Hippolytus on the Second Coming and the Lake of Fire in 225CE

Moreover, concerning the resurrection and the kingdom of the saints, Daniel says, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall arise, some to everlasting life, (and some to shame and everlasting contempt).” Isaiah says, “The dead men shall arise, and they that are in their tombs shall awake; for Your dew is healing to them.” The Lord says, “Many in that day shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live.” And the prophet says, “Awake, you sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.”

And John says, “Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power.” For the second death is the lake of fire that burns. And again the Lord says, “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun shines in its glory.” And to the saints He will say, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” But what does He say to the wicked? “Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels, which My Father has prepared.”

And John says, “Outside are dogs, and sorcerers, and the sexually immoral, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever tells and loves lies; for your part is in the hell of fire.” And similarly in Isaiah: “And they shall go forth and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against Me. And their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be for a spectacle to all flesh.”

Concerning the resurrection of the righteous, Paul also speaks this in writing to the Thessalonians: … “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive (and) remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice and trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive (and) remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall forever be with the Lord.”

These things, then, I have set shortly before you, O Theophilus, drawing them from Scripture itself, in order that, maintaining in faith what is written, and anticipating the things that are to be, you may keep yourself free of offense both toward God and toward men, “looking for that blessed hope and appearing of our God and Savior,” when, having raised the saints among us, He will rejoice with them, glorifying the Father. To Him be the glory unto the endless ages of the ages. Amen.