February 7: NEVER TO RISE AGAIN
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10
If verse 9 was a ‘headline’ then the following verses could be called the ‘article’. When God first established the anointed cherub who covers . . . [he] walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones, and [he] was perfect in [his] ways from the day [he was] created, Till iniquity was found in [him]. (Ezekiel 28:14,15). By cultivating his selfish thoughts, this beautiful anointed cherub who was perfect made a devil of himself. The fact that he works so diligently at deception is a sure indicator that he must obscure the truth in order to lead people to distrust God. Before he corrupted himself, he could stroll along fiery stones unscathed. Purity of character is the blessing of God. He wants us to value and desire it!
The destruction of the great deceiver will show just how flammable sin and corruption are. We have seen that the fire known as hellfire comes from heaven, and not from somewhere deep in the caverns of the earth as is taught in mythology. But, in truth, the lake of fire and brimstone is equated with unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17). This fire cannot and will not be put out by the local fire department. It will burn until it has completed its job, leaving only ashes.
Before the beginning of the millennium, recall that the worldwide integrated systems of false teachings, collectively called the beast and the false prophet, are utterly done away with (19:20). Today’s verse places Satan himself in the fires of utter destruction. Many mistakenly believe that hellfire, of necessity, burns eternally because the souls of the wicked supposedly cannot be destroyed. This belief rests on the idea of inherent immortality, introduced by Satan in Genesis 3:4 (compare to Ezekiel 18:4,20).
One aspect of this misconception is equating torment with torture. The original words are not the same. Torment is judgment that is anticipated or expected ahead of time (see Matthew 8:29). Torment from the Lord is just judgment (see Isaiah 50:11). Torture is the inflicting of pain rooted in cruelty and hatred. Sadly, millions believe and teach that God gives immortal bodies to the resurrected wicked just so that He can torture them endlessly. This mischaracterization of God comes directly from Satan. Today’s verse is teaching that deceptions and false teachings, along with Satan himself, will be silenced day and night forever and ever by the righteous judgment of God, never to rise again.
For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall be no more. Psalm 37:9-10a
What do you conspire against the LORD? He will make an utter end of it. Affliction will not rise up a second time. Nahum 1:9
For further study: Psalm 37:38; Isaiah 5:24; Revelation 20:14