Yes—hell must be emptied because it is part of the present earth, and its dead must be delivered up for judgment before the earth is destroyed.
Les Feldick teaches that hell is in the innermost parts of the earth. Since the earth and heaven flee away at the great white throne (Revelation 20:11) and are burned up, the lost cannot remain in hell. Revelation 20:13 shows death and hell delivering up the dead, and verse 14 shows death and hell being cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:13 — Directly states that death and hell delivered up the dead, showing hell's occupants must be removed before judgment.
2 Peter 3:10 — Shows the present earth is burned up, which is why something must be done with those who are in hell.
Revelation 20:11-14 gives the order of events at the great white throne. John writes that "the earth and the heaven fled away" from the face of Him who sat on the throne, "and there was found no place for them." The dead, small and great, stood before God. Then, in verse 13, "the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." Verse 14 states, "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." 2 Peter 3:10 also describes the destruction of the present creation: "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." Revelation 21:1 then says, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away." The biblical record therefore shows hell's occupants being removed before the old earth is destroyed and replaced.
Les Feldick explains that today hell is a literal place of torment in the innermost parts of the present earth (Clip 1). Because God will dissolve and burn up this present creation (Clips 0 and 6), those in hell cannot simply remain there. They are resurrected out of hell and stand bodily before the great white throne (Clips 1 and 3). Les stresses that this is a bodily resurrection, though not a glorified body like believers will have; it is a body fit for the lake of fire so it will not be consumed (Clip 2). After their judgment, death and hell themselves are cast into the lake of fire (Clip 4). Les calls this the second death — not annihilation, but eternal separation from God (Clip 5). The lake of fire is a different place from hell, and while its location is not revealed, Les says it will have to be somewhere out in space (Clip 4). This emptying of hell clears the way for the new heaven and new earth (Clip 7).
Les teaches that hell is down in the innermost parts of the earth. Before Christ's resurrection, paradise was also in that underground region; after paradise was removed, that whole area became the place of torment. Unbelievers who die today go immediately to that place of torment, and they remain there until the resurrection of the unjust.
At the end of the thousand years, the lost are brought bodily to the great white throne, which takes place up in space rather than on the earth because the earth has fled away. They are raised with a body suited for the lake of fire, so that they will not be consumed by it. Revelation 20:13 confirms that death and hell deliver up the dead who are in them.
Hell is the temporary place of torment where the unsaved wait for the great white throne judgment. The lake of fire is the final, eternal place of punishment. After the judgment, death and hell themselves are cast into the lake of fire, which is called the second death. Les says many people do not realize there are two distinct places.
Les says Scripture does not reveal the lake of fire's location. He speculates it will have to be somewhere far out in space, and mentions black holes as a possible illustration. What makes it so terrible is not the location, but the fact that it means eternal separation from God.
Earth Dissolved by Fervent Heat
Les explains that the present heavens and earth will be dissolved by fervent heat, setting the stage for why hell, being part of this creation, must give up its occupants.
Hell Located in the Innermost Parts of the Earth
Les locates hell in the innermost parts of the present earth and says the lost are brought bodily to the great white throne up in space because the earth has fled away.
A Resurrection Body Fit for the Lake of Fire
Les teaches that the lost receive a resurrected body that is not consumed by the lake of fire, showing why they must first be raised out of hell.
Hell Delivers Up Its Dead
Les emphasizes Revelation 20:13 — hell gives up the dead it holds so they can be judged, and then those occupants are cast into the lake of fire.
Lake of Fire Is a Different, Final Place
Les states that death and hell are cast into the lake of fire, which he calls the second death, and suggests the lake of fire may be far out in space.
Second Death Means Separation From God
Les defines the second death as eternal separation from God rather than physical destruction, explaining why hell's occupants still matter after the earth is gone.
Great White Throne When Earth Has Fled Away
Les clarifies that the great white throne is strictly for the lost and takes place after the earth and heaven have fled away, so the resurrection of the lost must come first.
New Heaven and New Earth After Hell Is Emptied
Les moves from the great white throne to Revelation 21, where a new heaven and a new earth appear after the lost have been sent to their doom in the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:13: And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
This verse directly describes hell being emptied of its occupants before judgment.
Revelation 20:14: And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Shows that hell itself is not the final destination; it is cast into the lake of fire.
2 Peter 3:10: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Declares that the present earth will be destroyed, making it necessary for hell's occupants to be removed.
Revelation 21:1: And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Shows what follows the destruction of the old earth and the emptying of hell.
Les teaches that hell is in the innermost parts of the present earth. After Christ's resurrection, paradise was removed from that area, leaving it as the place of torment for the unsaved until the great white throne.
Because the present earth is going to be dissolved and burned up. The lost cannot remain in a destroyed earth, so they are raised bodily and stand before God at the great white throne (Revelation 20:12-13).
No. Les stresses they are two distinct places. Hell is temporary, holding the unsaved until judgment; after the judgment, death and hell are cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death (Revelation 20:14).
No. Les says the great white throne is strictly for unbelievers. Believers will not come before it, because their judgment has already been settled in Christ.
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