Revelation 21:8

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” — NKJV

Part of the Nature of Hell study.

The Common Reading

The lake of fire is the final destination of the wicked — a place of eternal conscious torment, burning with fire and sulfur forever. This is “hell” in its ultimate form.

What the Passage Actually Says

The Hebrew Gospel Text

“But to those who do not believe, and to murderers, and to fornicators, and to sorcerers, and to liars, I will give their wages (H7939 sakar) from the fire (H784) of Sheol (H7585) which burns with fire and sulfur (H1614); and this is the second (H8145) death (H4194).”

“Lake of Fire” → “Fire of Sheol”

The Greek “lake (limne) of fire” becomes “fire of $sheol” in the Hebrew. There is no lake. There is $fire within the grave — the realm of the dead. This connects to the consistent OT picture:

• Deut 32:22 — “a fire is kindled in mine anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol”
• Ps 11:6 — “upon the wicked He shall rain fire and brimstone”

The $fire is not a separate realm from the grave — it IS the fire within the realm of the dead. And the grave is itself destroyed (Rev 20:14).

“Wages” — H7939 Sakar

The Hebrew does not say “their part” or “their portion.” It says wages — H7939 sakar, the same word family as a hired worker’s pay. Compare Rom 6:23: “the wages of sin is death.” The parallel is exact — wages paid, and what is paid is death.

This is not a description of ongoing punishment. It is the settlement of an account. The wage is earned (by sin); the wage is paid (death). Transaction complete.

“Second Death” — H4194 Maveth

The text names what this is: H4194 maveth — death. Not “second torment,” not “eternal suffering.” The first death was sheol (temporary — it delivers up its dead in Rev 20:13). The second death is permanent — the final wage.

Harmony

1. The “lake of fire” is the “fire of Sheol” in Hebrew — $fire within the grave, not a separate realm.
2. The word is “wages” (H7939 sakar) — payment for what was earned, echoing Rom 6:23 exactly.
3. “Second death” means death (H4194 maveth) — permanent cessation, not conscious eternal torment.
4. Sheol’s fire connects to Deut 32:22 — God’s anger burns to the depths of sheol. The $fire is His.
5. This is the conclusion of the sequence: sheol gives up its dead (v.13) → judged (v.13) → death and grave destroyed (v.14) → the unsaved receive wages: death (v.15, 21:8).

Hebrew & Greek Reference