“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers, and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.” Revelation 22:14-15
On the way home from visiting family over the Independence Day holiday I was listening to a Christian program on the radio. It was one of those ‘Bible answer man’ type shows where people would call or write with questions. The guy who was answering them was from Moody Bible Institute. I’m pretty sure he had a doctorate of theology (ThD).
The subject of the verse is the city ‘New Jerusalem’ that will come down out of heaven and be the dwelling place for everyone on the new earth. The subject of the question was basically, “what’s going on here?”. The questioner said it sounded like there are unsaved people on the new earth living outside the gates of the new Jerusalem.
I was really surprised at the answer that the scholar gave.
He said that it appeared from the passage that the Lake of Fire would be within eyesight of the new Jerusalem and that those who are living in the city would be able to see the suffering unsaved burning in the lake.
I’ll pause here while you look at the passage and contemplate the response he gave.
I was kind of shocked at the level of understanding he showed. It was evidence that a ThD does not make you Biblically literate.
Before I get into the problems with the doctor’s answer, and the correct understanding of the passage, you should read my post “Eternal Torment or Eternal Destruction“. If you haven’t read it or ever considered that the unsaved will be destroyed instead of suffering in unimaginable burning pain for eternity, it will give you the background and support of my response.
I can understand why the scholar responded the way he did. He believes that people will suffer for eternity while burning in the Lake of Fire. His bias and his ‘programming’ was what informed him of the passage’s meaning. In other words, his incorrect belief led him to conclude that the saved will be able to see the unsaved roasting in the Lake of Fire.
There are 2 problems. One is his incorrect understanding of hell and judgment in the Bible. The other problem is his lack of discernment as to the context of the passage.
In a nutshell, the context is about spiritual position or condition, not geographic location.
Take a look at Rev. 22:12. It says that Jesus is coming to render to every man according to what he has done. It’s a future event. For the saved it’s rewards. For the unsaved it’s destruction. (“And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord.” 1 Thess. 1:9) Those who do not obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess 1:8) will be destroyed away from the presence of the Lord.
Rev. 22:14 also gives an obvious clue that vs. 15 is metaphorical and is talking about spiritual condition rather than geographic location. It says ‘blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the RIGHT to the tree of life and MAY enter into the city’. The others in vs. 15 do not have that right and they are characterized as outside. They do NOT have the right to enter into the city and they will be thrown into the Lake of Fire and destroyed.
I would venture to say that the scholar conflated Rev. 22:15 with Matt. 8:12 – “the sons of the kingdom shall be cast into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” My guess is that he believes these verses are saying the same thing. They are not.
Matt. 8 is talking about hell, not the Lake of Fire. There IS weeping and gnashing of teeth in the darkness and heat of hell as these souls await their judgment at the Great White Throne in Revelation 20. They will be judged and then destroyed in the Lake of Fire.
Think about it. If it’s outer darkness, then how would anyone from the New Jerusalem be able to see into it? And what would be the purpose of having the Lake of Fire right by the New Jerusalem and everyone in the city constantly having to view the horrible suffering going on (that is if anyone was actually suffering in it besides Satan, the antichrist and false prophet – Rev. 20:10). It’s absurd on it’s face.
The Greek definition of the word ‘outside’ in Rev. 22:15 is ‘exo’ which does mean outside. Metaphorically, they are outside of the city. They are not in the position or have the right to enter into the city that is coming. They are separated from the glory and blessing of salvation. The opposite of inside is outside. In other words, a person can be both destroyed and also outside of the city. The point is they are not IN the city.
We are not going to be subjected to some senseless and cruel eternal spectacle of tormented and suffering souls. Neither will anyone suffer like that for eternity other than Satan, the antichrist and the false prophet.