And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
14. And death and hell were cast &c.] They are enemies of God, 1Co 15:26, and to be destroyed at Christ’s triumph, ib. 54. But though no doubt presented to St John as individual demon figures (see Rev 6:8), we are probably not to understand that they are real persons, like the Devil and those represented by the Beast and the False Prophet: and hence we are not told that, like them, they continue to exist in torment in the lake of fire.
This is the second death ] Add, the Lake of Fire. We have learnt already, that temporal death does not hinder eternal life, nay, may secure a better and an earlier resurrection thereto. We now learn the opposite doctrine, that there is a resurrection not to life, but to a death far more terrible than that which ends this life. Cf. St Joh 5:29. It is quite true, however, that both in popular Jewish belief, and in the language of the N. T., when the Resurrection is spoken of, it is ordinarily conceived as one to life. This does not prevent the more terrible side of the doctrine from being also taught in the Gospel, but it does indicate which side is the healthier, as well as the pleasanter, for our thoughts to dwell on.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire – Death and Hades (hell) are here personified, as they are in the previous verse. The declaration is equivalent to the statement in 1Co 15:26; The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. See the notes on that passage. The idea is, that death, considered as the separation of soul and body, with all the attendant woes, will exist no more. The righteous will live forever, and the wicked will linger on in a state never to be terminated by death. The reign of Death and Hades, as such, would come to an end, and a new order of things would commence where this would be unknown. There might be what would be properly called death, but it would not be death in this form; the soul would live forever, but it would not be in that condition represented by the word hades – hades. There would be death still, but a second death differs from the first, in the fact that it is not a separation of the soul and body, but a state of continual agony like what the first death inflicts – like that in intensity, but not in kind (Prof. Stuart).
This is the second death – That is, this whole process here described – the condemnation, and the final death and ruin of those whose names are not found written in the book of life – properly constitutes the second death. This proves that when it is said that death and hell were cast into the lake of fire, it cannot be meant that all punishment will cease forever, and that all will be saved, for the writer goes on to describe what he calls the second death as still existing. See Rev 20:15. John describes this as the second death, not because it in all respects resembles the first death, but because it has so many points of resemblance that it may be properly called death. Death, in any form, is the penalty of law; it is attended with pain; it cuts off from hope, from friends, from enjoyment; it subjects him who dies to a much-dreaded condition, and in all these respects it was proper to call the final condition of the wicked death – though it would still be true that the soul would live. There is no evidence that John meant to affirm that the second death would imply an extinction of existence. Death never does that; the word does not naturally and properly convey that idea.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 14. And death and hell were cast into the lake] Death himself is now abolished, and the place for separate spirits no longer needful. All dead bodies and separated souls being rejoined, and no more separation of bodies and souls by death to take place, consequently the existence of these things is no farther necessary.
This is the second death.] The first death consisted in the separation of the soul from the body for a season; the second death in the separation of body and soul from God for ever. The first death is that from which there may be a resurrection; the second death is that from which there can be no recovery. By the first the body is destroyed during time; by the second, body and soul are destroyed through eternity.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And death and hell were cast into lake of fire; there shall be no more natural death, nor any more separate state of souls, (so signifies), they shall all be swallowed up in the issue of the last judgment, where some shall go into life, some into eternal condemnation. Dr. More expoundeth it of the whole region of mortality being set on fire at the last thunder.
This, as to the wicked of the earth, is the second death, mentioned Rev 2:11.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14. Death and Hades, aspersonified representatives of the enemies of Christ’ and His Church,are said to be cast into the lake of fire to express the truth thatChrist and His people shall never more die, or be in the state ofdisembodied spirits.
This is the second death“thelake of fire” is added in A, B, and ANDREAS.English Version, which omits the clause, rests on inferiormanuscripts. In hell the ancient form of death, which was one of theenemies destroyed by Christ, shall not continue, but a death of a fardifferent kind reigns there, “everlasting destructionfrom the presence of the Lord”: an abiding testimony of thevictory of Christ.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire,…. Death cannot be taken properly, nor hell be the place of torment, for devils and damned spirits; since that is that lake of fire, for then the sense would be, hell is cast into hell; but either by these the devil is meant, who has the power of death, and is the prince of hell, were it not that the casting of him into this lake is mentioned before in
Re 20:10 or it denotes the destruction and abolition of death and the grave, that from henceforth they should no more have power over men, nor have any under their dominion, and in their hands; and so what has been promised will now be fully performed, Ho 13:14 see
Re 21:4 or rather the wicked dead, which they shall have delivered up, and will be judged and sentenced to eternal death, Re 20:13
this is the second death; or the destruction of the soul and body in hell, which will consist in an eternal separation of both from God, and in a continual sense of his wrath and displeasure. The Alexandrian copy and the Complutensian edition read, “this second death is the lake of fire”; and so the Arabic version, “and this is the second death, even the lake of fire”; and not much different is the Ethiopic version, “the second death, which is the fire of hell”.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Were cast (). As the devil (20:10) followed the two beasts (19:20) into the same dread lake of fire. Death is personified and is disposed of, “the last enemy” (1Co 15:26) and Paul sings the paean of victory over death (1Co 15:54f., from Ho 13:14). Hades has no more terrors, for the saints are in heaven. There is no more fear of death (Heb 2:15), for death is no more (Re 21:4). The second death (Rev 2:11; Rev 20:6; Rev 21:8) is here identified as in 21:8 with the lake of fire.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
This is the second death. Add even the lake of fire.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And death and hell,” (kai ho thanatos kai ho hades) “And death and hades,” “and death and even the holding place of souls of the unredeemed; Both spiritual death, which thereafter shall come to no one else, Rev 21:4 and hell, were eternally assigned to a common place.
