Births and Deaths

Revelation 20 : 14 declares that the lake of fire is the Second Death.

Many Christians believe this lake of fire is a place of eternal torment or annihilation for those who do not believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, by the time they complete their earthly lives.

I struggle with this belief for many reasons, but mainly because of God's character:

Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God. ... for God is love.
And God showed his love for us by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might have life through him.
[1 John 4 : 7 - 9  GNB]

and His declared purpose for His creation:

Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son's blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.
[Colossians 1 : 19, 20  GNB]

(There are three previous posts discussing the Lake of Fire which can be found by placing "Lake of Fire" in the search box on the right.)

So what is this death that the Bible calls the Second Death?
Surely a sensible starting point might be to discover and understand what the first death might be.

There have been so many differing opinions offered throughout the centuries regarding the first and second deaths. I have read several of them, but I have yet to find one that supports my offering here. If there are others that offer something similar - terrific - I just haven't found them yet; if not then my offering may be brave and leave me open to some challenge.

Nevertheless, let me share my thoughts that have been strengthening over recent years, and let's begin even further back with what the corresponding "births" might be.

The First Birth is our physical birth with its condition inherited from Adam
    
➧ we are born spiritually dead, not alive to God, indeed maybe hostile to God
➧ we are mortal, physically dying from the moment we are born
➧ both aspects of death apply to everyone as we are all related to Adam.

Therefore, just as sin entered into the cosmos through one man, and death through sin, so also death pervaded all humanity ...
[Romans 5 : 12  DBH]

The First Death is the physical death that all humans experience because we were born under Adam's legacy.

➧ although this death is certain, it is only temporary as we will all be resurrected at some stage in the future.

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
[1 Corinthians 15 : 21, 22  NIV]

➧ however after this physical death we will still be spiritually dead - unless we've been born again beforehand.

As the Scriptures say: "There is no one who is righteous, no one who is wise or who worships God. All have turned away from God; they have all gone wrong; no one does what is right, not even one.
[Romans 3 : 10 - 12  GNB]

The Second Birth is a spiritual birth, called "being born again" or "being born from above" or "being in Christ".

This birth involves some big changes, for example:
➧ moving from spiritual death to spiritual life

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. [Colossians 2 : 13  NLT]

➧ becoming a new creature in Christ

Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.
[2 Corinthians 5 : 17  GW]

➧ becoming dead to sin and alive to God

... you also must regard yourselves as dead in relation to sin, but as alive in relation to God, because you are in Christ Jesus.
[Romans 6 : 11  Weymouth]

➧ receiving the indwelling Holy Spirit

And you also became God's people when you heard the true message, the Good News that brought you salvation. You believed in Christ, and God put his stamp of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit he had promised.
The Spirit is the guarantee that we shall receive what God has promised his people, and this assures us that God will give complete freedom to those who are his. Let us praise his glory!
[Ephesians 1 : 13, 14  GNB]

The Second Death is a spiritual death, the death of everything that offends God.

➧ includes the offences to be removed from those who have not had the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit involved in their lives (as those who have experienced the second birth will have by that time).
    
➧ includes the death of Hades (the realm of the dead) and Death itself.

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of fire; this is the Second Death--the Lake of fire.
[Revelation 20 : 14  Weymouth]

When the Second Death has finished its work it will no longer be needed.

For Christ must rule until God defeats all enemies and puts them under his feet. The last enemy to be defeated will be death.
[1 Corinthians 15 : 25, 26  GNB]

And the result of the Second Death's work?

But when all things have been placed under Christ's rule, then he himself, the Son, will place himself under God, who placed all things under him; and God will rule completely over all.
[1 Corinthians 15 : 28  GNB]

Anyone like to discuss my definitions of births and deaths?
Please use the Comments section below - I am a keen seeker of truth and always prepared to discuss and refine or reshape my views.

Blessings, Barry

Chapter 5

Hi Everyone

After over 12 months of distractions and other challenges, I returned to my book this week. I am in Withcott where temperatures have been in the mid 40's for several days and my back has been at its worst.

So with tolerance levels at a minimum, I have taken to finishing chapter 5 with a savage aggressive streak. I have deleted over half the original content by removing repetitive thoughts, "unnecessary" explanations and theological arguments mounted to support my story-line.  After all, my target audience is the un-churched (and hopefully some ex-churched) so theological arguments would be of little value.

The draft for this chapter is hiding in the usual spot at http://users.ncable.net.au/~barrytatt/C5.pdf.  Please read it critically when you get the chance and feedback your thoughts, criticisms, suggestions for improvement, etc., no matter how large or small.  I'll leave it posted up there until the end of January, but your feedback will be most welcome any time before or after that date.

Blessings, Barry

Growth is God's Desire For Us

In a recent comment to the "Trustworthy Sayings" post, I mentioned that Rog's linking of hardships with God's refining fire reminded me of Paul's comment about temptations in 1 Corinthians 10 : 13.

Here's the NIV translation of this verse.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.  And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. [NIV]

It is typical of most English translations, but does it make sense?
..... God will provide a way out or a path of escape so that you can endure the temptation ?????
How can you endure something by avoiding it?

Let's think for a moment.
What is your own personal experience of facing hardships, temptations and crises?
Does God usually provide you with a way of escape?
If you're like me, that rarely happens.
He is more likely to provide encouragement, wisdom, strength, endurance or some other way for us to grow and mature and become Christ-like, rather than a way to remain weaklings looking for outs, excuses and escape chutes.

What Bible character was ever given an escape route?
Moses, Joseph, Job, Jonah, David, Hosea, Paul, Stephen, Jesus ????????
Have a quick flick through Hebrews 11.

God sees that the size of the problem is never more than we can cope with, but there is usually no escape from it.
So I began researching the translation of this verse.

