Is the second death a spiritual death or physical death?

Many Christians explain the “second death” as an eternal “spiritual death”, but not a physical death.  Is this view Biblically accurate?

Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.  Rev. 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

All humans face a physical death.  This is the result of Adam and Eve’s fall in the garden.

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

All humans will be resurrected…some unto life, and some unto judgement and death.

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt (abhorrence-as to turn away from something that stinks).  Daniel 12:2

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?   John 11:25-26

Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come out -- those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of condemnation.  John 5:28-29

All humans are spiritually dead from birth.  Again, this is a result of Adam and Eve’s fall in the garden.  Adam and Eve did not die physically immediately after sinning, but they did immediately die spiritually.

But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.  Gen 2:17

The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23

So, if this is all true, then the first death is the normal physical death we all face.  What then is the second death?  Is it a spiritual death?  No, because those that face the second death are the spiritually dead, those who have rejected Jesus as Lord.  They remain spiritually dead in their sin.  They never were “born again” spiritually as Christ Followers are.  So the second death cannot be a spiritual death, as they have always been spiritually dead and never were spiritually made alive through faith in the Lord.  

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned. Romans 5:12  

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Rom 3:23

Is it a second physical death?  All humans are resurrected after death and made alive once again.  So, yes, the second death is a second physical death.  

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.  John 5:24

This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.  John 6:50

When the Bible talks about the opposite of eternal life through faith in Jesus, it always contrasts “eternal life” with “eternal death”  Those facing the “second death” are said to “perish” and be “destroyed”.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Matthew 10:28

He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter. 2 Peter 2:6

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.  John 10:28

But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.  Heb. 10:39

There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy...  James 4:12

And how is the “second death” described in the Bible exactly?  With a consuming fire.  Several types, or examples, are given of things being separated and then thrown into the fire and being destroyed or consumed.  The “second death” is a second physical death by fire for those who are already spiritually dead in their sins.

The good fish and bad fish - “So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  Mt. 13:47-50

The wheat and the tares - “Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.’’” Mt. 13:24-30

Sheep and the goats “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”  Mt. 25:31-46

The vine and the branches - “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.”  Jn. 15:1-6

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Hebrews 10:26-27

...when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction... 2 Thess. 1:7-9

…for our God is a consuming fire.  Hebrews 12:29

Many Will Rush Back and Forth and Knowledge Will Increase

At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress such as never has occurred since nations came into being until that time. But at that time all your people who are found written in the book will escape.  Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to disgrace and eternal contempt. Those who have insight will shine like the bright expanse of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.  "But you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam about, and knowledge will increase."  Daniel 12:1-4

These are some of the final words of prophecy that the angel disclosed to the prophet Daniel in the last chapter of the book of Daniel.  There are some very interesting bits of information regarding the end times that Daniel is given in the prophetic pronouncement.  Let’s look at these four verses briefly and break them down.

“At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up.”   The previous chapter included the angel relating to Daniel a prophecy concerning the coming antichrist during the seven year tribulation. So, “at that time” refers to the last days, the seven years of the tribulation period, just prior to the millennial kingdom period.  Michael is described as the “prince” (archangel) that “watches over your people”.  So we learn here that the archangel Michael is assigned as the protector of the Jewish people (Daniel’s people).  Michael “rises up”, and we find out in the book of Revelation exactly why Michael is rising up.  He is going to do battle with Satan and his demons and cast them out of heaven for good.
“Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought,  but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer.  So the great dragon was thrown out -- the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him.”  Revelation 12:7-9

“There will be a time of distress such as never has occurred since nations came into being until that time.”  This time of distress is called the time of Jacob’s trouble which is the final three and a half years of the seven year tribulation period.  It is a time of distress because Satan, through the antichrist and the false prophet, attempts to destroy the Jewish people (Israel). The book of Revelation in chapter twelve describes Satan as the “dragon”, and Israel as “the woman” which had given birth to the Messiah.  “
“When the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who had given birth to the male child.”  Revelation 12:13
“Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob's trouble, But he shall be saved out of it.”  Jeremiah 30:7

“But at that time all your people who are found written in the book will escape.”  The “book” being referred to here is the Lamb’s book of Life.  In it are written all the names of everyone ever to exist on earth.  Those who choose to reject Jesus have their names blotted out or erased from the book.  Only the names of those who accept Jesus as Lord will be found written in the Lamb’s book of Life.  
"In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.” Revelation 3:5

“Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to disgrace and eternal contempt.”  The term “sleep in the dust” does not refer to what is known as soul sleep, a belief that a person’s soul is unconscious and unaware while in death.  A person’s soul remains conscious and aware even after death.  To “sleep in the dust” is simply a euphemism for the body being dead and buried in the ground, appearing to be asleep.  The Bible teaches that every person will be resurrected after death, both soul and body.  Those who are found righteous will receive glorified bodies and be given eternal life.  The unrighteous will also be resurrected, however will not receive a glorified body as the righteous will.  The Bible never teaches that the unrighteous receive a “glorified” or otherwise modified body.  They will be judged at the great white throne judgement, and if their names are not found in the Lamb’s Book of Life they will face “disgrace and eternal contempt” (shame and object of everlasting repulsion)  in the lake of fire.  They will be cast into the lake of fire, body and soul, where they will experience torment and then be consumed in the fire of God’s righteous judgement. 
“Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them.  I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. ... And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-12, 15
"Don't fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”  Matthew 10:28

“Those who have insight will shine like the bright expanse of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”  Those who have insight (understanding), basically the righteous, will “shine” like the stars at night in the sky.  Those who lead others to righteousness will blaze like stars forever and ever.  Jesus uses this same metaphor in the book of Matthew to describe the righteous who dwell in God’s kingdom.  We will exist in the new heaven and new earth with the Lord, and there will be no need for the Sun, Moon, and stars because the Lord will provide the light.  We will reflect His glory for all eternity.
"Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. Let anyone who has ears listen.”  Matthew 13:43
“The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.”  Revelation 21:23

"But you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal the book until the time of the end.”  Daniel was instructed to seal the book and keep the words secret until the time of the end.  In contrast, John was told to make the book of Revelation known.  However, we are also told that in the end times the book of Daniel will be unsealed, and the words of the book will be made known.  Those who seek out God’s Word will understand, and the Holy Spirit will give understanding to those who ask.  The Holy Spirit will give understanding to believers in the end times to correctly interpret and understand the prophecies recorded in the book of Daniel.
“Then he said to me, "Don't seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near.”  Revelation 22:10
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.”  John 14:26

“Many will roam about, and knowledge will increase."  “Many will roam about” is translated in other versions as “run to and fro” or “rush about back and forth” which is probably a better translation.  It is interpreted as in the end times, people will travel about more, roaming around the planet.  However, it is actually more than just that.  The Hebrew words give the image of rowing a boat, and in actuality the root words come from the words “row” and “lash or whip”.  So it more accurately gives the image of men rowing a boat frantically as a taskmaster lashes them with a whip.  The “roaming about” becomes “frantically rushing here and there”, which is a much better description of this day and age where people seem to be coming and going at the same time, rushing around from one appointment to the next.  The end times are also characterized by an increase in “knowledge”.  The Hebrew word for increase used here implies to increase exceedingly, as to multiply.   It has been estimated that human knowledge has doubled approximately every century until 1900, but by 1945 it doubled every 25 years, and by 1982, every 12-13 months.  With the recent advent and implementation of Artificial intelligence (AI), it is now estimated that human knowledge is doubling approximately every 12-13 hours.  Take a second and let that sink in.  In the end times, knowledge is without a doubt increasing.  The question is, what will mankind do with all that knowledge?
“For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all perseverance and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”  Colossians 1:9-12

Body - Soul - Spirit

Human beings are said to consist of three separate components, those aspects being described primarily as “body, soul, and spirit”.  I have heard a lot of teaching over the years on what exactly those three aspects actually are, and how they differ from one another.  Let me first address the typical description of those three aspects, and then I will explain how I see “body, soul, and spirit” applying to mankind biblically speaking.  The most common teaching on this subject states that our body is our physical body that gives us the ability to touch, taste, hear, see, and smell. The soul is basically our mind, thoughts, and emotions.  And the spirit is basically our character, personality, and that which gives us the ability to connect with God.  I agree with the description of the body, that is pretty straightforward.  However, the definition for soul seems to me to fall short, and the definition of the spirit is completely misleading.  I believe that what seems to cause the biggest amount of confusion when discussing spirit is the attempt to equate the spirit with the “spiritual” aspect of humans.  It does not have anything to do with that as I will show.  Let’s take each of these three aspects of humanity and discuss them one at a time… what each means and does not mean according to scripture.

As I said, the “body” is pretty straightforward…our physical body created by God.  Our bodies were created to exist within the realm of this creation, within the dimensions which currently limit us (length, width, depth, and time).   Jesus became flesh in order to live among us, as one of us, being born of a virgin, becoming a man of flesh and blood.

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  John 1:14

“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.  I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”  Psalm 139:14.

“Then Yahweh God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and so the man became a living being.”  Genesis 2:7.