2) “Were cast into the lake of fire,” (eblethesan eis ten limnen tou puros) “Were cast (thrown) into the lake of fire; this shows the fallacy of the doctrine of annihilation. Note also that the beast and the false prophet were still in existence, after they had been there for one thousand years, when the Devil was cast in with them, Rev 19:20; Rev 20:10.
3) “This is the second death,” (houtos ho thanatos ho deuteros estin, he limne tou puros) “This is (exists, as being) the second death, (even) the lake of fire the two are identical, describing the eternal state of the unregenerate wicked, in separation from the presence, mercy, and blessings of God, Joh 8:21; Joh 8:24; Luk 16:26.
This lake of fire and brimstone, final hell and holding confinement center of all who die without Christ, is a place of pain, torment, memory, woe, crying, and praying, where occupants have no rest or release from the torments and cries and never can sleep forever and ever.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(14, 15) And death and hell were cast . . .Better, And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. The latter part of the verse contains, according to the best MS. authority, the additional words the lake of fire. We then read, not This is the second deathas though the reference were to what went beforebut, This is the second death, the lake of fire. The last verse then follows, And if any was not found written in the book (or, roll) of life, he was cast into the lake of fire. Thus, three times in these two short verses, like a refrain at the close of each clause, we have the terrible words the lake of fire. Into this lake of fire Death and Hades are thrown. It is clearly figurative language, implying that Death, the last enemy (1Co. 15:26) is destroyed, together with Hades, who was personified as Deaths escort (Rev. 6:8). So we read in the next chapter (Rev. 21:4) there shall be no more death. The lake of fire into which Death is thrown is the second death! We have read of this before in this book (Rev. 2:11; Rev. 20:6). It is a death of which the first deaththe physical death, now destroyedwas but a faint figure. It is a condition which needs no coarse exaggeration, or vulgar literalisation of the prophetic imagery, to heighten the horror of. Very awful is that spiritual death, which knows not and loves not God, and from which Christ has come to arouse us; more awful must be that second death, in which the spirit, no longer the sinning victim of hereditary evil, has become the victim of habitual choice of wrong, loving darkness rather than light, and choosing alienation rather than reconciliationthe husks of the swine rather than the Fathers house. Of the full meaning of the words in their true and future force we can have little conception. It is enough for us to remember two things: they are figurative, but they are figurative of something.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. Death and hades Not personification, but the submergence of the two conditions in the dark finality is expressed. Condemnation of both is implied; for both are the results of the fall; since without the fall man would have passed into the glorified state without death or an intermediate state. Death is a disorganization of the man into two parts; and hades is a continuation of that separation and a detention from full final bliss.
Lake of fire The most awful thought that can occupy the human mind.
This is the second death Alford well says, “As there is a second and higher life, so there is also a second and deeper death. And as after that life there is no more death, (Rev 21:4,) so after that death there is no more life. Rev 20:10; Mat 25:41.” There is a deathless life, and a resurrectionless death.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire.’
This demonstrates that the primary purpose of the lake of fire is to burn up that which is at enmity with God’s final purposes. It also demonstrates that we must not literalise the scene. Death and Hades are not existing entities, they are ideas (compare Rev 6:8), as is much of what lies behind the beast (false empire) and the false prophet (false religion). These are all destroyed. This is the death of death the last enemy (1Co 15:26). But it is only the fallen spiritual beings who are described as facing an unending future of remorse and misery.
Note with regard to men how the phrase ‘the dead’ is constantly stressed. The resurrection of those who are not His is not a joyous occasion of new life but of those who are dead while they are alive, and when, like death and Hades, they are thrown in the lake of fire they are not thrown in ‘alive’ as were the beast and the false prophet. They are thrown in as ‘the dead’. There is no reason to doubt that they too will be destroyed and utterly consumed. It is the second death for it is final. It is the death of the soul. After this there is no resurrection.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Ver. 14. And death and hell ] There shall be an utter end of all evils and enemies, nothing left to disquiet the Church. She shall see them afar off, as Lazarus did the rich man, and be able to say of them, as she did of her accusers,Joh 8:10-11Joh 8:10-11 “they are all gone.”
