Although hell and the lake of fire certainly do sound the same to me, there is some difference. Death and hell will deliver up the dead which are in them according to Rev. 20:13.
One day I was watching a minister online. He said that hell and the lake of fire were the same, but when I read the word for myself, I read that hell itself and death would one day be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death (Rev. 20:14). It sounds to me like the lake of fire will come judgment day according to Rev.20:10-15. Although hell and the lake of fire certainly do sound the same, to me, there is some difference. Death and hell will deliver up the dead which are in them according to Rev. 20:13. The lake of fire and brimstone will be the final end. It is where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever (Rev.20:10). It sounds like the Bible is saying death and hell will deliver up the dead and be destroyed in the lake of fire and brimstone. Hell will deliver up but there is no more delivering up once hell, death, and the lost are cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. Jesus talked about the rich man in hell in Luke 16:19. From my understanding, hell has fire too and it is where the wicked souls go when they die now. The second death sounds worst than the first because it is the very end of all evil forever and ever.
I just do not understand how people can say that they are the same. Yet and still they say that it will be cast into the lake of fire. What is hell doing out of the lake? I cannot picture a small cup of water being poured into a 1 gallon jug being the same. The small cup will not fill up the gallon although they are both for water. If the small cup and the gallon were the same, wouldn't they be the same measure? When I read that hell will be cast into the lake of fire, to me there is some difference between the two.
Most people's vision of Hell is more Faustian than Biblical.
Revelation was written in Greek. Death and Hell were entities in Greek mythology (Thanatos and Hades). The lake of fire could symbolize the final destruction of those beings.
Also, the Island of Patmos has hallucinogenic mushroom growing on it. Not saying John *ate* any, but it would explain some of the imagery in Revelation.
#2 by Gail Nobles, Jul 28, 2008
Hi Wait-a-Second! From my understanding of what I have read, the lake of fire is a final destruction. Thanks for your comments.
#3 by adam, Nov 21, 2008
I\'ve been trying to understand that for a while as well, I think hell is in the center of the earth, and the \"lake of fire\" is the sun so I think its either when the sun explodes or god throwing it (hell) in the sun.
#4 by Greetings, Dec 1, 2008
The word "Hell" is really a general term in the modern English related to a permanent place of destruction. It is sometimes used for the temporary place of punishment (a portion of Hades-a Greek word) and sometimes used for the permanent place of punishment (Gehenna-a Greek word).
Here is a great link that might help more.
http://www.matthewmcgee.org/helwords.html
Also search the web for these terms:
gehenna
hades
lake of fire
sheol
Revelation was written in Greek. Death and Hell were entities in Greek mythology (Thanatos and Hades). The lake of fire could symbolize the final destruction of those beings.
Also, the Island of Patmos has hallucinogenic mushroom growing on it. Not saying John *ate* any, but it would explain some of the imagery in Revelation.