Season 6 Podcast 35, Revelation 20:13-15, A New Voice of Freedom, Argument for the Existence of God, “The Second Death.”Earlier we learned that immediately following death, the spirit goes to the spirit world. We know that Christ was the first fruits of the resurrection; therefore, all who died before Christ were required to wait in the spirit world until Christ brought about the resurrection of the dead. Revelation 20:13“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.”Three things give up their dead: (1) the sea, meaning the watery grave (2) death, meaning earthly grave) and (3) hell, meaning the place of punishment for sins.  Many have been lost at sea; therefore, the Lord gives comfort that all who are lost at sea will rise in the resurrection as well as those who are buried on land. But what does John mean when he said, “hell delivered up the dead which were in them’? And why is hell plural? Could it be there is more than one hell?To understand what is happening we must consider both the law of justice and the law of mercy as well as the extent of grace. Those who call upon Christ do not go to hell. As mentioned previously, they go to Paradise. Jesus said to the thief on the crossLuke 23:43“Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” However, the commandments of God are the conditions of the atonement. Those who do not accept the mercy of Christ, such as the other thief, will have to pay for their own sins in hell.  The law of justice demands it. As Christ said they will not get out until they have paid “the uttermost farthing.” But all sins aren’t alike just as all sinners are not alike. Christ said there are many mansions.Just as all saints do not go to the same heaven, all unrepentant sinners do not go to the same hell. Because of the atonement a person must pay only for his own sins and because of the atonement a person will be rewarded only for his own works. Without the atonement, there would be no reward and no heaven, only the lake of fire.  However, because of the atonement, even for those who have paid for their sins in hell, there is a heaven or mansion prepared for them. Paul described it this way,1 Corinthian 15:41“There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.”Christ reveals to John that he has the keys to both hell and death.Revelation 1: 18“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” The greatest king of all, King David, had to pay for the murder of Uriah the husband of Bathsheba in hell.  But even King David said,Psalm 16:10“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” Speaking of Psalm 16:10, Peter added:Acts 2:31 “He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.” Mankind suffered the first death because of the fall of Adam. We suffered both a physical death and a spiritual death. A physical death is the separation of the body and the spirit. A spiritual death is the separation of man from God. However, because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, physical death is overcome by the resurrection and spiritual death is overcome by Christ’s suffering in Gethsemane. Spiritual death means to be cut off from the presence of God. While in hell they are cut off from the presence of God.

Season 6 Podcast 35, Revelation 20:13-15, A New Voice of Freedom, Argument for the Existence of God, “The Second Death.” Earlier we learned that immediately following death, the spirit goes to the spirit world. We know that Christ was the first fruits of the resurrection; therefore, all who died before Christ were required to wait in the spirit world until Christ brought about the resurrection of the dead.  Revelation 20:13 “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and he...