Isaiah 14:12-17 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! (13) For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; (14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' (15) Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit. (16) "Those who see you will gaze at you, and consider you, saying: 'Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, (17) Who made the world as a wilderness and destroyed its cities, who did not open the house of his prisoners?”
Just as the saints will be able to look upon the torment of the unbelievers in the lake of fire and brimstone, so it is that they will also look upon the torment of the arch enemy of the church, the devil. For the above passage of scripture quoted, tells us of the saints gazing upon Satan and considering the fate of the one who opposed God in the earth. And so, very clearly, we see that the lake of fire will be placed within close proximity to the New Jerusalem.
Psalms 59:8-11 “But You, O Lord, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision. (9) I will wait for You, O You his Strength; For God is my defence. (10) My God of mercy shall come to meet me; God shall let me see my desire on my enemies. (11) do not slay them, lest my people forget; Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down, O Lord our shield.”
So why will God place the lake of fire in such close proximity, to the saints dwelling in the heavenly city of Jerusalem? The above passage of scripture quoted, gives us some insight into one of the reasons why. For in this passage, our Lord Jesus asks the Father not to completely destroy His enemies. And the reason He asks that of our heavenly Father, is because He does not want His saints to forget the outcome of those who choose to rebel against God.
Michael E.B. Maher
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