What Is the Lake of Fire? Is It the Same as Hell or Gehenna?

The Bible's answer

The lake of fire is a symbol of eternal destruction. It is the same as Gehenna, but it is different from hell, which is the common grave of mankind.

Not a literal lake

The five Bible verses that mention "the lake of fire" show it to be a  symbol rather than a literal lake.(Revelation 19:20; 20:10, 14, 15; 21:8) The following are cast into the lake of fire: 

* Devil. (Revelation 20:10) As a spirit creature, the Devil cannot be harmed by literal fire. -EXODUS 3:2; JUDGES 13:20. 

* Death.  (Revelation 20:14)  This is not a literal entity but represents a state of inactivity, the absence of life. (Ecclesiastes 9:10) Death cannot literally be burned.

* "The wild beast" and "the false prophet." (Revelation 19:20) Since these are symbols, doesn't it seem reasonable to conclude that the lake they are thrown into is also a symbol? - REVELATION 13:11, 12, 16:13. 

Next time: What is the Lake of Fire? Is It the Same as Hell or Gehenna? -A Symbol of Eternal Destruction

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