The Second Death

# 518 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 9:1 And He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power."

At first take, it seems like Jesus is saying that His second coming will take place while some in His audience are still alive. Well, we know that didn't happen, so He must have meant something else.

Some commentators say that He is referring to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., but I think that we need to stay in the context of the spiritual death that He has been talking about.

Sadly, I believe that Jesus was pointing out, that there were some in His audience who would not be willing to die to self. (taste death) These people would not experience the “first death” necessary for salvation.

Jesus said in Joh 3:3, that you must be “born again” in order to “see” the kingdom of God. Being born again follows the spiritual death of the old man which is accomplished in baptism.

Those who reject this “second birth” and do not receive Jesus will not officially “taste (spiritual) death” (hell) until His second coming. In the meantime, they are placed in Hell's holding tank (Hades) which is a place of terrible torment, until Judgment Day. This is called the “second death.” Re 20:14 says, “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”

This is what I believe Jesus is talking about here. Oh beloved surrender your life to Jesus today. Taste of the first death, die to self, and be born again, while you still have breath in your body, that you may avoid the second death that awaits unbelievers on the Last Day.

Father, thank You for Your means of grace that bring us to the first death that we may be born again into Your kingdom. Help us to live for the new man in us and to reckon the old man as dead.