Revelation 20:14-15
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
It's easy to think of the lake of fire as just a place for people, but here, even Death and Hades themselves—the ultimate powers that hold sway over our physical lives and the realm of the departed—are thrown into it. This shows that the lake of fire isn't just a punishment, but the ultimate abolition of everything that opposes God's eternal reign, even the very concepts of dying and being separated from Him.
This verse marks the ultimate defeat of death and the grave as personified enemies of God. Following the final judgment where everyone is evaluated according to their deeds and recorded destiny, Death and Hades themselves are thrown into the lake of fire. This signifies that the very concept of physical death and the realm of departed spirits will cease to exist in their current forms, as all will face either eternal life or this definitive "second death."
What happens to death itself when all things are made new? Revelation shows that even death and Hades aren't spared.
The verse declares that 'Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.' This is a powerful image of complete annihilation for the very concepts and realms that have caused so much suffering and separation.
Enemies Abolished
Death, as the separation of soul and body, and Hades, the realm of the dead, are personified as enemies of God and His people. By casting them into the lake of fire, the text assures us that their power is utterly broken. They are not merely defeated; they are destroyed forever.
A New Reality
This action signifies the dawning of a new reality where physical death and the temporary state of the departed cease to exist. As one commentator notes, 'The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.' This isn't just a change; it's the eradication of concepts that defined so much of human experience and fear.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Revelation 20:14-15 is available in the Sola app.
The verse calls the lake of fire the 'second death.' What makes it distinct from the first, physical death?
The text explicitly states, 'This is the second death, the lake of fire.' This 'second death' is not the same as the physical death experienced in this life—the separation of the soul from the body.
Eternal Separation
The 'first death' is temporary, from which resurrection is possible. The 'second death,' however, represents eternal, irreversible separation from God. It's a state of final condemnation and ruin for those whose names are not found in the book of life.
Not Extinction, But Agony
Importantly, this 'second death' does not imply the extinction of existence. Rather, it describes a state of perpetual agony and alienation from God. While the first death affects the body in time, the second death involves both body and soul in eternal destruction, marking the ultimate penalty for sin.
Understand the original words
limnē tou pyros · Greek Noun Phrase
The symbol of ultimate, eternal separation from God’s presence, representing the final punishment for sin and rebellion against the Creator. It is described as the place of the 'second death.'
deuteros thanatos · Greek Noun Phrase
The final and irreversible state of spiritual separation from God, which occurs after physical death for those who remain in their sin and outside of God's saving grace.
This passage describes death as the 'last enemy' to be abolished, which directly parallels Revelation's depiction of Death and Hades being thrown into the lake of fire, signifying death's ultimate defeat.
Revelation 2:11This verse introduces the concept of the 'second death,' which is explicitly identified in Revelation 20:14 as the lake of fire, showing the consistent theological development of this theme within the book.
Romans 6:23The 'wages of sin is death,' and this verse speaks of both the 'death' that separates from God and the eternal consequence, aligning with the idea of a final, irreversible 'second death' beyond physical demise.
Luke 16:23The parable of the rich man and Lazarus depicts Hades as a place of torment for the departed, illustrating the state of those who face the judgment described in Revelation, even before the final casting into the lake of fire.
Matthew 25:41Jesus describes the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, which directly connects to the 'lake of fire' in Revelation, highlighting the eternal destiny for those who reject God's salvation.
ellicottRevelation 20:14: "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."
(14, 15) And death and hell were cast . . . —Better, And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. The latter part of the verse contains, according to the best MS. authority, the additional words “the lake of fire.” We then read, not “This is the second death”—as though the reference were to what went before—but, This is the second death, the lake of fire. The last verse then follows, And if…
clarkeRevelation 20:14: "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."
And death and hell were cast into the lake - Death himself is now abolished, and the place for separate spirits no longer needful. All dead bodies and separated souls being rejoined, and no more separation of bodies and souls by death to take place, consequently the existence of these things is no farther necessary. This is the second death - The first death consisted in the separation of the soul…
It's easy to think of the lake of fire as just a place for people, but here, even Death and Hades themselves—the ultimate powers that hold sway over our physical lives and the realm of the departed—are thrown into it. This shows that the lake of fire isn't just a punishment, but the ultimate abolition of everything that opposes God's eternal reign, even the very concepts of dying and being separated from Him.
This verse marks the ultimate defeat of death and the grave as personified enemies of God. Following the final judgment where everyone is evaluated according to their deeds and recorded destiny, Death and Hades themselves are thrown into the lake of fire. This signifies that the very concept of physical death and the realm of departed spirits will cease to exist in their current forms, as all will face either eternal life or this definitive "second death."
This verse marks the ultimate defeat of death and the grave as personified enemies of God. Following the final judgment where everyone is evaluated according to their deeds and recorded destiny, Death and Hades themselves are thrown into the lake of fire. This signifies that the very concept of physical death and the realm of departed spirits will cease to exist in their current forms, as all will face either eternal life or this definitive "second death."
"Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." — It's easy to think of the lake of fire as just a place for people, but here, even Death and Hades themselves—the ultimate powers that hold sway over our physical lives and the realm of the departed—a…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
