December 30: TWO KINDS OF DEATH

“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:24

There is more to the meaning of the phrase “He shall see His seed” (Isaiah 53:10) than meets the eye. Let us compare two different Hebrew words, both of which are translated “cut off” in English. We read Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself (in Daniel 9:26). Isaiah 53:8 states He was cut off from the land of the living. In Daniel, the verb is translated from k-r-t and in Isaiah from g-z-r. The Isaiah statement refers to the death that everyone dies because of the fallenness of the world. Solomon alluded to this kind of death when he wrote: All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean… (Ecclesiastes 9:2)

But the statement in Daniel specifically refers to an additional, terminal death penalty for a serious sin which is carried out by God Himself. Examples are found in Exodus 31:14; Leviticus 17:10; 18:29; Numbers 15:30. This kind of death has a distinguishing nuance that goes beyond death. This concept is demonstrated in the progressive explanation contained in Leviticus 20:2-3. Anyone who sacrificed children to Molech was to be stoned, followed by God setting His face against such a one to cut him off [k-r-t] from his people. The Israelites understood that he would be punished even after his death by never seeing his descendants again. Thus, to be “cut off” from one’s people was to lose the ongoing heritage of the family of kinship. It meant no afterlife. This loss of an afterlife was like a death after death. Jesus and the apostle John refer to this death as the second death (Revelation 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8). Both the righteous and the wicked experience a first death. But the wicked are called so, due to their refusal to repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). This refusal means that the wicked choose the second death for themselves.

Jesus died the second death. But not for Himself, beloved! He suffered this terminal penalty for us. This is why Isaiah’s statement “He shall see His seed” is so rich in meaning! He paid the ultimate penalty for all. And yet the sinless Savior lives! He shall certainly see His offspring! When we are united with Him, our witness can mean offspring for the Lord (see John 17:20). What a tragedy to choose not to believe! Those who have died in Christ are in perfect safekeeping until the Day of the Lord, the time of His return. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to excel in their newfound faith, with full confidence of the Savior’s return, in spite of the false teachings about death trying to push into the church. He comforted them regarding their Christian friends who had died. “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope” (1Thessalonians 4:13).

Jesus said, “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.” Revelation 2:11

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:4