

As repulsive a thought as that is to the flesh, it is a wonderful thought to all those in whom the “invisible… God” dwells (Joh 14:23). Without flesh and blood there will be no more babies being born in bodies of flesh and blood to continue to perpetrate death, day in and day out. The Lord Himself will bring that cycle to an end. Having “no more sea”, He is now in position to “judge… every man according to his works”:

1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. [The Lord’s words in the mouths of His elect at the second death – Jer 5:14].

His elect believe these words and, having been judged in this life, are no longer themselves any of these things of this verse:

Rev 21:8 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.

Remember, there are only two resurrections, separated by a thousand years, where those in the resurrection to life are ruling and reigning with Christ over the kingdoms of this world (Rev 11:15; Rev 20 1-6):

Joh 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [Greek: krisis, judgment, “the great white throne… judgment”].

It is in the judgment of damnation… “the lake of fire [which] is the second death” that all mankind who were not given to have a part in “the blessed and holy first resurrection” will then go through the process of being judged and being “chastened… to forsake ungodliness” (Tit 2:11-12), having to repeat all the ‘groaning and travailing of the whole creation’ (Rom 8:18-23) in Gehenna fire (Mat 18:7-9), which is the lake of fire/second death:

Mat 18:7  Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Mat 18:8  Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting [Greek: aionios] fire.
Mat 18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell [Greek: Gehenna] fire.

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

“The manifesting of the sons of God [are] the firstfruits of the spirit”. That “manifestation” is what is now taking place at this very moment in down payment form within the few “firstfruits unto God and the Lamb”:

Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, [into us] now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Heb 9:25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world [Greek: aion, “the present time”] hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Heb 9:28 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 His firstfruits, to rule with Him a thousand years and then continue to rule with Him in the great white throne judgment till death is destroyed, and God is “all in all”, Isa 33:14-15, Rev 20:7-15 1Co 15:28].

Passed from death unto life

We the elect pass from death unto life:

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. [And is not being judged in this life, 1Pe 4:17]

So it is very clear that we don’t die twice, once in this age and once in the age to come, we only die once in this age. The rest of the great multitude, which no man could number, has not yet died spiritually to their carnal mind and must do so in the age to come.

Again, I repeat, that is why they are waiting with great anticipation for us:

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation

‘I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation’ is saying the exact same thing as “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death”, but it “shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” which means the whole world, with the exception of the elect, will experience the second death.

Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Rev 20:6 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.

Conclusion

Going back to “Let the dead bury their dead”, the world is not being judged in “this present time”, and therefore doesn’t complete the dying process of dying to their own carnal minds in this age. They need to die spiritually to their rebellious, carnal mind in the age to come. We, the elect, were dead without knowledge (or Holy Spirit) just as the world, but we received both the knowledge (true doctrines) and Holy Spirit to finish a singular (one) dying process in this one and only age for us. This explains why we are called, “firstfruits unto God and the Lamb.” It is because we are the first to begin and finish this one dying process in “this present time” (Rom 8:18), this one age. Our deadly wound is healed as we become entrenched in Babylonian doctrines, but then, because we were chosen from the foundation of the world, we receive the incurable wound (we die in this age only once as it all becomes a singular process for us of dying to our old man) that is what reveals us to be the called, chosen and faithful until the end “manifest sons of God. It is for these “manifest… sons of God”, who are given a part in the first resurrection (Rev 20:6), for whom “the creature”, all the rest of mankind, are waiting to dispense upon them the mercy we have been shown.

Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Your brothers seeking to lose anything that stands in the way of attaining unto Christ in this present time.

Mike and James