"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
My understanding in context is that only Satan is an immortal being - and cannot die. He will be tormented forever and ever, as he is a spirit being. Not so as it applies to mortal men. We require a resurrection to Eternal Life, it is not inherent in ourselves to live forever as scripture tells us that the 'wages of sin is death'. Consider that Revelation 20 also tells us that 'death and hades' are ALSO thrown into the Lake of fire while Revelation 21:4 tells us that death itself 'will be no more'. So the logical point is that if 'death' once thrown in the lake of fire 'will be no more' - how can we then believe mortal men who are wicked will exist in this lake of fire for eternity?
In the book of Revelation, “the lake of fire” serves not to denote a literal place where immortal souls are endlessly tortured throughout eternity (the traditional concept of hell), but as a vivid and fearful “sign” or image symbolizing the reality of ultimate destruction, obliteration or complete eradication.
The lake of fire (defined specifically as ‘the second death’) thus represents a point where that which is figuratively thrown into it—particularly all that is contrary to God’s righteous will, including those whose names are not found written in the book of life—are eventually “brought to nothing,” including death which “shall not exist any more” (Rev. 20:14; 21:4, 8, Darby Translation).
This would harmonize well with, and appear to represent the ultimate fulfillment of, the Psalmist’s prayer that “sinners be consumed out of the earth” and that “the wicked be no more” (Psalm 104:35)
This corresponds to Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 15:24-25 about the point in time when “the last enemy, death, will be brought to nothing [‘destroyed’ (RSV), ‘defeated’ (TEV), ‘abolished’ (NEB)],” and in 15:54 when death is finally “swallowed up in victory.” This is, clearly, the same point poetically described in the book of Revelation when death and hades are figuratively hurled into the symbolic lake of fire, “the second death.”
This is my understanding - but as I said before - not a Salvation issue. To believe in a Judgment and that belief in Christ as the atoning sacrifice for our sin which has earned us death - and that our promise of Life is in HIM - then that alone is the Gospel. The doctrine of hell is not the Gospel.
I understand your position, but that doesn’t exactly square up with passages like this, at the very end of Revelation:
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
The dichotomy is those inside the gates of heaven (verse 14), and those outside the gates of heaven (verse 15). Why would the Holy Spirit say anybody is outside the gates of heaven if they’ve been utterly destroyed, as you believe? If sentient beings aren’t there, why mention them? As it reads, it strongly indicates living souls both inside and outside heaven.