The warnings given in the Bible against receiving the mark of the beast are some of the most solemn and fearful ever sent by God to man. The Bible sets them forth in plain and direct language: “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, ...and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever.” Rev. 14:9–11.
This text is often used to prove that God punishes sinners forever in an eternally burning hell. The doctrine of eternal torment has led vast numbers to hate and fear God—or to give up their belief in God altogether. But is this doctrine biblical? If we allow the Bible to be its own interpreter, a different picture emerges.
The first mention of God using fire to punish sinners is with the wicked inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. Jude 7 describes it as “the vengeance of eternal fire.” But when God overthrew those cities with fire, He destroyed them. See Genesis 19:24–29. So what, then, is eternal fire? Other Bible passages give us further understanding: “It [the land of Judah] shall burn, and shall not be quenched.” Jer. 7:20. “The flaming flame shall not be quenched.” Eze. 20:47. “Eternal” or “unquenchable” fire is a fire that burns until there is no more fuel to burn, and while it burns, nothing can put it out.
Isa. 34:10 adds, “It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever.” But forever doesn’t always mean for eternity. In Ex. 21:6 and 1 Sam. 1:22, 28, it means “as long as he lives.”
Speaking of those cast into the lake of fire, Rev. 20:9 reads, “Fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” Devoured means destroyed. See also Jer. 17:27.
Before we come to a conclusion, let’s discuss the fate of Satan. Like those who receive the mark of the beast, he, too, is cast into the lake of fire. What happens to him? “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, ...and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Rev. 20:10. But again, does the Bible’s expression “for ever and ever” used here mean for eternity?
The prophet Ezekiel was shown God’s plan for Satan’s demise: “I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.... It [fire] shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.... Thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.” Eze. 28:16, 18, 19. The devil burns until he’s destroyed, until he no longer exists.
Likewise, for those who receive the mark of the beast, to burn forever means as long as they are alive or until they die in the fire. “The day that cometh shall burn [the wicked of all ages] up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.…for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet.” Mal. 4:1, 3.
God’s Word clearly teaches a temporary lake of fire, which will cleanse this earth and eliminate sin and sinners from the universe. No devil or sinner will be tormented throughout eternity. Only the righteous will inhabit eternity.
It is not God’s desire for any of us to perish in the lake of fire. While Jesus clearly taught the destruction of sinners by fire (see Matt. 25:41), He assured us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
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