Spiritual Beings In A Physical Place?

Q

I frequently wonder how spiritual beings can be confined to physical locations, such as the spirits of unbelievers being confined to Hades or thrown into the lake of fire?

A

Because we can’t see them, we commonly think of spiritual beings as having no bodies. But that’s not how the Bible describes them. Angels are visible to each other and fight with each other (Rev. 12:7), and sometimes the eyes of men have been “opened” allowing them to see the angels, too. 2 Kings 6:17 is an example. Therefore, I think the spirits of the dead have some kind of body suited for the spiritual realm.

And speaking of the resurrection Paul said, “Our body is sown (buried) as a natural body; it is raised (resurrected) a spiritual body” (1 Cor. 15:44). Rev. 20:5 said the dead from the Tribulation will not come to life until the end of the 1000 years. This is sometimes called the resurrection of the dead. Just like believers, they will receive a resurrection (spiritual) body that is eternal in nature. This is what will allow them to be confined and withstand eternal suffering in the Lake of Fire. A mortal body would quickly burn up and die in the fire, but immortal bodies can’t die.