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Jesus and the second death

The second death is the "lake of fire." Those not found in the "book of life" are thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death. The second death is the lot of Satan, his angels, and the wicked in the final judgment. Only two verses in the Bible define the second death, as follows:

  • Revelation 20:11-15: Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
  • Revelation 21:8: But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

There are two other verses in the Bible which mention the second death and describe those who will not be hurt by it, as follows:

  • Revelation 2:11: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.
  • Revelation 20:6: Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Thus, according to Revelation 2:11 and Revelation 20:6 the second death will not hurt and has no power over those who conquer (i.e. the righteous) and share in the first resurrection. The first resurrection mentioned here is the one when Christ comes the second time to redeem his own people, the righteous.

Jesus on the second death. Jesus adds to our understanding of the second death by his teaching on the subject of hell. What is "hell" according to Jesus? "Hell" is the English translation of the Greek word, Gehenna. This word is used almost exclusively by Jesus. Of the twelve times found in the New Testament, Jesus uses it eleven times. (The twelfth use in found in James 3:6.)

Gehenna (Greek). Gehenna is derived from the Hebrew ge hinnom or the "valley of Hinnom." It is a valley outside of Jerusalem. The place is also called Tophet (or the valley of dead bones). Initially, in Old Testament times this was the place where child sacrifices were made (see 2 Chronicles 28:3; Jeremiah 7:31). King Josiah stopped this practice by defiling the place by turning it into a dumping ground for sewage and refuse (see 2 Kings 23:10). Fires burned continually to destroy the garbage and impurities. Hence the name Gehenna came to be used as a symbol of punishment (see Isaiah 30:33).

Jesus and Gehenna. Jesus used this Greek word 11 times as follows (using the WEB Bible translation). (It is found 7 times in Matthew, 3 times in Mark and once in Luke.)

  • Matthew 5:22: But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.
  • Matthew 5:29: If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.
  • Matthew 5:30: If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.
  • Matthew 10:28: Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
  • Matthew 18:9: If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.
  • Matthew 23:15: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of Gehenna as yourselves.
  • Matthew 23:33: You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna?
  • Mark 9:43: If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire,
  • Mark 9:45: If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched—
  • Mark 9:47: If your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into God’s Kingdom with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire,
  • Luke 12:5: But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

Death of soul and body. What we learn from Jesus' teaching is that there are two types of death. Thus,

  • Matthew 10:28: Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
  • Luke 12:5: But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

These two types of death represent: (1) the first death is what can be termed soul sleep (i.e. the body is killed) and (2) the second death is soul death (or extinction) in the lake of fire. The Greek word for "soul" is psyche which means "mind, identity, individuality." There are also two types of resurrections separated by 1,000 years. The first resurrection is of the righteous who are given glorified bodies for whom the second death has no power, The second resurrection (at the end of the millenium) is of the wicked for which soul death (or extinction) is meted out in the lake of fire.

Jesus pictured the judgment of the wicked as being "cast into the Gehenna of fire" (Matthew 18:9). Clearly this is with reference to the lake of fire described in the Book of Revelation (of Jesus Christ). Thus, to Jesus soul death (or extinction) was in the Gehenna of fire which is the lake of fire (i.e. Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:5).

Executive judgment. The executive judgment (in contrast to the investigative judgment) takes place at the close of the millennium, when sentence is executed in the fires of gehenna. Revelation 20:9, "Fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” EGW goes into more detail regarding this fire.

  • GC 673.1: The wicked receive their recompense in the earth. Proverbs 11:31. They “shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 4:1. Some are destroyed as in a moment, while others suffer many days. All are punished “according to their deeds.” The sins of the righteous having been transferred to Satan, he is made to suffer not only for his own rebellion, but for all the sins which he has caused God's people to commit. His punishment is to be far greater than that of those whom he has deceived. After all have perished who fell by his deceptions, he is still to live and suffer on. In the cleansing flames the wicked are at last destroyed, root and branch—Satan the root, his followers the branches. The full penalty of the law has been visited; the demands of justice have been met; and heaven and earth, beholding, declare the righteousness of Jehovah.

