Revelation 20:10

“And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” — NKJV

Part of the Nature of Hell study — examining what Scripture actually says about the fate of the wicked.

The Common Reading

This verse proves eternal conscious torment. The devil, beast, false prophet, and by extension all unsaved humans are tormented in the lake of fire forever and ever — conscious, suffering, without end.

What the Passage Actually Says

The Hebrew Gospel Text

The Hebrew text of Revelation reads:

“And the adversary (H7854 satan) who led them astray was cast (H7993) into the fire (H784) of the Sheol (H7585) where the beast and the prophet of the falsehood were; and they shall be afflicted (H6031 anah) day and night from everlasting (H5769 olam) to everlasting (H5769 olam).”

Two critical differences emerge:

“Tormented” → H6031 Anah (Afflicted / Humbled)

The Greek uses G928 basanizo (to test by touchstone). The Hebrew uses H6031 anah — a word meaning “to depress, humble, bring low, afflict, abase.” Its primary uses in the OT:

• Israel’s affliction in Egypt (Gen 15:13, Ex 1:11-12) — oppression, not torture
• Fasting / self-denial (Lev 16:29, 23:27) — “afflict your souls” = humble yourselves
• The suffering servant (Isa 53:4, 7) — “he was afflicted” (anah)

This is not a word for torture. It describes being brought low, humbled, depressed — judicial humiliation, not sadistic punishment.

“Lake of Fire” → “Fire of Sheol”

The Hebrew does not say “lake of fire.” It says “fire of $sheol” (H7585). Sheol is the grave — the realm of the dead. The fire is within sheol, not a separate realm. This connects to Deut 32:22: “a fire is kindled in mine anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol.”

Who Does This Apply To?

This verse names THREE entities: the devil, the beast, and the false prophet. These are spiritual/cosmic beings — not ordinary humans. The very next verses describe what happens to humans:

“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the fire. This is the second death.” — Rev 20:15, 14 (from Hebrew)

For humans: “second death” (H4194 maveth). Not “second torment.” Not “eternal affliction.” Death. The text itself distinguishes between the fate of cosmic adversaries (afflicted from age to age) and the fate of unsaved humans (death).

“Forever and Ever” → Olam va-Olam

The Hebrew uses H5769 olam twice — “from age to age.” Olam means concealed time, an age, a long duration. It CAN mean forever, but its primary sense is “age-lasting.” The same word describes:

• The Levitical priesthood as “everlasting” (olam) — yet Hebrews says it changed
• Jonah in the whale “forever” (olam) — for three days (Jon 2:6)
• A slave serves “forever” (olam) — until jubilee (Ex 21:6)

Harmony

1. The Hebrew word is H6031 anah (humbled/afflicted) — not a word for torture. Used for Israel in Egypt, for fasting, for the suffering servant.
2. The “lake of fire” is the “fire of Sheol” in Hebrew — $fire within $sheol, not a separate realm.
3. This verse applies to the devil, beast, and false prophet — spiritual beings, not ordinary humans.
4. The next verses use “second death” for humans (Rev 20:14-15) — the text itself distinguishes the fates.
5. H5769 olam means “age” or “concealed time” — the same word used for things that demonstrably ended (Levitical priesthood, Jonah’s stay, slave service).

Hebrew & Greek Reference