The lake of fire; is it permanent or temporary?

The angels that fell are permanently condemned, they were held accountable because they being the first created were in heaven with God. When God later made man on earth, he made us in his image and likeness (a moral likeness and having limited characteristics like his own nature). The fall of Adam and Eve was severe, and what was corrupted in them continued to be passed on their progeny. This means we all sin in various degrees and the same punishment occurs to all human beings equally. God offers us the solution and yet mankind still rebels and refuses Him. Because of this we are headed to the same place God had created for the rebellious angels.

The concept of eternal punishment as repugnant as it may be to some, is the reality of God's justice on sin and wickedness. If God punishes the angels this way, why would humans who are also rebellious and reject a second chance by the gospel be excluded? Those who reinterpret God’s punishment claiming it is annihilation (to no longer exist, like the Jehovah Witnesses )are making God out to be less loving and merciful than they are. God means what he said and describes it in detail for us to know what He means.

This eternal state of punishment is Not God's desire for anyone but it is of their own choosing. The Lake of Fire ( which is mentioned in Revelation) is far worse than Hades (what is popularly called hell on the other side of the chasm across from Paradise). We need to fully understand God’s justice on sin is not temporary.

When Jesus returns and destroys all the armies of the world gathered in Megiddo (called Armageddon) he starts to judge humanity. Matt 25:41 " Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels

Those on his right enter the kingdom, those on his left join the devil and his angels in a fire that is not quenched.

The ‘first resurrection’ is of believers to eternal life. Rev 20:6 “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power.”The first resurrection is contrasted with the term ‘second death’ which is for unbelievers only, it is for the purpose of standing before the Great White Throne in Judgment. For God who is perfect in justice will determine their degree of punishment of their spending eternity in the Lake of Fire. Again, the judgment of the Great White Throne determines ones punishment in the Lake of Fire (Rev.20:11).

For example, those who killed believers will suffer a greater punishment than those who rejected the gospel. Also how much did a person know of the truth and did not turn to it but willfully said no will be a factor.

The Lake of fire

The term Lake of Fire is found in only four passages, all are in the book of Revelation:

Revelation 19:20: “the beast and the false prophet” are cast alive into the lake of fire that burns with brimstone.”

Revelation 20:10 states that Satan is thrown into the Lake of Fire ;

Revelation 20:14:... death and Hades were cast into the Lake of Fire;

Revelation 21:7-8: “ for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone .”

Revelation 20:14-15; 21:8, states that the lake of fireis called the second death . It involves both humans and angels.

2 Thess. 1:8-10 in “ flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power”

Obviously, punishing (continual) and everlasting destruction (the way it is interpreted by annihilationists) are opposites; so it means something else. Energy cannot be destroyed once something is created.

The antichrist and the False Prophet will be the first put into this place at the second coming. They will be in the Lake of Fire for 1,000 years but it does not cause annihilation. We are to conclude the second death does not mean non-existence.

Rev. 20:2-3 “H e laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years ; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.”

One thousand years starts from the time of judgment when Christ returns Mt.25 (sheep and the goats) and the Great White Throne Judgment resulting in the Lake of Fire. For all those who will lived in the Millennium and rejected Christ, (through the 1,000 years) and all those who lived prior that rejected the true God.

Rev. 19:20 (the Beast and false prophet) “ These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone” Satan is also thrown into the lake of fire. Rev.20:7-10, joined with Antichrist and the False Prophet.

This becomes the final crushing of Satan Paul wrote of in Rom. 16:20;when Satan is cast into the Lake of fire (Rev. 20:10) permanently. And in Revelation 20:14-15: “ And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire. And anyone not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Both death and Hades are cast into the lake of fire. Notice what it says, And anyone; this also contains humans not found in the book of life, (those who are not spiritually born). those who have already died and were on the side opposite the faithful in their immaterial body (soul). The other side, called ‘paradise’ they were contained in temporarily, was led by Christ and ascended after his ascension into heaven where Paradise is now located.

This means many humans are there with the fallen angels. Revelation 20:15: “ And anyone not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire .”

