Bible Questions and Answers

Can you explain Revelation 20:14?

• Revelation 20:14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation describes events symbolically. The lake of fire represents complete destruction.

The event takes place at the end of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ over the mortal population of the earth. There is a second resurrection and final judgment. Those accepted are given eternal life, those rejected are condemned to die again — hence the second death. All who live on after this final judgment will possess the divine nature.

• 2 Peter 1:4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Thus, there will be no more death, and hades — graves — will be no longer required, so both have an end — signified by being symbolically cast into a non-literal lake of fire representing complete destruction.

• Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes."
• 1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.
• Revelation 21:4 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.

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless,
Glenn