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Revelation 20:14
Verse
Context
Judgment before the Great White Throne
13The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.15And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Sermons






Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
And death and hell were cast into the lake - Death himself is now abolished, and the place for separate spirits no longer needful. All dead bodies and separated souls being rejoined, and no more separation of bodies and souls by death to take place, consequently the existence of these things is no farther necessary. This is the second death - The first death consisted in the separation of the soul from the body for a season; the second death in the separation of body and soul from God for ever. The first death is that from which there may be a resurrection; the second death is that from which there can be no recovery. By the first the body is destroyed during time; by the second, body and soul are destroyed through eternity.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Death and Hades, as personified representatives of the enemies of Christ' and His Church, are said to be cast into the lake of fire to express the truth that Christ and His people shall never more die, or be in the state of disembodied spirits. This is the second death--"the lake of fire" is added in A, B, and ANDREAS. English Version, which omits the clause, rests on inferior manuscripts. In hell the ancient form of death, which was one of the enemies destroyed by Christ, shall not continue, but a death of a far different kind reigns there, "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord": an abiding testimony of the victory of Christ.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire,.... Death cannot be taken properly, nor hell be the place of torment, for devils and damned spirits; since that is that lake of fire, for then the sense would be, hell is cast into hell; but either by these the devil is meant, who has the power of death, and is the prince of hell, were it not that the casting of him into this lake is mentioned before in Rev 20:10 or it denotes the destruction and abolition of death and the grave, that from henceforth they should no more have power over men, nor have any under their dominion, and in their hands; and so what has been promised will now be fully performed, Hos 13:14 see Rev 21:4 or rather the wicked dead, which they shall have delivered up, and will be judged and sentenced to eternal death, Rev 20:13 this is the second death; or the destruction of the soul and body in hell, which will consist in an eternal separation of both from God, and in a continual sense of his wrath and displeasure. The Alexandrian copy and the Complutensian edition read, "this second death is the lake of fire"; and so the Arabic version, "and this is the second death, even the lake of fire"; and not much different is the Ethiopic version, "the second death, which is the fire of hell".
Tyndale Open Study Notes
20:14 The expression death and the grave refers to the reality of death; it is the last enemy that God will destroy (see 21:4; 1 Cor 15:26). • The lake of fire portrays the horrible end of God’s enemies who will not experience the “first resurrection” (see Rev 20:5-6; cp. Matt 25:41; Luke 16:24; Jude 1:7).
Revelation 20:14
Judgment before the Great White Throne
13The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.15And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Hell No Exits
By Leonard Ravenhill17K1:25:21HellLUK 16:19HEB 12:2REV 20:10REV 20:14REV 21:8In this sermon, the preacher discusses the book of Revelation and highlights three aspects of it: Majesty, mystery, and misery. He encourages the audience to seek inspiration from the book of Revelation instead of relying solely on Romans 8:28. The preacher shares a story about a blacksmith to illustrate the process of being refined by God's fire. He also references the story of the rich man and Lazarus from Luke 16 to emphasize the importance of seeking mercy from God in both this life and the afterlife.
Death, and After This, the Judgment
By Rolfe Barnard81854:24ECC 12:7MAT 6:332CO 2:151TH 5:3HEB 9:272PE 3:10REV 20:14In this sermon, the preacher reflects on the certainty of death and the judgment that follows. He mentions significant events in recent history, such as the televised funeral services of President John F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. These events serve as reminders of the inevitability of death and the need for salvation. The preacher emphasizes that Jesus died because all men must die and face judgment. He urges the audience to turn to Christ for salvation and asks those who have a reasonable hope in Christ to affirm their faith.
Death
By Rolfe Barnard48953:45DeathPSA 119:11MAT 25:30JHN 8:241CO 15:511TH 4:13REV 20:14REV 21:4In this sermon, the preacher begins by expressing his desire to rejoice with the congregation and offer them challenges, rebukes, or encouragement as needed. He then focuses on the concept of death and contrasts the fate of unbelievers with that of believers. He emphasizes that for unbelievers, death leads to eternal torment, while for believers, it is like sleep, a restful state before awakening to see the face of God. The preacher shares a personal experience of singing at his father's funeral and expresses the joy he felt in preaching and singing during that service.
Overcommitted to the Bible
By Anton Bosch0REV 20:14Anton Bosch preaches against the notion that Evangelicals are overcommitted to the Bible, emphasizing that the Bible is the sole source of knowledge about God, morality, and all important matters. He challenges the lack of true belief in the Bible among Christians, pointing out the disconnect between professed faith and actual commitment to living out its teachings. Bosch calls for a renewed reverence, love, and respect for the Bible, advocating for a return to wholehearted obedience and practice of its truths.
