Revelation 21:8; Which Is the Second Death
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.
Instead of placing these unforgiven sinners – in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, Revelation 21:15 simply locates them “outside”, meaning outside the city.
Revelation 22:15 (KJV) For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
The lake of fire as a picture for human penalty reverts to the judicial severity expressed in the Old Testament (Isaiah 34:10; 66:24; Daniel 7:10; cf. Revelation 14:11; 19:3). (Lee)
Isaiah 34:10 (KJV) It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.
Daniel 7:10 (KJV) A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
Revelation 14:11 (KJV) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Revelation 19:3 (KJV) And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
Brimstone mixed wit fire is a well-known instrument of God’s wrath, probably originating with the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24; cf. Psalm 11:6; Isaiah 30:33; Ezekiel 38:22; Revelation 14:10; 19:20) (Beckwith).
Genesis 19:24 (KJV) Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
Psalm 11:6 (KJV) Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
Isaiah 30:33 (KJV) For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.
Ezekiel 38:22 (KJV) And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
Revelation 14:10 (KJV) The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
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.
As in Revelation 20:14, the lake of fire equates the “second death” (cf. Revelation 14:10; 20:6).
Revelation 20:14 (KJV) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Revelation 20:6 (KJV) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
These are the last words of the One sitting upon the throne, but yet to come from the lips of Jesus are, among other things, the sublime appeal of Revelation 21:17 and the glorious benediction of Revelation 22:21. (Lee)
Revelation 21:17 (KJV) And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
Revelation 22:21 (KJV) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
[Robert L, Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 453]