The above quote is a unique, eschatological view of the final judgment. I do not believe any other Christian faith has this view. What it's stating is that Satan will suffer the second death for the sins of the righteous. According to this teaching, Jesus' death made it possible to transfer the sins of the righteous to the veil in the heavenly temple (i.e. the Sanctuary in Heaven) and ultimately to Satan in the final judgment—the symbolic scapegoat of the Day of Atonement ceremony. Again, the punishment by fire, the Second Death, for the sins of the righteous is placed on Satan. For further reading see: Ellen G. White Estate: Sharing the Vision.

Jesus' death. If Satan will ultimately suffer the second death for the sins of the righteous, then where does that leave Jesus? What did Jesus pay for?

  • 17LtMs, Ms 235, 1902, par. 18: The Lord has proved and pledged His great love to us. He paid the penalty of our transgressions, which was death. He was delivered up for us all. Our sins were transferred to His soul. They were laid upon Him and He was treated as if He was guilty of our sins. He suffered the penalty of death under the weight of the tremendous load. He puts away the sins of every believing soul. The smoke of that sacrifice ascended to heaven and darkened the earth in its dreary blackness. The words, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” were followed by the loud, despairing cry, “It is finished.” [Mark 15:34, 37; John 19:30.] The dying, anguished cry of the Victim upon the cross shook the earth; the rocks rent, the graves opened, the earthquake alarmed the people, while the darkness hid the face of Christ.

According to this quote, "Our sins were transferred to His soul." Again the "transferance" wording is used. Our sins were transferred to Jesus. He became guilty for our sins. He sufferred the penalty of death. Jesus experienced what we should have experienced when facing God's judgment. But then, in the final judgment, our sins are transferred again, but this time they are transferred to Satan.

Then what was God's judgment on Jesus? It was separation. The Father's presence withdrew from Jesus. This same experience will happen to the wicked. They will experience the anguish of understanding that there is no more mercy for them, that this is the end of their existence. They realize their case is hopeless, but their hatred of God remains. But rather than fight God, which they realize is futile, they turn their rage on one another as their final act.

  • GC 671.2: Notwithstanding that Satan has been constrained to acknowledge God's justice and to bow to the supremacy of Christ, his character remains unchanged. The spirit of rebellion, like a mighty torrent, again bursts forth. Filled with frenzy, he determines not to yield the great controversy. The time has come for a last desperate struggle against the King of heaven. He rushes into the midst of his subjects and endeavors to inspire them with his own fury and arouse them to instant battle. But of all the countless millions whom he has allured into rebellion, there are none now to acknowledge his supremacy. His power is at an end. The wicked are filled with the same hatred of God that inspires Satan; but they see that their case is hopeless, that they cannot prevail against Jehovah. Their rage is kindled against Satan and those who have been his agents in deception, and with the fury of demons they turn upon them.

God's final act on the wicked is the full manifestation of His glory and power. While the wicked seek vengeance on one another "with the fury of demons", "Fire comes down from God out of heaven." It is not just fire from heaven, but devouring fire from beneath as well.

  • GC 672.2: Fire comes down from God out of heaven. The earth is broken up. The weapons concealed in its depths are drawn forth. Devouring flames burst from every yawning chasm. The very rocks are on fire. The day has come that shall burn as an oven. The elements melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein are burned up. Malachi 4:1; 2 Peter 3:10. The earth's surface seems one molten mass—a vast, seething lake of fire. It is the time of the judgment and perdition of ungodly men—“the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.” Isaiah 34:8.

