Hershel Shanks, the Lake of Fire, A. Y. Collins, and reading Revelation

I just received in my email a link to a short online article by A. Y. Collins. Apparently Shanks had discussion with the Gideon's and they warned him he's heading for the lake of fire. Link here.

While I have great respect for A. Y. Collins' work, I'm quite frankly surprised by this little article. First, on the surface it makes no sense. Shanks is Jewish, he doesn't believe in the inspiration of Revelation, so what does he care what the lake of fire means in Revelation?

Second, Collins' reading is faulty in my opinion. She argues that those who get cast into the lake of fire are judged on works and "primarily as those who break the Ten Commandments." For some reason Collins decided not to read chapter 20 in the context of the whole book. 20:15 clearly states anyone not written in the book of life. What book of life? The Lamb's book of life (21:27). And what do we know of this lamb? Well he is the shepherd and his blood makes their robes white (7:14, 17), and he was slaughtered (5:12). Hmm, I wonder who this lamb is?


Shanks (and Collins) is of course free to believe whatever he wants, just like every human being. But that doesn't mean you have to distort the message of Revelation. Read it carefully, understand what it means, and then decide whether you believe it or not.