Revelation 21:8 – Who Will NOT Enter Heaven
Presentation on theme: “Revelation 21:8 – But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars,”— discussion:
Revelation 21:8 – 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. HELL is a place of TORMENT…
Verse of the Day
In his Gospel, John tells us that those who believe in Christ are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already: “Because they have not believed in the only begotten Son of God.”
‘The Second Death’ which is mentioned in this verse, is reserved for EVERYONE who has not trusted in Christ for their salvation. We discover that ‘The Lake of Fire’ which God originally prepared for Satan and the angels that rebelled against Him, is called ‘The Second Death’.
ALL those who reject God’s offer of salvation, will have to face ‘The Second Death’ and take their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. In the Bible, death equates to separation. Physical death is spiritual separation from God, for man is born dead in their sin. Eternal death means eternal separation from God, spirit, soul, and body. But praise God that man can be redeemed by faith. Man can be born again of the Spirit, and not take part in ‘The Second Death’.
The Amplified Bible labels the unbelievers in this verse as: “Cowards and the ignoble; the contemptible and those that cravenly lack courage. They are the unbelieving, the faithless, the depraved, and those defiled with abominations. They include murderers and the lewd, adulterers and those that practise magic arts and all idolaters.” They include those who give supreme devotion to anyone or anything other than God. It also tells us that liars and those who knowingly convey untruths by word or deed, will participate in ‘The Second Death’. In short, everyone who has not believed God’s Word and trusted in His Messiah for their salvation, will participate in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which Revelation calls ‘The Second Death’.
The fact of a ‘Second Death’ implies that there is a ‘First Death’, but these conditions more correctly are linked with the ‘Resurrection’ of the dead. We read: “An hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs (both the saved and the unsaved) will hear His voice. They will be resurrected from their tombs and come forth from the grave.” It goes on to say: “Those who did good deeds (by believing on the Word of God) will come out of their graves to a Resurrection of LIFE, while those who committed evil deeds (by not believing on the only begotten Son of God) will come out of their graves to a Resurrection of JUDGMENT or DAMNATION.” THIS is what the Bible disturbingly calls ‘The Second Death’.
Being part of ‘The First Resurrection’ is the privilege of everyone who has been saved by grace through faith in God’s trustworthy Word. Every believer, from both Old and New Testaments and up to the present day, who have died in faith by believing God’s Word, are reckoned as righteous and will participate in ‘The First Resurrection’. They will not be hurt by ‘The Second Death’.
Believers will be resurrected at several different times e.g. The Church at the Rapture, before the Tribulation Period; Old Testament and Tribulation saints at the Second Coming, at the end of the Tribulation Period; Millennial saints at the end of the Millennium. Although the timing of the resurrections will differ, all these believers will take part in ‘The First Resurrection’.
The ‘Second Resurrection’ is reserved for those who have wilfully rejected God’s Word and refused His offer of salvation. They will be resurrected from the dead and judged at the Great White Throne Judgement of God, at the end of the Millennium Period – and they will be found wanting.
This sorry group of unsaved men and women will consist of: “The cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, and their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is The Second Death.”
This is not a subject that should be swept under the Church carpet, as so often happens in Christendom today, but is a serious subject that should be faced, and unbelievers should be challenged so that they may hear the glorious gospel of grace and believe the message of redemption by grace through faith in Christ, and be SAVED.
My Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the many warnings we receive of the importance of believing on the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. Thank You that by grace through faith in Christ, I will not be hurt by ‘The Second Death’. Thank You that You will judge the world in righteousness. In Your wrath and judgement, I pray that You would be merciful, and during these days when salvation is still available to anyone who trusts in Jesus, I ask that many unbelievers would hear the good news of the gospel, be saved and escape from the wrath to come. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.
What does Revelation 21:8 mean?
The New Jerusalem is the eternal home of believers, but unbelievers must spend eternity in the lake of fire “that burns with fire and sulfur.” Unbelievers are identified in this verse as the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars. Cowardly unbelievers fear for various reasons. Some fear they might lose their possessions or their jobs or their friends or their comfortable life if they trust in the Savior. But, as Jesus taught, it is worthless to gain the whole world but lose one’s soul (Mark 8:36). The faithless lack trust in Jesus as Savior, the detestable are foul.
