The Lake of Fire

     The Greek word for ‘lake’ limne is synonymous with Gehenna and in the present context means ‘a lake of burning sulphur.’

     During the rapidly approaching 70^th week, the fate of those who have denied Christ, but worship the anti-Christ is described.

     “…he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God…He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone…and the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night.” 

Revelation 14:9-11

     Thus the common elements of Gehenna are confirmed: eternal torment with fire and brimstone with no rest day or night.

     When Christ returns to earth to defeat the anti-Christ and false prophet, the two of them are cast into the lake of fire.  The rest of those killed will be resurrected to stand before the great white throne judgment and then join the anti-Christ and false prophet. 

     “Then the beast (anti-Christ) was captured, and with him the false prophet…These two were cast alive into the lake of fire... And the rest were killed with the sword…”  Revelation 19:20-21

     During the millennial kingdom Satan is locked in the bottomless pit.  He will be released at the end of the 1000 years to make a final attempt to deceive those on earth in natural bodies.

     He is devoured quickly with fire from heaven.

     “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are.  And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”  Revelation 20:10

     Therefore, the anti-Christ, the false prophet, and the devil himself will be tormented (tortured) forever.

     The souls of those who died in their sins are in hell (Hades).  When resurrected, they will stand before the great white throne.  Those whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life will also be cast into the lake of fire.

     “…and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them.  And they were judged, each one according to his works.  Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:13-14

     “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:15

     The lake of fire was not created for God’s highest creation, i.e. man.  It was not God’s will that any should perish.

     When Jesus returns to earth He will gather all survivors of the tribulation before Him.

     “…and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.  And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.”  Matthew 25:32-33

    

     All will be judged on how they cared for Jesus during His absence.  Jesus told those on His right that they had fed Him when He was hungry, gave Him drink when He was thirsty, provided hospitality and lodging, provided clothing when He had need, and visited Him while in prison.

     The sheep questioned Jesus as to when they had done the things He listed, and His response:

     “…Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”  Matthew 25:38

     All who commit to Christ are His brethren.  Therefore, when a person shows compassion to one of Christ’s brethren they are in essence showing compassion for Christ Himself.

     Likewise when anyone neglects Christ’s brethren, they are in essence rejecting Christ.

     The reward for those who loved Christ’s brethren?

     “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”  Matthew 25:34

     And the punishment for those who neglected Christ’s brethren?

     “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels…and these will go away into everlasting punishment…”  Matthew 25:41, 46

     In summary, the lake of fire (Gehenna) is eternal punishment for unrepentant man which was prepared for the devil and his angels. 

     Conversely, the eternal kingdom for believers was specifically prepared for them from the foundation of the world.

     There is no such thing as cessation of being for anyone.  Everlasting consciousness is the fate for all mankind.

    

    

    

Annihilation for the Wicked, or...

     The city of Tophet in the Valley of Hinnom has been given a much more comprehensive meaning after atrocities such as killing innocent children were performed there.  Such acts were vehemently condemned by God.

     The meaning of Tophet was changed from a place of suffering of the innocent to a place of perpetual suffering for those causing the suffering, or in fact, any transgression against God.

     Tophet in the Old Testament was renamed Gehenna in the New Testament with the expanded meaning of an eternal place of fire and brimstone.

     Gehenna was now the final destination of the wicked after the great white throne judgment.

     The punishment in Gehenna involved both the body and the soul.  Jesus spoke often of Gehenna and described it in detail.

   When speaking of repentance from sin:

     “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell (Gehenna).”  Mathew 5:28-29 

     Shortly thereafter, Jesus confirmed that a much more serious problem was to lose both body and soul.

     “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 (Gehenna).” Matthew 10:28

     When the wicked dies, their soul departs into hell (Hades) while the body rots in the grave.  However, the wicked are resurrected, first to stand before the great white throne, and then to be cast into eternal torment.

     Daniel in the Old Testament confirmed the resurrection of the wicked as he was describing end time events.

     “And many (all) of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.”  Daniel 12:2

      The Hebrew word ‘shame’ means ‘reproach’ or ‘scorn.’  Everlasting means ‘without end.’  Contempt means ‘abomination’ or ‘abhorrence.’

     Therefore, the wicked are not only resurrected, but are then condemned to everlasting punishment.

     Jesus confirmed that significant fact.

     “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”  John 5:28-29

     Thus resurrection is universal.

     Judgment is most often expressed and accompanied with fire.  Such describes Gehenna.

     “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 (Gehenna), into the fire that shall never be quenched – where ‘their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’” Mark 9:43-44

     Jesus quoted Isaiah confirming the perpetuity of Gehenna with worms and fire.

