Revelation 20:14
What does Revelation 20:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 20:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 20:14 means
Death and Hades are cast into the lake of fire—called here the second death. This is more than a sentence on persons; it is the abolition of death’s tyranny and the defeat of the grave’s realm. The “second death” names the ultimate separation from the life of God, in contrast to the blessed safety of those in the first resurrection. Casting these powers into the lake shows that the last enemy is removed. God’s victory is not merely judicial; it is ontological—death itself is judged and ends. The cosmos that has groaned under mortality is cleared for unending life under God’s reign.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, eventhe lake of fire.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, eventhe lake of fire.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And death and Hell were put into the sea of fire. This is the second death, even the sea of fire.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the death and the hades were cast to the lake of the fire--this <FI>is<Fi> the second death;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And hell and death were cast into the pool of fire. This is the second death.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and death and hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, [even] the lake of fire.
Context
After all the dead have been raised and judged, the vision shows what becomes of death and Hades: they are destroyed in the same lake of fire that received the devil, the beast, and the false prophet. This prepares for the personal application in verse 15, which states the fate of any individual not found in the book of life. The flow narrows from cosmic foes to personal destiny.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hosea 13:14
I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from death: O death, where are thy plagues? O Sheol, where is thy destruction? repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
- Revelation 21:4
and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.
- Revelation 1:18
and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
- Revelation 21:8
But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.
- Revelation 19:20
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:
- Revelation 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
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