Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
There’s a second death which preachers don’t often talk about these days because people don’t want to hear or accept it. It takes place after the Final Resurrection when everyone will be brought before God in the Time of Judgment. Those who truly believed in Christ and lived their lives according to His ways will live forever. Those who didn’t won’t and they will experience death a second time.
I hear many people talk about life beyond death, but I never hear anyone talking about death beyond death. Because we’ve forgotten about this coming event, we live our lives as if it doesn’t matter to God. We delude ourselves into thinking that our lifestyle choices have no bearing on what the outcome will be when we die on Earth. But that is a demonic lie which is sending people towards that second death from which they will never escape.
This summer, our denomination made a mistake which I believe will end up ruining the church, but much more seriously than that, will end up sending people to the doom of a second death. Even if I were to preach that a hundred times each Sunday from the pulpit for two years, there would be those who would still say, “That’s only your opinion” or “That’s being narrow minded” or “That’s not what I believe” or “This is the 21st century, so get with it Preacher.”
We believe that we are so right, and yet we are totally wrong. The Second Death exists and it is the true Church’s mission to help people of all persuasions, life style choices, and beliefs to avoid it. Wishful thinking about the after-life will lead to the Second Death. Only real repentance will lead us to everlasting life. Teaching tolerance may be good for earthly societies, but it does nothing to avert the Second Death. When we tolerate sin, we send people the wrong message and put them on the wrong path to perdition.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are all guilty of making excuses for our sins and setting aside the Eternal Truths about life and death, life after death, and even death after death. Forgive us for thinking that we are better and more enlightened than the generations of Christians before us. Save us from ourselves! Save us from the Second Death! In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask a question about today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.
Today’s image is John’s latest drawing in his Psalms series. It’s based upon a verse from Psalm 109. If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6169/6170833393_3829d1b0e9_b.jpg
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