Other sinners are identified as those who murder, cater to sexual lust, lack moral character, practice black magic or deal in illegal drugs, worship false gods, and lie. These unsavory characters experience the second death, which is eternal suffering in the lake of fire. Their refusal to trust in Christ had imprisoned them in their sins and subsequently in the lake of fire. source
Scripture
And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Observation
Heaven and earth disappear to be replaced by a new heaven and a new earth. The new Jerusalem comes own from God like a bride dressed for her husband.
The Lord declares that God’s dwelling place is now with His people. There will be no more death or pain. It is finished! All who are thirsty will receive living water, and all who overcome will inherit all the blessings.
Application
We might be tempted to believe that all of this talk about new heavens and earth, and a new Jerusalem is future tense. In a sense this is true, as the ultimate fulfilment of this vision is yet to come.
In another sense, it is already here. When Jesus died on the cross, a new covenant, a new age, was inaugurated. In prophetic literature this is described as a new heavens and a new earth because everything has been made new.
The new Jerusalem comes down from God as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. That is the church; we are the bride and we are clothed in Christ.
God’s home is already with us. He wipes away every tear. He gives living water to all who are thirsty.
All of these promises receive their full glory at the end of all things. But they are also real right now.
We have the promise of God that He is with us- Emmanuel- now. He will meet every need that we have.
To see the promises come to life, all we have to do is trust. As we walk with the Lord day by day, He will light the path for us.
Prayer
Lord, our imaginations of heaven barely scratch the surface of what you have prepared for us. In this present age, we know the joy of your presence and the glory of your Son. Grant me the grace to see you in every part of my life. Amen.
Revelation 20:6 – discussion
Revelation 20:6, 14 and Revelation 21:8 describe an event called “the second death.” It is contrasted with those who did not participate in “the first resurrection,” which is the resurrection of all believers at the return of Jesus Christ. Those who are not believers end up experiencing the second death.
So what is this second death?
To put the question another way, if Hebrews 9:27 says that it is destined for humans to die once, then how can John write in Revelation 20:6, 14 and Revelation 21:8 that there is a second death?
Here is what Revelation 20:6, 14 and Revelation 21:8 say about the second death:
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power … Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. … But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
The “Second Death” is not Annihilation
Some argue that the second death is annihilationism … that is, a person who experiences the second death will no longer exist in eternity. They say that at the first death, people die physically, and then at the second death they die spiritually, which means that they cease to exist.
This view would be possible if “death” means “non-existent.” But it doesn’t. The word “dead” never means “non-existent” in Scripture.
Instead, “death” means to be separated from the plan and purposes of God.
When something dies, it no longer functions the way God intended. This is true of physical bodies, sexual reproductive organs, interpersonal relationships, and faith.
The second death is simply being separated in eternity from what God originally wanted and planned for humanity.
God wanted humans to live in perfect harmony and unity with Himself, each other, and all creation. But when a person dies apart from Jesus Christ, they will experience eternity apart from Jesus Christ as well.
Then how is the Second Death related to the Lake of Fire?
While John describes this eternal existence apart from Jesus Christ as “the lake of fire,” this does not mean that the unregenerate are swimming around in a lake of fire and brimstone any more than anyone who lives in “Salt Lake” is actually swimming around in a large, salt-filled lake in Utah.
The “Fiery Lake” might be the place that unregenerate people live for eternity, but this does not necessarily mean that they are suffering and burning for eternity within the lake. Furthermore, as I point out in my forthcoming book on hell, the term “Lake of Fire” referred to the body of water we now call the Dead Sea.
So to say that someone was going to be case into the Lake of Fire, or the Dead Sea, is a symbolic or metaphorical way of saying that such people will end up in a place devoid of life.
This is what John goes on to describe. In the afterlife, as part of the second death, people will be subject to the same “lusts of the flesh” that humans are subject to right now here on earth. Just like in this life, people who live in the second death will be cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and liars.
