Let Him Hear

He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death. (Rev 2:11 KJ2000)


It is another of the solemn warnings by the Spirit.  We can see, however, that this one is a promise of protection:

It is again addressed to all the churches, hence to us.

It refers only to those who overcome—not those whose membership was in the right denomination.
There is a much disputed translation point here.  The phrase "at all" is designed to support the premillennial interpretation.  The word used for "hurt" carries with it the idea of "harm unjustly."  Most translations omit the "at all."  But one thing is clear:  those who overcome are in no danger of unjust harm—for the Righteous Lord is Lord of the second death, as of all else.


The second death
 
The phrase "second death" occurs only in Revelation.  We know a little bit about it:

From Revelation 20:6, we know that those who overcome and escape this fate are those in the first resurrection.

From that same passage we learn that those who overcome and are in the first resurrection will be priests of God and Christ.  (We are a royal priesthood, if you recall.)

That reign and priesthood are said to take place during the period of a thousand years (the millennium).
Of course, your view of when this happens and how depends upon the theory of interpretation you have chosen.  But you have to like the result in any theory.

But just what is the second death?  Revelation 21:8 tells us that it is a fiery lake of burning sulfur.  We need not necessarily take this literally—the book is full of imagery—but whether you do or not, the image is distinctly one of a place which probably will not show up in tourist brochures any time soon.  Indeed, it is the primary source of the contemporary description of hell (which is inaccurate, of course.)  Indeed, death and hell (Hades, as translated in Revelation 20:14) are thrown into this lake of fire. 

Look who winds up here:  "the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars" (Revelation 21:8).  It's enough to make a man repent.