A kingdom can speak metaphorically. The other problem is the explanation of what this beast is in Rev 17 does not say it is a single man but something spanning 7 territories with ten kings within it. It is obviously the same type of political governing beast that Daniel also saw.
Anything can be because there is no literal lake. It represents how God destroys something. When the beast is cast in, it means that global government is gone forever...satan will never rule the whole world again. When the false prophet is cast in, it means he can never deceive the world in a religious sense again.
I know the face value, plain reading makes it look like a big monster and a man is cast into a lake made of fire but it isn't that way anymore than Satan being a giant dragon/serpent or anymore than a giant 7 headed monster with ten horns will rise out of the ocean. Revelation isn't all metaphors but a lot of it is. I don't expect agreement, I am just sharing my understanding.
The Lake of Fire is a real physical place of eternal torture where Satan, his demons, and all who haven't repented and trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins will go. You don't believe this? This is what we get saved from.
Revelation 20:13-15
13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Jesus referred to the destination of the wicked as a place of "weeping and gnashing of teeth." This is NOT an allegory. They won't simply cease to exist. They will be tortured forever, which is something impossible to wrap our finite minds around. This is why we must diligently hold fast to our faith and be willing to share the gospel with a world of lost souls before it's too late for them.
Jesus talked about hell a lot.
For example:
Matthew 24:51
...and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:30
And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Luke 12:4-5
4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
Mark 9:43-44
43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. 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—44 where
‘
Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
Matthew 10:28
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Luke 16:19-31 is an awful parable of the rich man in torment.
I am convinced that two men (one, who is worshipped as a God and the other who compelled people to worship the first) are cast into the literal lake of fire. Satan himself is bound for one thousand years, and thrown into the lake of fire after his final act of insurrection (deceiving people to fight in the Gog/Magog battle).
No, we can't agree.
