The Lake of Fire

The Term

This phrase occurs four times in scripture, each in the book of Revelation.  Being a phrase of several very common terms, the “Lake of Fire” is a simple translation.  It is found as “lake of fire and burning sulfur,” with slight variances, in three places, and simply “lake of fire” in the fourth.  Variances are slight throughout numerous translations.

The Texts

o    Rev 19:20 (NIV) ²⁰ But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. (lit. lake burning with fire & brimstone [sulfer])

o    Rev 20:10 (NIV) ¹⁰ And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

o    Rev 20:14-15 (NIV)¹⁴ Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. ¹⁵ If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

o    Rev 21:8 (NIV) ⁸ 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.” (lit. lake burning with fire & brimstone [sulfer])

Deductions

o   The lake of fire is a place for both angelic and human beings

o   Revelation 19:20 –

§  The beast (Antichrist) – possibly could be considered angelic and human

§  The false prophet – angelic

o   Revelation 20:10

§  Satan, too, is cast into the lake of fire – angelic

o   Revelation 20:14

§  “death and Hades” are thrown into the lake – the bodies and the souls of humans

o   Revelation 21:8

§  Descriptions of humans

o   The lake of fire is a place for the unrighteous

o   Wicked humans, the Beast, the false prophet, Satan

o   The lake of fire is confirmed as that which proceeds for Hades: it is the final abode of the those remaining in Hades/Sheol: Rev 20:14-15 (NIV)¹⁴ Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.

o   At this point (the end of time) Hades/Sheol will only contain the souls of the wicked, as the righteous would have been removed from their compartment with the resurrection of Christ

o   This text also confirms the temporary nature of Hades/Sheol, as that place is moved to the Lake of Fire.

o   The Lake of Fire is Eternal

o    Rev 20:10 (NIV) ¹⁰ And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

·         This fact is overstated, using the term “ever” twice

·         NOTE:  a proper understanding of the lake of fire is one where Satan himself is an inmate rather than the warden.  Many cultural references to Hell portray Satan as the proprietor of Hell rather than an inhabitant under the same penalty as the others present.

o   Matthew 25:41 States (NIV)
⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

§  Hell was originally created for Satan and his rebellious angels, presumably before the creation of man, since man is not mentioned in this initial “preparation” of Hell.

o   The lake of fire is one and the same as Gehenna

o   “Hell” is best understood in modern language as the lake of fire or Gehenna, rather than the unrighteous side of Hades/Sheol, or Abaddon.

o   Abaddon is temporary, Hell is not

o   Abaddon, though a bad place, is a holding receptacle rather than the originally created punishment.

Hell contains both men and angels.  Abaddon does not.  Men and angels are kept separate in their temporary judgments, while are placed together for their final judgment.