In the book of Revelation, John refers several times to something called the second death:
- “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death” (Revelation 2:11).
- “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power” (Revelation 20:6; see also v. 14).
- “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).
Hundreds of years earlier, the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob used similar language as he urged his people to repent:
O my brethren, hearken unto my words; arouse the faculties of your souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death; and loose yourselves from the pains of hell that ye may not become angels to the devil, to be cast into that lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death.
Jacob 3:11
It’s interesting to note that even before warning his people of the second death, Jacob instructs them to “awake from the slumber of death.” Apparently, they are already suffering from something similar to the permanent condition he wants them to avoid.
The prophet Alma later explains the meaning of the second death as he answers a question about the resurrection from the lawyer Zeezrom in the city of Ammonihah. Alma says that if we are resurrected in our sins, we will be horrified at the thought of standing in God’s presence. We would in fact “be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence.” But we will stand before Him and acknowledge His justice and His mercy. At that time, Alma says, “whosoever dieth in his sins, as to a temporal death, shall also die a spiritual death; yea, he shall die as to things pertaining unto righteousness” (Alma 12:16; see also Alma 12:32, Alma 13:30).
Samuel the Lamanite echoes the language of both Jacob and Alma in his subsequent sermon to the people of Zarahemla, but he provides additional context for this concept. Here’s how he describes it:
[The Savior’s] death bringeth to pass the resurrection, and redeemeth all mankind from the first death—that spiritual death; for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual.
But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord.
Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance, that whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire; but whosoever repenteth not is hewn down and cast into the fire; and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness.
Helaman 14:16-18
Here’s how I understand this concept:
| Type of Death | First Death | Second Death |
|---|---|---|
| Temporal (physical) | Our spirits are separated from our bodies. | None: after our resurrection, we will never die physically again. |
| Spiritual | We have been separated from God’s presence because of the Fall of Adam and Eve. | After we are brought back into the presence of God, if we have not repented, we will be separated from Him again. |
So the death of Jesus Christ actually does three things for us:
- It reunites our spirits with our bodies, permanently overcoming physical death.
- It brings us back into God’s presence, at least temporarily overcoming spiritual death.
- It brings about the “conditions of repentance,” enabling us to be free from our sins, and not to suffer spiritual death for a second time.
What does it mean to die “as to things pertaining unto righteousness,” in the words of both Alma and Samuel? I think it means that we lose some of the power, light, and joy which fills our lives as we grow closer to God. On the other hand, as we grow closer to Him and repent of our sins, we feel His power flowing into our lives, the same power which we will enjoy forever when we are restored to His presence and saved by Jesus Christ from the second death.
Today, I will be grateful for the gifts we have received from Jesus Christ. I will remember that He overcame physical death for everyone. He has also overcome spiritual death in the sense that we will all be restored to God’s presence. Additionally, He has overcome the second death, making it possible for us to overcome our sins and be ready at that time to stay in God’s presence forever.
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