martyr of Revelation 2:10 can say 'I die daily', may be described as one

whose sufferings were premature or anticipatory.  One, who became 'fearful

and unbelieving' (Rev. 21:8) would avoid this premature 'dying', but would be

subjected to the searching fire of the 'after death', the 'second death'.

It is alas too possible for the redeemed, delivered from their

spiritual Egypt, to exhibit 'an evil heart of unbelief' (Heb. 3:12), to be

'destroyed of the destroyer' (1 Cor. 10:10) as Israel were, but this is a

'chastening' that is entirely removed from 'condemnation' (1 Cor. 11:32).

Those who pass through the ordeal of fire (1 Cor. 3:13) will either receive a

reward or suffer loss.  Their eternal salvation is not at stake.  They will

either endure 'the fiery trial' which will 'try' them (1 Pet. 4:12) and so be

found unto praise and honour and glory at the revelation (apokalupsis) of

Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:7), or by betraying their trust, and denying their

Lord (2 Tim. 2:12) will suffer loss in that day and be 'hurt' of the second

death.  The loss suffered by those called 'the rest of the dead' in

Revelation 20:5 will be that they will not be raised from the dead until the

thousand years' reign is finished.

The second death is reserved for 'the fearful and the unbelieving', but

on the overcomer this testing and searching second death has no power,

neither can any overcomer be 'hurt' by it.  The word translated 'hurt' is

adikeo which originally meant injustice or doing anyone wrong (Matt. 20:13)

and so 'to hurt' whether justly or unjustly.  Adikeo is translated 'hurt'

nine times in the Book of the Revelation, but in chapter 22:11 it is

translated 'unjust'.  Now the problem which such a word raises is solved by

its use in Colossians 3:25, but as this passage is so important for the light

it sheds on the second death and its 'hurt' let us consider the matter with

regard to the remote context of Colossians 1.

There can be no possible doubt concerning the eternal security of any

believer who has been 'made meet for

the inheritance of the saints in light' (Col. 1:12), yet Colossians 3:22 -25

speaks of either receiving 'the reward' of this inheritance, or of 'receiving

wrong' for the wrong that he has done; and we are reminded, in case we need

it, that 'there is no respect of persons'.  We cannot plead that because we

are members of the Body of Christ, this cannot apply to us.  Colossians 1:12

is sheer, unadulterated grace, Colossians 3:22 -25 is service with its

consequences.  Now the word translated 'wrong' twice over here, is adikeo,

the 'hurt' associated with the second death, and the 'unjust' condition of

those denominated in Revelation 22:11, where both the unjust and the filthy

on the one hand, and the righteous and the holy on the other hand, are placed

in expectation of Him Who says, 'My reward is with Me, to give every man

according as his work shall be' (Rev. 22:12).

The Great White Throne is 'The judgment seat of Christ' where 'works'

will be appraised (Rev. 2:2,9,13,19; 3:1,8,15) and where 'every one may

receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether

it be good or bad'.  Such is the second death from which the overcomer is

exempt but by which the fearful and the unbelieving will be 'hurt' when the

judgment of works takes place.  Christ has the keys of Death and Hell.  None

can shut but He.  None can open but He, and in this consciousness we can

safely abide.

In another study we have discussed the 'Book of Life' and referred

among other passages to Philippians 4.  This has been questioned, and an

answer is demanded: