Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look! I’m making all things new.” He also said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said to me, “All is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will freely give water from the life-giving spring. Those who emerge victorious will inherit these things. I will be their God, and they will be my sons and daughters. But for the cowardly, the faithless, the vile, the murderers, those who commit sexual immorality, those who use drugs and cast spells, the idolaters and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.” Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues spoke with me. “Come,” he said, “I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” He took me in a Spirit-inspired trance to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. The city had God’s glory. Its brilliance was like a priceless jewel, like jasper that was as clear as crystal. It had a great high wall with twelve gates. By the gates were twelve angels, and on the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel’s sons. There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. The city wall had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the Lamb’s twelve apostles. (Revelation 21:5-14, CEB)
This is the second death. Their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur…
The first death is the human one, and the second death is eternal separation from God. For those who do not follow what God has called us to do, the cowardly, the faithless, the vile, the murderers, those who commit sexual immorality, those who use drugs and cast spells, the idolaters and all liars.
Let’s look at that list:
Cowardly
Faithless
Vile
Murderers
Drug Users
Spell Casters
Idolaters
Liars
Ok, I am one who will suffer from the second death. I am a drug user; I take pills every day for medical conditions. I am a coward when it comes to some things, I am sometimes faithless, I also idolize things and put them before God from time to time. I am sure I have told a lie, although I strive to tell the truth in all times and places. I have killed bugs, so I am a murderer.
None of us will get by the list I have above. And I left off the sexual immorality committers. The word here means those who engage in sexual immorality, which is any gender and is distinguished from adultery. What does that mean? It is not adultery but any other sexual immorality. I would think it is rape, using people as property for your own pleasure and the like, but I would not say it is anything that is part of a loving consentual relationship of any gender.
So, who will befall the second death?
I fall back on Grace, and thank God that is not my call.
There is grace for that!
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 