“…He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death” (Revelation 2:11).

In looking through spiritual eyes, there are only two deaths described in the Scriptures.

The first death occurred in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned. God had commanded Adam in Genesis 2:16-17, that he could eat of any tree in the Garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; “…for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

Adam and Eve did eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, as recorded in Genesis 3. However, they did not die physically at that moment. But they died spiritually.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12)

Spiritual death is a condition wherein man’s spirit is separated from God. Unless payment had been made, man would have been eternally separated from God and would suffer the second death (Isaiah 53:1-12; Romans 3:24-25; Ephesians 1:7).

Because of Adam’s sin, every man since Adam is born into a state of spiritual deadness in sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1). He has no mind, or will, to be with God or to please God. He is totally depraved and seeks only the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (Ephesians 2:2-3; 1 John 2:15-17). He is born into the darkness of sin. He is blinded by sin. He is void of the Life of God, the Love of God, and the Power of God. He is under the law of sin and of death. He is under the curse of the law; and under the condemnation of the wrath of God; and is a servant of unrighteousness (Romans 6:23).

Unless God intervenes in his life and gives him Eternal Life (regenerates him; raises him from his deadness in sins and trespasses; gives him a new nature; makes him a new creation; gives him the Spirit of Adoption, whereby he cries “Abba, Father”; and comes to dwell in him); then his end will be the second death.

Revelation 20:14 describes the second death as the Lake of Fire; where the devil, the beast, and the false prophet, and death and hell will be for eternity. And all those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will suffer the same for eternity (Revelation 20:15).

So the second death is for those who never come out of the first death; for those who never receive the Life of God, or Eternal Life, or Christ, who is Eternal Life (1 John 5:20; John 17:2-3). But they die physically in spiritual death.

What a wonderful and glorious reward Christ gives to the overcomer, “shall not be hurt of the second death.” This means they have been Born from Above (John 3:3-8); been Regenerated by the Spirit of God; and been made the Dwelling Place of God, as they are part of His Body, the Church (1 Corinthians 12:13).

“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,” (Hebrews 12:22)

“To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,” (Hebrews 12:23)

This means they would not worship the beast (Revelation 13:8; 17:8), and would never be in the Lake of Fire; but would be in Christ, in the Holy City, New Jerusalem, forever and ever (Revelation 21:27).

O, what a wonderful plan God has in His Eternal Purpose in Christ Jesus for His People, even His sons and daughters, through Grace.

Knowing this fact, and knowing the Security of Salvation in Christ (Romans 8:29-39); this knowledge should cause each Born from Above Person to praise Him, worship Him, and be faithful to Him.

It should cause you to walk in love, in the light, and circumspectly; in the fulness of the Spirit; in praise and thankfulness; in total submission and obedience to Him; and to endure in the same. It should cause you to be holy, spotless, and blameless; and to rest in His Peace, even in the face of persecution, and even death for His Name (1 Peter 1:14-16; Hebrews 12:14). It should cause you to believe that God is; and cause you to be diligent in serving and pleasing Him (Hebrews 11:6).

If you do these things, you are an “overcomer” and you have the assurance that you will not be hurt of the second death. Hallelujah!