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Death as Sin’s ally must be destroyed along with Sin, while Hades, the grim receptacle of Death’s prey (the intermediate rendezvous for the dead, except for martyrs, cf. Rev 6:10 ), naturally ceases to have any function. This was the cherished hope of early Christianity as of Judaism (Isa 25:8 ). John’s idea of the second death is much more realistic and severe than the Hellenic or the Philonic ( cf. de Proem, et Poen . 12, etc.).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
death. The texts add “the lake of fire”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
second death
Second death, Summary: “The second death” and the “lake of fire” are identical terms Rev 20:14 and are used of the eternal state of the wicked. It is “second” relative to the preceding physical death of the wicked in unbelief and rejection of God; their eternal state is one of eternal “death” (i.e. separation from God) in sins Joh 8:21; Joh 8:24. That the second death is not annihilation is shown by a comparison of; Rev 19:20; Rev 20:10. After one thousand years in the lake of fire the Beast and False Prophet are still there, undestroyed. The words “forever and forever” (“to the ages of the ages”) are used in Heb 1:8 for the duration of the throne of God, eternal in the sense of unending.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
death: Rev 19:20, Hos 13:14, 1Co 15:26, 1Co 15:53
This: Rev 20:6, Rev 21:8
Reciprocal: Gen 2:17 – surely Psa 21:9 – Thou Isa 25:8 – He Mat 5:22 – hell Mat 13:42 – cast Luk 8:31 – the deep Luk 12:5 – power Luk 16:23 – in hell Rom 5:12 – and death Rom 6:21 – for the 1Co 15:54 – Death 1Co 15:55 – grave 2Th 1:8 – flaming 2Th 1:9 – be 2Ti 1:10 – who Jam 1:15 – when Rev 1:18 – the keys Rev 2:11 – the second Rev 6:8 – was Death Rev 20:10 – the lake Rev 20:13 – and death Rev 21:4 – no
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rev 20:14. Death (of the body) and hell (HADES), will not be needed any longer, hence they will be consigned to the lake of fire. Not all men, of course, but the ones who will be designated in the next verse.
Verse 14.
4. Death and hades cast into the lake of fire. “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death:–Rev 20:14.
These were the figurative representatives of the realms of opposition to the cause of the saints, and they were consigned to the same figurative oblivion with the beast. The symbolism meant that the period of martyrdom had ended, and there was surcease from persecution.
This judgment on the evil instigators of the persecutions and martyrdom of the saints of God and Christ was specifically named the second death, which again was as visional and metaphorical as “the first resurrection.” It denoted in symbolic language the destruction of the evil forces which had moved against the church to destroy it.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Rev 20:14. And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire. The first part of this verse has been spoken of. The second part explains that the second death is the lake of fire, clearly showing that the second death is a state. It is the state of those who have chosen and confirmed to themselves the death which came upon man by sin, from which Christ redeems, but which becomes to those who wilfully reject His redemption a still more fearful, even the second, death.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Death and the place of disembodied spirits stand as the last two enemies to be overcome. Now that they have yielded their captives, they are cast into the lake of fire. ( 1Co 15:26 )
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
20:14 {26} And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
(26) The last enemy which is death shall be abolished by Christ
(that he may no more make any attempt against us) 1Co 15:16 and death shall feed on the reprobate in hell for evermore, according to the righteous judgment of God, in the next verse Rev 20:15 .
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
From this point on there will be no more death (cf. 1Co 15:24-28). God will cast death and Hades into the lake of fire. This is hell, the place of eternal punishment.
"Death and Hades are an inseparable pair, as in i. 18, vi. 8 . . ., representing the two aspects of Death, the physical fact and its spiritual consequences . . . Here they appear as two voracious and insatiable monsters who have swallowed all past generations, but are now forced to disgorge their prey." [Note: Swete, p. 273.]
The "second death" is separation from God in the lake of fire (cf. Rev 19:20; Rev 21:8). Evidently the wicked too will receive resurrection bodies that are different from their former mortal bodies. They will be indestructible. [Note: See Robert A. Peterson, "A Traditionalist Response to John Stott’s Arguments for Annihilationism," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 37:4 (December 1994):553-68.]
"As there is a second and higher life, so there is also a second and deeper death. And as after that life there is no more death (ch. xxi. 4), so after that death there is no more life, Rev 20:10; Matt. xxv. 41)." [Note: Alford, 4:735-36.]