The term “the second death” appears just four times in the Bible, and all of them in the book of Revelation.  A second death implies a first death.  What are these two deaths?

The First Death

God created man from the dust of the ground. 

Gen 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

After Adam and Eve sinned God told them they would eventually return to the dust.

Gen 3:19  In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.”

This unfortunate fate is the same for all of humanity.

Ecc 3:20  All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.

There is no one that can escape death.

Psa 89:48  What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah

The reason for this death is our sin.  We have all sinned.

Rom 3:23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

And the payment (the consequence) for our sin is death. 

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, …

But this death is not the end.  There is a future time when all men will rise from the grave and hear God’s voice, and be subject to judgment.

Joh 5:28  Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
Joh 5:29  and come forth— those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation [judgment – krisis] .

The Greek word translated condemnation is krisis, which means decision, accusation, condemnation, damnation, judgment.  This is a time where those who have lived a life without the knowledge of God and His ways will have their opportunity to learn God’s truth and accept it or reject it, and thus will be judged on that basis.  This time of judgment is also mentioned in Hebrews.

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment [krisis],

The “die once” is the first death.  In this judgment there is hope of eternal life.

Rom 6:23  … the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Second Death

The Bible clearly states that the second death is the lake of fire.

Rev 20:14  Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

But what is this lake of fire?  It is the fate of those who refuse to repent in their period of judgment.  They are cast into the lake of fire, where they are burnt up.

Rev 21:8  But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

The Bible repeats the explanation that the second death is the lake of fire.  There is no resurrection from the second death.  It is a final state of non-existence.  Those who are in the first resurrection are immune to the second death, because the first resurrection is a resurrection to eternal life as a spirit being.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

These are the same group of people who overcome and avoid the second death.  They receive eternal life.

Rev 2:11  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ‘