My interpretation of the Lake of Fire

[awakeningaletheia]

I remember reading on here somewhere that someone wanted a rebuttle to the tradition concept of the LoF. Well I believe the Holy Spirit has shown me a really exciting connection and I want you guy to be the first ones to read. Anyway here it is...

The Lake of Fire and Sulfur

I have been thinking lately what the Lake of Fire could be. Many people seem to forget that it is a Lake of Fire and Sulfur, and they haven't a clue about what sulfur is. It is not just a scary sounding word, and it is not just for keeping the fire going. As Boyd C. Purcell [1] explains sulfur,

"'Brimstone,' an outdated word for sulfur, was widely known in the ancient world for its medicinal use and fumigation properties. Sulfur was a multi-purpose medication used internally and externally. A sulfur paste would cure body sores. People burned sulfur to disinfest their homes of mice and various insects and to disinfect their homes after a person died of an infectious disease. They also burned sulfur to purify and preserve produce. Saints burned sulfur to symbolize prayers of purification. Every way sulfur was used had a beneficial meaning."

It is a word that denotes purification and is the same word that Paul uses in Acts 17:29 to explain the Divine(sulfur) Nature of God. Therefore we can translate it as the Lake of Divine Purifying Fire. In addition the word used for torture in the Lake of Fire passages is always Basanos, or touch-stone(d). To touch-stone was to test something, mainly metals, to see their value. In the instance of the Lake of Fire we can see that the wicked are being tested as a metal is tested, it is purposeful. These two words show that the Lake of Fire is not endless in duration, because why would John use such clear words for purification, if the end result is not to receive again the cleansed? It is clear then that the Lake of Fire is most certainly not eternal. Furthermore the word used in Revelation 14 and 20 for forever is 'aion', and we know that aion does not denote eternity, it is a limited time. So Satan and his followers will not be tormented forevers and evers (I made them plural because the Greek word is plural, which brings up another good argument, there cannot be plural eternities can there?) In fact Gregory of Nyssa who lived in the 4th century believed that scripture even taught the salvation of Satan himself, he was and is held up as an orthodox believer, one who helped establish the doctrine of the Trinity.

We know that this Lake represents the second death, and will be the murderer of Death and Hades. Yet is the second death our enemy? Paul says that the last enemy to be defeated is Death. I have heard the argument that this includes the second death, however I think this is a basic misunderstanding of the Lake of Fire. The second death is symbolic of something else that can be found in the New Testament, why do I think this? Because the Revelation of John is an apocalypse, which was a specific genre of literature that the Jewish people as well as Gentiles would have understood as symbolic. The very first verse of Revelation says this:

"The Revelation(uncovering) of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it(made it known by signs) by his angel to his servant John"

Now this first verse is a dead giveaway of what the book of Revelation is. It is not a Revelation of simply the future, it is also a revelation or an uncovering of Jesus. How is he uncovered in this book? By using signs of course. During Jesus's life he never failed to speak with a parable to the people and even figures of speech to his own disciples. A sign represents an idea in symbols, it is not immediately clear or literal. So when approaching the book of Revelation we must take into consideration that it is not to be taken literally, it is a long book of symbols, one that reveals the nature of the future as well as Christ in a deeper way.

Therefore the Lake of Fire is a symbol in a book of symbols, and since this book is also a revelation of Jesus Christ we can reasonably affirm that the second death is directly tied to Him. The first death came through the first Adam, it logically follows that the second death came through the second Adam, Jesus Christ. Whereas the first death lead to nothing but evil and destruction, the second death is like a trimming away of evil so that Life may sprout more abundantly. The second leads to more life, as Paul confirms in Romans 6:3-7,

"Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin."

This death is radically different than the one that Adam was promised, the one that sin produces, it is a new death, a second death. We are baptized into Christ's death, and this death leads to greater life. We know that Christ is the only one who defeated Hades and Death, so we must also believe that the Lake of Fire represents his victory, for Paul says that Death is swallowed up in victory . 

It is only by the power of God that anyone is saved, we could say that we are forcefully liberated from our slavery to sin, why is it forceful [2] ? Because we are incapable of doing it ourselves.

Every sinner who is not in the book of Life (who has not already undergone this redemption from being slaves to sin) will be baptized into this Lake of Fire, which is the second death Paul spoke about.

Thus the Lake of Fire is not a place of tormenting evil, but of victory, it is the atonement of Christ washing away sin. It is the Lake of Divine Fire, the blood spilled on Calvary able to take away the sins of the whole world [3] . Remember it says that all will be salted with Fire, one way or another. All will be made holy to the Lord, halleluyah what a wonderful truth!

[1]

Boyd C. Purcell, M.A., M.Div., Ph.D. Author, National Board Certified Counselor, a Licensed Professional Counselor, an Ordained Christian Minister, and a Board Certified Chaplain. Educationally, he has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Comprehensive Social Studies (World/European/American History, Geography, Political Science, etc.)  He also has a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling, a Master of Divinity Degree in Biblical Studies, and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in the integration of psychology and theology. In terms of experience, Dr. Purcell has over 40 years of ministry in counseling: agency, clinical, pastoral, psychiatric hospital, school, substance abuse, private practice, and chaplaincy—providing spiritual care at the end of life for hospice patients.

