The Millennuim - (Part 5)

At the conclusion of the 1,000 years, when the holy city descends from heaven, the saints will descend to as well. It is at that time that the "lake of fire" is presented. The lake of fire more commonly known as “hell” has been described in various forms throughout history. The media presents hell as a place surrounded by walls of fire and home to the devil. Moreover, hell is presented as the place where the wicked are sent to suffer for all eternity. But this is not what Scripture tells us.

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 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 20:6-10

First, I stress that the Bible often presents the same event in different ways. For example, chapters 2, 7, 8 and 11 of Daniel and Revelation chapter 13 present the same prophecies or parts of the same prophecy.

I mention this because the apostle John uses terms ways to describe the final destruction of Satan and the wicked. All whose names are not in found the book of life will face the second death.

What a contrast to those who were raised at the first resurrection! The righteous were clothed with immortal youth and beauty. The wicked bear the traces of disease and death.*

The wicked will surround the beloved city, but God will consume them with fire from heaven. Finally, the devil is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone along with the beast and the false prophet. Furthermore, they "will be tormented day and night forever and ever".

Parallel to the preceding verses the apostle John describes this event again.
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14-15

I ask, can death and Hades actually be cast into the lake of fire? The apostle John clarifies that the lake of fire is the second death! In other words all of the following descriptions are of the eternal death.

The second death

Devouring fire from heaven

Lake of fire and brimstone

Hell

Will Satan, the wicked, the false prophet, the beast, death and Hades burn forever and ever? In reality, the Bible tells us that they shall be destroyed completely, but its consequences will be eternal. The will cease to exists forever and ever! The Bible states this fact several times.

Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, And the rocks are thrown down by Him. The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its place, and darkness will pursue His enemies. What do you conspire against the LORD? He will make an utter end of it. Affliction will not rise up a second time. Nahum 1:6-9

You defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities, by the iniquity of your trading; therefore I brought fire from your midst; it devoured you, and I turned you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who saw you… All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; you have become a horror, and shall be no more forever. Ezekiel 28:18, 19

For evildoers shall be cut off…For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more. Psalm 37:9-10

But the wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the LORD, like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away…But those cursed by Him shall be cut off... But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off. Psalm 37:20-22, 38

For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. “And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the LORD of hosts, that will leave them neither root nor branch. Malachi 4:1

Behold, they shall be as stubble, the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame; it shall not be a coal to be warmed by, nor a fire to sit before! Isaiah 47:14

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Revelation 21:8

The Lord does not want anyone to perish.
Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live... Ezekiel 33:11

But the wages of sin is death. In order for us to be eternally happy the Lord must destroy sin together with its results forever. There will not be an eternal fire, but the consequences of the second death will be eternal.

The righteous will receive the great reward. At the end of the 1,000 years after the holy city descends and the Lord destroys sin forever we will inherit the new heavens and new earth. Finally, we will live with Jesus and our loved ones in eternal happiness.

But those who wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth... But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace... The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever. Psalms 37:9, 11, 29

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. Revelation 21:1-7

The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.*

JESUS IS COMING!

* For a more detailed description of this event read - The Great Controversy, "The Controversy Ended", Ellen g. White