Here's my translation.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide the planned outcome (or sequel) so that you can endure it. [BSV]

If God is sovereign, and all is from him, through him, and to him, then we can be sure that any trial that God brings our way will also have its planned outcome in place, ready to be experienced also.
Which also guarantees that everything works together for good, for those loving God and fitting in to his plans.  [Romans 8 : 28]

So we need to trust God in all our trials and hardships, because he will also have the planned outcome ready to be achieved as well - not an escape chute so we can avoid the refining fire and growing experience God desires for us.

Blessings, Barry

'ere Cum Da Judge

Crime is rampant in our society and we are pleased to see criminals apprehended and dealt with appropriately.
Our motives in seeing this happen are mixed. 
Some of us want criminals taken off the streets, some want revenge, some want justice, some want criminals rehabilitated and restored to society, and some want a cocktail of several of these.

Let's see what happens.
A crime is committed, the alleged offender is apprehended and brought to trial.
Evidence is presented and the judge makes his decision.
If the accused is found to be innocent, he is set free and continues life in the community.
If the accused is found to be guilty, he is taken away and given a suitable punishment.

Now what happens to this guilty offender?
He is first of all taken away - removed from society. 
This frees the community from his offensive behaviour and influence, which is beneficial, both for the community and for the criminal. 
The community no longer has to suffer the consequences of his actions and the criminal is prevented from getting deeper into a life of crime which will have even more severe consequences.

Secondly, the criminal is punished. 
Although many people see this punishment as revenge or justice, so that the offended members of society are avenged for their loss and heartache, it is much more than that.
The punishment is also designed to rid him of his anti-social behaviour and attitudes, so that eventually he can re-enter society as a changed person and make a positive contribution to the life of the community.

I appreciate this doesn't always happen, but surely that's the plan.
Indeed it's the same plan God uses.

Jesus is the Judge and the court convenes at the Great White Throne.
Evidence is presented of the life story of each person.
Those found guilty at this judgement will be taken to be changed of their behaviours and attitudes so they can be reinstated into God's kingdom.
The Bible describes this process like a lake of fire which God uses to purify and change the hearts and behaviours of those who have not had those changes made by the Holy Spirit previously.

Eventually all will be changed, by the Holy Spirit or the lake of fire, and made fit to enter eternity at the end of the ages.
What we attempt to do with our legal systems on earth, God does perfectly in the heavens.
All of us, no matter how wicked or rebellious or immoral, will be rehabilitated and reinstated in the family of God.  We will all live in fellowship and harmony with God and with the rest of his family in eternity.

How will the lake of fire do its work?
I have no idea, but I would like to think it will work much like the pig pen worked for the prodigal son in the story Jesus told (as recorded in Luke 15).

The prodigal in his remote and horrid circumstances realised that even his father's employees were far better off than he was, and decided to go home, be reconciled to his father and offer to work for him. 
What he knew of his father, his love and his father's household drew him back to his father.

Those found rebellious and unreconciled to God at the Great White Throne judgement will eventually realise that even the least in God's kingdom are far better off than they are and will decide to go home, be reconciled to God and offer to serve him.

God's love, demonstrated so vividly on the cross, will eventually “compel” everyone to be reconciled to God.
All the world's prodigals from all generations and ages will eventually want to be reconciled to the Father and so God's plan for the universe will be achieved.

Jesus will then have completed his mission as “the Saviour of the world” and will have drawn all people to him as he promised he would.

Blessings, Barry

The Lake of Fire

So what happens next?  What happens to these new 'pagan' believers as they are placed in the lake of fire? 

I'll be writing in more detail about the lake of fire in future posts, but for the purpose of following up the last post, I'll just share a story which has appeared on the internet over the years in various forms which gives some insight into this question.

I love this story as it helps me appreciate one of God's methods of making us Christ-like in our process of sanctification (sorry for the big word) and also helps me understand the references to  fire and brimstone and God's purpose in using these cleansing agents.

While reading Malachi 3, a group of women in a Bible Study were struck by the reference to God sitting as a refiner and purifier of silver.  To gain a better understanding of this verse, one of the women offered to visit a silversmith, watch him at work, and report back to the group on her observations the following week.

She called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him work, but didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up.  He explained that in refining silver, he needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest in order to burn away all the impurities.

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.  The man answered that yes, not only must he sit there holding the silver, but he also had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire.  If the silver was left in the fire a moment too long, it would be injured in some way.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot sometimes, and began to see the purifying purpose in these experiences under the watchful eye of the Master Silversmith. 

The woman remained silent while she let these thoughts run their course, then asked the silversmith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?”  He smiled at her and answered, ‘Oh, that’s easy — it is fully refined when I can see my image in it.

We were made in His image originally, and we need to be remade in that image for fellowship with Him in eternity.  He does this through the work of His Holy Spirit now, and through his judgements at the Great White Throne.

I think this story perfectly describes the purpose of the lake of fire during the last age - the age of the new heavens and earth.  It is for purifying the new believers.

Most mainstream Christians think that the lake of fire is the hell of eternal torment that they have been taught about in their churches for many years and is the final place of unending punishment for all those who do not become believers by the time they are called to leave this planet at the end of their physical lives here.

I would rather see the fire and sulphur as pictures of the cleansing and purifying processes which God undertakes to make these new believers ready for life in eternity with him. 

Actually, the lake is also called the second death, the death of all that offends God and needs to be removed from those who have not had the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit involved in their lives as we've had.

Different pieces of silver will obviously take different amounts of time in the flame to be purified, depending on how 'unpurified' they were when they were placed there, but when the lake of fire (the second death) has finally finished its work it will no longer be needed and will be destroyed as Paul promises in 1 Cor 15 : 26.

Barry