Rev. 20:14. Death and the Grave
By Horatius Bonar0Hope of ResurrectionVictory over DeathPSA 6:5SNG 8:6ISA 38:18HOS 13:14JHN 11:25ROM 5:121CO 15:551TH 4:142TI 1:10REV 20:14Horatius Bonar preaches on Revelation 20:14, emphasizing God's ultimate victory over death and the grave, which are personified as twin enemies of humanity. He explains that death and the grave, having caused immense suffering and sorrow, will be cast into the lake of fire, symbolizing God's abhorrence of these forces and His determination to abolish them forever. Bonar highlights that God shares our disdain for death, viewing it as a criminal that disrupts His creation and inflicts pain upon His people. The sermon reassures believers of the hope of resurrection and eternal life, affirming that through Christ's victory, death will be rendered powerless. Ultimately, Bonar calls for a celebration of life and the promise of resurrection, as God will redeem His people from the clutches of death.
Christ’s Resurrection Gives a New View of Death
By Dan Puckett0JHN 11:251CO 15:54HEB 2:14HEB 9:27REV 20:14Dan Puckett delves into the various perspectives on death, highlighting how different individuals and belief systems view death - as an ally, an end, a transition to a better life, or a wake-up call to accountability. He emphasizes Jesus Christ's pivotal role in addressing death and the afterlife, revealing how Jesus conquered death, transforming fear into hope for believers. Puckett underscores the biblical truth that after one life comes judgment, leading to either eternal life in Heaven with God or eternal damnation in the lake of fire. He challenges the notion of second chances after death and stresses the importance of settling eternal matters in this life.
If the Cross Should Speak
By George H. Alquist Jr.0ISA 53:5EZK 18:4ROM 3:23ROM 10:131CO 15:32CO 5:21EPH 2:8COL 3:11PE 2:24REV 20:14George H. Alquist Jr. preaches about the profound significance of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, foretold in the Old Testament, where God sacrificed His Son on the cross for the sins of the world. Through Jesus' death, we can receive forgiveness and salvation by faith, as He bore our sins and rose from the grave in victory over sin, offering eternal life to all who believe in Him. The cross, once a symbol of death, now represents hope and eternal life, proclaiming the gospel message of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Future Punishment Eternal
By Robert Murray M'Cheyne0Eternal PunishmentThe Reality of HellPSA 9:17EZK 33:11MAT 5:22MAT 13:42MAT 25:41LUK 16:24JHN 14:22TH 1:7HEB 10:31REV 20:14Robert Murray M'Cheyne emphasizes the necessity of discussing hell in preaching, citing biblical figures like David, Paul, John, and Jesus who spoke plainly about it. He argues that their warnings stem from love for sinners and a desire to avoid blood-guiltiness, as they convey the truth of eternal punishment. M'Cheyne explains that hell is not annihilation but an eternal state of torment, using various biblical names and descriptions to illustrate its severity. He urges believers to appreciate their salvation from hell and implores the unconverted to heed the warnings and seek Christ. The sermon serves as a stark reminder of the reality of hell and the urgency of repentance.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
And death and hell were cast into the lake - Death himself is now abolished, and the place for separate spirits no longer needful. All dead bodies and separated souls being rejoined, and no more separation of bodies and souls by death to take place, consequently the existence of these things is no farther necessary. This is the second death - The first death consisted in the separation of the soul from the body for a season; the second death in the separation of body and soul from God for ever. The first death is that from which there may be a resurrection; the second death is that from which there can be no recovery. By the first the body is destroyed during time; by the second, body and soul are destroyed through eternity.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Death and Hades, as personified representatives of the enemies of Christ' and His Church, are said to be cast into the lake of fire to express the truth that Christ and His people shall never more die, or be in the state of disembodied spirits. This is the second death--"the lake of fire" is added in A, B, and ANDREAS. English Version, which omits the clause, rests on inferior manuscripts. In hell the ancient form of death, which was one of the enemies destroyed by Christ, shall not continue, but a death of a far different kind reigns there, "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord": an abiding testimony of the victory of Christ.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire,.... Death cannot be taken properly, nor hell be the place of torment, for devils and damned spirits; since that is that lake of fire, for then the sense would be, hell is cast into hell; but either by these the devil is meant, who has the power of death, and is the prince of hell, were it not that the casting of him into this lake is mentioned before in Rev 20:10 or it denotes the destruction and abolition of death and the grave, that from henceforth they should no more have power over men, nor have any under their dominion, and in their hands; and so what has been promised will now be fully performed, Hos 13:14 see Rev 21:4 or rather the wicked dead, which they shall have delivered up, and will be judged and sentenced to eternal death, Rev 20:13 this is the second death; or the destruction of the soul and body in hell, which will consist in an eternal separation of both from God, and in a continual sense of his wrath and displeasure. The Alexandrian copy and the Complutensian edition read, "this second death is the lake of fire"; and so the Arabic version, "and this is the second death, even the lake of fire"; and not much different is the Ethiopic version, "the second death, which is the fire of hell".
Tyndale Open Study Notes
20:14 The expression death and the grave refers to the reality of death; it is the last enemy that God will destroy (see 21:4; 1 Cor 15:26). • The lake of fire portrays the horrible end of God’s enemies who will not experience the “first resurrection” (see Rev 20:5-6; cp. Matt 25:41; Luke 16:24; Jude 1:7).