30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
02 Acts 14 08-20 THE MINISTRY AT LYSTRA 35 Acts 14 15-17 The second death
📖 Acts 14:08-20
35 – Tue, 25 Nov 2025 – *The second death*- _Acts 14:08-20_ – THE MINISTRY AT LYSTRA – _Revelation 20:11-15_
_Acts 14:15-17 and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the *same nature* as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, (16) who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. (17) Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."_
The nature that we have received from Adam sends us to eternal destruction. This is the second death. _Revelation 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is *the Book of Life*. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. (13) The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. (14) Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. *This is the second death*. (15) And *anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire*._
This is the place from which there is no return.
Jesus provides us with a clear understanding of eternal destruction through this story. _Luke 16:22-26 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. (23) And *being in torments in Hades*, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (24) "Then he cried and said, '*Father Abraham, have mercy on me*, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for *I am tormented in this flame*.' (25) But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and *you are tormented*. (26) And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'_
The place of eternal destruction is a real place of torment of flames, which does not end.
A person in Hades will fully recollect his/her lifetime on earth and will also know why he or she is in Hades and not in heaven. A person in Hades can see what is happening in heaven, and so would a person in heaven know who is in Hades and what is happening with them.
Persons in Hades, because of the torment, will cry out in agonising repentance. Heaven will respond with compassion, *but cannot save a person in hell*.
Persons in Hades will recognise the ones who were close to them, on earth, but whom they had ridiculed and ignored. They will long for the same person to come and extend kindness to them once again. It will be agonising that the person, who was their hope to come to God, cannot help them anymore.
_Luke 16:27-31 "Then he said, '*I beg you therefore, father*, that you would send him to my father's house, (28) for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, *lest they also come to this place of torment*.' (29) Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' (30) And he said, '*No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent*.' (31) But he said to him, *'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, *neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead*.'* "_
*It is frightening to see that a person in Hades becomes passionately concerned about those on earth who are rejecting the Gospel.* Those who were arrogant, determined, and violently rejecting the Gospel will cry vehemently that others must be saved. *As witnesses for the Gospel on earth, we must realise that we are the last hope for people. If people reject us and our message, then they must spend eternity in hell.*
The love of the Lord is that He does not want anyone to perish, which is the second death. _John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him *should not perish but have everlasting life*._
The Lord longs for everyone to come to repentance before they hit that point of no return, for that final moment will come all of a sudden. _II Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up._
```The Lord God told us that if we reject Him, we would surely die.```