The Second Death and Probation
THOSE who die the second death, die not because of the individual sins they commit, but because their probation passes with their sinful nature unchanged. Whether they commit ten sins or ten thousand, if their probation closes while unregenerate, they die just the same. The tribulation and anguish, however, will be greater to the one than to the other, but death will come alike to all; for "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God;" therefore all are in a state of condemnation. Their very nature is subject to death, in harmony with the divine original sentence. The blessed boon and privilege of life in and through the gospel of Christ is set before them. They are not condemned because they reject the gospel; for they are condemned before. Rejecting the gospel does not condemn men, it only leaves them in condemnation. "He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:18.