First (1st) and Second (2nd) Death

1st Death

The first death is a spiritual death. This is greatest death which "surely" (Genesis 2:17) came upon all mankind as a result of Adams trangression. This death was passed from Adam to Seth (Genesis 5:3) and to all mankind (Romans 5:12, Romans 5:18). It is often referred to as the carnal man, which has total domination over every human being until regeneration. Only regeneration can loosen the carnal man from this total domination (Romans 6:6, Colossians 1:12).

2nd Death

After regeneration, a person has two natures, both the old carnal man, which remains, and a new spiritual man. Although the carnal man has been loosed (Romans 6:6) from total domination, it remains in total control, until the person learns how to use the gift of God to subdue him. According to Romans 6:16, from the time of regeneration until conversion, the person is willfully yielding himself to the control of the carnal man. The control and influences of the carnal man can only be subdued through the power of the new spiritual man (Romans 8:13).

Therefore, the regenerate unconverted man is referred to in scriptures as being dead, because he is yielding himself to the control and influence of the carnal man. (Matthew 8:22, Matthew 23:27, Romans 8:13, John 5:25, John 11:25, Romans 6:4, Romans 6:7, Romans 11:15, 1 Corinthians 15:29, Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 5:14, 1 Timothy 5:6, and many more). More often than not, references to the dead are those of the second death.

It is only from the second death that a person can take part in the 1st Resurrection.