Expert: Brenda Martin - 7/18/2006

Question
Can you please answer these questions:
Q-1 What was the cause of the first death? Whois to blame? Is that the reason why we return to dust?
Q-2 What is the cause of the second death(Roman 6:23)? I have noticed that the second death takes into effect once Christ rules over all kingdom on earth. And it is reserved for his judgement and destruction: Isaiah 11:4, 65:12
This is what I see: Before the coming of Christ, The first death returning to dust. Christ Kingdom established, First resurrection a 1000yrs reign and judgement is being set forth. Rev 20:5 Who are these group resurrected after 1000yrs reign?
In reference to this specific question I asked you before: Q-2 THE SECOND DEATH IS PAYED BY OUR OWN SIN? and your answer was YES. I agree with your answer. And I say again we are going to be judge by the things we continue on doing through the body according to the things that we practice. Which for one is disobedient to GOD, Just like Adam and Eve disobedient is a sin. But we are going to be judge individually all the way to the second death which means Romans 6:23. So it is wrong to say that we had payed for our sins when we die (before the resurrection, coming of Christ). It is wrong to tell a non jehovah witness that if he dies tomorrow he then payed for his sin by quoting Romans 6:7. Cause for one we will not pay for our sins till we have been judged and found guilty for the second death. Now for the ones who are still alive when Christ come they will see his coming and everything begins for them. They will be under the new system. It will be for them to decide rather to receive life by obeying Christ rule, or face destruction in the lake of fire during or after Christ 1000yrs reign.
With all due respect,
Luis
This is the reason why it's been so hard for me to accept the interpretation of Romans 6:7 by jehovah witnesses.

-------------------------

Answer -
Q-1" WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT HE CONTINUES TO PRACTICE AFTER HIS RESURRECTION THAT WILL LEAD HIM TO THE SECOND DEATH, DESTRUCTION?"
Could be anything at all, there will be ones resurrected that do not want to live by God’s laws, even after being brought back from the dead. For instance think of kings and queens who are brought back to life, will they be happy to live as ordinary folk now, or will they still want to be served? New laws will be given to the inhabitants of the new earth,these laws have to be adhered to before God finally adopts manking as his children at the end of the 1,000 years.
Q-2 THE SECOND DEATH IS PAYED BY OUR OWN SIN?
Yes--Satan, his demons, and the persistent practicers of wickedness on earth are cast into the “lake of fire” or “the second death.” (Re 20:10, 14, 15; 21:8; Mt 25:41) Initially death resulted from and was passed on to mankind as a result of Adam’s transgression; hence “the second death” must be distinct from this inherited death. It is evident from the cited texts that there is no release possible from “the second death.” The situation of those in “the second death” corresponds to the outcome warned of in such texts as Hebrews 6:4-8; 10:26, 27; and Matthew 12:32.
Jesus meant that they would judge the 12 tribes of spiritual Israel later mentioned in Revelation, for the apostles were to be part of that group. (Eph 2:19-22; Re 3:21) Those “called to be holy ones” are said to judge, not themselves, but “the world.” (1Co 1:1, 2; 6:2)
Those ‘who practiced vile or bad things’ during Judgment Day.-- Their return from the dead will prove to be a “resurrection of judgment.” What does this mean? It means a judgment or condemnation to death. So these persons will be destroyed either during or by the close of Judgment Day. The reason is that they do bad things; they stubbornly refuse to learn and practice righteousness.

All the best
Brenda


Answer
"Q-1 WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRST DEATH? WHO IS TO BLAME? IS THAT THE REASON WHY WE RETURN TO DUST?"

God’s purpose was that humans live on earth forever, had Adam and Eve stayed faithfull they would still be alive today. As we know, they didn’t, so they sinned and became imperfect, passing that imperfection on to all their offspring, hence we all grow old and die; that is the cause of death today.

Who is to blame? Answer---our first parents.

