The Lake of Fire is found only in Revelation 19:20; 20:10; 14, 15, 21:8.  It is described as burning with brimstone (v. 19:20).  The beast, the false prophet, and those who worshipped the image are thrown alive into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20) along with the devil (20:10), all the ungodly whose names are not found in the book of life (20:15; 21:8), as well as death and Hades (Rev. 20:14).  Being cast into the lake of fire is called the second death (Rev. 20:14; 21:8).

The lake of fire is probably synonymous with Gehenna spoken of by Jesus and James where they mention fire (Matt. 5:22; 18:9; James 3:6) and unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43).  It is generically translated into the English ‘hell’ (Matt. 5:29-30; 10:28; 23:15, 33; Mark 9:45, 47; Luke 12:5; James 3:6).

Many conditionalists assume that the lake of fire means eternal nonexistence in a final judgment. However, the context of the usages of the term does not necessitate this interpretation. After all, there is a lot of symbolism here, so precise interpretations are difficult. Nevertheless, is the lake of fire literal or figurative? Or, is it a combination of both. At the very least, the lake of fire is a place of destruction; after all, death and Hades, in personified form, are thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14) along with the rest of the wicked persons. The lake of fire is a place of finality at the consummation of the ages, the manifestation of the eternal consequence of sin. Since death is thrown into the lake of fire, it would appear that the lake of fire represents a different kind of death than we normally envision in the physical sense. It is an everlasting spiritual destruction away from the presence of God.

Death and Hades

The term “death and Hades” occurs only in Revelation.  Jesus has the keys of death and Hades (Rev. 1:18).  The one who sits on the ashen horse has a name of Death, with Hades following after him (Rev. 6:8).  In Rev. 20:13 death and Hades gave up the dead which is in them who are then judged.  Then both “death and Hades” are thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14) along with anyone whose name is not written in the book of life (Revelation 20:15). So, what are we to make of this?

In this highly symbolic book, Revelation presents us imagery which we are to interpret. Different schools of thought with different presuppositions can easily arrive at disparate interpretations. My conclusion is that death, mankind’s greatest enemy, is defeated in the lake of fire at the consummation of all things. It is the end of the power of death where the wicked are punished and that death which entered into the garden of Eden will finally be vanquished.

Conclusion

The lake of fire along with so much other of the imagery used throughout Scripture regarding fiery judgment (Matt. 8:12; 13:42; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28) presents a terrifying picture of conscious torment, implies conscious existence in the afterlife (Luke 16:19-31; Jude 7; Rev. 14:11), is of fire, and brimstone, sulfur, etc. into which the wicked, immoral, murderers, the devil, but the beast, the false prophet, and all who receive the mark of the beast will all be cast (Rev. 19:20; 20:10, 14-15; 21:8). If it is nothing more than the nonexistence of annihilation, then the terrible end that such imagery invokes loses its fearful and dreadful effect. Nevertheless, Revelation conveys a fearful and terrifying judgment.  It uses imagery such as fire, sulfur, brimstone, being thrown alive into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20), tormented day and night forever and ever (Rev. 20:10), etc.  The nothingness of annihilation simply does not convey such a horrible expectation.  If anything, it would be a welcome relief that the wicked would hope for rather than be forever in torment.

 

Tables on the Lake of Fire Passages

TABLE 1 ALL NEW TESTAMENT USAGES OF LAKE OF FIRE IN THE BIBLE
Address	Verse
Rev. 19:20	“And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs cin his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.”
Rev. 20:10	“And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Rev. 20:14	“Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.”
Rev. 20:15	“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Rev. 21:8	“But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

 

 

TABLE 2 COMPARING DEATH, HADES, THE WICKED, DEVIL, AND THE LAKE OF FIRE
	Death	Hades	Wicked: The mmoral, murderers, those not abiding in Christ, and those not in Book of Life	Chaff, Tares	People of Sodom and Gormorrah	Devil, beast, false prophet	Those who worship and receive the mark of the beast
Thrown into lake of fire	Rev. 20:14	Rev. 20:14	Rev. 20:15; 21:8			Rev. 19:20; 20:10	Rev. 19:20
Thrown into fiery hell (Gehenna)			Matt. 5:22, 29, 30; 18:9; Mark 9:43
Thrown into eternal fire			Matt. 18:8; 25:41; Jude 7		Jude 7
Burned with unquenchable fire				Matt. 3:12; Luke 3:17
Burned with fire			John 15:6	Matt. 13:40			Rev. 14:10

 

1. This means that death and hades (Rev. 20:14), along with the devil, the beast, the false prophet, and all who received the Mark of the beast are thrown into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 19:20; 20:10).
2. People of Sodom and Gomorroah are undergoing punishment of eternal fire (Jude 7).
3. The chaff, wicked, are burned with unquenchable fire (Matt. 3:12; Luke 3:17) as are the wicked (John 15:6) and those who receive the mark of the beast (Rev. 14:10; 19:20)

 

Commentaries on the Lake of Fire

Because this topic is difficult to nail down, I provided three commentaries for you to examine. Hopefully, this will help clear up the issue with the lake of fire is more than what I provided above.

• “The lake of fire is probably the same place that Jesus calls Gehenna (Mt 10:28; Mk 9:43; Lk 12:5), the “outer darkness” (Mt 8:12; 22:13; 25:30), and “the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Mt 25:41; cf. Is 66:24). The imagery is drawn from the fires in the valley of Hinnom outside of Jerusalem and perhaps the stream of fire issuing from God’s throne (Is 30:33; Dn 7:10; cf. Is 34:9, 10). The picture was known to Jewish as well as Christian writers (Assumption of Moses 10:10; 2 Esdras 7:36). Whatever the image or name, they all point to a place of eternal torment and separation from God where the unrepentant will suffer forever.”¹Elwell, Walter A., and Barry J. Beitzel. Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988.
• “The place of final torment, usually equated with GEHENNA. Here are thrown the “beast” and false prophet (Rev. 19:20) and later the devil, to “be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (20:10). After the judgment of the “great white throne” the personified Death and Hades are also thrown in, along with anyone whose “name was not found written in the book of life” (20:14f.; cf. 21:8). The lake of fire is called the second death (20:14; 21:8), apparently referring to the ultimate separation from God or spiritual death (see DEATH, SECOND).”²Bromiley, Geoffrey W., ed. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised. Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988.
• “The lake of fire is probably the same place that Jesus calls Gehenna (Mt 10:28; Mk 9:43; Lk 12:5), the “outer darkness” (Mt 8:12; 22:13; 25:30), and the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Mt 25:41; cf. Is 66:24). The imagery is drawn from the fires in the valley of Hinnom outside of Jerusalem and perhaps the stream of fire issuing from God’s throne (Is 30:33; Dn 7:10; cf. Is 34:9–10). The picture was known to Jewish as well as Christian writers (Assumption of Moses 10:10; 2 Esd 7:36). Whatever the image or name, they all point to a place of eternal torment and separation from God where the unrepentant will suffer forever.”³Elwell, Walter A., and Philip Wesley Comfort. Tyndale Bible Dictionary. Tyndale Reference Library. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.