     Jesus in another way described the conscious suffering of those condemned to Gehenna. 

     “Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.  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.  There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”  Matthew 13:40-42

     And Jesus described the fate of those who claimed physical lineage of Abraham as their salvation. 

     One who places their trust in the Messiah is of the spiritual seed of Abraham.  Recall the faith of the Roman centurion who trusted Jesus to heal his servant.  Jesus marveled at the centurion’s faith.

   “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of Heaven. But the sons of the kingdom (physical Jews only) will be cast out into outer darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  Matthew 8:11-12

     Thus the Bible reveals that annihilation is not the fate of unrepentant mankind.  Gehenna involves eternal suffering, outer darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth, perpetual worms and unquenchable fire.

     Next we’ll examine Gehenna and the ‘lake of fire.’

    

    

    

Sin City near Jerusalem

     During the time of Joshua, when the boundaries for the tribes of Israel were determined, the area for Judah was defined.  Part of that area was defined thusly:

     “…And the border went up by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom to the southern slope of the Jebusite city (which is Jerusalem).  The border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the Valley of Hinnom westward…”  Joshua 15:8

     ‘Valley of Hinnom’ was expressed in Hebrew as ‘ga-Hinnom’ named after a Jebusite family.

     Several Judean kings, namely Ahaz and Manesseh did abominable things in that place.

     “He (Ahaz) burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.”

2 Chronicles 28:3

     Ahaz preceded his father Hezekiah, while Hezekiah’s son Manasseh also indulged in such atrocities.

     “Also he (Manasseh) caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom…” 2 Chronicles 33:6

     In the Valley of Hinnom was a town named Tophet. 

     Two years after the reign of Manasseh, God appointed Josiah to rule over Judah.  Recall Josiah was called by name centuries before his birth.  He was used by God to restore obedience in Israel.

     “And he (Josiah) defiled Topheth (Tophet), which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter pass through the fire to Molech.”  2 Kings 23:10

     However, even after Josiah’s efforts to rid the evil in Tophet, Jehoiakim who succeeded Josiah, reverted back to the evil practice.

     As a result of Judah returning to the way of their fathers, God issued a stern warning.

     “Behold, I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them…So do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them…”  Jeremiah 11:11, 14

     Because of the abominable practice of sacrificing small children to the pagan god Molech in Tophet in the Valley of Hinnom, God condemned Tophet and proclaimed He would use it for an example of the total depravity of the Israelites.  Such would become known as the final destination for evil man.

     “And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into My heart.  ‘Therefore behold, the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘ when it will no more be called Tophet, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter; for they will bury in Tophet until there is no room.’” 

Jeremiah 7:31-32

     Synonyms for ‘slaughter’ include ‘kill’ and ‘murder.’

     The ‘Valley of Slaughter’ would take on a different perspective, i.e. instead of being the place where innocent children were offered; it would become the place where the slaughterers would be destined throughout eternity.

     An intended holy ‘religious’ site would become a desecrated place for the unclean.

     Isaiah told of God’s eternal purpose for Tophet when He advised the king of Assyria that he would experience the everlasting fires of Tophet.

     “For Tophet was established of old, Yes, for the king it is prepared.  He has made it deep and large…the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, kindles it.”  Isaiah 30:33

     The final words of Isaiah speak of the new heavens and new earth.  However, the final verse of his prophecy speaks of the eternal future of those who would not recognize and worship God.

     “And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me.  For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched.  They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.” Isaiah 66:24

     The punishment for the transgressors would have no end.  They would be tormented with worms (maggots) and fire throughout eternity.

          The Hebrew ga-Hinnom becomes the Greek Gehenna. 

    

    

The Law that Cannot be Amended

     The setting is 1445 BC.  God had just delivered His chosen nation from Egyptian bondage.

     “In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt…they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.”  Exodus 19:1

     It was at Mount Sinai that God spoke to Moses reminding him it was He (God) who had just delivered Israel from slavery on eagles’ wings.  He proclaimed Israel would be a special people, above all people on the earth, if they would obey His voice. 

     God then announced He would reveal His law, i.e. standard of righteousness, to the fledging nation. 

     Moses relayed God’s word to the people, and their response:

     “Then all the people answered together…‘All that the LORD has spoken we will do.’”  Exodus 19:8

     Thus the Ten Commandments were given.  The ‘law’ actually began with the Passover several months earlier.  Recall God told the people the Passover was an ordinance that was to be celebrated perpetually.  The Hebrew for ‘ordinance’ is synonymous with ‘law.’

     It needs to be understood that when the term ‘Moses’ Law’ is used it means God’s law given through Moses.

     The last verse in the book of Leviticus:

     “These are the commandments which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel on Mount Sinai.”  Leviticus 27:34

     Then forty years after the Exodus, just before crossing the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land, Moses reminded the people of the importance of obedience.

     “Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess.  Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’”  Deuteronomy 4:5-6

     Israel was chosen to represent God’s standard of righteousness to all the nations on earth.  Their relationship to God and obedience to His statutes would cause all nations to look to Israel with great emulation.

     And then approximately 800 years after the law was given at Mount Sinai, in the last book in the Old Testament, obedience was again emphasized. 

     “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb (Sinai) for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.”  Malachi 4:4

     Approximately 400 years later on God’s predetermined time line, His Son Jesus walked on the earth.  Very early in Jesus’ initial earthly mission He made an extremely profound proclamation.

     “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”  Matthew 5:17   

     Several significant words in His statement need to be examined closely.

     The Greek word for ‘destroy’ in the present context means to ‘dissolve,’  ‘overthrow,’ or ‘abolish.’

     In fact as Jesus continued His statement about the law, He said:

     “…whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 5:19b

     After Jesus said that His purpose was not to destroy the law, He added that He had come to fulfill the law.

     The Greek word for ‘fulfill’ means to ‘complete,’ and ‘perfect.’

     “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will be no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” 

Matthew 5:18

     Heaven and earth will never pass away (perish); they will be restored and remain forever, as will God’s righteous standard for His highest creation.

     Every detail and every word spoken by the prophets will be fulfilled in finite detail.

     Jesus’ mission was to fulfill the law in its entirety. 

     The Christians in Galatia had difficulty in placing total faith in the gift of grace without some level of performance on their part.

     “Therefore the law was our tutor (schoolmaster) to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”  Galatians 3:24

     The law revealed God’s immutable standard of righteousness which no man could attain.  Only faith in the Son of God who fulfilled the law by obeying it fully, can one be justified.

Biblical Revelations of God's Righteousness are Sufficient

     We’ll see that there are more than enough revelations of God’s remedy for fallen man, which leave man without excuse.

     “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’  But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.” 

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

     Unregenerate man cannot comprehend God’s righteousness; however, God has revealed such truth to those who love Him through His Spirit.  Such truths God had ‘prepared’ which means ‘appointed’ or ‘predisposed’ from eternity past.

     Paul expounds on such wonderful truths in his letter to the church at Ephesus.

     “…how by revelation He made known to me the mystery…which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit…”  Ephesians 3:3, 5

     A ‘mystery’ is something that had been hidden but now ‘revealed.’  A mystery can be further defined as something that existed in ages past and has since been unveiled at the predetermined time.

     God doesn’t reveal all His thinking, but a sufficient amount so that man can comprehend His counsel, or plan.  God keeps to Himself details and timing.

     “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.  For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.”  1 Thessalonians 5:1-2

     And when Jesus was about to ascend to His Father and His disciples inquired as to when He would restore His kingdom, He replied:

     “…It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.”  Acts 1:7

     And remember Moses’ proclamation:

     “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever…” 

Deuteronomy 29:20

     One of the beautiful aspects of the Bible is the revelation of future things. 

     “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants – things which must shortly take place…”  Revelation 1:1

     God the Father revealed to His Son the future of the world, and the Son was instructed to share such revelations with us by His angel through the apostle John.

     The word ‘show’ in the above verse is very similar to reveal.  Synonyms include ‘disclose,’ ‘declare,’ ‘proclaim,’ and ‘announce.’

     Up to this point in the Bible, Jesus has been portrayed as the Passover Lamb; however, in the final book in the Bible Jesus is revealed as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.  The world will experience the Jesus they never imagined.

     Note also that the things that will shortly take place are a ‘must’ meaning of necessity.

     The same point is made immediately after the church age is addressed, i.e.:

     “…Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”  Revelation 4:1

     Let’s now address the point that man has no excuse to claim not to know God; His goodness or His wrath.

     “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.”  Romans 1:18-19

     Paul went on to say that there is no excuse for anyone to reject God after they have witnessed creation.

    

     “For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”  Romans 1:20

     In addition men are born with a conscience whereby they can innately differentiate between good and evil.

     However, the final revelation of God is Jesus.

     “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past…by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…”

Hebrews 1:1-3    

     God’s presence and word are more than sufficient to speak to man’s heart so that he humbles himself before his Creator.