Revelation 21:8; But the Fearful, and Unbelieving

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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. 

The cowardly one would not, of course, admit that he is timorous, but would hide his timidity by claiming his behaviour stemmed from “reverence” rather than cowardice.

The term describes the type “who draw back” to perdition in Hebrews 10:38-39 (Lee, Bullinger).

Hebrews 10:38-39 (KJV)  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. 

These are people who have never taken to heart the words of Jesus which said, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” (Mark 8:35) (Mounce)

God has not given His people a spirit of cowardice (2 Timothy 1:7). (Morris)

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

The term “unbelieving” means “unfaithful” and “untrustworthy” in this series. These are a contrast to Christ, “the faithful one” (Revelation 1:5; cf. 2:10, 13; 3:14; 17:14; 19:11).

Revelation 1:5 (KJV)  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 

Revelation 2:10 (KJV)  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Revelation 2:13 (KJV)  I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Revelation 3:14 (KJV)  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Revelation 17:14 (KJV)  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. 

Revelation 19:11 (KJV)  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 

Disloyalty is closely related to “cowardice” All cowards are unbelieving and not all unbelieving are cowards. People break their loyalty to Christ for more reasons than just cowardice (eg. fornication). (Moffatt)

In Paul’s epistles “unbelieving” refers to non-Christians (1 Corinthians 6:6; 7:12, 10:27; 14:22, 2 Corinthians 6:14-15), but in this situation it applies to professing Christians who by act or word deny their faith in Christ (Swete).

1 Corinthians 6:6 (KJV)  But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 

1 Corinthians 7:12 (KJV)  But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 

1 Corinthians 10:27 (KJV)  If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 

1 Corinthians 14:22 (KJV)  Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 (KJV)  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody 1995, 451]