The “Lake of Fire”: Origins and Imagery
Chapter (Ch. 4) to Second Temple Period concepts of the afterlife, including Gehenna and other underworld compartments. Regarding the “lake of fire” in Revelation 20:13–15:

• Not an Underworld Compartment: The lake of fire is “the future, eternal destiny of the wicked (men and angels)” in New Testament theology. It is not a compartment Christ visited during his descent.
• Jewish and Greco-Roman Context: The concept of eternal fiery punishment for the wicked was widespread. Its imagery may originate in the Hebrew Bible:
  • Deuteronomy 32:22
  • Isaiah 1:31; 33:14; 66:24