According to Revelation 20, on the surface there seem to be two different groups who are cast into the lake of fire: "death and hell", and "whosoever names are not written in the book of life". My question is this: Why does it mention one group of people that are cast into the lake of fire, and immediately afterward, mention another, when according to scriptures, all to be cast into the lake of fire belong to one group, that of those who have never believed. At the time of judgment, all the lost have already died, because of the return of Christ and of the millennium, so at that time, all the lost will have been in Hell. How do you explain this scripture?
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Two Groups of Lost People at the Great White Throne?
- Thread starter Guido
- Start date
37818
Well-Known Member
Actually three groups not having ment one condition.
From death, from the nether world aka Hades called hell in the KJV and from the sea. All of which did not have their names in the book of life.
Revelation 20:13-15.
My understanding is that in verse 12, the human spirits are "before the throne" and are judged according to the fact their names are not in the Lamb's book of life.
Then, verse 13, the sea gave up the dead (referring to the resurrected bodies of those buried at sea) and Death and Hades gave up the resurrected bodies located in the "dominions of darkness."
At this point the "dominions of darkness" have no one in them and are without purpose, so they are destroyed in the Lake of Fire.
Then, verse 13, the sea gave up the dead (referring to the resurrected bodies of those buried at sea) and Death and Hades gave up the resurrected bodies located in the "dominions of darkness."
At this point the "dominions of darkness" have no one in them and are without purpose, so they are destroyed in the Lake of Fire.
It's just parallelism, saying the same thing twice with different phrasing. That's how Hebrew poetry works, and John was certainly Jewish.
Death and Hades are destroyed, they no longer exist as domains of darkness.
I am aware that a group of misguided folks try to redefine the meaning of destroy, such that it does not include the concept of ending existence. I suspect you are a member of that group, but it is only a guess as you have only said what you claim is inaccurate.
However, contrary to the claim "katargeō," G2673 does have the meaning of "cause to cease to exist" according to Strong's Lexicon.
2. to cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul, abolish:
One of the drivers of this effort at corruption is the doctrine of eternal torment, where rather than at some point those in the Lake of Fire cease to exist, or whether they suffer torment forever and ever.
As for me, I have no problem accepting as a possibility that "destroy" means "to cause to cease to exist."
Folks, I kid you not, ". to cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul, abolish," is said not to be mean cease to exist.
Why not explain what you think is the correct interpretation, rather than simply posting taint so over and over.
The Lake of Fire and its destructive and tormenting power (the worm) does not cease to exist, it cannot and will not cease to exist, as Satan and his co-horts will be tormented forever and ever in it.
Next you use "second death" as only meaning eternal torment. Nope. The second death is the Lake of Fire and two outcomes are possible for those placed into it, eternal torment or destruction. As Jesus says, fear the one able to destroy the body and the soul in Gehenna.
Alan Gross
Well-Known Member
Mine.