HOW MANY?

TWO BIRTHS

In John 3:1-21, Jesus teaches Nicodemus, a teacher of the Jews, concerning a new, spiritual birth; about His mission which is the foundation of one being born again; and that faith in Him results in the new life, a spiritual life, which will never die (Jn. 11:25-26).
  

TWO DEATHS

As can be seen from the passage referenced above, a born again believer possesses eternal life, and yet, the Word of God says, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Heb. 9:27).  All human beings die physically (1 Cor. 15:22). 

But what about Enoch and Elijah?  Neither one of them died?  God does not lie, nor does His Word contain error.  In Revelation 11:3-13, we learn of two witnesses who are slain for preaching Christ.  While I cannot prove it, I believe they are Enoch and Elijah.  For one thing, that harmonizes the two passages.  And, we know from Scripture that Elijah must return to set the stage for the Lord's Second Coming (Mal. 4:5; Mt. 17:11; etc.).  Also, during the Tribulation, there will only be two groups of people on earth:  Jews and Gentiles (remember the Church has already been caught up to meet Christ in the air - 1 Thes. 4:13-18).  Enoch lived when the whole world consisted of Gentiles.  Elijah, a Jew, prophesied to his people, the Jews.

Another objection is that there are some in the Bible who died, and who were brought back to life.  Jesus raised some, Lazarus being the best known, and Elijah, Elisha, Peter, and Paul, all raised someone from the dead.  So how does that square with "one death?"  The answer, at least for me, is that there is only one death which eventually leads to the resurrection of the dead.  We know Jesus was the first to be resurrected from the grave, never to die again (Mt. 27:52-53; Rom. 8:29; 1 Cor. 15:20, 23; Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5).  That would mean, at least in the cases of Elijah and Elisha, those brought back to life did not experience a resurrection, but a resuscitation.  If that were true for them, it is quite likely true of those raised by Peter and Paul as well. 

And finally, the Bible speaks about a second death, in Revelation 2:11; 20:6; 20:14; 21:8.  This death, for those who refused to accept Jesus, and whose names are not written in His book, is being cast into the Lake of Fire.  It follows the resurrection of the lost and the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15).

Only one birth results in two deaths!  Two births result in only one death!