So what is the Second Death?
The second death is not annihilation or eternal torment in flames of fire.
Instead, it is the continuation for eternity of what we experience in this life, but in an amplified way.
As such, the second death is the opposite of eternal life. Eternal life is life lived as God always wanted, planned, and desired; eternal death (or the second death) is life lived in the complete opposite way, separated from everything that God intended for humanity.
It is existence in everlasting death. It is ongoing existence that is filled with all the problems and frustrations of this life, but without any end to them. The first death is a blessed escape from the frustrations of this life (which is why death is a blessing). But the second death has no end. It is an eternal existence without an end, while facing the frustrations of life lived without God.
Just as being “born again” does not mean to “start your life all over again,” but instead refers to the transformation of a person’s life so that they head in the direction God wanted, so also, to “die again” does not mean that a person dies a second time, but that a person’s life goes in a direction that is even further away from God wanted and desired.
The “second death” therefore, is not annihilation, or the death of the eternal soul. Instead, it is the act of being entrenched or solidified in the way of rebellion against God.
The second death is an irreversible step on a path that leads away from what God wanted and desired.
Did C. S. Lewis write about Hell?
C. S. Lewis’ theological fantasy book, The Great Divorce, depicts what this sort of everlasting death might look like. (He claims he was writing fiction … but was this really his view of hell and he was afraid of being called a heretic?)
The Great Divorce is a fascinating story of a man who gets on a bus in hell to take a trip to heaven. In the second chapter, Lewis describes what life is like for those who live in hell.
Lewis writes that this process continues forever, until some people get to the point where they live millions of miles away from anybody else.
In the everlasting second death, each person is allowed to be as selfish and mean as they want, and this causes them to eventually separate themselves from everyone else so that they finally live in complete isolation for all eternity, wrapped up in their own thoughts of everybody else’s faults and failures.
The Second Death is Everlasting Existence without God
In this life, there is an end to the choices we make. As we destroy our families, friendships, and health, we draw into ourselves and become more and more separated from others over time. Death stops this process of separation so that we can finally see ourselves and others as we really are, offer forgiveness and be forgiven, and begin to live in love and grace as God desires.
But in an eternal existence without God, where physical death is not an option, people will continue to separate themselves until eventually, they cut off all contact from everyone, and live solitary lives of self-centeredness and complete separation. For people who were created for community and relationships, this truly is a living hell. But it is a hell constructed by their own choices.
So just as eternal life is a life lived in eternity where we live life to its full potential, so eternal death, or the second death is a life lived in eternity where people achieve none of their potential. It is a life of everlasting death. Of no escape from the consequences of selfish human decisions.
Those who experience the eternal second death (living in the realm of death, but never dying) are living in a hell of their own making. Their eternal existence will be a life dominated by the sins mentioned in Revelation 21:8.
In eternity, where there is no death to deliver a person from the devastation they have brought into their lives, this ongoing death will simply continue forever and ever.
What are your thoughts about this concept? Do you agree? Disagree? Does it still sound like “hell” to you? Is it just and fair for God to let people live in eternity in such a way? Would annihilation be more loving?
3 HELL is a place of OUTER DARKNESS… Matthew 25:30 – And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
4 Mark 9:44-48 – Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. HELL is a place of UNQUENCHABLE FIRE…
5 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 – In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; The occupants of HELL will suffer, EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT… Revelation 20:10 – 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 ever and ever.
6 HELL is a place no one wants to go, (although many may not realize it yet). If you go to HELL, it will be your own fault, and no fault to God… Despite all that God has done and continues to do for us, there are those who complain, gripe, and moan at everything the Lord asks us to do. 1 Timothy 2:4 – Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. In our lesson, let’s look at…
8 Have you ever heard… “The only service I have to attend is Sunday morning and that’s it.” Yet, those I hear saying this, are not even faithful to attend the Sunday morning service! You would think if someone felt that it was so important to meet on Sunday morning, they would surely be there! But no, they just continue to make excuses about why they do not have to ATTEND all of the services.
9 Well… in HELL there will be no more schedules for you to keep. You won’t have to get out of bed, because there are no beds, just weeping! You won’t have to get dressed, only darkness, a darkness that can be felt! But in HELL, you might think about how your attitude prevented you from using your talents in the local church…
10 Matthew 25:24-30 – Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25. And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27. Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
11 In HELL, you might think about how the Lord’s commandments were not so grievous after all… 1 John 5:3 – For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
12 In HELL, there is one thing for sure, you won’t have to hear brethren talk about the importance of meeting with the saints… Hebrews 10:23-26 – Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
13 Friend… while in this life, know that your attitude may determine whether you will have REST or ANGUISH in the next… Revelation 20:5-8 – 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. 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8. 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.
14 In HELL, you won’t have to SING! No more arguing whether or not instrumental music is acceptable in worship! No more arguing that the Bible doesn’t say not to… EPH. 5:19 COL. 3:16 EPH. 5:19 “…singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” COL. 3:16 “…teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
15 In HELL, the only sounds that will be heard, will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth… Matthew 25:30 – And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
16 Yet, there will be SINGING in eternity! The SINGING will be in the place that you missed, HEAVEN… Revelation 14:3 – And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
17 In HELL, you won’t have to PRAY. You will want to PRAY, but your chance is gone. It is gone forever! Oh… how you will wish you had the opportunity to PRAY and ask God for mercy. If you could have just understood how important PRAYER was…
18 Acts 2:42 – And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing. James 5:16 – Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
19 In HELL, no more of those old SERMONS. You won’t be aggravated with the sermon being to long anymore! You won’t be troubled with subjects like… Baptism Moral Issues Marriage, divorce & remarriage Fellowship with error Work & Worship of the church But in HELL, you might wish that the preaching would have been harder…
20 2 Timothy 4:1-5 – I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
21 In Hell, you won’t have anybody to bother you, no family, no neighbors, and no friends. You will be all alone. Remember, its outer darkness, millions upon millions will be there, yet all alone! You will have nobody to love! You will have no one to tell the wonderful story of Jesus to, it’s too late! In Hell, you will wish that your ATTITUDE had been different toward others…
22 Matthew 7:12 – Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Galatians 5:13-15 – For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
23 In HELL, you would regret having loved MONEY so much, you would wish you had used it to help the needy, the church, family, etc…
24 Luke 16:19-23 – There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 1 Timothy 6:10 – For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
25 In HELL, there will be no more COMMANDMENTS for you to keep… John 14:15 – If ye love me, keep my commandments. 1 John 5:2-3 – By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
26 In HELL, there will be no more SACRIFICING for God… Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God
27 In HELL, there will be no more BIBLE STUDY… Psalms 119:11 – Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 2 Timothy 2:15 – Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
28 In HELL, there will be no more WALKING BY FAITH… 2 Corinthians 5:7 – (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
29 In HELL, facing RIDICULE for the sake of truth, will be a thing of the past… 1 Peter 4:1-4 – “…for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2. That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4. Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
30 In HELL, you won’t be WEARY over fighting the good fight of faith… Ephesians 6:10-12 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
31 In HELL, there will be no more CONFRONTATION’S over the nature of truth. Now you won’t have to DEFEND the position you had taken on a doctrinal issue. Now you won’t have to IMPROVE your life as a Christian and be a better EXAMPLE… Now, you will never have to worry about OFFENDING your friends.
32 I Timothy 6:12 – Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. Jude 3 – Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
33 Maybe your thinking… I’m not going to HELL, because God is to good to send me there! Well… in HELL, you will know God’s true nature: Matthew 7:21-23 – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
34 Maybe your thinking… I’m not going to HELL, because I’ll change before I die! HELL will be full of people who thought the same thing. You might be like one of them!
35 Mark the date _______ 10- 24 – 04 SOME IMPORTANT QUESTIONS: Are you going to obey the gospel and live faithful? When are you going to die? Mark that date _______ When is Jesus going to return? Mark that date _______ There is one date that should concern YOU the most…
36 YOU need to quit fooling around, because YOU have no promise of TOMORROW!
8 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.