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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Fire of God
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. (Revelation 2:11)
It is apparent there is more involved in the second death than merely the wicked being cast into the Lake of Fire at the end of the thousand-year Kingdom Age. The wording of the Book of Revelation suggests that the second death has authority over the believer until he, through Christ, gains victory over the works that God condemns. The second death has authority over all sinful behavior!
Our God is a consuming Fire. His fire comes upon us now and separates us from our sins. If we are not willing to be separated from our sins, we run the risk of having the Lake of Fire claim us for its own. The second death, the Lake of Fire, has Divine authority over fearfulness, unbelief, abominations, murder, fornication, sorcery, idolatry, and lying. Until we are free from these the second death has authority over us.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power [authority], but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:14)
Revelation 2:11 does not correspond to the way we usually think. This verse has to do with the Christian believers. Yet we seldom or never think of the believers as being in danger of the Lake of Fire. Obviously our thinking is incorrect.
Revelation 2:11 and 20:6 are worded peculiarly in terms of our customary viewpoint. We think of the second death as the casting of individuals into the Lake of Fire, there to be tormented forever. This is true and scriptural and cannot be changed.
But if this were all there is to the meaning, Revelation 2:11 should read:
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; he that overcometh shall not be cast into the lake of fire."
We can understand "shall not be cast into the lake of fire." We do not understand "shall not be hurt of [not be harmed by] the second death."
Another problem here is, the implication is strong that those believers who do not overcome the world, Satan, and their lusts and self-will shall be hurt by the second death. Numerous believers (probably the majority) are not leading a life of victory in Christ. Are they all doomed to be hurt by the Lake of Fire?
Think about the following verse:
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power [authority], but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)
If our current understanding is correct, Revelation 20:6 should read: "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. He shall not be cast into the lake of fire, but he shall be a priest of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
To be continued.