[2]

Jeremiah 13:23 (NASB)

Can the Ethiopian change his skin
Or the leopard his spots?
Then you also can do good
Who are accustomed to doing evil.

John 6:44 (NASB)

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

[3]

1 John 2:2 (DCB)

And he(Jesus) is the atonement for our sins and not for ours only but also for those of the entire world. 

[Aleax]

Thanks for sharing and welcome to the forums!  :thumbsup:

[WhiteWings]

 :goodpost:

[eaglesway]

Very cool. I have been studying the relationship between fire and light, and how light consumes darkness- becoming fire to darkness. "And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it". Everything that is hidden will be brought to light. Death is the veil that covers the peoples and God says, "On this mountain I will remove the veil that covers the peoples"."If our gospel is veiled it is veiled to those who are perishing"(apollumi -lost, being destroyed by death until light shines out of darkness/chaos).......For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (Christ uncovered is life)(2Co 4:1-6)

The devil and his angels will be brought to exposure, being held in the "fire/light/love/life" presence of God until they bow the knee and confess(Phil 2:10 1 Cor 15:25-28). i think this is already begun

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: (Eph 3:8-11)

God is by no means done with His church.... You might say, WE are the lake of fire-- HOLY SMOKES!!!

Know ye not that ye shall judge angels?

But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
(1Co 14:24-25)

WoW! What Awaits Us!!!

he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, that hath been mingled unmixed in the cup of His anger, and he shall be tormented(touch stone) in fire(pur) and(kai-even) brimstone(thieon god-fire) before the holy messengers(us), and before the Lamb, and the smoke of their torment doth go up to ages of ages(even as the smoke of Sodom and Gomrah's punishment rises as a monument to the ages); and they have no rest day and night, who are bowing before the beast and his image, also if any doth receive the mark of his name(for their is no rest for the wicked, until they bow the knee and find rest in Jesus).
(Rev 14:10-11)


There is something coming in us that is "exceedingly and abundantly above and beyond all we could ask or even think!"

Eye has not seen nor ear heard, but the Spirit is making known to us.

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Eph 2:6-7)

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
(Rev 21:5-7)

For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
(Rom 8:19-21)

Get ready to get BUSY brothers and sisters HAHA! Jesus is being uncovered IN US!

[thinktank]

Welcome. Great post you posted.

Yo know I had this thought about last month and think it's appropriate to post here.


Ok so the devil is known as the adversary. One who opposes Gods plans and/or ways. Ok so the text says

The devil is tormented forever and ever...

The adversary is tormented forever and ever....

Getting it...

I.e as long as the devil remains an adversary to God he will be tormented forever and ever. Because God will one day rule all things, being an opposer of that iron rod RIGHTEOUS gracefull rule of Christ will bring torment to the wicked. As the scripture says

There is no rest for the wicked.

[Miriam]

My word, there's some inspiring stuff on the forum at present.  :bigGrin: *Fetches pen and notebook*  :winkgrin:

[eaglesway]

Yea , exactly thinktank, sort of like being a servant "olam" -meaning until the debt is paid- or perhaps, "until you pay the last penny" which in the adversary's case is, WHEN HE QUITS BEING AN ADVERSARY(gets subjected) AND GETS RECONCILED :o) "Every tongue confess.....Every knee shall bow" :bgdance:

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Amen Eaglesway and TT :thumbsup: :thumbsup:......my  :2c:.....it happens within us (the firstfruits) first (for Satan cannot cast out Satan), so that the authority of God can be restored.

None of them are a threat once overcome and cast out of our heavens; then they return as a footstool/servant to the Christ in us (angels lift Him up lest He dash His foot against a stone = letter overcome becomes the firm foundation, elemental things have melted with a fervent heat). Notice it doesn't say *which* angels will lift Him up.  :laughing7:

And so, Satan took him UP (a footstool elevates the feet) on a high pinnacle of the temple. When He overcame, Satan went beneath His feet and His ministry began, because ALL authority comes from God (unless My Father gave it you, you would have none over Me).
Blessings....

[eaglesway]

:cloud9: Amen Eaglesway and TT :thumbsup: :thumbsup:......my  :2c:.....it happens within us (the firstfruits) first (for Satan cannot cast out Satan), so that the authority of God can be restored.

Amen! God was in Christ(the incorruptible seed)reconciling the world unto Himself, He has entrusted us with the word of reconciliation(knowing what spirit we r of ;o),

What began in Christ multiplies in us and through us "until the whole is leavened".

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: :thumbsup:

[awakeningaletheia]

Romans 11:16 KJV

For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

And since we are the firstborn then the rest of humanity, the lump will some day be made holy as we are revealed as the sons of God. That is what humanity(creation) awaits, for us to act as ministers of reconciliation.

[Molly]

Romans 11:16 KJV

For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

And since we are the firstborn then the rest of humanity, the lump will some day be made holy as we are revealed as the sons of God. That is what humanity(creation) awaits, for us to act as ministers of reconciliation.

Awesome!

[eaglesway]

Romans 11:16 KJV

For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

And since we are the firstborn then the rest of humanity, the lump will some day be made holy as we are revealed as the sons of God. That is what humanity(creation) awaits, for us to act as ministers of reconciliation.

Isn't it Glorious!

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: And a BIG AMEN to that.... :thumbsup: