The Second Death

[KingdomSon]

Greetings everyone,
Being this is my first post here, I would like to ask what is the Catholic teaching/interpretation on “the second death” in Revelation 2:11, 20:6, 14.

Having come out of Protestantism, this issue of “the second death” has variable interpretations. What saith those in the Catholic Church?

Thanks and God bless.
KingdomSon

 

[Fidelis]

Most Catholic commentators I’ve seen say that the ‘second death’ is eternal damnation, since at the end of the Book of Revelation (which describes the events of the Second Coming, end of time and the Final Judgement), the second death is described as “the burning pool of fire and sulfur” (Revelation 20:14-15 and 21:8).

The ‘first death’ is generally regarded as baptism, because we die to ourselves and are reborn to new life.

Reference: New American Bible

 

[Catholic_Dude]

Greetings everyone,
Being this is my first post here, I would like to ask what is the Catholic teaching/interpretation on “the second death” in Revelation 2:11, 20:6, 14.

Having come out of Protestantism, this issue of “the second death” has variable interpretations. What saith those in the Catholic Church?

Thanks and God bless.
KingdomSon

I think the Bible answers this pretty clearly:
12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
So, yes, the “second death” is another way of saying eternal damnation.

 

[GEddie]

The ‘first death’ is generally regarded as baptism, because we die to ourselves and are reborn to new life.

Really? I’d always understood this as human death, no more, no less.

 

[Fidelis]

Really? I’d always understood this as human death, no more, no less.

From the Navarre Bible commentary on Revelation 20:5-6:

---

5*** The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over. This is the first resurrection.** 6 **Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over these; they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for (the) thousand years.

…The “first resurrection” should be understood in a spiritual sense; it is Baptism, which regenerates man and gives him new life by freeing him from sin and making him a son of God. The second resurrection is the one which will take place at the end of time, when the body is brought back to life and the human being, body and soul, enters into everlasting joy. The “rest of the dead” are those who did not receive Baptism. They too will rise again on the last day, to be judged according to their deeds.

The *Navarre *also comments elsewhere (on Matthew 28):

The mystery of the Redemption wrought by Christ, which embraces His death and resurrection, is applied to every man and woman through Baptism and the other sacraments, by means of which the believer is as it were immersed in Christ and in His death, that is to say, in a mystical way he becomes part of Christ, he dies and rises with Christ: *“We were buried therefore with Him by baptism unto death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” *(Romans 6:4).

 

[Big_Dummy]

Matthew 25:46 makes it plain that people will go into eternal life or into eternal torture.

I Cor 15 makes it plain that the resurrected body can not be detroyed.

1 Corinthians 15:52 (New International Version, ©2011)
52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Mark 9 indicates
42And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

43And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

44Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

45And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

46Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

47And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be **cast into hell fire: **

48Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

49For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

50Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Revelation 20:9-15 (New International Version, ©2011)
9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

The Judgment of the Dead
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Indistructiable Body thrown into a Fire that never goes out == eternal BBQ.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

Really? I’d always understood this as human death, no more, no less.

Upon taking a second look, the phrase ‘first death’ is never actually used, but rather “first resurrection”. Obviously, nobody has been physically resurrected yet, thus this must be a spiritual resurrection, and thus the ‘death’ was dying to sin, as Fidelis originally noted.

 

[inkaneer]

The first death is physical death. The second death is spiritual death.

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Mt 10:28

"4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear him!” Luke 12:4-5

 

[thistle]

Greetings everyone,
Being this is my first post here, I would like to ask what is the Catholic teaching/interpretation on “the second death” in Revelation 2:11, 20:6, 14.

Having come out of Protestantism, this issue of “the second death” has variable interpretations. What saith those in the Catholic Church?

Thanks and God bless.
KingdomSon

D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 8-11. To the Angel of the church of Smyrna. To St. Polycarp, or some bishop there before him. No reprehension is given to this bishop, or to his church, but a commendation for suffering in poverty and tribulation, when they were rich in grace. (Witham) — Poverty. He was poor in temporal things, but rich in grace and merits. — Thou art blasphemed by those false teachers, who call themselves Jews and Israelites, and the chosen people of God, waiting for the coming of the Messias, but are not to be looked upon as such; having refused to own their true Messias, Jesus Christ, they are the Synagogue of Satan, the greatest enemies of the true faith. — You shall have tribulation ten days, which several here understand for a long time, others for a short time, ten times being used in both senses. (Witham) — The first death is that of the body, the second of the soul. (Ven. Bede)

