billy-brown 2

It appears that the second death is spiritual separation from God for all eternity.

And there is torment and punishment in that place forever; thus, it is not a "cessation" from existence at all for the participants. And remember, forever is a mighty looooooong time, yes?

So now, let's look at the fate of the "unholy trinity" and so on in Rev. 20:10. Notice that the fate of the "unholy trinity" is linked to the fate of the devil--the critical word in the verse is "they":

Rev. 20
10And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Yep. (Did you see it?)

The word "they" in Rev. 20:10 refers to the devil as well as the beast and the false prophet. Thus, "they" will be existing in the second death in torments--all three of them. And we know already that the devil is a spirit being--a fallen angel. But are the beast and the false prophet spirits at all?

No.

Indeed, when John mentions the beast and false prophet in the book of Revelation, he sees them in various visions, yes? And so, if the beast and false prophet are cast "alive" in the second death, then it seems to me that the term "alive" would speak simply to what they are before they get cast there:

Rev. 17
3And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.

Yep. John saw in the Spirit a scarlet beast. And is this not the same beast as here?

Rev. 17
7And the angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

And here?

Rev. 17
8“The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.

So, the question has to be this: what is the beast of Revelation anyway? And we know that those who dwell on the earth are supposed to wonder when they see the beast. But what will happen to them? Here's Rev. 14:9-11 on this:

Rev. 14
9Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,
10he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
11“And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Yep. It is the unbelievers which worship the beast and his image; they will be tormented in the second death as a result.

And so, it seems to me that the beast and the false prophet "symbolize" the "political/governmental system" that receives allegiance from unbelievers through DECEPTION of the devil.

In other words, unbelievers worship the "unholy trinity"--and to their own hurt.

Thus, it seems that the "political/governmental system" will be cast "alive" into the second death. And notice the verse below--there are three "things" that John sees therein:

Rev. 19
19And I saw
1) the beast and
2) the kings of the earth and
3) their armies
assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.

Now, two of the "things" above--the kings of the earth and their armies are "the rest" (that were killed) as recorded in Rev. 19:21; the "killing is needed to get them into the second death:

Rev. 19
21And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

But since the beast and the false prophet "symbolize" the "political/governmental system" power, it can be simply "thrown alive" into the second death:

Rev. 19
20And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.

And of course, death and Hell are treated similarly:

Rev. 20
13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.
14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

And remember, all of this happens after the "1000 years"--and during Satan's little season and so on.

Interesting . . .