Separation from God. Some equate the second death with separation from the Father. True, those who are thrown into the lake of fire will be separated from the Father, but that is not what the second death represents. The second death represents the final and complete destruction of the wicked by fire. It is an extinction event. There is no coming back from the second death. Jesus Christ did not experience total annihilation and extinction by fire, since Jesus came back from the dead in his resurrection. However, Jesus did experience the separation from God which the wicked will experience in the final judgment. Think of separation from the Father as part of the process in judgment. It is, however, not the end of the process. The end of the final judgment is annihilation by fire. This is the second death.

  • DA 753.1: Upon Christ as our substitute and surety was laid the iniquity of us all. He was counted a transgressor, that He might redeem us from the condemnation of the law. The guilt of every descendant of Adam was pressing upon His heart. The wrath of God against sin, the terrible manifestation of His displeasure because of iniquity, filled the soul of His Son with consternation. All His life Christ had been publishing to a fallen world the good news of the Father's mercy and pardoning love. Salvation for the chief of sinners was His theme. But now with the terrible weight of guilt He bears, He cannot see the Father's reconciling face. The withdrawal of the divine countenance from the Saviour in this hour of supreme anguish pierced His heart with a sorrow that can never be fully understood by man. So great was this agony that His physical pain was hardly felt.
  • DA 753.2: Satan with his fierce temptations wrung the heart of Jesus. The Saviour could not see through the portals of the tomb. Hope did not present to Him His coming forth from the grave a conqueror, or tell Him of the Father's acceptance of the sacrifice. He feared that sin was so offensive to God that Their separation was to be eternal. Christ felt the anguish which the sinner will feel when mercy shall no longer plead for the guilty race. It was the sense of sin, bringing the Father's wrath upon Him as man's substitute, that made the cup He drank so bitter, and broke the heart of the Son of God.

On the cross, Jesus "cannot see the Father's reconciling face." Jesus is enveloped in darkness. However, in the final judgment, the Father's glory (i.e. His countenance) is fully revealed in light and in an all-consuming fire.

  • 4SP 489.1: While the earth is wrapped in the fire of God's vengeance, the righteous abide safely in the holy city. Upon those that had part in the first resurrection, the second death has no power. [Revelation 20:6.] While God is to the wicked a consuming fire, he is to his people both a sun and a shield. [Psalm 84:11.]

Source of the fire. Some believe the source of the fire will be God's glory. They quote the following verses to support this idea:

  • Deuteronomy 4:24: For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
  • Deuteronomy 9:3a: Know therefore today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God. He will destroy them and subdue them before you.
  • Daniel 7:9-10: As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.
  • Isaiah 33:14-15: The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the godless: “Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?” 15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil,
  • Hebrews 12:29: for our God is a consuming fire.

The idea seems reasonable, even though the Bible does not specifically state that this is how God will destroy the wicked. God could just as easily create the fire that destroys them, as Peter seems to suggest.

2 Peter 3:12: waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Nevertheless, whether the destruction of the wicked and the cleansing of the earth comes from God's glory or actual physical fire which God "breathes" on them and the earth, does not matter much given that the outcome is the same.

Differences between Jesus' death on the cross and the second death of the wicked

Theme Christ Ref. The wicked Ref.
Death Christ died from the anguish which was caused when the Father's presence was withdrawn Mark 15:34 The wicked will die when the Father's glorious presence is revealed and the wicked are cast into the lake of fire 2 Thessalonians 2:8
Trust Christ died trusting the Father

Luke 23:46

 The wicked die distrusting the Father Revelation 6:16
Presence Longing to see the Father Mark 15:34 Hiding from the Father Revelation 6:16
Timespan Three days Luke 24:1-8 Eternally Malachi 4:1-3; Romans 6:23; James 1:15; (2 Peter 3:10-12)
Selfishness Love overcame selfishness John 3:16; 10:17-18; (1 John 3:16) Overcome by selfishness Revelation 21:8

EGW on the second death

A search for the phrase "second death" in the EGW writings results in 89 occurrences (in her Lifetime Works). See egwwritings.org. Of these, none speak of Jesus Christ experienced the second death. To EGW the second death was "the opposite of everlasting life." It is the destruction of the wicked by fire.

