We must carefully consider the Biblical verses about death

He quotes from Revelation 21 about the “lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”.

John 3:16 famously states that whosoever believes in Jesus as God’s Son “should not perish but have everlasting life”.

The question must then be, what does it mean to “perish”? A glance at any dictionary will give the meaning as “to die, be killed, meet one’s death” etc.

Mr Brown himself quotes the lake of fire experience as the second death. The dictionary definition of death is “dying, end of life, end, extinction, annihilation” etc, plus the Bible mentions the lake of fire is prepared “for the devil and his angels”, not necessarily for man.

Maybe other readers can shed some light on this, for if humans are to remain ‘alive’ essentially feeling pain and torment (designed for Satan and his cohorts) then the words “second death” and “perish” need re-defining.

Obviously those who reject God will not wish to join Him in heaven, but will they “perish” in the “second death” or live forever?

The main thing would be to want to be with God and avoid any separation from Him whether in a “second death” or in “eternal torment”.

Colin Nevin, Bangor

Read William Brown piece here