Revelation 20 14

Revelation 20:14 kjv

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 20:14 nkjv

Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 20:14 niv

Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

Revelation 20:14 esv

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:14 nlt

Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death.

Revelation 20 verses

Revelation 20 14 Meaning

Revelation 20:14 declares the ultimate triumph over Death and Hades, personified entities representing the power and realm of physical demise. They, along with those not found written in the Book of Life, are cast into the lake of fire. This casting signifies their complete and permanent abolishment or cessation of their dominion. The verse then explicitly defines this "lake of fire" as "the second death," which represents eternal spiritual separation from God, a state of perpetual ruin for the unrighteous, a definitive end to all forms of death and grave’s hold.

Revelation 20 14 Context

Revelation 20:14 occurs immediately after the description of the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-13). In the preceding verses (20:1-3), Satan is bound for a thousand years, followed by the millennial reign of Christ and His saints (20:4-6). After the thousand years, Satan is briefly released, orchestrates a final rebellion, and is ultimately cast into the lake of fire (20:7-10). The scene then shifts to the universal judgment of all the dead, both righteous and unrighteous, where books are opened, and people are judged according to their deeds (20:11-12). Significantly, the dead from Hades and Death are delivered up to be judged (20:13). Therefore, the casting of "Death and Hades" into the lake of fire directly follows their surrender of the dead and concludes the judgment phase, signifying the end of their power and dominion, clearing the way for the new heaven and new earth where there is no more death (Rev 21:1, 4). This entire sequence forms part of the cosmic struggle between God and the forces of evil, culminating in God's absolute victory. Historically, this vision confronts pagan concepts of an endless underworld and Jewish beliefs in Sheol as the finality, instead positing a final judgment and eradication of death's reign.

Revelation 20 14 Word Analysis

• Then (καί, kai): A simple conjunction "and," often used to indicate sequence or continuation in narrative. It connects this decisive act to the preceding Great White Throne Judgment.

• Death (ὁ θάνατος, ho thanatos): In Revelation, death is often personified, representing not merely the cessation of life, but an active force or power that has held humanity in bondage since the Fall (Rom 5:12, Heb 2:14-15). It refers to the first death, the physical separation of body and soul. Its destruction means its power over humanity is permanently broken.

• and Hades (καὶ ὁ ᾅδης, kai ho hades): Hades is the Greek term equivalent to the Hebrew Sheol, referring to the realm or abode of the dead, the grave. It is the temporary holding place of souls after physical death, not specifically hell (Gehenna). It signifies the power of the grave. Its casting into the lake of fire symbolizes the complete emptying of its captives and its utter obliteration as a concept and reality. The keys of Hades are held by Christ, showing His authority over it (Rev 1:18).

• were cast (ἐβλήθησαν, eblēthēsan): This is the aorist passive indicative form of the verb ballo, meaning "to throw, cast, or thrust." The passive voice emphasizes that this action is divinely initiated; it is God who forcefully and definitively casts them. The act of "casting" implies a final, irreversible removal.

• into the lake of fire (εἰς τὴν λίμνην τοῦ πυρός, eis tēn limnēn tou pyros): This phrase, unique to Revelation, is a potent symbol. It signifies ultimate judgment, complete destruction, and eternal torment for evil and those opposed to God. It is distinct from temporary states like Sheol/Hades. It is the place of final destiny for the beast, false prophet (Rev 19:20), Satan (Rev 20:10), the unrighteous (Rev 20:15), and significantly, for Death and Hades themselves, demonstrating that even these former realities cannot endure in the New Creation.

• This is (οὗτός ἐστιν, houtos estin): A clear declarative statement, directly identifying the meaning or nature of the lake of fire. It provides John’s divine interpretation for what follows.

• the second death (ὁ δεύτερος θάνατος, ho deuteros thanatos): This is a key interpretive phrase in Revelation (also found in Rev 20:6, 21:8). The first death is the physical death everyone experiences due to sin. The second death is an eternal, spiritual separation from God, a permanent state of ruin and torment for those not redeemed by Christ. It is not annihilation in the sense of ceasing to exist, but a living death of utter hopelessness and judgment, free from God's presence and grace.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Then Death and Hades were cast": This phrase emphasizes the definitive end of mortality's dominion. All forms of death and the grave's power, which held humanity captive, are completely undone and removed by divine judgment.
  • "into the lake of fire. This is the second death.": This powerful conclusion explains the symbolism. The lake of fire is the very essence of the second death. It clarifies that this "casting" isn't merely relocating; it is a description of ultimate, irreversible eternal damnation and the eradication of anything that hinders God's new order.

Revelation 20 14 Bonus section

The destruction of Death and Hades signifies that the intermediate state for the unrighteous ends at the Great White Throne Judgment. Up to that point, Hades served as their temporary abode; now, it too is judged and obliterated as a holding place. This reinforces the comprehensive nature of God's final victory and the eternal new order. It highlights God's sovereignty over every aspect of existence, even death itself. Furthermore, the second death is explicitly said to have "no power" over those who participate in the first resurrection (Rev 20:6), demonstrating the protective power of Christ's resurrection and atonement for His faithful ones, guaranteeing their eternal life with God in a universe utterly free from the dominion of death.

Revelation 20 14 Commentary

Revelation 20:14 presents a profound theological statement: the complete abolition of all that defines and holds the physical reality of death. The casting of "Death and Hades" into the lake of fire is not merely an allegorical throw-away line; it is a declaration of ultimate victory over humanity's ancient foes. Before this point, Death and Hades served God's purpose by holding the souls of the deceased until the Great White Throne Judgment. Once they have yielded their captives (Rev 20:13), their utility ends, and their existence becomes incompatible with God's perfect, deathless New Creation (Rev 21:4).

The "lake of fire" symbolizes finality. It's not a Purgatory or a temporary stop; it's the terminal destination of all evil, rebellion, and sin, personified and unpersonified. By casting Death and Hades into it, John asserts that the very concepts and realities of mortality and the grave will cease to have any power or presence in eternity for God's redeemed.

"The second death" clarifies the nature of this fate. It is distinct from physical death and offers no hope of resurrection. While the "first death" separates soul from body, the "second death" is an eternal separation from God's presence and life. It underscores the severity and eternal nature of God's righteous judgment on all evil. For believers, this verse offers immense hope: the power of the grave is broken, and physical death is temporary. For the unrighteous, it signals eternal consequences. The complete removal of Death and Hades from the cosmos paves the way for a glorious, undiluted new heaven and earth where death, sorrow, and pain are no more.