Born Once Die Twice

Born Once - Die Twice; Born Twice - Die Once

Jesus' Return > Death is swallowed up in victory

Ishak Natan
December 2009

The titles above might give clues about death that besets this planet earth and offer a good hope for the human race descended from the first Adam, which had fallen in sin, bonded in chains and wrapped around by the sinful nature. Its essence could be described by keywords like: I, me, mine and myself, an absolutely self oriented living.

Every human being who is born regardless of skin color and nationality will unwittingly die. The question is what lies ahead beyond death? People are apprehensive facing the unknown. Without the help from above, the sinful humanity is destined to the second death.

Billions of people of all ages living under the sun are trying to find answer around the subject of death. Religious books and sage have been consulted to satisfy the need to know something beyond death. Why is such an efforts?
Because all mature human beings understand that they will meet death when the time appointed arrived and they want to know what is beyond. The first death does not require explanation, it is unavoidable. We already know that. Because it is written: 'And just like humans set to die only once, and then be judged', (Heb 9:27)

Theological schools are primarily established to discuss this issue in addition to finding out the truth around the topic of where we do come from and for what purpose are we living on earth.

Only the Creator of the human race could gave the revelation and the existence of a second death. The writer believes that the strategic information could only be found in the book of Revelation of the Holy Writ.

    Rev. 20:15 “And anyone not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
    21:8 But the fearful, the people who do not believe, cruel people, the murderers, the immoral, sorcerers,
    idolaters and all liars, they will have their part in the lake burning with fire and brimstone, this is the second death. "

This is a very disturbing news for the human race on earth as sinners.
What is then if there is good news?
Up to this point the principle of trust (faith) begin to be appropriated.

Rev. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and Christ, and they will reign as king with him a thousand years.

If we ponder any religion under the sun, there are known only two kinds of profesion. The first is a religious’ system of ritual that comes from this earth trying to 'ascend to heaven' with the hope to meet and being accepted by the Creator. For instance are the official recognized religions in Indonesia; namely Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism.

The second is however, the Creator actually 'stepped down from heaven', from eternity penetrate the dimension of time and space by emptying Himself, born from the womb of a virgin named Mary (Maria) and joined with us 2000 years ago in the family of the fallen human race.

Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the Most High and of glory, who resides permanently and the Holy One of His names: "I reside in high places and in the sanctuary but also along the broken and humble, to revive the spirit of the who are humble and to revive the hearts of those who crushed.

Question: What is the purpose his incarnation and his first coming?
Answer: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.(1 Timothy 1:15)

How?

Perhaps this story might help:

One night on the month of July, 1794, an elderly man walking in the dark trying to identify people who were locked up in the underground prison of Paris. He noticed a young guy in a deep sleep which he had been looking for. Could he? Yes, indeed he is his own son.
Without the knowledge of his father, the boy had been arrested and imprisoned. The heart of the father was terribly sorry knowing the fate that will befall his son; awaiting death penalty with guillotine. Throughout the night the father guards his son as he prayed not to wake him up from sleep.
Early morning three men entered into the cave prison and one of them called out: 'Jean Simon de Loiserolle! “Soon the father jumped up from his place and said: "Here!"
When walking to place of execution, they passed a sign that listed name crossed off of the prisoner. 'Jean Simon de Loiserolle age of 37? ", inquired the soldier. "That's my name, 'replied the old man,' but I was 73!" "One writes in error!", grumbled the soldier, 'Seventy-three, not thirty-seven! " as he corrected. And they continued walking to the guillotine.
The son woke up, expecting every moment the call out. Finally one said: 'During the night an old man sitting watching over you, and when the guard called out your name this morning, he replied on your behalf and go to the execution. "But I'm Jean Simon de Loiserolle," cried the boy, but his cry was in vain. With a deep bitterness he realized that his own father had replaced his place, because the father and son have the same name.

As the analogy, so it is written:

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he has made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Dear reader as the story above, so Jesus Christ died in our place. For the sake of our SIN, Jesus bears the cross since the wages of sin is death. The evidence of His resurrection has fulfilled the rescue plan to redeem mankind from sin and the punishment of eternal destruction that comes as the second death.

Romans 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over him.

Born Twice - Die Once

The sinner who believes and receives Him is spiritually reborn (Born again) and become a new creation of human race regardless of skin color or ethnicity and nationality.

John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him His given power to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; the people born, not of blood or of the flesh, nor of material by the desire of a man, but of God.
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who because of His mercy has given us rebirth by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to a life full of hope,

Even a Jewish rabbi could not understand it;

John 3:1-9 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound thereof, but can not tell from where it came, and where it goes: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

Indeed believers will still experience physical death (die once), however their name are written in the book of life.

Revelation 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and him who sat on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away and no longer find his place. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened. And opened another book, the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, based on what is written in the books. Then the sea gave people die in it, and death and Hades gave the dead in it, and they were judged each according to his deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. That is the second death, the lake of fire. And every person who was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Jesus' Return > Death is swallowed up in victory

This expectation should be anticipated by the people who have believed in Christ Jesus. Why should we? Because at the time when Jesus returns and we are still alive and not dead, then the mortal body of believers will be changed in an instant based on

1 Cor 15:51-54 Truly I tell you a secret: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised in a state that can not perish and we will all be changed. Because of this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. And after that this corruptible put on incorruption and this mortal put on that can not die, it will be fulfilled the word of God which is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory".

The question remains: Is your name written in the book of life?