Is the Book of Revelation the only place in Scripture teaching eternal torment?

[Andrewn]

What does katakaio, used in Matthew 3:12, mean? Do you say it means "burn" as in getting a burn or, more specifically, "burn up" (i.e., consume)?

Katakaio means to burn up, consume by fire.

What do you think it means to separate the wheat from the chaff? I understand it to mean separating saints from sinners, burning up the latter.

The parable of the wheat and weeds (Mat 13:24-30) provides a similar picture and in that parable Jesus himself explains the imagery. In that parable, "the children of the evil one" are consumed with fire at the end of the age. Who are they?

1Jo 3:10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

 

[Lazarus Short]

The thread title says "Scripture" - but what is that, exactly?

Let's be honest, and admit that the "Holy Bible" is not an unchanging, monolithic thing, carved in stone. It is paper and ink as it has come down to us, and in a great number of versions/translations. If we look at some versions - the KJV for example - then "hell" is fairly apparent. If you don't read them critically, "hell" looks like a done deal. OTOH, if you read a version like Young's Literal, the Ferrar Fenton or the version simply called "The Scriptures," you'll never suspect "hell" exists. I mention those four versions because they are the ones I am most familiar with.

Instead of debating doctrines endlessly, our time might be better spent determining which version/translation is good, better or even best. I realize that all of them have bias, and no man-made version is perfect...well, Ivan Panin's Mathematical Bible might come close.

 

[Der Alte]

The thread title says "Scripture" - but what is that, exactly?
Let's be honest, and admit that the "Holy Bible" is not an unchanging, monolithic thing, carved in stone. It is paper and ink as it has come down to us, and in a great number of versions/translations. If we look at some versions - the KJV for example - then "hell" is fairly apparent. If you don't read them critically, "hell" looks like a done deal. OTOH, if you read a version like Young's Literal, the Ferrar Fenton or the version simply called "The Scriptures," you'll never suspect "hell" exists. I mention those four versions because they are the ones I am most familiar with.

Clearly you choose "Bible" versions based on if they support your personal assumptions/presuppositions. "Young's Literal Translation" is a favorite go to version for UR-ites. What makes "Young's literal translation literal? Robert Young, himself said it was literal. Were some supporters of Robert Young to simply type Robert Young in a search engine.

Robert Young, LL.D. (10 September 1822 – 14 October 1888) was a Scottish publisher who was self-taught and proficient in various Oriental languages. He published several works, the best known being a Bible translation, commonly referred to as Young's Literal Translation , and his Bible concordance, The Analytical Concordance to the Bible.
Robert Young (biblical scholar) - Wikipedia​

I would never seek help from a Doctor or lawyer who was self taught but many, many people cite a self taught "scholar" as the reliable expert.

Instead of debating doctrines endlessly, our time might be better spent determining which version/translation is good, better or even best. I realize that all of them have bias, and no man-made version is perfect...well, Ivan Panin's Mathematical Bible might come close.

And yet another UR favorite Bible version not because it has been shown to be the most accurate but because it supports UR beliefs.
Of course, many here would consider "debating doctrines endlessly" as a waste of time, that their "time might be better spent determining which version/translation is good, better or even best." How does one do that without higher education in the Biblical languages? I would say they can't do that so they resort to locating and promoting versions which support UR teachings.

 

[Kilk1]

I tend to believe that Jesus means what He says and says what He means. Elsewhere Jesus identified the "wheat" and the "tares," which is some kind of unwanted plant maybe a weed. Evidently the chaff is different than tares. I spent about 15 years in the orient and every year during the rice harvest, I saw them burning the chaff.

Let me make sure I'm not misunderstanding you. It sounds like you believe that when John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:11-12 that Jesus will burn chaff with unquenchable fire, all John meant was that Jesus would burn up literal chaff? Are you saying it's just literal chaff, or would you agree that Matthew 13:36-42 suggests sinners are the ones represented as being burned up?

As for Revelation, what if Revelation 21:4 is just talking about the righteous and not applying to those in hell? There's a reason I think this: If the sinners in Revelation 21:8 can't die because Revelation 21:4 mentions no more death, then the sinners in Revelation 21:8 also can't experience sorrow, crying, or pain either because Revelation 21:4 mentions no more sorrow, crying, or pain. What are your thoughts?

 

[Kilk1]

Katakaio means to burn up, consume by fire.


The parable of the wheat and weeds (Mat 13:24-30) provides a similar picture and in that parable Jesus himself explains the imagery. In that parable, "the children of the evil one" are consumed with fire at the end of the age. Who are they?

1Jo 3:10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

Does it seem that if the children of the evil one are "burned up" (katakaio), they are killed/annihilated as a result?

 

[Lazarus Short]

Clearly you choose "Bible" versions based on if they support your personal assumptions/presuppositions. "Young's Literal Translation" is a favorite go to version for UR-ites. What makes "Young's literal translation literal? Robert Young, himself said it was literal. Were some supporters of Robert Young to simply type Robert Young in a search engine.

Robert Young, LL.D. (10 September 1822 – 14 October 1888) was a Scottish publisher who was self-taught and proficient in various Oriental languages. He published several works, the best known being a Bible translation, commonly referred to as Young's Literal Translation , and his Bible concordance, The Analytical Concordance to the Bible.
Robert Young (biblical scholar) - Wikipedia​

I would never seek help from a Doctor or lawyer who was self taught but many, many people cite a self taught "scholar" as the reliable expert.

And yet another UR favorite Bible version not because it has been shown to be the most accurate but because it supports UR beliefs.
Of course, many here would consider "debating doctrines endlessly" as a waste of time, that their "time might be better spent determining which version/translation is good, better or even best." How does one do that without higher education in the Biblical languages? I would say they can't do that so they resort to locating and promoting versions which support UR teachings.

Clearly? Actually, I confirmed UR to myself in the pages of an ordinary King James Bible. Your comment does not have a leg to stand on. You keep making wrong assumptions about what others did or think.

 

[Der Alte]

Let me make sure I'm not misunderstanding you. It sounds like you believe that when John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:11-12 that Jesus will burn chaff with unquenchable fire, all John meant was that Jesus would burn up literal chaff? Are you saying it's just literal chaff, or would you agree that Matthew 13:36-42 suggests sinners are the ones represented as being burned up?
As for Revelation, what if Revelation 21:4 is just talking about the righteous and not applying to those in hell? There's a reason I think this: If the sinners in Revelation 21:8 can't die because Revelation 21:4 mentions no more death, then the sinners in Revelation 21:8 also can't experience sorrow, crying, or pain either because Revelation 21:4 mentions no more sorrow, crying, or pain. What are your thoughts?

I really like these meaningless argumentative posts. Was John talking about literal wheat in Matt 3:11-12? If not why would he be talking about literal chaff? Lay aside your assumptions/presuppositions and actually read the passage and perhaps you can comprehend what John was talking about.
Yes Rev. does say "no more sorrow, crying, or pain." But I seem to remember when Jesus talked about being thrown into a furnace and outer darkness where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Rev says the that the devil, the false prophet and beast will be thrown into the LOF where they "shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." From that, I believe that everybody/every thing thrown into the LOF will also be tormented day and night for ever and ever. I don't think it has a hot side and a cold side.
Once again there is not one vs. which says anything/anybody thrown into the LOF then they die.

 

[Clare73]

I'm just saying what the Scriptures say. To describe hell, Jesus quotes Isaiah 66:24, which describes hell as a place where dead corpses (not living, conscious beings) live,

Dead corpses have immortal spirits which suffer punishment as in the parable of Luke 16:19-31.

Eternal punishment is spiritual, but it is described in bodily terms for the understanding of mortals.

so I'll believe what Jesus says. Matthew 3:12 says the lost will be "burned up" like chaff rather than burning forever, so I'll believe the lost will be "burned up" (i.e., consumed, katakaio). Matthew 25:46 contrasts eternal punishment with eternal life, so I'll believe that the lost won't have eternal life since Jesus said eternal life is specifically for the saved in this verse. Isn't that taking Scripture for what it says? Wouldn't "twisting" involve me saying the lost won't be "burned up," and won't be dead despite these verses?

As for the story about Lazarus and the rich man, isn't it about Hades rather than hell? Luke 16:23 uses the word "Hades," not "hell" (unless you use the KJV, which conflates the two for some reason). Moreover, doesn't Luke 16:27-28 suggest the rich man's brothers were still alive on earth, suggesting this passage isn't about the final judgment?

The passage is about the holding place between death and the final judgment, called Sheol in the OT and made up of Paradise (Bosom of Abraham) and Hades, it's not about eternity.

 

[Clare73]

.

 

[Andrewn]

Does it seem that if the children of the evil one are "burned up" (katakaio), they are killed/annihilated as a result?

The children of the evil one are indeed killed/annihilated. The question is what are the children of the evil one? Are they a group of people who are created by the devil?

In John the Baptist's statement it is clear that the wheat kernels and the chaff are parts of the same plant. In Jesus' parable, the wheat and the tares are different plants but both of them are parts of the kingdom of God. We know that all people are created by God. The devil does not create people, otherwise those people would have no chance of turning themselves into a different/good plant. He creates false opinions, delusions, sins in people. And this is likely what is meant by the tares.

Few people are completely righteous. Few people are purely evil. But the majority of people contain a mixture of goodness and wickedness. The good wheat is collected and the tares in the kingdom of God are consumed by fire. This view, rather than the view that Jesus was describing 2 types of people, is also supported by ancient Christian Fathers:

Parable of the Tares - Wikipedia

Falseness will be consumed in the lake of fire. Many may have to be saved through the fire, until they come to believe that God is their salvation. Will some souls be completely consumed? Perhaps if they do not have any goodness left. The article above is worth reading.

 

[P1LGR1M]

The parable of the wheat and weeds (Mat 13:24-30) provides a similar picture and in that parable Jesus himself explains the imagery. In that parable, "the children of the evil one" are consumed with fire at the end of the age. Who are they?

They are the same ones Christ taught about here:


Luke 17:24-37
King James Version

24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

32 Remember Lot's wife.

33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.


And the same ones taught about here:


Ezekiel 39
King James Version

1 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:

3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.

4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.


And here:


Revelation 19:17-21
King James Version

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.


And here:


Revelation 20:7-9
King James Version

7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.


All of these speak of physical judgment on unbelievers.

They are killed physically.

Then they are resurrected:


Revelation 20:5
King James Version

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.


Here is what they are resurrected unto:


Revelation 20:11-15
King James Version

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.


Those not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire. The physical aspect of judgment is over, for the current universe has passed away (v.11).

So while we do see a physical fulfillment of Christ's teaching in regards to wheat and tares (and chaff, and trees who's fruit is evil), we also see the eternal aspect of the destiny of the Wheat and Tares:


Matthew 3:11-12
King James Version

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.


Just as eternal life is spoken of in everlasting terms, even so is the damnation of the lost. Two choices of baptism spoken of here, one unto life, and one unto damnation:


John 5:29
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.


The Lake of Fire stands outside of this creation, as is seen above, for it remains while this universe has passed away. It is not part of the New heavens and Earth God will create, but is a separate fate for those who had their parts removed from the Book of Life.


Matthew 13:40-43
King James Version

40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.


Two applications to be understood, the physical, and the eternal.

Just as we understand the Prophecy of Christ had two applications concerning His coming.

The same thing is taught by the Lord in all of His teachings, that the wicked will not enter the Kingdom of God. This means the wicked will not enter into the Millennial Kingdom, nor will they enter into the Eternal State, the New heavens and Earth God will create.

They will be in everlasting torment in the Lake of Fire:


Revelation 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.


This is why the flame cannot be quenched. Because it is, as Christ taught, everlasting punishment. The shame and everlasting contempt will not be from those in the Eternal State, it will be those who reject God's will and receive not the Life Christ came to bestow through belief in Him:


Daniel 12:1-2
King James Version

1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.


God bless.

 

[Kilk1]

I really like these meaningless argumentative posts. Was John talking about literal wheat in Matt 3:11-12? If not why would he be talking about literal chaff? Lay aside your assumptions/presuppositions and actually read the passage and perhaps you can comprehend what John was talking about.

Okay, it sounds like you agree then that the chaff and wheat aren't literal. I misunderstood. What do you believe they represent? When I read the passage, I've come to the conclusion that the wheat are the saved while the chaff are the lost. You seem to reach a different conclusion, so what do you think they represent?

Yes Rev. does say "no more sorrow, crying, or pain." But I seem to remember when Jesus talked about being thrown into a furnace and outer darkness where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Rev says the that the devil, the false prophet and beast will be thrown into the LOF where they "shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." From that, I believe that everybody/every thing thrown into the LOF will also be tormented day and night for ever and ever. I don't think it has a hot side and a cold side.
Once again there is not one vs. which says anything/anybody thrown into the LOF then they die.

There are many passages involving "wailing and gnashing of teeth." One of them is Matthew 13:36-43. In that passage, however, the tares are identified as "the sons of the wicked one" (Matthew 13:38, NKJV). What happens to them is that they'll be burned up/consumed (katakaio, Matthew 13:42, NKJV). Therefore, shouldn't the "wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 13:42, NKJV) be understood in light of the fact they're burned up/consumed (katakaio, Matthew 13:42, NKJV)?

As for no passages speaking of people in the lake of fire dying, what about Matthew 10:28? It says that men can kill only the body, not the soul. However, God can "destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). In fact, aren't the wages of sin death, contrasted with living eternally (Romans 6:23)?

 

[Kilk1]

Dead corpses have immortal spirits which suffer punishment as in the parable of Luke 16:19-31.

Eternal punishment is spiritual, but it is described in bodily terms for the understanding of mortals.

The passage is about the holding place between death and the final judgment, called Sheol in the OT and made up of Paradise (Bosom of Abraham) and Hades, it's not about eternity.

Okay, I think I might understand what you're saying now. Are you saying that Luke 16:19-31 demonstrates that immortal spirits don't die? If so, I get your point. Of course, since we agree that Luke 16:19-31 is not the eternal state, we can't deduce from it whether souls are immortal or not since they could be killed later.

However, there is a sense in which souls are immortal, at least from man's point of view. This is made clear in Matthew 10:28, in which we're told not to fear those who can kill only the body, not the soul. However, there is Someone outside of this category--God Himself. The verse tells us that, in contrast to man, God can "destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28, NKJV, emphasis added).

Would we agree that any immortality we may ascribe to the human soul doesn't override God's power?

 

[Kilk1]

The children of the evil one are indeed killed/annihilated. The question is what are the children of the evil one? Are they a group of people who are created by the devil?

In John the Baptist's statement it is clear that the wheat kernels and the chaff are parts of the same plant. In Jesus' parable, the wheat and the tares are different plants but both of them are parts of the kingdom of God. We know that all people are created by God. The devil does not create people, otherwise those people would have no chance of turning themselves into a different/good plant. He creates false opinions, delusions, sins in people. And this is likely what is meant by the tares.

Few people are completely righteous. Few people are purely evil. But the majority of people contain a mixture of goodness and wickedness. The good wheat is collected and the tares in the kingdom of God are consumed by fire. This view, rather than the view that Jesus was describing 2 types of people, is also supported by ancient Christian Fathers:

Parable of the Tares - Wikipedia

Falseness will be consumed in the lake of fire. Many may have to be saved through the fire, until they come to believe that God is their salvation. Will some souls be completely consumed? Perhaps if they do not have any goodness left. The article above is worth reading.

Okay, so might your position be that the children of the evil one are not people but sin in the abstract? In other words, do you see this passage in, perhaps, a universalist perspective, in which all sin will be burned away, making every person righteous, and, thus, saved? (Or maybe you believe that almost everyone will be saved since you said some may be "completely consumed" "if they do not have any goodness left.")

Do I seem to be understanding your view correctly?

 

[Andrewn]

Or maybe you believe that almost everyone will be saved since you said some may be "completely consumed" "if they do not have any goodness left."

Yes, this is my current position. It combines elements from the 3 positions that are commonly discussed as well as speculations about the nature of Hell.

 

[Der Alte]

Okay, it sounds like you agree then that the chaff and wheat aren't literal. I misunderstood. What do you believe they represent? When I read the passage, I've come to the conclusion that the wheat are the saved while the chaff are the lost. You seem to reach a different conclusion, so what do you think they represent?

Again assuming that Jesus meant what He said and said what He meant. Chaff is the outer husk of wheat, oats, barley etc. It is not edible it is threshed out and discarded usually burned. I understand it as that part of us that is not suitable, useful etc. and it has to be removed. Bad thoughts, bad ideas, old habits etc. OTOH tares are a completely different plant altogether.

 

[Clare73]

Okay, I think I might understand what you're saying now. Are you saying that Luke 16:19-31 demonstrates that immortal spirits don't die? If so, I get your point. Of course, since we agree that Luke 16:19-31 is not the eternal state, we can't deduce from it whether souls are immortal or not since they could be killed later.
However, there is a sense in which souls are immortal, at least from man's point of view. This is made clear in Matthew 10:28, in which we're told not to fear those who can kill only the body, not the soul. However, there is Someone outside of this category--God Himself. The verse tells us that, in contrast to man, God can "destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28, NKJV, emphasis added).

Would we agree that
any immortality we may ascribe to the human soul doesn't override God's power?

Wrong parameter. . .nothing is ever about God's power, everything is about God's will. . .in this case,
his will of 2 Corinthians 5:8; i.e., for the believer, the spirit's absence from the body is its presence with the Lord, not its death.

 

[DavidPT]

It also doesn't say it applies to people. It mentions only the devil, the beast and the false prophet.

To try and somewhat add to what you said, it's obvious to some of us that the judgment involving verse 10 is not the same judgment involving verses 11-15. Nowhere in verses 11-15 does it mention satan, the beast, and the false prophet, standing among the dead and being judged according to their works. Nowhere does it say in verses 11-15 that any of them that are cast into the LOF, they too shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. That's a major thing for John to have left out if it also applies to those in verses 11-15. That means he didn't bother mentioning it because it doesn't even apply to anyone in verses 11-15. It calls it the 2nd death in their case, not eternal torment instead.

 

[Kilk1]

Yes, this is my current position. It combines elements from the 3 positions that are commonly discussed as well as speculations about the nature of Hell.

Perhaps both wicked things and wicked people will be burned up. In Matthew 13:41-42, Jesus says, "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those [people] who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (NKJV, emphasis added). Would you agree with this observation, given your combination of all three positions?

 

[P1LGR1M]

It also doesn't say it applies to people. It mentions only the devil, the beast and the false prophet.

It doesn't have to mention it in every verse. We already see the fate of the Beast (Antichrist, a literal man) and the False Prophet (also a literal man):


Revelation 19:17-21
King James Version

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.


Everyone that goes into the Lake of Fire will be alive. Here, the Beast and False Prophet are the first human occupants we are told of going into the Lake of Fire, and this one thousand and seventy-five days before the Great White Throne Judgment.

Why would we think they receive any different accommodations than Satan?


Revelation 20:10
King James Version

10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.


Christ's teaching makes it clear there will be ongoing torment:


Matthew 13:41-43
King James Version

41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.


One will either go into the Kingdom of God (and in this Age it is necessary this happens while one is still alive) or they will not be found in the Book of Life and will be cast into the Lake of Fire.

The Gospels and the Epistles of the New Testament clarify that there are only two groups of people in this world: the lost and the saved.

Even the demons know this, and they know that their judgment will be torment, not annihilation:


Matthew 8:28-29
King James Version

28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?


God bless.