“The lake of fire and brimstone” is several times mentioned in the book of Revelation, which all Christians admit to be a book of symbols. However, they generally think and speak of this particular symbol as a literal statement giving strong support to the torment doctrine, notwithstanding the fact that the symbol is clearly defined as meaning the Second death: “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the Second death,” etc. (Rev.20:14) It is sometimes spoken of as “a lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Rev. 19:20), the element brimstone being mentioned to intensify the symbol of destruction, the Second death; burning brimstone being one of the most deadly elements known. It is destructive to all forms of life.

The symbolism of this lake of fire is further shown by the fact that the symbolic “beast” and the symbolic “false prophet,” and death and hell [hades], as well as the devil and his followers, are destroyed in it. — Rev. 19:20; 20:10,14,15; 21:8.

This destruction or death is called the Second death in contradistinction to the first or Adamic death, and not to signify that everything which goes into it dies a second time. For instance, death (the first or Adamic death), and hades, the grave, are to be cast into it — this work will require the entire Millennium to accomplish it; and in no sense will they ever have been destroyed before. So also “the devil,” “the beast,” and the “false prophet,” (Rev. 20:10) will never have been destroyed before.

From the first, or Adamic death, a resurrection has been provided. All that are in their graves shall therefore come forth. The Revelator prophetically declares: “The sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell [hades, the grave] delivered up the dead which were in them And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened.” (Rev. 20:13,12) It was in view of God’s plan for redeeming the race from Adamic death that in both the Old and New Testaments it is called a “sleep” (Psalms 13:3; John 11:12-14). In Israel’s history of the good and the wicked it is repeatedly stated that they “slept with their fathers.” The apostles used the same symbol, and our Lord also. But no such symbol is used in reference to the Second death. On the contrary, the strongest figures of total and utter destruction are used to symbolize it; viz., “fire and brimstone” (Rev. 20:10); because that will be a destruction from which there will be no recovery.

Blessed thought! The Adamic death (which claimed the whole race for the sin of their progenitor) shall be forever swallowed up, and shall cease in this Second death into which it is to be cast by the great Redeemer who bought the whole  world with the sacrifice of himself. Thus God tells us through the prophet, “I will ransom them from the power of the grave [sheol]; I  will  redeem  them  from death. . . . O grave [sheol], I will be thy destruction.” (Hosea 13:14) The first or Adamic death shall no longer have liberty or power over men, as it has had for the past six thousand years; no longer shall any die for Adam’s sin. (Rom. 5:12; Jer. 31:29,30; Ezek. 18:2) Thenceforth the New Covenant, sealed with the precious blood, shall be in force, and only willful transgressions will be counted as sin and punished with the wages of sin — death — the Second death. Thus will the Adamic death be cast into and swallowed up by the Second death.

And hades and sheol — the dark, secret condition, the grave, which in the present time speaks to us of a hope of future life by God’s resurrection power in Christ — shall be no more; for the Second death will devour no being fit for life — none for whom there remains a shadow of hope, but such only as, by the unerring Judge, have been fully, impartially and individually found worthy of destruction. And Satan, that lying tempter who deceived and ruined the race, and who, with persistent energy and cunning, has sought continually to thwart the purpose of God for our salvation through Christ, and with him all who are of his spirit, “his angels” (Rev. 12:9), shall be destroyed, and shall never awake from death to trouble the world again. Here he is said to be cast into “the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:10) — the Second death; and Paul in Hebrews 2:14, referring to the same thing, calls it destruction — that he might destroy death, and “him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” And “the beast and the false prophet,” the great false systems which have long oppressed and misled nominal Christendom, shall never escape from it. These systems are said to be cast “alive” (that is, while they are still organized and operative) into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. — Rev. 19:20; 20:10.

