2024/03/18

135. The Second Death and the Salvation of the Evil Spirits

In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus foretold his Passion, Death and Resurrection three times but did not give the reasons for them. The Gospel of John, however, gives two reasons. One is: "I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:14-15). 

Here, "my own" are those who are alive, "the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne" (Revelation 6:9) and "the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God" (Revelation 20:4) (cf. blog № 133). 

The reason Jesus dies for these people is to fulfil his words: "Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you" (John 16:7). 

The other is: "And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd" (John 10:16). 

The "other sheep, that are not of this fold" are the "rest of the dead" (Revelation 20:5), those who have died and have not come back to life because they have no 'soul,' i.e., the evil spirits. They are all those who, despite having been endowed with 'the enmity God has placed' (cf. Genesis 3:15) from birth as descendants of the first 'woman' of Genesis, died in the state of the first 'man', the only one who was not given this 'enmity' (cf. blog № 130). 

Jesus often cast out the evil spirits but did not save them. He only allowed them to enter the swine as they wished and gave them the opportunity to share in the death of the swine (cf. Matthew 8:30-32). The evil spirits knew who Jesus was, as Jesus said, "[T]hey will heed my voice." 

When a person dies, the divine command 'Be!' returns to the heavenly Father, fulfilling His will. At this time, if his 'knowledge and memory proportionate to man' that incorporates the 'human accidental information' is attached to his 'breath of life', the 'breath of life' will not follow after the 'Be!' and will remain on earth as a spirit. Then the words of God in Genesis come true: "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle, and above all wild animals; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life" (Genesis 3:14). This is what the evil spirit looks like. 

Jesus died and descended into Hades, where he became 'I AM' (John 8:58), drew the evil spirits with him and regained the 'breath of life' from their 'knowledge and memory proportionate to man', which had taken in the 'human accidental information.' That is "the second death" (Revelation 20:6), the salvation of the evil spirit. Jesus entrusted this work of salvation to the future Church. 

Maria K. M.