Our physical bodies are many times referred to as being the part of us that is “temporary” or “not eternal”, but this is not scripturally accurate.  The Bible tells us that every human being will be resurrected…some to life and some to death.  

“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.”  Daniel 12:2

“Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,  and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”  John 5:28-29

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. Revelation 20:5-6

I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous.” Acts 24:15

For those who believe in Jesus, we will be transformed.  The Bible calls it “putting on the imperishable” or being “glorified.”  We will become like Jesus, the first-fruits of those raised from the dead and will be like He was after His resurrection. We will exist eternally in our glorified bodies, not in “spirit” form only as some teach.

“But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”  I Cor. 15:20

“Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.”  I Cor. 15:51-53

“For we know that if the earthly tent (physical body) which is our house (physical body) is torn down (death), we have a building from God (glorified body), a house not made with hands (glorified body), eternal in the heavens.  For indeed in this house (physical body) we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven (glorified body),  inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.  For indeed while we are in this tent (physical body), we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.”  2 Corinthians 5:1-4

Those who choose to reject Jesus, the unrighteous, will also be resurrected, the Bible says.  However, a big distinction is nowhere in the Bible does it say that the unrighteous are given glorified bodies as those who are saved are given.  Many falsely teach that God gives the unrighteous an imperishable body as well, able to withstand the torment and punishment of the lake of fire and God’s consuming fire of hell forever.  This is simply unscriptural, and not supported anywhere.  In fact, Jesus in Matthew 10:28 describes exactly what will happen to those whose names are not found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life “And do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”  Their soul and body will be “destroyed”, or killed.   Strong’s/Smith’s/Thayer’s Dictionaries define this word’s Biblical usage as “to destroy, to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to, ruin, render useless, to kill, to declare that one must be put to death, metaphorically to devote or give over to eternal misery in hell, to perish, to be lost, ruined, destroyed.”  To have one’s body and soul destroyed in the lake of fire is what is known as the “second death”. 

"Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.”  Revelation 2:11

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

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

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

What about the “spirit”, what exactly is it?  Genesis 2:7 states "Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.”  So man is physically formed from the dust (a body), and a living being with the breath of life from God in them (spirit).  It is this spirit from God that gives human beings life.  When God’s spirit departs, a human is said to be physically dead.

"If He (God) put His mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath He gave, every living thing would perish together and mankind would return to the dust."  Job 34:13-15.

"Father into your hands I commit my spirit" Luke 23:46.  

"...and the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it." Ecclesiastes 12:7.   

“All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life--of all that was on the dry land--died.”  Genesis 7:22

As I mentioned before, much of the confusion on this subject is from trying to make the “spirit” mean something it is not.  It is not the spiritual aspect of a human, the part that connects man to God.  “Spirit” is not to be confused with the “Holy Spirit”, they are not used interchangeably and are not the same thing.  Many times the word “spirit” is used in scripture and it refers to something which pertains to the Holy Spirit.  For example, 1 Corinthians 12:11-13 says “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.  For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.  For also by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”  This usage of “spirit” refers to the Holy Spirit, and is different from the spirit of life that makes humans a living being.  God’s spirit in human beings is what provides life, it is the breath of life that God gave Adam.  When the spirit departs a person and returns to God, the life leaves the human body and that person is said to be dead.

So, what about the “soul”, what exactly is it and how is it different from the “spirit” of life?

Some say that spirit and soul are basically the same thing.  However, the Bible indicates in several places that these two are separate and distinct.

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12.  

“Therefore I will not restrain my mouth. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.”  Job 7:11

The Bible describes the soul as that part of a human being that exists beyond death.  In the Old Testament, it is the part of a person which goes to Sheol/Hades and continues to exist.  In the New Testament, it is the part of the person that is preserved from death due to sin.  The soul is the part of you that makes you…you (if that makes sense).  It is the part of you that consists of your emotion, intellect, will, personality, and consciousness of being.

"He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will continue to see the light."  Job 33:28

“And it came about, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.”  Genesis 35:18

“For You have rescued my soul from death, My eyes from tears, My feet from stumbling.”  Psalms 116:8

“Yahweh will keep you from all evil; He will keep your soul.”  Psalms 121:7

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?”  Mark 8:36-37 

“But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”  Hebrews 10:39

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.”  Hebrews 6:19

“Let that person know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”  James 5:20

“Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul.”  1 Peter 2:11

Human beings are made in the image of God who Himself is a triune being.  This concept of “three in one” is known as the Trinity in theological terms.  God consists of three equal but separate parts which we refer to as “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”.  In Paul’s epistle to the Church at Thessalonica, he addresses all three separate components of a person confirming this triune makeup of a person.

“May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23