Thoughts

I agree with scripture and I comment on exposition.
(That is my thought.)

BONUS THOUGHT: I prefer ESV or NASB.

 

I prefer neither. But between those two translations, the NASB.
As for the OP. Those texts state the our finial state with God. Less the lost.

 

Well, we can’t all read Koine Greek, can we.

 

No. But we can learn to use Bible tools. And I do have the NASB as a referernce. As well as other translations. And Greek texts too. I perfer the NASB over the ESV. Of the modern translations I recommend the NKJV. There are places where the NASB is better than the NKJV. But over all the NKJV is better than the NASB.

 

I think that the imagery of the "personification" of DEATH and "HADES" (The Grave/ holding place for the dead) being discarded in the burning trash heap because they are no longer needed (and will never be needed again) is one of the absolute coolest uses of verbal imagery in all of scripture. The implications set the imagination running wild with all good thoughts. No more death, ever! No more waiting for God to make everything right. No more waiting to be reunited with those we love or with God who loves us ... ever again!

The fulfillment of a million, million prayers. The realization of more dreams than can be counted.

 

Not quite:

[Revelation 2:9-11 NASB95]

9 'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'​

[Revelation 20:13-15 NASB95]

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one [of them] according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.​

[Revelation 21:7-8 NASB95]

7 "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. 8 "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part [will be] in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."​

The SECOND DEATH is the "Lake of Fire", but it is also the casting of those judged and condemned into the Lake of Fire. That there is no more DEATH and no more GRAVE bodes poorly for those hoping for death to end their suffering ...

Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. [Hebrews 10:28-31]​

 

When I lived on a farm, there was no city trash collection. So outside the kitchen door, around back, there were two piles places away from the house and the barns. One pile was for old food and anything that could compost to enrich the garden. In another location, away from everything, was an old, rusty 55 gallon drum. Into this drum went anything that had no further use or value. Once a week, everything in the barrel was burned.

The Lake of Fire reminds me a lot of Heaven's Burn Barrel. It is where God throws everything that He will never need again and burns it to get rid of it. So somewhere conveniently close for God to throw trash into, but far enough away from Heaven not to disturb anyone or anything. From the story of Lazarus, putting it on the other side of a great gulf sounds about right.

(As long as we are speculating.)