 

[KingdomSon]

D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 8-11. To the Angel of the church of Smyrna. To St. Polycarp, or some bishop there before him. No reprehension is given to this bishop, or to his church, but a commendation for suffering in poverty and tribulation, when they were rich in grace. (Witham) — Poverty. He was poor in temporal things, but rich in grace and merits. — Thou art blasphemed by those false teachers, who call themselves Jews and Israelites, and the chosen people of God, waiting for the coming of the Messias, but are not to be looked upon as such; having refused to own their true Messias, Jesus Christ, they are the Synagogue of Satan, the greatest enemies of the true faith. — You shall have tribulation ten days, which several here understand for a long time, others for a short time, ten times being used in both senses. (Witham) — The first death is that of the body, the second of the soul. (Ven. Bede)

Greetings thistle,
Thanks for your response, as well as to everyone else’s.

Anyway, as to The first death is that of the body, the second death of the soul, is this (the death of the soul) an indication of annihilation? Since we were created from “nothing.” then is the death of the soul a return to nothing?

God bless.
KingdomSon

 

[DENNYINMI]

Greetings thistle,
Thanks for your response, as well as to everyone else’s.

Anyway, as to The first death is that of the body, the second death of the soul, is this (the death of the soul) an indication of annihilation? Since we were created from “nothing.” then is the death of the soul a return to nothing?

God bless.
KingdomSon

Actually the Magesterium of the Catholic Church teaches immortality of the soul. The first death is indeed a spiritual death, through baptism, and also through baptism we have a spiritual resurrection.
The “second” death, is to be feared, and is the damnation of the soul. Annihilation and soul sleep was condemned heresy by Catholic Church.
We will experience an actual “resurrection:” of an incorruptible body, at the end of time, to those souls that have entered into eternal life with Our Lord.

 

[DENNYINMI]

Revelation 2: 11, “Let anyone who can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches: for those who prove victorious will come to no harm from the second death.” This phrase “let anyone who can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying…” ends each of the 7 letters. In this letter and the next letter this phrase is followed by a promise. In the other letters the promise precedes the phrase.

Question: What is the second death? What is the first death and the first resurrection? To help you with your answer read Revelation 20:6 &14-15; Revelation 21:8 and Ephesians 2:1, 4-6; Colossians 2:12-13; Colossians 3:1 &3.

Answer: The second death is death of the soul; an irreversible, enduring, condemnation. The First Death is defined in Revelation 20:6 which states that those who are not hurt by the ‘second death’ are the same as those who partake of the 'First Resurrection," and that they are priests and kings with Christ. Do you recall the blessing St John already affirmed to be a present reality for us in Rev. 1:6? The First Resurrection cannot refer to the physical resurrection at the end of the world (1Cor. 15:22-28). But instead, it must refer to what St. Paul clearly taught in his epistle to the Ephesians 2:1; 4-6: “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…but God, being rich in mercy,…even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ, and raised us up with Him.” Christians in every age are partakers in the First Resurrection to new life in Christ in our Baptism, having been cleansed from our first death in Adam = original sin . Read John 5:24: “In all truth I tell you, whoever listens to my words and believes in the one who sent me, has eternal life; without being brought to judgment such a person has passed from death to life.” Also read the Catechism # 1002-1004 . #1002 “Christ will raise us up “up the last day”; but it is also true that, in a certain way, we have already risen with Christ. For, by virtue of the Holy Spirit, Christian life is already now on earth a participation in the death and Resurrection of Christ…” #1003 “United with Christ by Baptism, believers already truly participate in the heavenly life of the risen Christ, …”

Agape Bible Study…Study of Revelation of Jesus Christ…www

 

[KingdomSon]

Actually the Magesterium of the Catholic Church teaches immortality of the soul. The first death is indeed a spiritual death, through baptism, and also through baptism we have a spiritual resurrection.
The “second” death, is to be feared, and is the damnation of the soul. Annihilation and soul sleep was condemned heresy by Catholic Church.
We will experience an actual “resurrection:” of an incorruptible body, at the end of time, to those souls that have entered into eternal life with Our Lord.

Greetings DENNYINMI,
Thanks for the feedback

So, annihilation and soul-sleep were condemned by the Catholic Church as heresy? Well then since Mother Church has spoken I will forever put aside these heresies for what they are. It is great to finally have a Magesterium. While in the Protestant world I was blown to and fro with every wind of doctrine. It’s great to have finally dropped anchor and rest. Thank you Lord Jesus

KingdomSon

 

[KingdomSon]

Revelation 2: 11, “Let anyone who can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches: for those who prove victorious will come to no harm from the second death.” This phrase “let anyone who can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying…” ends each of the 7 letters. In this letter and the next letter this phrase is followed by a promise. In the other letters the promise precedes the phrase.

