The Mystery of the Second Death

What is God's ultimate punishment? In the mind of God what was the highest form of punishment that he could devise against mankind for sin?  Christians the world over imagine an eternity in the fires of hell to be God's highest form of punishment.  This is blasphemy!  God is not a sadist; he does not find pleasure in torture NOR does it satisfy him.  What does God regard as the greatest punishment for sin?  Consider:

Genesis 2:17
...but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely DIE.”

Here we see God explaining to Adam the consequences for sin. The answer to the question of God's ultimate punishment is DEATH.  It is confirmed by Paul:

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is DEATH...

Romans 1:32
...and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are WORTHY OF DEATH, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Romans 6:20-21
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? FOR THE OUTCOME OF THOSE THINGS IS DEATH.

So, we see that the highest form of punishment that God meets out to all mankind is death, or said another way the cessation of life. (My post titled 'You shall not surely die...' gives a clear understanding of the effects of death on the human being.  In it I show that dead means dead). An understanding of how God punishes with death is essential for grasping the mystery of the 'second death' spoken of in the book of Revelation.

What happens after death?
The scriptures say what happens after death:

Hebrews 9:27
...And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,

Christians assume that judgment takes place immediately after you die, but what does the word of God say:

Acts 17:31
Because he hath appointed A DAY, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained...

God tells us that he has appointed a day when he will judge the world.  Judgment does not happen on the day you die but on  the 'appointed day in which he will judge the world'.  At the time of judgment what happens?

John 5:28-29
Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

Now, on the day that the wicked are resurrected we see that they are judged.  Where does the judgement of God lead them?

Revelation 20:14-15
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if ANYONE'S NAME was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the LAKE OF FIRE.

So where does the judgment of God lead them?  TO DIE AGAIN of course; this is why it is called the SECOND DEATH.

What specifically is the lake of fire?
The Lake of Fire is the wrath of God fueled by his anger (It is important that you read my post on 'The purpose of the Lake of Fire' to get a seamless understanding here) , consider:

Romans 2:5
...But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

Ephesians 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Colossians 3:5-6
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things 'sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience

These verses show that the wrath of God is for the sons of disobedience; the bible also classifies them as 'the wicked'.  This wrath is experienced in connection with judgment.

The wrath of God has different effects on different types of people.
This is a strange statement because most people think God an equal opportunity destroyer.  But consider that the scriptures make a clear distinction regarding the wicked.  All the wicked find their place in the Lake of Fire, but they experience it differently.  For the purpose of this post let us offer a classification of the wicked:
Wicked 1.0
Wicked 2.0
The wicked 1.0 is your run of the mill unsaved, unredeemed, unbeliever from all of antiquity up until the time of the beast.  The Wicked 2.0 is all those  who 'worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand'.

Why was it necessary to use the word 'alive'?

Revelation 19:20
And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown ALIVE into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.

If all who experience this lake of fire are alive when they are cast into it then why is it necessary to distinguish that the beast and false prophet were cast in ALIVE?

Revelation 20:10
...and the Devil, who is leading them astray, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where [are] the beast and the false prophet, and they shall be tormented day and night -- to the ages of the ages.

Where is it EVER written that ALL the people who are wicked are:
1- alive in the fire and brimstone
2- are tormented

The smoke of WHOSE torment ascended up for ages of ages?

Revelation 20:14-15
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:8
But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

What is the state of those who are thrown into the lake of fire?  Are the alive  or are they DEAD?  Consider Jesus' words:

John 15:6
If anyone DOES NOT ABIDE in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and DRIES UP; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.

This drying up is death.  This branch is DEAD when it enters the fire to be burned.

Matthew 3:10
The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew 7:19
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

What happens when you cut down a tree?  It dies.

Who is ALIVE when they are cast into the Lake of Fire?

1- the beast
2- the false prophet
3- Satan
4- those who take the mark of the beast and worship his image

Revelation 14:9-11
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascends up to ages of ages: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

The church upon reading this assumes that this is ALL the wicked.  This is a VERY SPECIFIC GROUP OF PEOPLE!  These people receive the WRATH OF GOD WITHOUT MIXTURE!  THEY ARE ALIVE in the Lake of fire.  Consider the use of the words 'without mixture'.  This phrase denotes  a CONCENTRATION of wrath.  If wrath was only experienced in ONE FORM why would it be necessary to specify 'without mixture'?

THE SECOND DEATH (lake of fire) KILLS THE WICKED 1.0.  They enter it DEAD.  They are DEAD as the power of God's judgement SALTS them with fire.  These are then made alive in Christ since there impurities will be burnt away.  Those in the four categories listed above will get the FULL MEASURE OF THE WRATH OF GOD WITHOUT MIXTURE.

What is the end result of all these things?

Zephaniah 3:8-9
“Therefore wait for Me,” declares the Lord, “For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My INDIGNATION, All My BURNING ANGER; For all the earth will be devoured By the FIRE of My zeal. “For THEN I will give to the peoples purified lips, That ALL OF THEM may call on the name of the Lord, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder.