Lesson 20 revelation seminar lake of fire
- 1. 1 Revelation’sRevelation’s Lake of FireLake of Fire Lesson # 20Lesson # 20
- 2. Lake of Fire
- 3. 3 • Revelation in most graphic language repeatedly refers to the lake of fire, hell and the punishment of the unsaved. Fifteen times Jesus pointedly mentions the lake of fire so John will know that the fire is not a fable but rather a very necessary part of God’s plan to abolish sin and make the righteous safe for eternity.
- 4. 4 • However, grave problems confront many when they study the subject of hell in Revelation. Thinking people have been shocked to read that the unsaved will be “tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev. 20:10) because such words fill the mind with serious questions about God’s mercy and justice.
- 5. 5 • Are all the wickedAre all the wicked punished foreverpunished forever regardless of the degreeregardless of the degree and number of theirand number of their sins? Does a sinner whosins? Does a sinner who died three thousanddied three thousand years ago receive threeyears ago receive three thousand years morethousand years more punishment than onepunishment than one who dies today and is lostwho dies today and is lost for the same sin?for the same sin?
- 6. 6 • How can God get rid of sin if sinners are kept alive forever in a fire? In light of these questions this subject becomes one of exceeding great importance.
- 7. 7 • Millions have turned their backs on Jesus because of such teachings and others have said, “If God is like that, I hate Him!” The character and reputation of the omnipotent God of Heaven is at stake. Let us therefore examine carefully the Bible evidence.
- 8. 8 God’s Final Judgement • 1. When will the wicked be punished in the fire? 2 Peter 2:9 • “The Lord knoweth how to reservereserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished.”
- 9. 9 2. When is the judgement day? John 12:48; Matt. 13:40 - 42 • “As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of the world.” • “... word that I have spoken the same shall judge him in thein the last daylast day.”
- 10. 10 • Note: • Clearly the judgement day is the end of the world. We would not think of sending a person to prison until he was tried or judged. Neither will God punish people till they face Him in the final judgement before His throne at the end of the world.
- 11. 11 3. THOUGHT QUESTION: Since the wicked are not punished until the judgement day at the end of the world, how many souls are in hell now? • Answer: • ______________
- 12. 12 4. If the wicked do not go to hell at death where do they go? Job 21:30 - 32 • To the grave.
- 13. 13 • Note: • Jesus also plainly stated in John 5:28,29 that all who have died are in their graves until called forth by Him (Jesus) on the resurrection day. This is why we can be positive that not one single lost soul is in hell right now. Jesus says they are all in their graves!
- 14. 14 5. What rewards do the righteous and wicked receive? Rom. 6:23 • “The wages of sin is death … (the wicked) • the gift of God is eternal life.” (the righteous) Note: The righteous receive eternal life and the wicked receive death.
- 15. 15 6. Which death do the wicked receive in the fire? Rev. 21:8 • “… the second death.” Note: The difference in the first and second death is that there is no resurrection from the second death. It is final.
- 16. 16 7. Many say souls never die. What does God say? Eze. 18:4, 20 • “The soul that sinneth it shall die.” Note: So on God’s own authority souls that sin will receive death and not everlasting torment in the fire.
- 17. 17 God’s Fire Destroys SinGod’s Fire Destroys Sin • As we studied in a previous lesson, at the close of the 1000 years of Revelation 20, the Holy City comes down from God out of Heaven and settles upon the earth where the Mount of Olives now stands at Jerusalem.
- 18. 18 • The wicked of allThe wicked of all ages are then raisedages are then raised to life and satanto life and satan leads them in aleads them in a dramatic assaultdramatic assault upon the Holy Cityupon the Holy City in an attempt toin an attempt to capture it. As thecapture it. As the attack begins, fireattack begins, fire falls down fromfalls down from God out of heavenGod out of heaven upon the wicked.upon the wicked. This is the “hell” ofThis is the “hell” of the Biblethe Bible (review Rev. 20)..
- 19. 19 8. What does this fire do to the8. What does this fire do to the wicked?wicked? Rev. 20:9Rev. 20:9 • “Fire came down from God out of Heaven and destroyed them.” Elijah requested fire - it burned up / consumed even water!
- 20. 20 9. What does this fire do to the earth? 2 Peter 3:10 • “The elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up.”
- 21. 21 • Note:Note: • The fire will be the exact size of theThe fire will be the exact size of the earth because it is the earth on fire.earth because it is the earth on fire. The elements and the earth will meltThe elements and the earth will melt from the heat and everything on thefrom the heat and everything on the face of the earth will be burned up.face of the earth will be burned up.
- 22. 22 10. Describe the fire and what it does. Malachi 4:1 • The day will “burn as an oven”; • “All that do wickedly shall be stubble”; • It will “burn them up”; • “Leave them neither root nor branch”.
- 23. 23 • Strong’s Lexicon:Strong’s Lexicon: • Stubble – a dry stick; a twig; bush wood, fire wood or similar material used for fuel; of straw; chaff. • Adam Clarke”s Commentary:Adam Clarke”s Commentary: • “It shall leave them neither root nor branch” • “A proverbial expression for total destruction. Neither man nor child shall escape.”
- 24. 24 • Note:Note: • The wicked will burn like stubbleThe wicked will burn like stubble or dry grass, and the Bible saysor dry grass, and the Bible says they burn “up”. The little wordthey burn “up”. The little word “up” denotes completion.“up” denotes completion.
- 25. 25 11. Will the fire finally go out?11. Will the fire finally go out? Isaiah 47:14Isaiah 47:14 • ““Behold they shall be as stubble; the fireBehold they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them up; they shall not delivershall burn them up; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame;themselves from the power of the flame; there shall not be a coal to warm at, northere shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.”fire to sit before it.” ““Eternal Fire”Eternal Fire” Jude 1:7Jude 1:7
- 26. 26 • Note: • The fire burns them as stubble, but when the stubble is burned up the fire goes out and not even a coal is left glowing. Isaiah 47 uses symbols and language very similar to that of Revelation 16 - 19, and for very good reason: both refer to the punishment and destruction of spiritual Babylon. Lesson 21 takes up a full study of spiritual Babylon.
- 27. 27 12. What is left when the fire12. What is left when the fire goes out?goes out? Mal. 4:3Mal. 4:3 • Only “ashes” remain.
- 28. 28 13. The wicked will not be found. Why? Psalm 37:10, 20 • “Into smoke shall they consume away.”
- 29. 29 • Note: • The wicked will not be found because in hell they went up in smoke. It would be easy to find the wicked if they were screaming for mercy somewhere in hell, but David says that is not so.
- 30. 30 God’s Justice Complete • 14. How long will the wicked • suffer in the fire? Rev. 22:12 • ““To give every man accordingTo give every man according as his works shall be.”as his works shall be.”
- 31. 31 • Note:Note: • Jesus says He willJesus says He will reward or punishreward or punish all according toall according to their works ortheir works or conduct. Some willconduct. Some will suffer longer thansuffer longer than others, but soon,others, but soon, all are turned toall are turned to ashes and the fireashes and the fire goes out.goes out.
- 32. 32 • Jesus will handle the destruction ofJesus will handle the destruction of hell fire quickly. Being destroyed inhell fire quickly. Being destroyed in hell is not the great tragedy of sin.hell is not the great tragedy of sin. TheThe great tragedy of sin is missing heavengreat tragedy of sin is missing heaven and an eternity with Jesusand an eternity with Jesus..
- 33. 33 15. What happens to the devil15. What happens to the devil in the fire?in the fire? Eze. 28:18 • Satan is turned “to ashes upon the earth.”Satan is turned “to ashes upon the earth.” • Note:Note: Satan is reduced to ashes in theSatan is reduced to ashes in the fire and his existence ends. God says tofire and his existence ends. God says to the devil inthe devil in Eze. 28:19, “, “Never shaltNever shalt thou be anymorethou be anymore.” Also, see.” Also, see Rev. 20:10..
- 34. 34 16. Will people enter the fire bodily or as spirits? Matt. 5:30 • Answer: bodily • “… thy whole body should be cast in hell.” • Note: People will enter hell “alive”and in bodily form with eyes, hands and feet. The picture is of real live human beings being destroyed by fire (Rev. 19:20).
- 35. 35 17. Does the soul burn forever and is only the body destroyed? Matt. 10:28. • “Fear Him which is able to destroy both body and soul in hell.” • Answer: No
- 36. 36 • Note: Everything that comprises a person: his intelligence, personality, life and all else that makes him an individual will be destroyed in the fire. Both soul and body represents the total being.
- 37. Satan Misrepresents GodSatan Misrepresents God • The tragedy is that God has been given the ignominious credit for establishing the teaching of eternal torment. But we have seen today that He taught something entirely different.
- 38. 38 18. What is Job’s Question Regarding God’s Justice? Job 4:17 • “Shall mortal man be more just than God? • Note: • Could you stand to see your child burn for even one hour for a terrible crime? Of course not. Eternal torment is not a part of God’s great plan. Such a teaching has made God-haters and infidels of many people through the centuries. Such teaching is slander on the holy name of God!
- 39. 39 19. For whom did God plan the19. For whom did God plan the fires of hell?fires of hell? Matt. 25:41.Matt. 25:41. • “The devil and his angels.”
- 40. 40 • Note:Note: • God prepared hell to destroy sin, satanGod prepared hell to destroy sin, satan and his angels. All who have rejectedand his angels. All who have rejected God’s grace will be destroyed in hell. GodGod’s grace will be destroyed in hell. God lovingly pleads with us daily to let Himlovingly pleads with us daily to let Him remove sin from our lives, but He will notremove sin from our lives, but He will not force us.force us.
- 41. God’s LoveGod’s Love VindicatedVindicated • 20. What is God’s act of destroying20. What is God’s act of destroying people called?people called? Isaiah 28:21Isaiah 28:21 • ““His strange work … His strangeHis strange work … His strange act.”act.” 1 John 4:81 John 4:8
- 42. 42 • Note:Note: • Jesus came to saveJesus came to save people. Destroyingpeople. Destroying even those who hateeven those who hate Him is contrary to HisHim is contrary to His nature. That is why itnature. That is why it is called His strangeis called His strange act. He is not willingact. He is not willing that any shouldthat any should perish,perish, 2 Peter 3:92 Peter 3:9.. God’s great heart willGod’s great heart will be torn asunder whenbe torn asunder when He is forced to destroyHe is forced to destroy those whom He dearlythose whom He dearly loves.loves.
- 43. 43 21. When God’s New Kingdom21. When God’s New Kingdom Comes What Happens?Comes What Happens? Rev. 21:4Rev. 21:4 • “The former things are passed away.”
- 44. 44 • Note:Note: • The former things include “hell”. God’sThe former things include “hell”. God’s plan is to completely rid the Universe ofplan is to completely rid the Universe of evil. An eternal hell would perpetuate sinevil. An eternal hell would perpetuate sin and evil and make it impossible to everand evil and make it impossible to ever forget it.forget it.
- 45. 45 22. Why should I serve Jesus? John 14:23,24 • Because • I • love • Him.
- 46. 46 • Note: • No one will be in Heaven because they were afraid of hell. People will be in Heaven because they loved Jesus first, last and always. And those who love Jesus will have no need to fear hell (1 John 4:8).
- 47. 47 23. Will sin ever rise up23. Will sin ever rise up againagain?? Nahum 1:9Nahum 1:9 • “Affliction shall not rise up the second time.” • Note:Note: • Praise God! Never again will affliction raise its ugly head! • Praise the Lord!
- 48. 48 24. What will God do after sin and24. What will God do after sin and sinners are destroyed?sinners are destroyed? Isa. 65:17, 2 Peter 3:13, Rev. 21:3Isa. 65:17, 2 Peter 3:13, Rev. 21:3 • ““Behold, I create New Heavens and aBehold, I create New Heavens and a New Earth: and the former shall notNew Earth: and the former shall not be remembered nor come into mind.”be remembered nor come into mind.” • “ …“ … wherein dwelleth righteousness.”wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
- 49. 49 • Note:Note: • This is wonderful!This is wonderful! Fantastic! God moves inFantastic! God moves in with His people on thewith His people on the New Earth. EverythingNew Earth. Everything that Adam and Eve lostthat Adam and Eve lost will be restored – andwill be restored – and more (more (Acts 3:19,21)!)! God’s people will at longGod’s people will at long last have found joylast have found joy unspeakable without end!unspeakable without end!
- 50. 50 Jesus invites you into HisJesus invites you into His fabulous new kingdom. Havefabulous new kingdom. Have you accepted that invitation?you accepted that invitation?
- 51. 51 Please read Revelation chapters 17 and 18 in preparation for lesson # 21