  • 4SP 364.2: While life is the inheritance of the righteous, death is the portion of the wicked. The penalty threatened is not merely temporal death, for all must suffer this. It is the second death, the opposite of everlasting life.
  • 1EGWLM 119.2: The wicked all marched up around the “camp of the saints,” with Satan at their head; and when they were ready to make an effort to take the city, the Almighty breathed from his high throne, on the city, a breath of devouring fire, which came down on them, and burnt them up, “root and branch.”

What Christ experienced was separation from the Father. It was an experience such that it will "never again occur throughout the eternal ages."

  • 14LtMs, Ms 93, 1899, par. 23: The Captain of our salvation was perfected through suffering. His soul was made an offering for sin. It was necessary for the awful darkness to gather about His soul because of the withdrawal of the Father’s love and favor, for He was standing in the sinner’s place, and this darkness every sinner must experience. The righteous One must suffer the condemnation and wrath of God, not in vindictiveness; for the heart of God yearned with greatest sorrow when His Son, <the Guiltless,> was suffering the penalty of sin. This sundering of the divine powers will never again occur throughout the eternal ages. In His expiring agony nature sympathized with her suffering, dying Author. The sun was darkened. The rocks were rent. There was a great earthquake, and many graves were opened as Christ with a loud voice cried, “It is finished. Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit.” “Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.” [John 19:30; Luke 23:46, 47.]
  • ST November 4, 1908, par. 2: None but Christ could redeem fallen man from the curse of the law, and bring him again into harmony with Heaven. Christ would take upon Himself the guilt and shame of sin—sin so offensive to a holy God that it must separate the Father and the Son. Christ would reach to the depths of misery to rescue the ruined race.
  • ST December 9, 1897, par. 5: Jesus was bearing the sin of the world; he was enduring the curse of the law; he was vindicating the justice of God. Separation from his Father, the punishment for transgression, was to fall upon him, in order to magnify God’s law and testify to its immutability. And this was forever to settle the controversy between Satan and the Prince of heaven in regard to the changeless character of that law.

The relationship Christ had with the Father was intensely intimate. So much so, that Jesus himself said, "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). Jesus spoke of being in the Father and the Father in him (John 17:21, 23, 26). Christ is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). It was at the cross, and only at the cross, that this intimate relationship was broken and Jesus would say, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). This intimate relationship with the Father, the wicked never had and, so, in the judgment, God's removal of love and favor, will not matter to them since they never cared for it in the first place. Rather than fearing separation and abandonment, the wicked prefer it. They would rather live in darkness than light (John 3:19). They would rather die than live in God's presence (Revelation 6:15-17). In a "soul" sense, what Christ went through and what the wicked will experience are quantitatively and qualitatively complete opposites.

Modern Adventists and the second death

The subject of the second death is covered in the 26th fundamental belief (see Belief #26: Death and Resurrection - about halfway down the page):

  • What is the second death? (Partial quote follows.) And when the lost die the second death, they will be like no more, like ash on the ground. They are destroyed forever, not forever burning. The fire is an all-consuming fire. And when all wickedness has been destroyed, the fire will go out. “Behold, they are like stubble; the fire consumes them; they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. No coal for warming oneself is this, no fire to sit before!” (Isaiah 47:14, ESV).

However, what follows in the statement is a non sequitur. It reads:

  • When Jesus died on the cross, He experienced what the second death would be like—the separation from God’s presence that all the wicked will experience when they die the second death at the end of the thousand years. It was a devastating feeling for Jesus and He cried out just before He died: “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46, ESV).

As previously noted, this is a commingling of two separate ideas. Yes, Jesus did and the wicked will experience abandonment. In the case of Jesus, the Father hid His face and extended no mercy. His death was a consequence of the anguish this caused. In the case of the wicked, the Father will no longer extend His mercy. They will realize their case is hopeless. However, this anguish does not cause their death. They turn this anguish into rage. Their death is a consequence of God's fire.

References and notes