Why do we return to dust?—Answer, because that is what humans are made of; dust, man was formed from the dust and when we die the body returns back to dust.

Q-2 WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THE SECOND DEATH (ROMAN 6:23)?

Failure to live by God’s laws in the new earth, sin pays death.

THE SECOND DEATH TAKES INTO EFFECT ONCE CHRIST RULES OVER ALL KINGDOM ON EARTH.

Let me try and put things in order of sequence of events,

1. Armageddon, in which the wicked are destroyed and Satan abyssed

2. Survivors of Armageddon start to clean up the earth

3. Resurrection of righteous and unrighteous takes place

4. Education program for the unrighteous in which they decide if they want to live by God’s laws or not.

5. Those that choose not to live up to God’s laws during this time are destroyed forever. (this is called the second death)

BEFORE THE COMING OF CHRIST

We believe Christ “came” in 1914 and is already ruling.

CHRIST KINGDOM ESTABLISHED

This too happened in 1914.

FIRST RESURRECTION

The”first resurrection” is a heavenly one and it began with the apostles and is still continuing.

1000YRS REIGN AND JUDGEMENT IS BEING SET FORTH.

This occurs after Armageddon and the 1000yr reign is called “Judgement day”

REV 20:5 WHO IS THIS GROUP RESURRECTED AFTER 1000YRS REIGN?

This is NOT a literal resurrection being spoken of; --

Like the great crowd of Armageddon survivors, the resurrected ones will become fully alive when they reach sinless perfection. By the end of the 1,000-year Judgment Day nobody on earth will be in a dying condition because of Adam’s sin. Truly, in the fullest sense everyone will have come to life. This is what the Bible refers to when it says: “The rest of the dead [those besides the 144,000 who go to heaven] did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.” (Revelation 20:5) The reference here to “the rest of the dead” does not mean that others are resurrected at the end of the 1,000-year Judgment Day. Rather, it means that all persons come to life in that they finally reach human perfection. They will be in the same perfect condition as were Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.

IT IS WRONG TO SAY THAT WE HAD PAYED FOR OUR SINS WHEN WE DIE (BEFORE THE RESURRECTION, COMING OF CHRIST)

Why? Death paid for the sins they commited while alive, now they are alive once again and start life afresh with a clean slate and nothing hanging over them. If they go on to die again, it will be due to new sins commited AFTER their resurrection. Many who are resurrected will NOT die again, so their death did annul their sins, because they chose to keep a clean slate when given it.

If someone is put in jail for a crime, then are released from jail, can they complain if on getting a second chance, they go and commit another crime? The term they spent in jail cancelled out the one crime, not all crimes thereafter.

NOW FOR THE ONES WHO ARE STILL ALIVE WHEN CHRIST COME THEY WILL SEE HIS COMING AND EVERYTHING BEGINS FOR THEM

No, Christ has come and no-one saw it, (well not with literal eyes) he took up his kingly power in heaven in 1914 unseen to human eyes. Even when Jesus comes to destroy the wicked at Armageddon in the near future, we will still not “see him” not literally. But yes, true life will begin for the survivors of Armageddon.

IT WILL BE FOR THEM TO DECIDE RATHER TO RECEIVE LIFE BY OBEYING CHRIST RULE, OR FACE DESTRUCTION IN THE LAKE OF FIRE DURING OR AFTER CHRIST 1000YRS REIGN.

Not sure which class of people you refer to, the people who are alive today are receiving a Witness of God’s coming war, they have the choice right now to live by God’s laws and survive Armageddon, or ignore the warning and face destruction at Armageddon. (that’s one class of people)

Then we have those that will be resurrected in the “new earth” these ones will be educated in God’s ‘laws and they have 2 choices also, live by God’s laws and be granted life everlasting, or choose not to live by God’s laws and be destroyed eternally.(thats second class)

The “lake of fire “and “second death” are one and the same, they both symbolise” death with no resurrection. “

I hope I have explained this clearly for you.

All the best
Brenda