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VBVMI StaffIn Ezekiel 28:18-19 it says Satan will cease to exist, but in Revelation 20:10 and Matthew 10:28 the Bible says Satan is tormented forever and ever. Which is true?
Regarding Satan’s disposition, we must interpret scripture with scripture. In Ezekiel we read:
But later in Revelation, we read:
Based on these two passages, we must conclude that Ezekiel’s words are a reference to the Lake of Fire. In other words, when Ezekiel declares that Satan will cease to be forever, the prophet means that Satan will cease to be of concern or importance because he will have been consigned to an eternity in the Lake of Fire. From the standpoint of Creation, Satan has ceased to be because he will exist outside of our experience forevermore.
Likewise, Jesus’ comment in Matthew agrees with this conclusion:
To “destroy both soul and body in hell” means to be consigned forever to the torment of the Lake of Fire, which is called the Second Death. In the Bible’s terminology, the Second Death is not describing a ceasing to exist but rather a spiritual separation from God accompanied by torment.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org