He that hath an ear,
let him hear
what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
He that overcometh
shall not be hurt of the second death.
A second death is certain because Our LORD spoke of it, as recorded by the Apostle John in the Book of Revelation.
What else did Our LORD say about this second death?
What is recorded in Scriptures about it ?
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What is going to be the situation upon earth
when the second death occurs?
When is the second death coming?
What exactly IS the second death ?
Where will it be located?
Who partakes of the second death… and for how long?
The Answers…
Looking first into Revelation 20, we read [with some help from the Greek text]:
VERSE 1
And I saw an angel come down from heaven,
having the key of the bottomless pit [abyss]
and a great chain in [on] his hand.
VERSE 2
And he laid hold on the dragon,
that old [archaion,= primeval, early in time, or ancient]
serpent, [the ophin, = a sly, cunning, sharp-eyed one]
which is [esti = the singular “is”]
the Devil, and Satan, [ Punctuation in Scripture texts has been added by man and is arbitrary; the comma would not be added in modern writing. The devil and satan are not two beings but one, which is why “is” is used.]
and bound him a thousand years,
VERSE 3
And cast [threw] him into the bottomless pit [abyss],
and shut [locked] him up,
and set a seal upon him, [and sealed over him]
that he should deceive [lead astray]
the nations no more, [not any longer]
till the thousand years
should be fulfilled [should be concluded, completed]:
and after that he must be loosed a little season.
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These martyrs sat upon the Thrones and they lived and reigned with CHRIST one thousand years!
Who are these Christian Martyrs?
As an aside, these martyrs are the ones who:
· had been beheaded due to the witness of JESUS and because of the Word of GOD,
· had not worshipped the beast
· had not worshipped his image
· had not received the mark of them [the beast and his image] on their forehead
· had not received their mark on their hand
Other Christians Who Reign with The LORD…
Revelation also speaks of OTHER GROUPS of CHRISTIANS who reign with Our LORD during this first resurrection. Let us look at this familiar passage in Rev. 3:20, 21:
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:
if any man hear My+ Voice, and open the door,
I will come in to him, and will sup with him,
and he with ME+.
To him that overcometh will I grant
to sit with ME+ in My+ throne,
even as I also overcame,
and am set down with My+ FATHER in His throne.
ALL OVERCOMING CHRISTIANS will be included. They all will sit down with Our LORD, in His+ throne ! Chapter 11, verses 17 and 18, also describe this same event.
Saying, We give THEE thanks,
O LORD GOD ALMIGHTY,
Which art, and wast, and art to come;
because THOU hast taken to THEE Thy
great power, and hast reigned.
And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come,
and the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
and that THOU SHOULDEST GIVE REWARD
UNTO THY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS,
AND TO THE SAINTS,
AND THEM THAT FEAR THY NAME,
SMALL AND GREAT;
and shouldest destroy them
which destroy the earth.
Thus we see that ALL saints, small and great, are rewarded. One of the rewards is that all saints will be sitting upon thrones, with CHRIST.
The Location of the Thrones…
Where are these Thrones that the martyrs sat upon, living and reigning? Scriptures tell us plainly, in Revelation chapter 5, verses 9 through 12:
And they [the four living creatures and 24 Elders] sung a new song, saying, THOU+ art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for THOU+ wast slain, and hast redeemed us to GOD+ by Thy+ Blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our GOD kings and priests:
AND WE SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH.
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
Worthy is the LAMB+ that was slain
to receive power, and riches,
and wisdom, and strength,
and honor, and glory, and blessing.
Revelation 5:9-12
Amen and Amen!
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But the rest of the dead lived not again
until the thousand years were finished.
This is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection:
ON SUCH THE SECOND DEATH HATH NO POWER,
but they shall be priests of GOD and of CHRIST,
and shall reign with HIM+ a thousand years.
And when the thousand years are expired,
satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four
quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to
battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
And they went up ON THE BREADTH OF THE EARTH, AND COMPASSED THE CAMP OF THE SAINTS ABOUT, AND THE BELOVED CITY: and fire came down from GOD out of heaven, and devoured them [burned them down].
Revelation 20: 6-9
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Once again, we see the Thrones of the Martyrs seem to be established here on earth, in a location near or in the Beloved City.
We see the martyrs are resurrected FIRST or during the first Resurrection… which tells us there will be at least another resurrection coming!
We see that all the other folks who are dead are not resurrected yet. [This will be a resurrection for judgment and eternal damnation, as we shall see later in Revelation.] Indeed, they will not be resurrected until after a 1,000 years.
We see that those who are counted worthy to participate in the first resurrection do not experience the second death.
Hear the Words of Our LORD, recorded in John 5:26-29:
For as the FATHER hath life in Himself;
so hath HE given to the SON
to have life in Himself + ;
And hath given HIM+ authority
to execute judgment also,
because HE+ is the Son of Man.
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming,
in the which all that are in the graves
shall hear His+ voice,
And shall come forth;
THEY THAT HAVE DONE GOOD,
UNTO THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE;
AND THEY THAT HAVE DONE EVIL,
UNTO THE RESURRECTION OF DAMNATION.
A Fitting Departure, at Last…
And the devil that deceived them [leading them astray] was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever [unto the Ages of the Ages].
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Worthy is the LAMB+ !
Worthy is the LAMB+ that was slain
To receive Glory, Honor, and Power !
Amen and HalleluJah !
[ The Second Death, to be continued]
In the name of The FATHER, The SON, and The HOLY SPIRIT, unto the Ages of the Ages. Amen
Sister Judith Hannah
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