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"Second Death" Implies Reincarnation?
To the Western mind that has some respect for the Bible, Eastern mysticism and the doctrine of the transmigration of souls has a greater chance of winning the victory for the mind, not by fabricated stories of claimed previous lives, but by an appeal to scripture. The appeal of the advocates for belief in reincarnation to scripture is not surprising since Satan himself, as man’s adversary, knows and uses scripture (Matthew 4:4-6). But, does the phrase “the second death” found exclusively in the book Revelation, lend credence, in any form or fashion, to this belief that souls are recycled from lower forms of life to higher forms or from one human body to another?
When Jesus spoke to the church at Smyrna (Revelation 2:10) and warned of looming trials he encouraged them to be “faithful unto death,” that is, possess the martyr spirit that was essential to their being victorious with the Lord (note Revelation 6:9-11; 7:13-15). Jesus assures them that the ones who overcome will not be hurt by “the second death.” Notice that the associated word “hurt” necessarily says something about the meaning of “second death.” The “second death” here is not suggesting that there will be another chance, just in case you don’t get it right the first time. It is identifiable with what “hurts” men as some sort of punishment -- not what is beneficial to man.
The phrase does not appear again in the book until ch. 20:6, 14. Observations in this short article are not designed to give a detailed interpretation of the chapter but to focus on how “ the second death” is used with reference to punishment. This time it is identifiable with the eternal state of the enemies of Christ – death (the enemy of man – 1 Corinthians 15:26) and Hades (the unseen abiding place of the dead) are cast into the lake of fire as are the beast (the corrupt, persecuting political power) and the false prophet (false religion) – note v. 10.
Then in Revelation 21:8 -- “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.” Those who believe in reincarnation really do not want to use this verse, because it clearly speaks of “the second death” as a place of irrevocable punishment – the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.
Whether or not I am able to refute every claim for previous, life experiences, the simplest answer to the concept of the transmigration of souls is Hebrews 9:27 – “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” “Once” (Greek word, “hapex”) has the significance of “once and only once” (cf. Hebrews 9:24-26). Man dies physically only once. “The second death” does not deal with man’s physical death but with the eternal punishment of the wicked. There is not the slightest hint of any recycling of souls in these passages. Contrariwise, qualifying statements identify “the second death” as eternally, assigned punishment at the final judgment. At which time, there can be no hope for coming back to life to make amends for sins committed in a previous life. – Jim R. Everett
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