“Death will occur on the next plane of existence as on this, until the spiritual understanding is reached. Then, and not until then, will it be demonstrated that ‘the second death hath no power’” (Citation #10).
In an effort to better understand what is meant by “the second death,” as we are all striving to do, I did a bit of digging, and share the below relevant quotes from our beloved Leader, and from various CS periodicals, in hopes that others may benefit thereby:
“. . . until the belief in materiality and death is overcome – the ultimate reached – man on the other side of the grave as on this will continue to be shackled by a belief in a dying material body. It is only when the Mind that was in Christ Jesus reigns in us that we are numbered among those upon whom ‘the second death’ hath no power” (Edith Fullerton Scott, “Soul not in body,” 5/11/1912, CSS).
“If the Principle, rule, and demonstration of man’s being are not in the least understood before what is termed death overtakes mortals, they will rise no higher spiritually in the scale of existence on account of that single experience, . . . To the spiritual class, relates the Scripture: ‘On such the second death hath no power.’” (S & H, p. 290: 3-15)
“. . . in divine Science, the dying – if they die in the Lord – awake from a sense of death to a sense of Life in Christ, with a knowledge of Truth and Love beyond what they possessed before; because their lives have grown so far toward the stature of manhood in Christ Jesus, that they are ready for a spiritual transfiguration, through their affections and understanding” (Unity of Good, p. 2:20-27).
“St. Paul. . . said, ‘I die daily.’ . . . . Even while alive he was putting off mortality and putting on immortality. To die in such a manner and thus fight a ‘good fight,’ removes in large measure the present fear of death and leads eventually into the full consciousness of Life that knows no death. On such as die in this manner the ‘second death’ can have ‘no power.’ When the false sense of life is destroyed by an awakening to the reality of life, death is permanently overcome. It cannot come a second time” (“Death is mentioned in the Scriptures as an ‘enemy,’ and…”, Alfred Farlow, CSS, 3/25/1911).
“‘Those upon whom ‘the second death hath no power’ are those who progress here and hereafter out of evil, their mortal element, and into good that is immortal; thus laying off the material beliefs that war against Spirit, and putting on the spiritual elements in divine Science” (Misc., p. 2:26-31).
“They upon whom the second death, of which we read in the Apocalypse (Revelation 20.6), hath no power, are those who have obeyed God’s commands, and have washed their robes white through the sufferings of the flesh and the triumphs of Spirit. Thus they have reached the goal in divine Science, by knowing Him in whom they have believed. . . This is the understanding of God, whereby man is found in the image and likeness of good, not of evil; of health, not of sickness; of Life, not of death” (Unity of Good, p. 3:8-19).
“Mary Baker Eddy’s references. . .to the ‘second death’ describe a dissolution of belief that must be learned through all planes of existence – until the belief of material living is replaced by the understanding of the uninterrupted continuity of life in good, in God. . . . Spiritual growth redeems and delivers us from mortal experiences of suffering and death, until we learn that God, divine Life, did not create death – a first or second death, or any other number of deaths!” (Susan Riedel, CSJ, 9/2010 – In answer to the question, “What does the term ‘second death’ mean?”).
“. . . ‘the second death’ is actually our permanent separation from the entire belief of death” (as Second Tim 1:10 indicates – “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel”) – (Kevin Graunke, CSJ, 9/2010 – In answer to the question, “What does the term ‘second death’ mean?”).
“ABD [The Anchor Bible Dictionary] refers to the second death as ‘the final destruction of all that belongs to evil’. . .” (“Working with the Word,” CSJ, 3/1994).