The lake of fire is
the final place of eternal punishment
described in the book of Revelation.
It is the ultimate destination of
the devil, the beast, the false prophet,
and all whose names are not found written
in the Book of Life.
Scripture also identifies the lake of fire as the second death.
The lake of fire appears only in the book of Revelation:
Scripture presents the lake of fire as:
The lake of fire is prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41), yet those who reject Christ will also share in it.
It is important to distinguish the lake of fire from Hades:
| Aspect | Hades | Lake of Fire |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Intermediate state | Final, eternal punishment |
| Duration | Temporary | Forever |
| Occupants | Unrighteous dead (temporarily) | Devil, beast, false prophet, all the unrighteous |
| End | Emptied and destroyed | Continues eternally |
Hades is temporary; the lake of fire is the final destination.
The lake of fire is one of the most sobering realities in Scripture. It is the final expression of God’s just judgment against Satan, his forces, and all who refuse the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. At the same time, the gospel offers full deliverance from this judgment. Those who trust in Christ have their names written in the Book of Life and will never experience the lake of fire.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.