He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” Revelation 2:11
The Bible is an ambigious and complex piece of literature requiring a detailed and extensive exegesis in order for a clear understanding to come about. The subject of hell, redemption and so on have however, become almost impossibly increasingly complicated after decades of interrelated study amongst scholars, theologians, cultists and so on, the issue to which I wish to turn my attention to is that of the “second death” as it leads to a curious understanding of life-after-death, the second death has been described as the destruction of the self, the annihilation of the subtle bodies or symbolic of hell.
The mystic interpretations of Christianity usually point to the various passages in revelation that seem to hint at a total destruction of the subtle components of the human being for the most heinous of sins. The support for hell even in the maelstrom of possible meanings in the book of revelation is tenuous to say the least.
Firstly let us clarify that the concept of hell has been repeatedly put down as a myth, the early Christians believing in various forms of eventual reunification with the godhead and the scriptural support for such a barbaric concept are vague and usually based upon misinterpretation of symbolic passages imbued with cultural rather than literal meaning.
Then what of the lake of fire and the second death, such passages as Revelation 20:14-15 are likely to shake even a firm belief that hell does not exist
”And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:14,15.
This verse however, like many others, is indicative of the reality that the earth shall be destroyed with fire perhaps through an apocalyptic war as foretold by seers such as Nostradamus and that death shall be abolished for all but those who have not been chosen.
Even the concept of a few being doomed to unconsciousness is still shocking to the human mind though but we aware that there will be adequate time for proving who is just and unjust for as the Bible tells us that Satan will be let loose for a “little season.” Satan too is symbolic of human sin and natural inclination towards anarchy (see the works of the Christadelphians for the few concepts of this) and this little season will probably be a time when the unrighteous will destroy each other in a orgy of destruction.
An interesting article. It seems you have been considering these subjects for a while. It may help to read the start of Revelation where it says in chapter 1, this book was written for the saints of God and sent in sign and symbol. The book of revelation is of sign and symbol which helps when you come to rev 20:14-15 because Numbers 14:21 says as truely as the Lord liveth all the earth sahll be filled with his glory. Therefore the earth cannot be destroyed as it will be fill with his glory at some point. It hasn’t happened and if it had there would be no need to destroy it. So I would think v14-15 is symbolic of something else hope this helps.