But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
This verse comes near the very end of the Bible, in the book of Revelation — an elaborate vision given to the apostle John, a follower of Jesus, near the end of the first century AD. The book was written to Christian communities living under Roman rule, many of whom were being persecuted and pressured to renounce their faith. The surrounding chapters describe a glorious new creation — a renewed heaven and earth where God himself wipes away every tear. This verse is the shadow side of that promise: a stark list of those who will not enter that new life. The 'fiery lake of burning sulfur' is what John calls 'the second death' — permanent separation from God after physical death. Strikingly, the list begins not with murderers but with 'the cowardly' and 'the unbelieving,' pointing especially to those who abandoned Christ under pressure rather than face the cost.
God, I don't want to be someone who drifts away when following you gets costly. Forgive me for the moments I've stayed silent, played it safe, or traded your truth for my comfort. Give me courage that doesn't come from willpower — the kind that only comes from actually knowing you are who you say you are. Amen.
Most people reading this list assume they don't belong on it. The murderers, sure. The liars — maybe a twinge of recognition. But notice who leads: the cowardly. That word lands differently. Cowardice is so ordinary. It's staying quiet when you know you should speak. It's smiling politely at something you know is wrong because correcting it feels too costly. It's walking away from faith not because you stopped believing, but because you stopped being willing to pay for it. John was writing to people watching their neighbors die for following Jesus. The temptation to just quietly step back — to keep your head down and survive — was enormous and entirely understandable. This warning has a face. This verse is hard, and it's supposed to be. Not everything resolves into something comfortable. But notice what surrounds it: a free invitation to drink the water of life in verse 6, the promise of every tear wiped away in verse 4. This list isn't designed to make you feel condemned — it's a boundary marker meant to make you honest. The question isn't whether you've ever been a coward about your faith. You have. So has everyone. The real question is which direction you're moving right now. The door is still open.
Why do you think 'the cowardly' and 'the unbelieving' appear at the top of this list alongside murderers and the sexually immoral — what does that reveal about how God views spiritual courage?
When have you felt the pull toward spiritual cowardice — staying silent, blending in, or quietly stepping back from something you believed — and what was driving that temptation?
This verse sits inside a vision of ultimate justice and renewal. Does the existence of final judgment make you feel more or less at peace with the suffering and injustice you see in the world? Why?
How does fear of what others think affect your closest relationships — does it ever lead you to treat people dishonestly, withhold hard truths, or hide your real self from them?
Is there an area of your life where you've been quietly retreating from something you know is true? What would one concrete act of faithfulness or courage look like for you this week?
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1 Corinthians 6:9
For this ye know , that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Ephesians 5:5
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Ephesians 5:6
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:16
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Revelation 22:15
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:10
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Revelation 2:11
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Galatians 5:19
But as for the cowards and unbelieving and abominable [who are devoid of character and personal integrity and practice or tolerate immorality], and murderers, and sorcerers [with intoxicating drugs], and idolaters and occultists [who practice and teach false religions], and all the liars [who knowingly deceive and twist truth], their part will be in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
AMP
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
ESV
'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.'
NASB
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
NIV
But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
NKJV
“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars — their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
NLT
But for the rest—the feckless and faithless, degenerates and murderers, sex peddlers and sorcerers, idolaters and all liars—for them it's Lake Fire and Brimstone. Second death!"
MSG