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What the Fathers say

Revelation 2:11

Eastern Fathers

Oecumenius

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be harmed by the second death. What has been said is very precise; for in the first death, which is the separation of the soul from the body, all alike, both the righteous and the sinners, become prisoners, so that the divine decree may reach its end: "you are dust, and to dust you shall return." (Gen. 3:19) But in the second death, which the Lord calls sin, saying, "Let the dead bury their own dead," (Matt. …

Commentary on Revelation ↗

Western Saints

Bede

He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. He who remains faithful until the death of the flesh will not fear the eternal death of the soul.

Commentary on Revelation ↗

Alcuin of York

He, that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches: He that shall overcome, shall not be hurt by the second death. When the sacred Scripture usually mentions three deaths, namely one of sin, one of the flesh, and one of damnation, why is the last damnation in this passage not called the third, but the second death, if not because it seems that here are mentioned only the deaths that are demonstrated to harm? …

Commentary On Revelation ↗

Victorinus of Pettau

"He that shall overcome, shall not be hurt by the second death." That is, he shall not be chastised in hell.

Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John ↗