What did Jesus teach?

Mark 9:43-48 “It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched -- where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.” He warns of this three times. Why do this unless the fire affects the person assigned to it? If a little worm does not die what about a person's soul?

Hades is the Greek term for Sheol in the Old Testament. What we call today as Hell is a temporary place of torment for the soul only, but the Lake of Fire will be a place of torment for both soul and body. That is ‘the second death.’

There is no specific Hebrew or Greek term for the word “Hell” in Scripture. What we call this place “Hell” what the Old Testament describes as the unrighteous side of Sheol or Hades.

The English word “Hell” which is a Teutonic root which means “to hide” or “to cover,” it was not the best of terms, but this is the term the church has used.

The concept of Hell that is used is incorporated into some of the concepts of both Sheol and Hades, which are biblical descriptions.

Valley of Hinnom was used as a place of human sacrifice where humans were burned (Gay hinnom in Hebrew-In Greek it is Gehenna) this began to be used for another place the lake of fire Jer.19:1-5, v.6-15. The Lake of Fire is the same as Gehenna, which is the proper Biblical name, and the Lake of Fire describes the place . The same terminology is used for the second death. Gehenna of fire (Mat. 5:22; 18:9), the judgment of Gehenna (Mat. 23:33). Is described as outer darkness; not a place of light, (Mat. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30), unquenchable fire; the Lake of Fire burns forever, so this is the unquenchable fire (Mat. 3:12; Mk. 9:43; Lk. 3:17. It is a place where there is the smoke of...torment on the occupants (Rev. 14:10‑11). The Lake of Fire is associated with fire and brimstone as the source of torment a fire that is not quenchable (Mk. 9:48). Those there are in a state of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mat. 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Lk. 13:28).

Matthew 25:41, hell, the Lake of Fire was made for the devil and his angels. Originally, It was only for fallen angels, it became included as the destination of unbelieving humanity that also rebelled. The "angels" have no physical bodies, so these are not physical flames. The rich man's body was in the grave, not in the fires of hell, yet Jesus said, “In hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torment” and begged for a drop of water to be placed on his tongue.

Matt 13:40-43 “tells us the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Tares are unbelievers, the description teach us they are alive, conscious.

Revelation 21:7-8: “He that overcomes shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone; which is the second death .”

These are the unbelievers sentenced there.

Destroyed -Perish

Destroyed is the Greek word apollumi, is translated by the King James Version, it means “destroy.” Matthew 10:6, 28; 15:24; 16:25; and other passages.

Jesus said in John 3:16 that those who reject Him will perish. It does not mean perish from existence.

John 3:16 he added clause "should not perish but" mee (NT:3319) apoleetai (NT:616) alla (NT:240), second aorist middle subjunctive, intransitive, of apollumi (NT:616), to destroy)]. The same contrast between "perish" and "eternal life" (for this world and the next) appears also in John 3:10-28. On "perish" see also John 17:12 .” (from Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament)

The word apollumi does not mean utter destruction, that one ceases to exist, as in annihilation. It becomes obvious by how it is used elsewhere. The same Greek word that is translated as “destroyed” is used for those who are still living. Revelation 20:10 show us that after 1,000 years in the Lake of Fire, the devil is sent there (Where the beast and the false prophet are from humanity are there) still alive and being tormented.

The concept “to be destroyed in the sense of non exist,” is inaccurate. This word is used of the living ones in Matthew 10:6, where it is translated as lost; in Matthew 15:24, lost sheep, in Matthew 16:25, loses his own soul? In Luke 19:10, that which was lost. Here the same word apollumi means "to be in a lost condition” it does not mean "destruction" resulting in the "cessation of existence."

2 Peter 2:12, in the KJV reads: like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption.”

The Greek word here is phthora, which means “corruption.” The victims are merely seen as being in a state ofcorruption they are not taken and destroyed . They exist in their corrupted state -- suffering the wrath of God eternally (Jn. 3:36).

2 Peter 2:17-19 “ These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved.”

This ‘darkness’ is a description of the Lake of Fire for the fallen angels. The fire is only there for torment, there is no light.

