Being convinced is an inner manifestation of an outward action, conviction is an outward manifestation of an inner action. Jerry Wm Bowers Jr.

     This is a subject that has puzzled me for years; not in trying to figure out just what the 2^nd death is, but that so many Christians exhaust so much energy, argument & debate, trying to determine its identity; especially when considering scripture states explicitly what it is. Here are the only verses in the Bible that mention the phrase “second death”

Revelation 2:11 He that has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.

     Does this verse state he who overcomes doesn’t experience the 2^nd death; or does it say he shall not be hurt of it?

     Scriptures says whosoever is born of God doesn’t sin (1 John 3:9 & 1 John 5:18) and also overcomes the world (1 John 5:4) only the spirit is born of God; humans sin and are born of women: blood & water!

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

     This verse is saying the same thing as Revelation 2:11 “shall not be hurt of the second death” & “on such the second death has no power”

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

Revelation 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 burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

     The last 2 verses clearly show the “2^nd Death” is synonymous (identical) with; and also referred to as “The Lake of Fire” but before we go down that rabbit hole, let’s continue on with the 2^nd death.

     For as many years as I have been on the internet (about 8-10 collectively) and as we’re speaking about scripture; I have been asking for someone to please explain to me where a 3^rd type of death is ever mentioned in the Bible.

     Scripture speaks of 2 types of death: 1 of course is physical/biological. This type of death is simple to understand with examples such as animals, plants and/or humans drawing their last breath and thus, physically die. The only other type of death I see in scripture is spiritual/metaphorical.

     There are numerous examples of this type of death in scripture: Jesus said “let the dead bury the dead” and we all know physically dead bodies can’t bury other physically dead bodies. Paul stated “I die daily” and again, we know it’s not physical death being referred to here.

     For anyone reading this article; if you can show me a 3^rd type of death (not covered under physical/biological and/or spiritual/metaphorical) in the Bible, I’ll gladly pull this article & rewrite it.

     I believe we’re actually given a pretty good clue as to what the 2^nd death is by examining the following scriptures:

2^nd Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death, and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

John 11:26 and whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?

1 John 3:14 we know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death.

Romans 8:10 and if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

     It should be obvious from these scriptures that physical / biological death is not the subject, so what alternative does that leave?

     Most people are familiar with the creation account in Genesis, and in relation to eating from the tree of knowledge of good & evil, God told Adam “in the day you eat, you shall surely die” a quick question if I may; did Adam & Eve physically die the day they ate from that tree?

     Seeing that they didn’t physically die that day, wouldn’t that mean they experienced spiritual / metaphorical death?

     Death in its simplest understanding means separation: physical death is the actual and/or literal cessation of biological life in the biological body and/or entity (lightning strikes a tree and it falls over) but how can one begin to understand such a term as spiritual death, when the spirit is eternal? While many an argument can be made for the death of the spirit, through interpretation of words and/or phrases; it is nowhere stated in the Bible.

      When speaking of spiritual death: such as what is attributed to have taken place when Adam & Eve ate of the tree of the knowledge of good & evil, this is often explained as they became separated from the presence of God; but how can this be possible when God is believed to be omnipresent, ever-present, ubiquitous, or everywhere at the same time? Even king David understood this:

Psalms 139:7-12 where shall I go from thy spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend up into heaven, you are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there will your hand lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night will be light about me. Yea, the darkness hides not from you; but the night shines as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to you.

     Rather than accepting the truth of what these and other scriptures state so plainly, many overlook these truths and insist upon private interpretation to justify their own beliefs, or those offered to them by their favorite Pastor/Preacher. When confronted with the plain truth of some scripture, many wish to point to additional scriptures and insist the overall context does not allow for what is being proposed; I can only see this avenue as using one area of scripture to contradict another.

      When contemplating these 2 types of death, one of the previously mentioned scriptures should bring absolute clarity as to the identity of both types.

2^nd Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death, and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

     This scripture plainly states that Christ abolished death: did Christ abolish physical/biological death? Again with this scripture, as with others; people will rush to additional or alternative scriptures, to counterbalance what is being said so clearly in the plain writing and reading of the text before their eyes.

     If a law is abolished, what becomes of it? It is rendered inoperable, ineffective and deprived of its force, strength or power. This is precisely what is being said in 2^nd Timothy 1:10. Again, as all biological creatures still physically die, we know this verse is not about physical or biological death.

     My reasoning here that this word abolished is better understood as inoperable, ineffective and deprived of its force, strength or power, is due to the Greek word “Katargeo” which is translated as abolished in 2^nd Corinthians 3:13, Ephesians 2:15 & 2^nd Timothy 1:10.

     This word is translated in other scriptures as make void, put down, put away, done away, without effect, none effect, loosed, delivered, brought to naught, destroy, vanish away & ceased. Is there any room for confusion on what is meant by abolished now?

     As noted in the scriptures above, this 2^nd death is also said to be “The Lake of Fire” and while numerous articles, commentaries & books have been written, delving into dramatic hypothesis, interpretation and/or explanation of what this “Lake of Fire” is; simplicity is found in understanding as written, it is simply the 2^nd death.

     Just as this “second death” can only be found worded as such in the Book of Revelation, its synonymous phrase “lake of fire” can also only be found worded as such in the Book of Revelation.

     So there are only 2 types of death mentioned in scripture: Metaphorical & Physical. Adam & Eve didn’t physically die THAT DAY, so it must have been a metaphorical death. Scripture says Christ abolished death; and as this clearly isn’t about physical death, it must be metaphorical. This clarifies metaphorical death as the 1^st death, and physical as the 2^nd. 

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