What is the difference between hell and the lake of fire?

[kohai]

Hello,

Thank you so much for answering my previous question. What is the difference between hell and the lake of fire? When exactly will “hell” be cast into the lake of fire?

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life. The dead were judged according to their deeds, by what was written in the scrolls. The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades gave up their dead. All the dead were judged according to their deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire. (This pool of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the pool of fire.

• Revelation 20:12-15

It is important to not think of hell as a place. It is rather, a form of existence. It means to exist without the love and mercy of God. This passage from Revelation is highly symbolic/poetic.

Hades/Hell in this context is the abode of the dead. It means that all people have been resurrected and face the judgement of God. Following this judgement those who are wicked, including fallen angels, are permanently sent to an existence separate from God and His love and mercy. There is no more death, abode of the dead awaiting resurrection, nor future judgment, all has been concluded.