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fire?" The idea is a perversion. That which is so intensely particular has again been
made exceedingly general. It is evident that none will cast into that lake of fire, but those
whose names are not found written in the book of life. Multitudes will have lost all share
in the glories of the kingdom. They will have had none of the blessings of the first
resurrection, but they will still be distinguished from those whose names are not found
written in the book of life. As our subject here is the wages of sin, we reserve further
comment upon this large, but neglected, class until dealing with the "reconciliation"
aspect of the subject.
The lake of fire, as verse 14 declares, is the second death. This second death is not
Adamic death. From this second death there has been offered no ransom. The death of
Christ upon Calvary's cross was endured with reference to the sin and punishment
connected with Adam and his race. This second death is something peculiar and
different. This may be noticed under the heading of the two classes here brought before
us. During the antichristian ascendancy those who have not their names written in the
book of life worship the beast. We have no record that one solitary soul whose name is
in the book of life will ever do so. When we have examined the other references to
punishment in the Revelation, we shall find that this special class are under notice
practically the whole time, and that the judgments are special and peculiar, as also are
those who endure them, namely, the beast, the false prophet, and the dragon. What
careless exposition is that which applies the punishment reserved for such superhuman
creatures as this infernal trinity to all sinners alike, regardless of age, clime, period or
light.
Before turning to other passages let us ask, What is this lake of fire? Scripture
supplies the answer. It is "the second death." Its purpose can be ascertained by noticing
verse 14, "And death and hades were cast into the lake of fire; this is the second death,"
even the lake of fire. Why were death and hades cast in? To perpetuate them? to revive
them again at some later period? No, for Revelation 20: 1-4 says, "There shall be no
more death. . . . for the former things have passed away." Death and the grave are
among the "former things" of this present creation which are to pass at the advent of the
new creation. Death is never converted. Death is an enemy to the last. For those whose
names are found in the book of life the first death will have been swallowed up of life.
Those whose names are not thus found will, together with death, be consigned to the
second death, which brings them all to an end.
If the lake of fire was intended to be purgatorial in character, if ever "the victims of its
rule" should emerge the redeemed of the Lord, then the casting in of death and hades
would not denote their entire extinction, but rather their preservation and possible
resuscitation. This emphatic destructive agency this second death, is the fulfilment of the
Scriptures which speak of the destruction, and total annihilation of the ungodly. Just as
we find two classes indicated in Rev. 20:, so in other parts of the book we find the same
distinction observed. The locusts who arise out of the abyss are commanded not to hurt
anything "but those men which have not the seal of God on their foreheads" (Rev. 9: 4,
note also 9: 20, 21). In 14: 9-11 we read:--