As for the redeemed, when all sin is removed from our existence forever we will be in a sinless condition forever.

John 3:16-17 “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” V:18 “ he who does not believe is condemned already”

We are condemned, not saved from our original condition because of sin that is not resolved (repented of). These continue in a lost state for eternity.

Those eternally in ‘Hell’ are not destroyed, non-existing; and those eternally in the Lake of Fire are those corrupted by sin left in an eternal lost state, never to be redeemed, saved. Thus, Gehenna is the eternal place of the sinful, the rebellious; of both angels and men.

Matt.25:41: explains the lake of fire is where all unsaved creatures both angel and human end up. Matthew 8:28-29, demons know they will ultimately be tormented and speak of these examples in Scripture.

Rev. 14:9-11 “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Here we have humans being tormented in the Lake of Fire forever and ever. This is not annihilation. Those who believe in annihilation interpret the term forever and ever as not involving “eternity,” to them it means “a very long time.” They think after a very long time, they will be annihilated. This become inconsistent use of the word as Revelation 14:11 God uses the same expression in Revelation 15:7, where God is described as living forever and ever. God is eternal, He is not temporary, nor did he become eternal.

If you believe in the immortality of saints in Heaven, by necessity you must also teach the immortality of Satan and the unbelievers in the Lake of Fire.

Matt 13:41-42 “ The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire.” What happens is they weep and nash their teeth meaning they are still alive, conscious and can feel.

Eternal

Greek word aionos, is translated “eternal,” forever and ever. It is used to describe the saints in Heaven. Therefore, those who hold to annihilationism cannot make the same word have the opposite meaning when it refers to the unbeliever. This word also describes God, (9 of the 13 times used in the book of Revelation, as an eternal being, who has immortality, in the sense of no beginning or end, always existing. It emphasizes both eternality and immortality. It is used once of the saints in Heaven, Then it is used once of Satan in the Lake of Fire and twice of the unbelievers in the Lake of Fire.

If annihilationists believe that the saints in Heaven are immortal, live forever (eternal not temporary), they cannot then turn around and make the other mentions to mean something temporary.

The second death is not annihilation of both body and soul. The first time one experiences death they are still conscious as they are separated from their body.

Why would the Bible refer to Hell as “The Second Death,” if it is not? God said to Adam in the day you eat of this tree you will surely die. Did he die physically? No. he died spiritually, and death to the physical body began. The Bible says death came by sin and death spread to all men.

Why would Matthew10:28 say that we should fear the One who can kill both body and soul in Hell? Do they go to hell and be killed there? We should recognize they were put in hell alive. It does not say one is eliminated from existence?

Book of Life

Revelation 20 passage, books are mentioned in determining the degree of punishment. (v. 12). The Book of Life contains the names of every person who was ever born according to Psalm 139:16: Your eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in your book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.”

Those who believe in Christ Jesus have their names retained in the Book of Life according to Revelation 3:5: He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”

However, in Psalm 69:28, the unsaved have their names blotted out of the Book of Life: “ Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous.”

To be blotted out of the Book of lifedoes not mean you lose your salvation, nor your life as in becoming nonexistent. The Book of life , contains the names of everyone who was born. If a person is a believer, he has his name retained in the Book of life; if someone dies as an unbeliever, his name is blotted out of the Book of life, not having eternal life but receiving eternal punishment.

At the Great White Throne Judgment, if their names are not found in the Book of Life, it show them to be unsaved and fit for the final judgment. Revelation 20 passage, books are mentioned in determining the degree of punishment. (v. 12). What occurs is they are resurrected and put into their body of sin to receive punishment in both body and spirit.

Rev 13:8 tells us there is a Book of Life of the Lamb.”Rev. 21:1 “ a new heaven and a new earth is created” V:27 only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life will enter it.

At this time all sin is done away with, there will be no night (darkness) only light. Jesus is the light. Rev. 21:23-24 “ The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light”

That is the future for those who believe, and this is why there is a permanence to both heaven and the lake of fire. For " In thy presence is fullness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Ps 16:11)