Lake of Fire - Revelation 20:13-15

Seek God Together

If you appreciate this work, consider supporting it - https://www.patreon.com/seekgodtogether Today we will read Revelation 20:13-15. These verses say, “Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead; all were judged according to their works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” If we’re going to take passages that indicate blinding beauty and the redemption of all things seriously, then we must also be willing to take difficult and painful passages seriously. Is there anything scarier than a lake of fire? Moreso, is there anything scarier than a God Who would throw anyone there? But just like with anything scary, it’s best to look it square in the eye and see it for what it is. To begin, where does this passage live? It’s in Revelation - literally “Apocalypse” or “Revealing.” Ultimately scripture is apocalyptic and revelatory. Hence “revelation.” The words are dripping in symbolism, poetry, and deep meaning. Sometimes scripture interprets it for us. Most often it doesn’t. And spoiler alert, absolutely no one understands it. Some pretend to, some think they do, but there is no one qualified to dispense the mysteries of God save God Himself, and He seems content to leave us guessing. Just look at the passage. The sea, whatever that is, gives up its dead. Likewise, Death and Hades (what are they?) give up their dead. And not only are their dead (or some of them) transferred to the lake of fire, but Death and Hades themselves are thrown into the lake of fire. Do you understand this? I don’t. Nor does anyone. Also, what criteria is used to determine if someone is thrown into the lake of fire? Their works. Works are the judging criteria. For the protestant this seems to fly in the face of being saved “By faith alone” and not by works. This simply adds more weight to the fact that we really don’t know. But there are takeaways from this passage that we should consider carefully. First, and most sobering, scripture is not afraid to scare us. Whatever the ultimate reality is behind this lake of fire, it’s bad. It is a bad thing to stiff-arm God. It is literally death to not be found in the book of life. God’s judgement has real teeth. And you do not want to be on the receiving end of it. Second, anyone in the “book of life” was not thrown into the fire. God is life. Jesus has life in Himself. Life comes from God. And that is why, even in the context of the most sobering of passages and existential threats like the lake of fire, we worship - we pursue God. Because it is only in Him that there is life. Third, and finally, a bit of conjecture. If God Himself is a consuming fire, and if the final judgement is a lake of fire, and if God will ultimately be all in all so that there is no where or no thing that isn’t brought into right standing under Him, then is it a stretch to say that the lake of fire is God Himself? And is it such a stretch to say that exposure to a glorious God without life would be a consuming death of sorts? Could it be that the lake fire is simply a way of encountering God without the life of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, God Himself enlivening you, enabling You to experience His white hot energy? If so, and why not, then the greatest human pursuit is to pursue God. And once again we are back to this moment of seeking Him for the one thing He gives freely for the asking - life. And it is the burden of every human soul to ask it for themselves. “God, giver of life, give me Your life. Allow me to experience You in a glorious and life-giving way both now and forever.”