Jehovah's Witnesses: is being cast into the Lake of Fire symbolic of ceasing to exist?

Question

or is it simply another case of changing the meaning of "every eye shall see him" to "no eye will see him"?

Answer 1

Revelation is filled with symbolic representations of things both heavenly and earthly.

If the questioner supposes that the lake of fire is an actual burning lake, then no doubt the wild beast that is thrown into the lake of fire, along with the Devil, is also quite literal. Following that line of reasoning to its natural conclusion, are we to expect that at some point the Devil will unleash as his secret weapon some gigantic seven-headed monster to terrorize the world; some sort of amphibious multi-headed Godzilla?

There is no need for anyone to expend very much mental energy trying to interpret what the lake of fire symbolizes. The enlightening angel who gave John the Revelation also interpreted his imagery, saying at Revelation 20:14: "This means the second death, the lake of fire." Or if you prefer: "This is the second death, the lake of fire."

In order to understand what the second death is, we must first understand what the first death is. The first death is the death that we undergo as a result of inherited sin.

However, through Jesus' sacrifice, Jehovah has established the basis for undoing the sting of death, by means of the resurrection. The Bible promises that the so-called Adamic death is going to be abolished, in fact, death is also thrown into the lake of fire.

But, after Adamic death is abolished some people who will have been resurrected into paradise will, in the end, receive a resurrection of judgment, as Jesus called it at John 5:29. That means that they will be judged unworthy of continued life on earth. They will die again; for them it will literally be a second death. Unlike the first death, though, the second death is not the result of inherited sin, but rather willful rebellion against God.

The second death is permanent.

So, that's what the lake of fire means—everlasting destruction.

For the Devil and others, though, their first death is also their second death: again, meaning permanent annihilation. In that respect Jehovah's judgment upon Satan is an everlasting sentence. In that sense, Satan and his system are tortured knowing beforehand that they will forever be remembered by God and all surviving creatures in complete ignominy.

Answer 2

Revelation 20:14 says "And death and Hades were hurled into the lake of fire. This means the second death, the lake of fire."

There is a death where individuals can receive a resurrection (restanding to life.) There is another death where there is no hope of a resurrection because Jehovah judges them unworthy of a resurrection and life again.

Regarding "every eye shall see him", consider Christ's first presence on the earth. At first, only his followers recognized that he was the Messiah. But later most people agree he was the Messiah. It is the same today. Only his followers recognize that he is ruling in the heavens (Revelation 12:7-12) but the time is coming when everyone will "see" that fact with their eyes of understanding.

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Answer 3

Revelation 20:14, KJV tells us: "And DEATH and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."

What is going to happen to death?

We read in the KJV of 1 Corinthians 15:26 "The last enemy that shall be DESTROYED is DEATH."

Death is to be destroyed or done away with.

So we can expect a similar outcome for ANYTHING that is thrown into the same Lake of Fire, inclusive of "whosoever was not found written in the book of life" according to verse 15. They will be destroyed; put out of existence; done away with.

Also: Psalm 37:38 "But the transgressors shall be DESTROYED together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off."

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (Perish is the same as be destroyed.)

2 Thessalonians 1:9 "Who shall be punished with everlasting DESTRUCTION from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power."

Answer 4

Revelation 20:14 says "And death and Hades were hurled into the lake of fire. This means the second death, the lake of fire."

Notice that Rev 20:14 states what the “lake of fire” means. It says SECOND DEATH.
So it is not symbolic of “Ceasing to exist” but means it is literal destruction, that is, will cease to exist.

The “lake of fire” is a SYMBOL of “second death”, it is not a LITERAL “lake of fire”. It’s literal meaning is “second death”.

Answer 5

I understand it to mean that Jehovah **will not remember those** who did not live with the right heart condition according to what He expects from us. So you are correct when you say ceasing to exist.

Answer 6

Denying the truth never changed it.

One does it at one's own cost.

Your loss.

Answer 7

No, it is far worse than that.

The bible itself explains what "the lake of fire" symbolizes, making a clear distinction between it and mere death (or "ceasing to exist" as the questioner puts it).
...(Revelation 20:13-14) This means the second death, the lake of fire.

Note Revelation's plain statement that 'the lake of fire means the second death'. Significantly, immediately before this statement Revelation notes that Hades (or "hell") is emptied of those who presumably experienced the "first" death.
......(Revelation 20:13-14) And the sea gave up those dead in it, and death and Hades gave up those dead in them... This means the second death, the lake of fire.

Thus, what might in contrast be called "the first death" is mere Adamic death, which is temporary. The bible plainly teaches that nearly everyone who has ever died will be resurrected after Armageddon.
...(Acts 24:15) There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.
...(John 5:28,29) Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out
...(Isaiah 25:8;26:19) He will actually swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will certainly wipe the tears from all faces. ...Your dead ones will live. A corpse of mine—they will rise up. Awake and cry out joyfully, you residents in the dust [that is, the dead in their graves]! ...the earth itself will let even those impotent in death drop in birth.

During Christ's Millennial Reign, these resurrected persons will have an opportunity to learn the truth and establish a record of obedience and submission to God and Christ. Those who rebel or side with Satan will not be merely killed with the first death, but killed with the second death from which they cannot be resurrected.
...(John 5:28,29) [After Armageddon,] all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things [from that point forward] to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things [from that point forward] to a resurrection of judgment.
...(Revelation 20:12-15) And the [resurrected] dead were judged out of those things written in the scrolls according to their deeds [performed after their resurrections]. ...and they were judged individually according to their deeds. ...Furthermore, whoever was not found written in the book of life was hurled into the lake of fire.
...(Hebrews 10:26-27) For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left, but there is a certain fearful expectation of judgment

Perhaps the most interesting difference to note between 'the first death' and "the second death" is that 'the first death' is hopeful while "the second death" is hopeless. Those who have suffered temporary Adamic death await the resurrection secure in the memory of Jehovah. Those who are killed with "the second death" in "the lake of fire" are purged from Jehovah's "book of remembrance".
...(Malachi 3:16) Jehovah kept paying attention and listening. And a book of remembrance began to be written up before him for those in fear of Jehovah and for those thinking upon his name.
...(Proverbs 10:7) The remembrance of the righteous one is due for a blessing, but the very name of the wicked ones will rot.
...(Isaiah 40:26) all of [the billions of stars Jehovah] calls even by name. Due to the abundance of dynamic energy, he also being vigorous in power, not one of them is missing.
...(Psalm 69:27-28) May [the perpetually wicked] not come into [Jehovah's] righteousness. Let them be wiped out of the book of the living ones, And with the righteous ones may they not be written in.

Interestingly, the bible seems to synonymize "Gehenna" with "the lake of fire". The bible consistently reserves the expression "Gehenna" to described the hopeless judgments against those who seem to have committed 'the unforgivable sin'.
...(Matthew 12:31-36;23:33) Every sort of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven. ...it will not be forgiven him, no, not in this system of things nor in that to come. ...Offspring of vipers, how can you speak good things, when you are wicked? ...I tell you that every unprofitable saying that men speak, they will render an account concerning it... Serpents, offspring of vipers, how are you to flee from the judgment of Gehenna?
...(Luke 12:5) Fear [Jehovah] who after killing [with the 'first' death from which there is a hope of resurrection] has authority to throw into Gehenna [or "the second death" from which there is no hope of resurrection]

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_07.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20020715/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050815/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20001001/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/we/index.htm?article=article_05.htm

Answer 8

I find you are not very smart.

Answer 9

AMEN!