Printer Friendly Page

When Does The Lake Of Fire Begin?

Hi J____,

It is always good hearing from "across the pond."

You ask:

"Can you please explain your understanding of the scriptures (Rev 22:14-15)?   Are these two verses referring to the millennial reign of Christ while the rest of mankind are corrected in the lake of fire which is the second death, or is it something else? The reason I ask is that some people use these verses to disprove universal salvation and therefore also to bolster their doctrine of eternal torment in the fires of hell. They also use the scripture that goes on about people being tormented day and night and the smoke from it ascending up forever."

Let's just look at the verses to which you refer:
Rev 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life , and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Rev 22:15  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Rev 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
What have these verses told us? They tell us only that "they that keep His commandments enter in through the gates into the city." What is "the city?
Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.
And then these verses tell us that "outside of the city are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers and murderers, and idolaters, who are one and all liars." There is no time line revealed in these verses at all. These verses most certainly do not say that 'during the thousand years this is all taking place.' Any careful reader of God's Word will notice that none of this can take place until the dead are raised to be judged. And when does that take place?
Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom [is] as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works .
Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire
"When the thousand years are expired" only then can the verses about which you ask come into play. This chapter, chapter 20, does contain a time-line. None of these things can happen until "the thousand years are expired." God's elect are ruling during the thousand years. They will not tolerate any insubordinate "dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." There is no 'lake of fire' until after "the thousand years are expired" and the "little season" which follows Satan's release from the so-called "bottomless pit" (Read What and Where Is The Bottomless Pit?). It is only the doctrines of Babylon with which we will struggle till the day we die, that would have us to think that the lake of fire exists during the millennium.

Here is how Babylon seduces us to this false conclusion. The nineteenth chapter of Revelation mentions the marriage supper of the Lamb. This chapter also mentions the fact that the beast and the false prophet are "cast alive into the lake of fire. Having not so much as a clue as to what and who are the "beast and the false prophet," having not so much as a clue that all of the words of the prophecy of this book are to be kept by each of God's elect down through the generations of mankind; thinking instead that this is a book concerned only with the last generation of men who are on this earth before Christ returns to establish His "kingdom of this world," we all, while believing the false doctrines of Babylon read Revelation 19 and believe that the beast and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire at the beginning of the millennium. Here are the verses used by men to teach us this false doctrine:
Rev 19:15  And out of his [Christ's] mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:17  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Rev 19:18  That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
Rev 19:19  And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Forgetting and ignoring and being blinded to the third verse of the first chapter and the sixth and seventh verses of the 22nd chapter of Revelation, Babylon tells us that this is all done right at the beginning of the millennium. But what are we told in Revelation 1:3 and 22:6-7? Pay very close attention and do not forget these verses. You will tend to forget these verses for the rest of your life. Do not let that happen:

Rev 1:3  Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Not one single minister of orthodox Christianity is aware that this verse exists. If you were to point it out to them, they would ask; 'How, pray tell, can you "keep those things which are written therein?" Yet nevertheless this very same statement is reiterated at the very end of the book of this prophecy."
Rev 22:6  And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
"These saying are faithful and true, and God has sent His angel to show His servants things which must shortly be done...I come quickly." Does any of that sound like this is a book intended only for those at the end of this age? I think not. Now look at the words of the next verse: " Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book."

So here we are again at the very end of this book being reminded and warned that we need to "keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book because these are all things that must shortly be done." Again, does that sound like the holy spirit was speaking only of something which would only affect the lives of the people who happened to be standing on this earth at the time of Christ's return? Or is this a book which "Is, Was and Will Be" applicable to every generation of mankind from the time of  Christ's resurrection to the time of the end of mankind's rule on this earth? Could it be that this is a book which is intended for "He that has an ear" down through the generations? Yes, indeed, this is a book that must be kept by God's elect in every generation of mankind from the days when John penned this book on the isle of Patmos, till the last soul comes forth of the lake of fire a cleansed and purified soul. These are not ordinary words, these are the words of Christ, and what do we know of Christ's words:
Matt 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
We are also told this about Christ's Words:
1 Cor 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1 Cor 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned
"The holy spirit teaches comparing spiritual things with spiritual. but the natural man receives not the things of the spirit because they are foolishness unto him. He cannot know them because they are spiritually discerned."

What this means is that the Bible is to this day a parable to the world. "The natural man" is the man who has not been given "eyes to see or ears to hear."  For example, when God speaks in His Word and says 'Lion...' He is not talking of a literal lion.
Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
A lamb is not a literal lamb.

Rev 5:6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
  ...and a city is not a literal city.
Matt 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
...a woman is not a woman:
Gal 4:23  But he [who was] of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman [was] by promise.
Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Christ is the lamb, He is the lion, He is the city and He is the New Covenant. If He is in us and we are in Him, then we, too, are all of these things.
Pro 28:1  The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous [God's elect] are bold as a lion.
John 21:16  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep [God's elect].

Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem [God's elect], coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

2 Cor 11:2  For I am jealous over you [with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin [God's elect] to Christ.
This "city" is those who are called "overcomers'" in the second and third chapters of Revelation. The "overcomers are those "blessed and holy...few" who are to be in the first resurrection. Nowhere are those who are not "overcomers" ever called "The New Jerusalem." That "great multitude which no man could number..." who "come up through great tribulation and washed their robes white in the blood of the lamb" are not part of the one hundred and forty four thousand, are not called "firstfruits." So while the primary thrust of the book of Revelation is the 'Is' part of the words of Christ, there is still a 'Will Be' side of "the Christ."
Rev 14:1  And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
Rev 14:2  And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3  And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

Rom 8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Jas 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Neither are they ever called "overcomers," and they do not receive the promises of rulership given to the overcomers in the second and third chapters of the book of Revelation. Here is what is promised to "He that overcometh." These promises are not for the masses of mankind who will be ruled over by the "overcomers" in the "lake of fire."  Here are but some of the promises given to God's elect, His "firstfruits."
Rev 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 2:17  He that hath an ear, let  him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches   To him that overcometh will I give to eat of  the hidden manna,   and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Part of that "hidden manna" is the ability to see and understand Rev. 1:3 and Rev. 22:6-7.
Rev 2:26  And he  that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give  power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And  he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev 2:28  And I will give him the morning star.
Rev 2:29  He that hath an ear, let  him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:5  He  that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Rev 3:6  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.
Rev 3:13  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Read The Spiritual Significance of The Color Blue for an explanation of the significance of being a "pillar in the temple of my God."
Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
It certainly is true that that "great multitude which no man could number" will indeed as all flesh "come up through great tribulation and wash their robes white in the blood of the Lamb," but they will not do so until  the one hundred and forty and four thousand have been ruling this unconverted earth for a symbolic one thousand years. The "overcomers" given the promises listed above are the same as the symbolic "one hundred forty and four thousand." Read the paper on iswasandwillbe.com entitled Who Are The One Hundred and Forty-four Thousand to see, in depth, what is the difference between the one hundred forty four thousand and the great innumerable multitude.

Look at this promise given to "the overcomers... in the seven churches:"
Rev 2:26  And he  that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give  power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And  he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Now look at what is said of those who make up the heavenly Jerusalem:
Rev 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Rev 21:9  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Rev 21:10  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11  Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; >
Now we have already been told that God's elect have been "espoused as a chaste virgin to Christ:"
2Co 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin [God's elect] to Christ.
We have also been told that "Jerusalem above is the mother of us all:"
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
So Jerusalem above is both a "chaste virgin... espoused to Christ... the bride, the Lamb's wife, as well as "the mother of us all." But notice how this "the bride the Lamb's wife is contrasted with all the rest of mankind:
Rev 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Now you have been reading iswasandwillbe.com long enough to know that God is in the process of saving all men. But you also know that Christ is and will be using this "bride" of His as His channel through which to accomplish this goal of bringing all who are in Adam to God:
1 Cor 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1 Cor 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
1 Cor 15:24  Then cometh the end [the last group of those in Adam], when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1 Cor 15:25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
"Every man in his own order" means that those who are in that "blessed and holy first resurrection" will be in that first order. The only ones who are not "hurt of the second death" are those who are in that "blessed and holy first resurrection.
Rev 20:1  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. [Read What And Where Is The Bottomless Pit?to understand why Satan and the lake of fire are not even a factor to be considered during the millennium].
Here now is what we are told of those who are this "New Jerusalem," this "bride, the Lamb's wife:"
Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 
Only Christ's bride, the New Jerusalem, avoids this "second death" and "reigns with Him a thousand years." All others are either alive and ruled over by "the bride the Lamb's wife" during the millennial reign or they are "asleep" in death until they are resurrected "when the thousand years are completed." Not one person who is alive at the end of the millennial reign can avoid the "fire that comes down from God out of heaven." It is this "fire that comes down from God out of heaven" which brings an end to death by bringing an end to birth and an end to all flesh. Read The Prophetic Sequence of Events for much more on this subject
Look at this verse of scripture:
1 Cor 15:25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1 Cor 15:26  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
It does not take a genius to understand that so long as children are still being conceived in corruptible, sinful, dying flesh, there is no way to "destroy death." In order to "destroy death" the birth of physical "in Adam" babies must come to an end. Here is how that is accomplished:
Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle : the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. [Just a part of the "great multitude which no man could number" of Rev. 7].
Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
This is speaking of the last generation of Adam in the flesh. The great multitude which no man could number in the seventh chapter is speaking of this group:
Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
"The number of whom is as the sand of the sea" of verse 8 are the very last physical, fleshly nations of the earth who are used of God to bring all flesh to its end. Satan's placement in the lake of fire and the judging of all "the dead small and great, standing before God... [at the] great white throne" is the institution of "the second death." It is not a second dying of physical death. It is rather, the second group of humanity, the vast majority of mankind, who must yet die first before they can be judged:
Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Now, here again we are given a time-line of events. That time-line declares that judgment must follow; never precede, death. But aren't all of these resurrected bodies? Yes, indeed they are. How then can death precede their judgment?

