How many times can we die?

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him. Hebrews 9:27-28

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. Revelation 2:11

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. Revelation 21:8

Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with Him for a thousand years. Revelation 20:6

I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him! Luke 12:3-5

These verses bring up questions in the one who is truly seeking truth. What really is death? If a person dies once then they won’t die again? Consider Enoch (Genesis 5:24) Consider Elijah. (2 Kings 2:11) Consider Lazarus. (John 11) Consider the girl of the ruler. (Matthew 9:24-25) Consider Dorcus. (Acts 9:36-42) Consider Eutychus. (Acts 20:9-10) There are many who seem to have traveled to the ‘other side’ and returned. Even today people are still coming back from being clinically dead (Both brain and heart dead). And many are using this phenomenon as a deception tool to steer people away from the Truth of Jesus. Many claims are made, but can you discern the truth? Obviously, the scriptures point to this type of event. Can you tell when someone is speaking the truth? Does the Truth reside within you?

Does not Jesus have the power over life and death? (John 2:18-22) Is Jesus Christ the focal point in the story and testimony of those who have died and come back? Are you bound by your own interpretation of the scriptures? Has the Holy Spirit ever shattered your previous held understanding of certain things you thought were correct? Does He lead you into greater truth and relationship with Jesus?

Then the question of how “death” can be understood for ‘eternal’ beings. We are created in His image. We have a body, soul, and spirit. We who accept Jesus as Lord are ‘born again’, another mystery. And as Nicodemus asked Jesus, “How can a man be born when he is old?”, Jesus goes on to explain the difference between flesh and spirit. We who are the Lord’s will be changed, and given a ‘new body’ at the resurrection, like the one He has now. Yet we can exist without a body as our soul and spirit are in His Presence.

Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8

I personally have known several people who have ‘died’ and returned from the ‘other side’. Their meeting of Jesus personally in that place totally changed their lives here on earth. They no longer fear death, and the life they now live is fully in His service. They have become terminally committed to Christ. They now understand what Paul wrote in Philippians.

 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

Look to the One who has the keys to life and death. For Jesus is LIFE! (John 14:6)

Don’t you just love Jesus?

PS. I wrote the novel Eutychus for this purpose. To explore how meeting Jesus there can totally change a person’s life.