Revelation 2:11 — He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.
Speaking to the church at Smyrna, Jesus says that those who remain faithful to Him despite persecutions will receive a crown of life and not experience the second death. What is the second death?
The first death is physical death, the death of the body. The second death affects the soul and spirit of someone who chose not to have a personal relationship with God during his or her lifetime. Because the person chose not to receive the gift of eternal life during his or her physical life, he or she will experience eternal, spiritual death. This is the most terrible thing that can ever happen to anyone.
In John 17:3, Jesus says, “Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” What is eternal life? Knowing God. We have the opportunity to know God through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We can begin to get to know God right now, today, in this life. After we physically die, we will go on knowing God forever and experience the eternal bliss of a relationship with Him.
Those who refuse to acknowledge God and His Son Jesus in this life remain dead in their sins in this life. When these sinners die physically, they will remain dead to God and be forever without God. Existence without God is the most horrible torment anyone will ever experience. Without God, there will never be love, joy, or peace. There will be no hope, no fullness, no truth, no light, no satisfaction. Existence will be endless emptiness, hopelessness, and meaninglessness. There will be endless regret and guilt and anger and loneliness.
The second death is easily avoided by receiving the love of God and the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. God has made a simple way of escape: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Not only saved from the second death, but saved to experience the fullness of joy that believers have in a personal relationship with the God of all grace, love, peace, and truth. Jesus is our crown of life!
02/22/2025 Devotional
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Not only saved from the second death, but saved to experience the fullness of joy that believers have in a personal relationship with the God of all grace, love, peace, and truth."
2025년 2월 22일 묵상
"주 예수 그리스도를 믿으라 그리하면 구원을 얻으리라. 둘째 사망에서 구원을 받을 뿐 아니라 모든 은혜와 사랑과 평강과 진리의 하나님과의 개인적인 관계 안에서 우리는 충만한 기쁨을 경험하 는 구원을 받습니다."
Psalms 39:6-7 NLT
[6] We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. [7] And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in…