It is stated in the Bible that everyone gets a second chance. I propose this theory: The first chance is life, and the second chance is death. Think about it, there is the line, "Christ will come again to judge the living and the DEAD.", that could mean those who are in hell have a chance to relize there sins and reconcile. This is a theory I've thought of many times, but never really discused it with anyone but my closest friends. So tell me, do you think it's plausible?

Well, the Bible speaks of the place of the unrighteous dead as Hades or Sheol, which is a place of temporary punishment. Jesus told the story of the rich man and Lazarus. In Hades, where he [the rich man] was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.

"There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us'(Luke 16:19-26). Well the Bible also speaks of a place called Abraham's bosom. There is some question as to whether Lazarus and Abraham were in Hades or in heaven. If they were in Hades, they were in a place that was separated from the unrighteous dead (Abraham's bosom).

Hades is not a permanent place. It will cease to exist at some future time. 'The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them... then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire' (Revelation 20:13,14). Because Hades will someday be destroyed, it is not to be seen as the ultimate abode of the unbelieving dead. But Hades is not to be confused with Purgatory. None of scripture supports Purgatory. Jesus Himself has the keys to death and Hades. "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore... and I have the keys of Hades and Death" (Revelation 1:18). He has conquered death and the grave. Hades is now a place for the unbelieving dead. The righteous go to be with the Lord when they die, Paul wrote. 'Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord' (2 Corinthians 5:8). Christians who die today don't need to go to Abraham's bosom. For us, when we die, since the price of our sins has now been paid by Jesus on the cross, we go immediately into the presence of the Lord in heaven. For us, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

The final judgment, or the lake of fire, is the time when the second death occurs. 'Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death (Revelation 20:14). The second death is reserved for unbelievers. Those who experience this death are all those whose names are not found written in the Book of Life. 'But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death, (Revelation 21:8). Eternal death, or the second death, is the ultimate form of separation. If a person dies in a state of spiritual death, they enter eternity separated from God. This is the second death. Once a person has experienced the "second death" there is no hope for them, it is irreversible. Physical death is the separation of the body from the spirit. Spiritual death, the way all of us are born, is the spiritual separation of each of us from God. Eternal death, or the second death, is the eternal separation of a person from God. There is no escape from the second death.

The judgment of the lake of fire is final, conscious, and bodily. The second death is eternal death from which there is no hope. The lake of fire is the final destination of unbelievers. Those who had been kept in Hades will eventually be placed in this eternal judgment. The second death is equivalent to saying the last death. Those suffering are conscious (Revelat5ion 20:10). The suffering is eternal, the dead are not in a state of extinction. The wicked are suffering in bodily form. There will be a resurrection of the unbelieving dead in some type of bodily form. Jesus said, "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and will come out - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28,29). Paul wrote 'I have a hope in God - a hope that they themselves also accept - that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous' (Acts 24:15).

Apart from physical death, scripture speaks of a spiritual death. Spiritual death is when a person is alive physically, but dead spiritually. All of us are born spiritually dead, separated from God. The Lord said to Adam "But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die" (Genesis 2:17). Adam and Eve died spiritually at the time that they sinned - they became different beings then the ones God had originally created. They also began to die physically. Humanity is now separated from God by nature. Jesus said "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life (John 5:24).

The verse that you are addressing is...I'm assuming 1 Peter 4:5. I need to see the context of the verse so I can know what it really says.

"But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." (1 Peter 4:5)

Well, near the time of the end times, not everyone is going to die. Some people would actually be able to see Jesus coming again, and was able to survive the tribulations in the world. And God judges both the living and the dead.

To answer your question: No, there is no second chance after death. The Bible makes it clear here: "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment," (Hebrews 9:27)

But God gave you life, so the fact that you are living shows that God is giving you a second chance, and a third, and even more. We don't know when we are going to die. And those days are second chances for people to come to Him. That is why the Bible says that today is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2) and that Salvation belongs to Him (Psalms 3:8)

I think there is a second chance of sorts for people who have died without having had a chance to hear the gospel.

Go to the next verse from Peter.

"For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit."

There are millions of people who have died without having heard the gospel.... and I think they have a "second chance" to hear it. If they accept it then they can also go to heaven. If they don't accept it then they go to Hell.

Concerning the people who haven't heard of Christ or even had the chance to read a Bible, God assures us that all who honestly seek Him - who act in faith on the knowledge of God that they possess - will be rewarded. 'But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him' (Hebrews 11:6). It is possible that when the person dies they are in the presence of Lord and are given the chance to receive the Gospel then. If they reject it they will be sent to Hades. So once in Hades there wouldn't be a second chance.

But those who have heard the Gospel are responsible for what they've heard. 2 Corinthians 6:1,2 - 'We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.' The conflict with the theory of a second chance after death is that it gives the mentality that we can live our lives apart from God's forgiveness, then die and get a second chance. That's not scriptural.

Hebrews 9:27 – 'And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.' When a person dies they are immediately judged as to their standing before the Lord on the basis of the Gospel. There are no second chances. There is no scriptural basis for the doctrine of purgatory where those who die in their sin spend an allotted time in purgatory to pay for their own sins as well as to be helped by the prayers of those living who were left behind. When the person dies they are taken to be either in the presence of Jesus or to a place of torment separate from the Lord.

I don't think we are allowed second chances. The bible states that we are appointed to die once and than comes the judgment.