The phrase “second death” appears in four verses (Revelation 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:9). The first death is the physical death with which we are all too familiar and over which we sorrow when our loved ones pass away. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27 NKJV). Physical death occurs when the physical side of man—his fleshly body—and the spiritual side of man separate. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). The body returns to the earth and the spirit or soul returns to God at death. “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
The second death will occur following final Judgment when the unrighteous are separated eternally from God. “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death” (Revelation 20:14). “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” (Revelation 21:8). At the Second Coming, Jesus Christ will approach the unrighteous “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). The second death is a figurative reference to hell.
