November 2nd - The Lake of Fire

“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 the ages of the ages… And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire…And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death...” (Revelation 20:10, 14,15)

The lake of fire will consume the enemies of humanity which are 1) the adversary (Satan); 2) the governments of humanity (beasts); 3) the religions of men (false prophets); 4) death and hell

What about those not found in the "book of life"? Thy experience a "second death".

Remember that both the "righteous and the wicked" are to be resurrected after death. It is my view that the righteous will be raised immortal, however the wicked will be raised back into their mortal bodies.

"And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to  age lasting life, but others to shame and age lasting contempt." (Daniel 12:2)

"...there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and humanity..." (Acts 24:15-16)

The resurrected wicked are raised and stand before the Great White Throne. There they will become believers in Christ Jesus, returned to the second death, and raised again as immortals. We know this because death is to be "destroyed". 

"As in Adam all die, even so, in Christ, shall all be made alive...The last enemy to be destroyed is death...that God may be All in all." (1 Corinthians 15:22,26,28)

Humanity began as corruptible mortals and will end as incorruptible immortals.

"For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality. Now, whenever this corruptible should be putting on incorruption and this mortal should be putting on immortality, then shall come to pass the word which is written, Swallowed up was Death by Victory..." (1 Corinthians 15:53-55)

Even though God's plan included adversaries, sinners, evil, suffering and death, God also “predestined” that all sinners be saved through Christ Jesus bringing “unity to all things in heaven and on earth” when the plan of God and Christ Jesus reaches its conclusion.

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who will have all humanity to be saved...we trust in the living God who is the Savior of all humanity, especially believers. Command and teach these things..." (1 Timothy 1:15, 2:3-4, 4:9-11)

"In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.” (Ephesians 1:4-10)

Out of the ash heap of the failures of mortal humans will be born a new, immortal and victorious spiritual creation...praising and loving it gracious God.  There will be no more "cowards, unbelievers, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars"...

"So it is with the resurrection of the dead. Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power; sown a natural body, raided a spiritual body..." (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed...Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away...The victor will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. But the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:1-8)

When Scripture is viewed from the standpoint of God's love and justice, all its difficult passages are easily harmonized with His goal of saving and reconciling all to Himself. 

In this expectation believers are to wait with "patience"...

"For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." (Romans 8:22-25)

Again, the second death in the lake of fire is only for unbelievers after their resurrection to stand before the Great White Throne - and their second death will be abolished and all made alive in Christ so that God is All in all.