I believe that this verse speaks of the fate of the devil, in its context.
However, Revelation 20:10 would seem to indicate a different fate for the devil, if you are interpreting the first verse correctly.
So, according to your present belief, if we think this through, teaches that all of the wicked [sinners and sin] who have ever existed, including satan himself, will have eternal existence [being sustained by God, by continuous miracle]
'Outside the gates of the New Jerusalem.....'. I assume you refer to Revelation 22:15 KJB in such a position? If so, you may want to reconsider the context of the text itself.
Can you tell me then, according to such a belief, where [the specific location] is the New Jersualem, during this eternal existence of the wicked, once the wicked are cast into the "lake of fire", being
'Outside the gates of the New Jerusalem', surrounding the city itself?
Revelation 20:9 KJB - And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Revelation 21:2 KJB - And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation 21:10 KJB - And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Revelation 21:25 KJB - And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Revelation 22:14 KJB - Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
From what I read, according to the texts, the New Jerusalem, comes down from God out of Heaven, and lands upon the earth [old], and remains there [even while God re-creates the earth around it after the
"lake of fire" event].
Are you telling me, that all of the wicked who have ever lived will be permanently existing outside of the New Jerusalem for all of eternity, in this vast
"lake of fire", which would cover the entire face of the New Earth [as it is anti-type to Noah; and think of how many billions have existed since
"cain"]? If so, it sounds like such a teaching as that has the wicked inheriting the position of existing all over the face of the New Earth. Does the righteous, in your belief, ever inherit the entire New Earth just for themselves where there is no more pain, etc? Or do you envision this "lake of fire" eternally existing outside of the New Jerusalem, being in view throughout eternity?
Where then is the "lake of Fire" locationally, in this 'eternity' of yours?
The
"lake of fire" could not just be
'anywhere'. That is incorrect according to the scriptures cited before you. It is clearly just outside and surrounding the New Jerusalem, once it comes down from God out of Heaven and rests upon this [old] earth:
Revelation 20:9 KJB - And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Revelation 20:10 KJB - And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
As for some peoples wild escape plan theology, to avoid these obvious conclusoins, in a desparate attempt, say it exists in
'another dimension'! That is also not scriptural [KJB], and is
"sci-fi" [science falsely so called; 1 Timothy 6:20 KJB], and they simply made it up [or borrowed it] to escape the inevitable conclusion of my pointed questions, and the clearly cited texts and evidences. They are self-deceiving themselves at this point if they choose to go thereof, and unless they repent, they can only become more and more blind to scripture [KJB]. I do not joke. Please, do not do this. I am begging all, please, humble yourself before God, and go to Him, kneeling in prayer, asking Him for the truth of the matter before it is too late about these texts, for I fear that if any continue this route, they will do exactly as they of old did to Jesus, thinking they did God service.
The
"lake of fire" is entirely visible to those inside of the New Jerusalem [once it comes down and the fire falls and comes up], for the whole universe must witness the final result of the punishment and the wages for sin, so that sin will never arise again,
Psalms 91:8 KJB - Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
What others say of the matter or think of the matter, is irrelevant. What matters is what scripture [KJB] says and teaches.
It is for us to know right now, for God hath spoken it even from the beginning:
Deuteronomy 29:29 KJB - The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
The
"lake of fire" and its location, and how it comes about [fire from Heaven above, and from within the earth, as like unto the days of Noah with the waters, with the New Jerusalem resting above it all, all of the saved inside, preserved through it], is no secret, but plainly revealed, but will you accept what it says and teaches, along with the results thereof, or will you continue to put forth non-scriptural ideology? Your escape is cut off, there is no where for you to go, but through this fiery questioning, until you acknowledge the truth. Cauterize the festering and stinking wound of pride.
Psalms 140:10 KJB - Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
Psalms 11:6 KJB - Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
Psalms 7:9 KJB - Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
Malachi 4:1 KJB - For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.