The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Second Death

  • The Life After

    “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

    1 Corinthians 13:12

    Some of the great questions of all time deal with what happens after one dies. The Bible, of course, has many clues for us if we will just take the time to read them. The Old Testament saints understood there is a life after death. They often referred to being gathered unto their people and fathers in death (see (Genesis 25:8; 35:29; 49:33; and many more). Consider one event that may help us. It is recorded in three of the four Gospels: The Transfiguration.

    Jesus took Peter, James, and John up into a mountain to pray. “And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering” (Luke 9:29). As Jesus prayed, he was “transfigured” before them (see Matthew 17:2). “30. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31. Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:30-31). Moses and Elias (Elijah) were there talking with Jesus about His decease. This word decease means “exit; exodus; (figuratively) death.” Moses and Elijah were speaking to Jesus of the death He was about to accomplish – which is why Jesus came to earth as a man (see Romans 5:8-10; Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 Peter 3:18). Peter, James, and John had fallen asleep. However, when they awoke, they saw Jesus in His glory along with Moses and Elijah.(see Luke 9:32-33).

    Consider the many things that this brief meeting tells us. First, we can understand that there is life after death – for Moses and Elijah had died hundreds of years earlier! More than that, the disciples recognized who they were. Moses and Elijah were known by their personalities (for there was no way they knew what they looked like. There were no pictures of them!). Moses and Elijah are both well known in their character and deeds in the Old Testament. Also note: they were two men. They were still human beings. They had not turned into angels with wings. Remember that Jesus, after His resurrection, was in human form. “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have” (Luke 24:39). Moses and Elijah had bodies much like we will have one day. 1 Corinthians chapter 15 tells us much about this. Especially see the following: “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:44).

    Moses and Elijah were standing there having a conversation with Jesus. This tells us that they were not in any kind of a “soul-sleep”. They were quite conscious in their conversation! They were having a time of fellowship with Jesus, speaking of his pending death that they knew was about to take place. What Moses and Elijah had spoken of while they lived on this earth was only a foretelling of what Jesus was about to complete. “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17). Those who put their trust in Jesus will have eternal life. It is the choice of each individual person. “18. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:18-19). Jesus came to save anyone who would believe. However, those who do not believe upon Jesus will have God’s eternal wrath upon them – forever (see John 3:36). This is the second death (see Revelation 21:8).

    We can recognize that Jesus had told His disciples about His pending death shortly before He took them up that mountain. “Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day” (Luke 9:22). However, it seems as if they did not comprehend what it was that Jesus was telling them. It is good to know, that Jesus was able to have a conversation with Moses and Elijah about His pending death. They knew and understood what was about to take place. That is another encouraging insight into the after-life – we will know and understand things that we do not here in this life. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

    Have you rejected Jesus in this life, only waiting for the eternal wrath of God, the second death?

    Or

    Have you trusted in Jesus in this life, understanding that one day you will know Him even as you are known – for eternity?

    Find out how to trust in Jesus with your life.

  • The Problem

    “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”

    1 John 5:19

    What is The Problem in the world today?

    Sin. “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness” (1 John 5:19). Those who belong to Jesus live in a world that lies in wickedness. Recognizing this, Christians are to warn those who do not know Jesus, while understanding that we are not to be a part of this world.

    One must remember that God created man without sin. However, since sin entered into the world (when Adam sinned in the garden), all people have sinned and fallen short. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

    Once we hear the problem, we often quit with that verse. However, the verses immediately following give the solution to this problem. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). One can be justified freely because Jesus came to take the penalty of that sin. Justified means “to render (that is, show or regard as) just or innocent: be righteous.” Who can be regarded as just or innocent? Any one who will just believe in Jesus.

    How and why is this possible? “25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:25-26). God sent His only Son, Jesus (remember John 3:16) to be a propitiation. Propitiation means “a place of conciliation, expiation, what the ancients called altar or place of sacrifice. It does not refer to the expiatory sacrifices themselves. Jesus Christ is designated not only as the place where the sinner deposits his sin, but He Himself is the means of expiation (expiation means ‘the act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing: i.e. sin; atonement’)…” This is explained well in the following verse. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus, who never sinned, took man’s sin, so that whoever trusts in this act (the expiation) can be made righteous.

    Notice: It is a choice – to accept this gift or reject it. Do you remember what the Bible declares is the penalty for sin? “For the wages of sin is death …” (Romans 6:23). However, notice that there is an offering of eternal life. “… but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). This eternal life can only be obtained because of Jesus’ death on the cross for sin. Jesus paid the penalty for anyone who would just believe upon Him. The Bible is full of verses declaring that Jesus is the only Way. And if these few verses were the only ones that declared this truth, they would be enough.

    Nevertheless, many choose to remain in that sin, refusing to believe what Jesus did for them. What happens to them? Jesus said, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). He also said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). Damned means “to judge against, that is, sentenced: condemned.”

    For those who choose to trust in Jesus’ expiation by His death, has everlasting life. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). On the converse, those who reject Jesus will have the wrath of God upon them – forever.

    It is as simple as this: “11. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:11-12). If you have Jesus, you have life. If you choose to reject Jesus, you will not have life (having been judged, condemned to eternal death). “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). It only takes unbelief to spend eternity in the “lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”.

    Have you chosen to believe, and then to warn any other unbelievers of the second death?

    Watch the following five-minute video, and then share it with someone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANvaqeBVELc