“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:14-15 ESV).
We often use the word “death” in a variety of contexts. For instance, we might employ this word to describe an inanimate object (like a battery) that has ceased to function. But while we may easily recharge a battery that has “died,” this word has a far great implication when used in a human sense.
You see, we can associate the word “death” with the idea of “separation” in a physical or spiritual context. For example, physical death occurs when a person’s spirit separates from his or her physical body, for “…the body without the spirit is dead…” (James 2:26). This corresponds to the “first death” mentioned within the Biblical book of Revelation (see Revelation 20:11-13).
The book of Revelation also defines another type of death known as the “second death” (Revelation 20:14-15). This form of death results in separation from God. Adam and Eve were the first to experience this type of death and it will ultimately affect those who wants nothing to do with God for all eternity.
But in what sense does the devil hold the “the power of death” over individual human beings? The late Christian author and philosopher Norman Geisler offers the following explanation…
“God is sovereign over all life. Only He can create it, and only He has determined the number of our days (Ps. 90:10–12) and has ‘appointed’ the day of our death (Heb. 9:27). But by tempting Adam and Eve, the devil succeeded in bringing on the human race God’s pronounced judgment of death for disobedience (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 5:12).
So, in this sense, the devil may be said to have had the power of death (Heb. 2:14). However, by tasting death for every man (Heb. 2:9) and rising triumphantly from the grave (Rom. 4:25), Christ now holds ‘the keys of Hades and of Death’ (Rev. 1:18), having ‘abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel’ (2 Tim. 1:10).” (1)
Another Biblical scholar concludes this thought…
“Having tempted humanity to sin, the devil acts as an accuser (Rev. 12:10), demanding that a just punishment be exacted; and ‘the wages of sin is death’ (Rom. 6:23; cf. 1 Cor. 15:56). The devil’s power to kill is destroyed only when our sin has been punished—in Christ’s death. Then his accusations have no ground (Col. 2:14, 15).” (2)
(1) Geisler, N. L., & Howe, T. A. (1992). When critics ask : a popular handbook on Bible difficulties (pp. 511–512). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
(2) Sproul, R. C. (Ed.). (2015). The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (p. 2200). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust.