Revelation 19:20; Lake of Fire Burning With Brimstone

Revelation 19:20 (KJV)  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 

The lake of fire burning with brimstone culminates a long series of traditions regarding the destiny of the lost. (eg. Isaiah 66:24).

Isaiah 66:24 (KJV)  And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. 

This explains the presence of the definite articles in the Greek title “the lake of fire” even though this is the first occurrence of the expression in the entire Bible.

“Of fire” is a descriptive characterizing the lake. The same term “gennena” described in Matthew 5:22.

Matthew 5:22 (KJV)  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

This lake differs from the “bottomless pit” of Revelation 9:1; 20:1 as the final abode of Satan, the beast, the false prophet, and wicked men, not a temporary place of confinement for fallen angels.

Revelation 9:1 (KJV)  And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 

Revelation 20:1 (KJV)  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 

“Gehenna” sometimes rendered “hell” in Matthew 10:28; Mark 9:43; James 3:6 refers to this same eternal destiny as does “everlasting fire” in Matthew 25:41.

Matthew 10:28 (KJV)  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Mark 9:43 (KJV)  And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

James 3:6 (KJV)  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 

Matthew 25:41 (KJV)  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Consignment to the lake of fire does not mean annihilation; after the thousand years the beast and false prophet are still there when Satan is put there (Revelation 20:10).

Revelation 20:10 (KJV)  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 

The figure of a burning lake is God’s chosen imagery for visualising eternity separated from Him. One should remember that figures of speech are always less than the reality, not more!

“Brimstone” is a yellow sulphurous material that is combustible in air and is found in a natural state in volcanic areas such as in the valley of the Dead Sea (Mounce). Along with fire, it speaks of indescribable torment (cf. Revelation 14:8; 20:10; 21:8) (Scott).

Revelation 14:8 (KJV)  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 

Revelation 20:10 (KJV)  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 

Revelation 21:8 (KJV)  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody 1995, 398-399]