Once again we are back to "as man teaches."
1 Cor 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery,  even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1 Cor 2:8  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it], they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Cor 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1 Cor 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

"The holy spirit teaches comparing spiritual with spiritual," while men teach comparing physical with spiritual. The natural man cannot know them because they are spiritually discerned.

The 'death' spoken of in Hebrews 9:27 is the death spoken of in this verse of scripture:

John 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
This is the death of the carnal mind even while we are yet in this "vessel of clay." The death of the carnal mind is the birth within us of the mind of Christ. It was this understanding of what is death, that allowed the apostle Paul and the other apostles to be able to write "comparing spiritual with spiritual" in a way which to this very day contains "the hidden wisdom of God." Physical death in no way, as Satan himself demonstrates, destroys  a mind which is not subject to the laws of God:"
Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.
Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
"Ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the spirit of God dwell in you." And this is true even as we are yet in the body of this death, this flesh. Conversely death is not defined as the loss a physical body. Death, when we "compare spiritual with spiritual" is "to be carnally minded." What this means is that Satan and all mankind, excepting those who were in the first resurrection, are spiritually dead even in their spiriual bodies. Satan and all of his messengers are still "enmity against God...not subject to the law of God." And how are they ever to overcome this spiritually dead condition? Just as with us today, Satan and all mankind must die to their dead spiritual condition, in order to find life. Here is where some of those "my words shall never pass away" words will again come into play at the great white throne judgment:
Matt 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Luke 9:24  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall find it.
It is by dying to their carnal rebellious minds with which they are resurrected as spirits, that all mankind will through the symbolic fire which is the word of God, be judged and at long last be brought back to God.
John 12:48  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
It is the fact that God's elect were faithful to "the word that I have spoken" that qualify them to "judge the world" during the thousand years, and "judge angels" in the lake of fire, great white throne judgment.

In summary, by being in Christ, by having his mind, by having his words, Christ's elect are the heavenly Jerusalem, they are the fire of the lake of fire and they are gates of the city and the pillars of the temple, through which all men will come to Christ. Just as Christ is the only way to his Father, Christ's elect are His channel for bring all men to Him.. The "dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie" are those who are cast into the purging fires of God's elect who will be used of God to redeem all mankind. These are "the nations and kings of the earth who bring their glory into the city" as they receive their needed stripes and come forth of this symbolic lake of fire cleansed, purified and purged of all the wood, hay and stubble that needs the fire of Christ's Words.
Rev 21:24  And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Rev 21:25  And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26  And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
"The nations...and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into the city... whatsoever works abomination or makes a lie... in no wise enters into the city" until all this has been burned out by the fire of the Words of Christ. Here are few verses of scripture in support of these statements:

God's elect are the fire of the lake of fire:

Isa 33:14  The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15  He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
God's elect are the the city, the gates of the city and the pillars of the tabernacle:
Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God : and I will write upon him my new name.
No one can come to Christ except they come "through" Christ's elect acknowledging that they are indeed His elect:
Luke 22:29  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me

John 15:9  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

John 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Rev 3:9  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee
God's elect receive faith through the unbelief of their brothers, and their brothers will receive mercy through God's elect:
Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
God's elect fill Christ, just as He fills His Father:
Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saint
Eph 1:19  And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places],
Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22  And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
"The church, which is His body, [is] the fulness of Him [Christ] that filleth all in all." That is an incredible calling of which no man is worthy. There is no room for pride in any of these promises. There is rather a crying need for the faith to claim and acknowledge the humbling honor of such a calling. For most men these promises are not even visible. Most men are looking for a physical city with phyical streets of physical gold, on which they can walk with their physical bodies of eternal flesh. That idea all amounts to total blindness to the things of the spirit.
1 Cor 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
I apologize for the length of this e-mail. I have taken this opportunity to answer a question that has puzzeled many of our brothers for many years. There is no lake of fire till "the thousand years are expired." Only then will "the lake of fire which is the second death" be brought into play at the second death...white throne judgment...which is the lake of fire." Any attempt to force the words of the nineteenth chapter to say otherwise is an attempt to make God's Word contradict itself. There can be no lake of fire without a second resurrection for that second group of mankind who are not part of that "blessed and holy first resurrection."
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Your brother in the Christ,

Mike