Revelation 20:14

And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire.

And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire ... "Death and Hades, though abstractions, are here personified."[55] This still casts no light upon exactly what the lake of fire is; because no literal fire could burn up the grave, personified. The first resurrection is the rising to spiritual life in conversion to Christ, and the second resurrection is the final, physical resurrection of all who ever lived on earth. Ryrie thought that, "Only the wicked are raised here";[56] but such a thought is nullified by the next verse: "Death is the last enemy that shall be destroyed, as in Paul's theology" (1 Corinthians 15:26,54),[57] leaving no further obstacle to the eternal joy of the saints of God.

Cast into the lake of fire ... "This is not annihilation, but separation forever from God and all good."[58] Repugnant as this doctrine is for many, a believer may not deny it. There is nothing illogical about it. Let two prior facts be accepted, that the soul is imperishable, and that God cannot finally accommodate to evil, and the logical necessity of such a place as this is evident. The revelation of it should always be understood in the light of the truth that it was never meant for people (Matthew 25:41), and that Jesus our Lord suffered the agonies of the Cross for the one purpose of saving every man from it. Then, it is clear that the existence of it in no way denies the love and goodness of God.

[55] @@

[56] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Revelation (Chicago: Moody Press, 1968), p. 117.

[57] G. B. Caird, op. cit., p. 260.

[58] Ralph Earle, op. cit., p. 614.