Didn’t Jesus teach His followers that they would never see death?

There are two different deaths spoken of in the Bible. The first death is natural to all people and will be experienced by everyone unless they are alive when Jesus comes. Christ spoke of this death as a sleep. He said, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up” (John 11:11). They misunderstood what Jesus meant, so He “said to them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead’ ” (vv. 14).

But there is a second death also taught in the Scriptures. John wrote, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:11). “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power” (Revelation 20:6). In John 8:51, Christ seems to be speaking of the second death.

The misunderstanding of the Jews regarding Jesus’ words shows that they knew about the first death. “Then the Jews said to Him, ‘Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, “If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.” Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?’ ” (John 8:52, 53). It is obvious from this interchange that they were thinking about the first death, but Jesus was speaking of the second death.

The first death is not the final punishment for sin and rejecting God. Both righteous and unrighteous people experience the first death. Jesus came to deliver people from the second death, the final destruction from which there is no resurrection or hope. In the Bible’s most famous verse, these two final outcomes, eternal life or eternal death, are brought forth. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Key Bible Texts

Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. (John 8:51 KJV)