Words in italics are from Andrew Jukes’ book, “The Restitution of All Things.”

Christians make a grave mistake to think that we are saved “from” death.  This is not a Biblical concept.  The fact is we are saved “through” death.

He makes the means and way to life and higher glory; for it is "by death," and by death only, that He "destroys him that has the power of death, that is the devil, and delivers them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb. 2:15).  Because this is so little seen, -- because so many take or mistake Christ's cross as a reprieve to nature, rather than a pledge that nature and sin must be judged and die, seeming to think that Christ died that they should not die, and that their calling is to be delivered from death, instead of by and out of it;

The whole purpose of the sanctifying work of the cross is to “mortify the deeds of the body.”  When we are first saved, we are justified in Christ—that is to say, we are made to be in right standing with God.  “We are a new creation, old things are passed away, behold, all things have become new.”  However, the work of God is far from finished.  If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time, you know that the flesh is powerful.  The flesh with all its passions and desires must be slayed.  The Apostle Paul said, “I die daily.”  He also said, “I bear in my body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life of Christ may also be manifest through me.”  Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat fall to the ground and die, it abides alone.  But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.”  The purpose of God is to bring forth the fruit of Christ in our lives.  The only way this is possible is through the cross.  This is why Paul could rejoice in “the reproaches of Christ.”  For he knew that when he was weak, Christ would be strong.

This is always God’s way.  Death is the means whereby God brings forth life.  We see it all around us in nature.  Leaves fall to the ground and die,  but they decompose and fertilize the ground to bring forth new life.  Animals die and are eaten by other animals which provides them life.  Christ had to die before he could be raised from the dead.  We have to die to self before the life of Christ can be made manifest through us.  And so it is with the unbelieving world.  They are no different.  Death must come to all men in order for life to be brought forth (Deut 32:39).

The problem with the concept of “eternal death” is that it denies the God of life.  Is our God a God of life or one of death?  Certainly He is life.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life….”  If death is allowed to exist forever, then death is allowed to contradict and oppose the God of life.  Paul said that “the last enemy to be destroyed would be death.”  How can life be brought forth out of “eternal death?”  The answer is, it can’t.  It contradicts the very purpose and plan of the God of life.  Death has one, and only one purpose—to bring forth life.  Until we understand this, we will never fully understand God’s purpose.  That’s what judgment is for—to bring death so life can spring forth.  Death does have a purpose, but it is only temporary.   Question:  If God will destroy death (1 Cor. 15:26), then how can the second death exist forever?

I’ll close with a quote from Andrew Jukes:

In any case the way for all is through the fires, for fire is the great uniter and reconciler of all things; and things which without fire can never be united, in and through the fire are changed and become one. Therefore every coming of Christ, even in grace, is a day of judgment. Therefore there are fires even for the elect both now, and in the coming day; for "our God is a consuming fire;" and to dwell in Him we must have a life, which, because it is of the fire, for fire burns not fire, can stand unhurt in it. Therefore our Lord "came to cast fire into the earth," and desired nothing more than "that it should be already kindled;" therefore He says, "Everyone shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt." For this is the very "baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire," that "spirit of judgment and burning," promised by the prophet, "with which the Lord shall purge away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and cleanse the blood of Jerusalem; after which He will create on every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and on all her assemblies, a cloud of smoke by day, and the brightness of flame of fire by night; and upon all, the glory shall be a defense; for "He is like a refiner's fire, and like a fuller's soap; and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He shall purify the sons of Levi as gold and silver are purged, that they may offer to the Lord an offering of righteousness (Mal.3:3).  And as by the hidden fire of this present life, shut up in these bodies of corruption, we are able by the wondrous chemistry of nature through corruption to change the fruits and flesh of the earth into our blood, and from blood again into our flesh and bone and sinew; so by the fire of God can we be changed, and made partakers of Christ's flesh and blood. In and through Christ we have received this transmutation; and through His Spirit, which is fire, is this same change accomplished in us.

In the next chapter on the Lake of Fire, I will go more into this concept of fire and death.  Is the second death, as described in the book of Revelation, eternal, or does God have a greater purpose?