THE SECOND DEATH

B. -- May I ask why you consider this subject so important?

A. -- Well, to be frank with you, were it not for the faith I have that those who are held by the second death shall one

day be delivered from its power and be numbered with the redeemed, I confess that your arguments would prove too

strong for me.

B. -- Will you state clearly what you believe as to this, so that we may not beat the air in our argument?

A. -- I believe that at the consummation of the ages, beyond the great white throne, those who have been cast into

the lake of fire shall come forth,

redeemed of the Lord, that the second death will, at the consummation, usher into life in Christ.

The word distinctly affirms that `the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death' (1 Cor. 15:26). Actuated by the

exigencies of a theory, some have attempted to limit this statement to the first death, but the attempt is futile. A

comparison of 1 Corinthians 15:26 with the statement in Revelation 20:14 and 21:8 will show that the lake of fire is

to be abolished at the consummation. It is the last enemy.

B. -- I observe that you do not pretend to discover this deliverance from the lake of fire in the book of the

A. -- No, I will admit that apart from 1 Corinthians 15:26 Scripture is silent on the subject.

B. -- So then, your whole doctrine stands or falls with your interpretation of 1 Corinthians 15:26. Now I believe that

death as spoken of in 1 Corinthians 15 always refers to the death brought in by Adam, and never to the second death.

My beliefs, however, like your own, must stand the test of Scripture, or they must be renounced as false. Let us

therefore seek afresh the scope of the word death as used in 1 Corinthians 15. Will you share in this search, and

`prove all things'?

A. -- I find that nekros, the word `dead', occurs thirteen times. The verses are: 12,13,15,16,20,21,29,32,35,42,52.

They speak of `the resurrection of the dead', and I admit that Adamic death is intended in each case.

B. -- Perhaps you will find confirmation of your theory in apothnesko, `to die'.

A. -- This word occurs five times. The verses are: 3,22,31,32,36. The usage is limited to the death of Christ and the

first death of men. And again I confess that the second death is not in view.

B. -- Your last hope then is in the word thanatos.

A. -- This word meaning `death' occurs five times. The verses are 21,26,54,55,56.

B. -- Perhaps you had better give these passages in full, and will you also take note of anything in the original that

distinguishes one passage from another?

`For since by man came death (Gk. ho thanatos)' (21).

`The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (Gk. ho thanatos)' (26).

`Death is swallowed up in victory (Gk. ho thanatos)' (54).

`O death, where is thy sting? (Gk. thanate)' (55).

`The sting of death is sin (Gk. tou thanatou)' (56).