The great time of trouble, the Lord’s judgment, which will utterly destroy these systems, will undoubtedly cause great social, financial and religious difficulty and pain to all those identified with these deceived and deceiving systems, before they are utterly destroyed. These systems will be cast in, destroyed, at the beginning of the Millennium, while Satan’s destruction is reserved until its close, when all the “goats” shall have been separated from the “sheep,” and they shall perish with Satan in the Second death, as “his angels” (Rev. 12:9), messengers or servants. None of those abominable characters among men, who, knowing the truth, yet love unrighteousness — none of “the fearful, and unbelieving” (Rev. 21:8) — those who will not trust God after all the manifestations of his grace afforded during the Millennial reign of Christ; nor the abominable, who, at heart are murderers and whore-mongers and sorcerers and idolaters and liars; none of these shall escape from the Second death, to defile the earth again. All such, after a full and abundant opportunity for reformation, will be judged unworthy of life, and will be forever cut off in the Second death, symbolized by the lake of fire and brimstone.

Several prophetic pen pictures of the Millennial age and its work, in chapter 20 and 21 of Revelation, clearly show the object and result of that age of trial in harmony with the remainder of the scriptures already noted.

Chapter 20, verse 2, 4 and 11, with verses 1, 2, 10, and 11 of chapter 21, show the beginning of that Age of Judgment, and the restraining of blinding errors and misleading systems. The “beast” and the “false prophet” are the chief symbols, and represent the organizations or systems of error which, together, constitute “Babylon.” This judgment against the “thrones” of the present time, and against “the beast and the false prophet” systems follows speedily upon the introduction of the Millennial judgment reign. The thrones of the present dominion of earth will be “cast down,” and the dominion transferred to the great Prophet, Priest, King and Judge, “whose right it is.” (Compare Dan. 7:14,22; Ezek. 21:27) Then the systems of error will be speedily judged worthy of destruction, “the lake of fire,” “the Second death.” — Rev. 19:20.

Thus the second destruction (or death) begins quite early in the new judgment; it begins with the false systems, symbolized by the beast, the false prophet, etc., but it will not reach the world of mankind, as individuals, until they have first had full trial, with full opportunity to choose life and live forever. Chapters 20:12,13 and 21:3-7 indicate the blessed favorable trial in which all both dead and living (except the Church, who, with Jesus Christ, are kings, priests, joint-heirs and judges) will be brought to a full knowledge of the truth, relieved from sorrow and pain and freed from every blinding error and prejudice, and tried “according to their works.” (Rev. 20:12,13)

The grand outcome of that trial will be a clean universe. As the Revelator expresses it, “Every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth . . . heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever.” (Rev.  5:13) But this result will be accomplished in harmony with all God’s dealings past and present, which have always recognized man’s freedom of will to choose good or evil, life or death.

We cannot doubt then that in the close of the Millennial age, God will again for a “little season” (Rev. 20:3) permit evil to triumph, in order thereby to test His creatures (who will by that time have become thoroughly acquainted with both good and evil, and the consequence of each, and will have had His justice and love fully demonstrated to them), that those who finally prefer and choose evil may be cut off — destroyed. Thus God will for all eternity remove all who do not love righteousness and hate iniquity.

We read, regarding that testing, that Satan will endeavor to lead astray all mankind, whose numbers will then be as the sand of the sea for multitude; but that many of them will follow Satan’s evil example and choose evil and disobedience, with past experience before them, and unhampered by present weaknesses and blinding influences, we need not suppose. However, when God does not tell us either the number or the proportion of those to be found worthy of life, and those to be judged worthy of death (the Second death), we may not dogmatize. Of one thing we may be confident: God willeth not the death of the wicked, but would that all should turn to him and live (Ezek. 18:32); and no one will be destroyed in that “lake of fire and brimstone” (figurative of utter destruction — Gehenna) who is worthy of life, whose living longer would be a blessing to himself or to others in harmony with righteousness.

Utter and hopeless destruction is intended only for willful evil doers, who, like Satan, in pride of heart and rebellion against God, will love and do evil notwithstanding the manifestations of God’s disapproval, and notwithstanding their experience with its penalties. Seemingly the goodness and love of God in the provision of a ransom, a restitution, and another opportunity of life for man, instead of leading all to an abhorrence of sin, will lead some to suppose that God is too loving to cut them off in the Second death, or that if he did so he would give them other, and yet other future opportunities. Building thus upon a supposed weakness in the divine character, these may be led to try to take advantage of the grace (favor) of God, as a license for willful sin. But they shall go no further, for their folly shall be made manifest. Their utter destruction will prove to the righteous the harmony and perfect balance of justice, wisdom, love and power in the Divine Ruler.