Revelation 20


	(Artwork is by an anonymous early Renaissance student, probably working for Michaelangelo) Here it is: the ultimate conquest. Death itself, and Hades, the prison of the soul, are cast into the lake of fire, to trouble mankind no more. The universe is changed, and as we will see in the next chapter, this is just the beginning of changes.
	The Lake of Fire is the image most people associate with “hell.” The Greek normally translated such is Hades, the prison of the souls of the dead. The image here is far more intense. There are three key points which are common to all interpretations:
	• This is an eternal fate; there is no hope of release.
	• It is eternal separation from God (which is stressed by most preachers today).
	• It is eternal torment (which is NOT stressed these days).
	This fate was originally intended for Satan, “the beast” and the False Prophet. No others are certain to go there -- except by their own choice. The book of the lamb is open to all who will accept him.
	The “book of life “ is an old concept. It was taught throughout the Old Testament. Moses mentions it (Exodus 32:32); it is explicitly taught in one of the Messianic Psalms (Ps. 69:28; this is the Psalm which prophesies that they will give the Christ vinegar to drink).
	It is in Revelation that we see one of the tests for “in or our?” Did you worship the beast? (Revelation 13:8). Who is in it? The only names we know for certain are those who belong to Jesus Christ. It is His book. The test, for those of us who claim the name of Jesus, is found here:
	(Mat 25:31-46 NIV) "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. {32} All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. {33} He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. {34} "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. {35} For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, {36} I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' {37} "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? {38} When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? {39} When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' {40} "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' {41} "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. {42} For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, {43} I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' {44} "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' {45} "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' {46} "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."