Revelation 20:7-15 - The lake of fire (warning this section includes a rant)

Now we see what happens after the thousand years. Satan is released from prison. He sets out to deceive the nations, thinking he can take up from where he left before he was bound. Gog and Magog (Ezek 38,39) represent the nations of the earth. Gog and Magog were used in Jewish apocalyptic literature to represent the evil forces. There are a vast number,

This indicates that the unsaved are around during the thousand years. Some who object to the literal millennium argue that it would not be possible for the reign of Christ to be on earth and people not believe, but this argument is without foundation and does not appreciate the full depths of human sinfulness. Jesus Himself came to earth doing good, performing miracles, setting people free and our response was to crucify Him.

An army was found and they marched on God's people. I take the "city He loves" to be Jerusalem. In all arguments about the place of Israel we do well to remember that God loves Israel and loves Jerusalem. However, while Satan had a grand plan, it did him no good. Fire came down from heaven and devoured him.

The devil was thrown into the lake of fire to join the beast and the false prophet. Their torment goes on forever. This is no temporary defeat, but an eternal defeat for evil.

Then we get a picture of the final judgement. All stand before the Lord and will have to acknowledge who He is. The books are opened. There will be no escaping the judgement, no getting off on a technicality, no place for clever lawyers. All the dead will be judged, rich and poor. The only release was for those whose name was in the book of life. If your name is not in it you will be thrown into the lake of fire.

Now there are people who argue about the nature of hell, saying it is destruction or annihilation, rather than eternal torment. Such arguments are utterly pointless and stupid. We do not know the precise nature of hell, but we do know that Jesus told us it is absolutely the worse place to go, and we should do anything to avoid it, even gouging out an eye. So those of you who argue it is not eternal torment, what are you trying to say, "hell, not as bad as you think it is"? Even if it is destruction, do you have any idea what that means? No you don't, so stop your stupid arguments. Hell is to be avoided at all costs, and part of our job is to tell people the only escape route there is. (Rant over)