The End Of Death And Hades

Next, John describes something truly wonderful! " And death and Hades were hurled into the lake of fire. This means the second death, the lake of fire. Furthermore, whoever was not found written in the book of life was hurled into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:14, 15) By the end of the millennial Judgment Day, "death and Hades" are completely removed. Why does this involve a thousand years? Hades the common grave of all mankind, is emptied when the last one in God's memory is resurrected. But as long as any humans are tainted by inherited sin, Adamic death is still with them. All those resurrected on earth, as well as the great crowd that survives Armageddon, will need to obey what is written in the scrolls until Jesus' ransom merit has been applied in fully removing sickness, old age and other inherited disabilities. Then Adamic death, along with Hades, is "hurled into the lake of fire." They will be gone forever!

Thus, the program that the apostle Paul describes in his letter to the Corinthians will come to completion: "For [Jesus] must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet. As the last enemy, [Adamic] death is to be brought to nothing." What happens next? "When all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him. In other words, Jesus "hands over the kingdom to his God and Father." (1 Corinthians 15:24-28) Yes, Jesus, having conquered Adamic death through the merit of his ransom sacrifice, will hand over a perfected human family to his Father, Jehovah. It is evidently at this point, at the end of the thousand years, that Satan is released and the final test takes place to determine whose names will remain permanently recorded in the scroll of life. "Exert yourselves vigorously" so that your name may be among them! -Luke 13:24; Revelation 20:5.

Next time: A New Heaven And A New Earth

Revelation Its Grand Climax At Hand! Watchtower Bible And Tract Society, 1988