Answerer

Hi guys, just some recent thoughts that came up to my mind.

As you guys know about the verse in Revelation 20.14 in which, the Death and Hades will be thrown into the eternal lake of fire. And the lake is the place of "second death" for all beings.

However, this doesn't make sense to me if Death and Hades are just places or "special storage boxes" where the souls of the dead were kept before being judged. (Well, we never see the bible stated that sea or Ocean being thrown in the lake of fire)

So, a possible explanation appears. Could it be that Death and Hades are actual demonic beings in the bible? (Influenced by Greek mythology) That are thrown into lake of fire as a result of conspiring with Satan to spread evil and suffering in the world?

Or is there other more plausible explanations? :huh: :huh:

Lucretius

I came across that verse just the other day and wondered about it myself
I was particularly puzzled by the reference to Hades as a person, who I assumed was the Greek god of that name ,in which case if Hades from the greek pantheon exists do all the others exist as well according to the Bible ?
Or more likely obviously it shows the way the Bible is capable of using other myths.

Chris Weimer

Hate to be the chili of the day, but the passage is easily explained if one looks at it as a metaphor.

Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou are not soe,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill mee;
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes, can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more, death, thou shalt die.

Sensei Meela

A non-literal interpretation, perhaps? That Death and Hades will be made obsolete in God's new Kingdom? Revelation is largely metaphoric, anyway, as I understand it.

[edit -- Oy! cweb beat me to it! ]

Lucretius

Of course it is a metaphor but for those literalist believers I would imagine that a literal Hades could cause them problems ,as this person could conceivably be a Greek god (who according to their beliefs is a false god who doesn't even exist )

Chris Weimer

So, as a metaphor, could it mean that Hell will cease to exist, as well as death? Does that mean that people who say that annihilation is more correct than those who say eternal punishment?