Question: What is the second death? What is the first death and the first resurrection? To help you with your answer read Revelation 20:6 &14-15; Revelation 21:8 and Ephesians 2:1, 4-6; Colossians 2:12-13; Colossians 3:1 &3.

Answer: The second death is death of the soul; an irreversible, enduring, condemnation. The First Death is defined in Revelation 20:6 which states that those who are not hurt by the ‘second death’ are the same as those who partake of the 'First Resurrection," and that they are priests and kings with Christ. Do you recall the blessing St John already affirmed to be a present reality for us in Rev. 1:6? The First Resurrection cannot refer to the physical resurrection at the end of the world (1Cor. 15:22-28). But instead, it must refer to what St. Paul clearly taught in his epistle to the Ephesians 2:1; 4-6: “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…but God, being rich in mercy,…even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ, and raised us up with Him.” Christians in every age are partakers in the First Resurrection to new life in Christ in our Baptism, having been cleansed from our first death in Adam = original sin . Read John 5:24: “In all truth I tell you, whoever listens to my words and believes in the one who sent me, has eternal life; without being brought to judgment such a person has passed from death to life.” Also read the Catechism # 1002-1004 . #1002 “Christ will raise us up “up the last day”; but it is also true that, in a certain way, we have already risen with Christ. For, by virtue of the Holy Spirit, Christian life is already now on earth a participation in the death and Resurrection of Christ…” #1003 “United with Christ by Baptism, believers already truly participate in the heavenly life of the risen Christ, …”

Agape Bible Study…Study of Revelation of Jesus Christ…www

Thank you DENNYINMI… this is great stuff.

So then the “First Resurrection” is the New Birth vs the physical resurrection at the end of the world? That’s makes absolute sense now. For 30 yrs I was taught and held to the latter How much more now do the Scriptures come together.

Keep it coming everyone

KingdomSon

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Greetings everyone,
Being this is my first post here, I would like to ask what is the Catholic teaching/interpretation on “the second death” in Revelation 2:11, 20:6, 14.

Having come out of Protestantism, this issue of “the second death” has variable interpretations. What saith those in the Catholic Church?

Thanks and God bless.
KingdomSon

To me the “first death” is simple ordinary physical death (not specifically mentioned as someone else stated, possibly because it was so obvious), whereas the “second death” is the final condemnation in the Lake of Fire, but it is not annihilation.

I suppose in that sense Hell might be temporary, as the Lake of Fire seems to be a further punishment. As it is the devil seems to have a certain amount of freedom, as he is like a "roaring lion’ who roams around the world seeking the destruction of souls.

Yet we’re told he’ll be cast into the Lake of Fire at the end of time, so I have to assume that at that point he will lose all authority, power and freedom, and be conscious only of intense suffering. With him will be all condemned souls. Hell will be superseded by this state of affairs.

Not a very pretty picture. I think this is why some Christians don’t want to believe in hell. It’s a terrifying concept when you think about it.

 

[DENNYINMI]

Thank you DENNYINMI… this is great stuff.

So then the “First Resurrection” is the New Birth vs the physical resurrection at the end of the world? That’s makes absolute sense now. For 30 yrs I was taught and held to the latter How much more now do the Scriptures come together.

Keep it coming everyone

KingdomSon

Love it…
For a while my friend I had left the Church, and was participating in worship with our Pentecostal Brothers and Sisters in Christ…But, my friend I had to come HOME! The Catholic Faith is like one big puzzle, when you search, all the peices fit together perfectly!!! Welcome!!!..Remember, yes we are a Royal Priesthood…

Question: Is there a parallel in the Old Testament? Read Exodus 19:3-8. What happened to cause the loss of this status as a kingdom of priests? Read Exodus 31:1-4 and 31:25-29.

Answer: The Levites replaced the people as the priesthood but Aaron and his sons continued as the ministerial priesthood.

Question: Do we also have these two divisions of the priesthood? Read CCC # 1547.

Answer: Yes, those of us who are covenant believers are all members of the royal priesthood of Jesus Christ but some of us are called to serve in the ministerial priesthood

ps…in case this ever comes up…like it did for me…you’ve got the answer to this one now too…God Bless You…