Hell, Hades
Sheol, Gehenna
From time to time I get inquiries from Christians, such as, "Is hell a real place?" or "Don't
Hades, Sheol, Gehenna simply mean the grave?" I have received e-mail flatly stating that
there is no such thing as hell, or a place of eternal punishment. On this page, I will review the
meaning of the words " hades, gehenna, sheol, and hell."
You will note, that I said the meaning of the words hades, sheol, gehenna, & hell. All these
words can be simply translated as, 'grave, pit, death, or hell.' However, their meaning is more
involved than just a simple translation. We need to consider the meaning of these words to the
authors of the original Bible manuscripts to be able to understand the concept they are trying
to convey. Because of cultural and language differences reliance on simple word translation is
very misleading; and many are using this to mislead others. Using the principles of Effective
Bible Study will give a clearer meaning to the use of these words.
Sheol
- - The concept 'sheol' conveys is the 'the underworld'. The abode of the dead. A place:
of no return;
where there is no praise of God;
where the wicked were sent for punishment.
A place of exile from God.
The righteous are not abandoned to it.
The place of torment, commonly called hell, where devils and damned spirits are; hither the
souls of the wicked go immediately upon their departure from their bodies.
Hades (Hell)
- - The word 'hades' (hell) is derived from name 'Pluto' (Hades), who the ancient Romans &
Greeks believed was the god of the underworld, the nether world, the realm of the dead.
Therefore it conveys a 'dwelling place.'
Gehenna
- - 'Gehenna' is derived from the Hebrew, 'Ge-Hinnom', the valley of Hinnom. A valley of
Jerusalem that was used to dump dead animals and waste in. The heaps of refuse were then
burned. It was figuratively used to designate 'a place of eternal dwelling and eternal
punishment'.
We can see that the words 'gehenna, sheol, hades (hell)' meant more to the authors of the
original biblical manuscripts than simply a hole in the ground called a grave. These words
signified to all the writers of the manuscripts, 'a dwelling place of eternal punishment'. This
was, and is, the concept they meant their readers to envision.
"And in hell (hades) he lifted up his eyes, being in torments,
and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father
Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in
water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. "
Luke 16:23-24
Several Hebrew & Aramaic words were used to denote 'grave, sepulchre, tomb' by the
authors of the original scriptural manuscripts. They are transliterated as: 'qatat, qeber,
pathach, beiy, shachath, & qeburah'. The only Greek word, used by the authors of the original
Bible manuscripts, to denote the grave, sepulchre, or tomb, was transliterated as,
'mnemeion'. The Hebrew words to signify 'death' were: 'maveth & muth' (the most common);
occasionally used were 'mohth; tsalmaveth; & temuthah'. Several Greek words were used by
the authors to signify 'death.' They were: 'thanatos & thanatoo' (the most commonly used); occasionally
used were 'teleute; echo; anairesis; & anaireo'. As you can see hell, hades, gehenna, and
sheol were not used to denote the grave or death.
Further scriptural evidence showing that hades(hell), gehenna, & sheol, represent
'a place' rather than just a grave can be found at
Eternal Punishment
(Damnation - Condemnation)
"These, then, will be sent off to eternal punishment,
but the righteous will go to eternal life."
(Mat 25:46)
The Bible speaks of only two destinies for mankind - Eternal Life or Eternal
Punishment (Condemnation, Damnation). Christianity seems to have drifted
away from the 'hell fire & brimstone' preaching that was prevalent for a long
time. While it is much better to focus on God's Love; His sense of Justice, and
man's reprobation, should not be overlooked, or swept under the rug. Mankind
needs to know that these are its only true destinies; yet, we find many of
today's Christian Preachers & Teachers failing to address the issue of Eternal
Punishment. We even have whole segments of supposedly Christian
Denominations, Churches, now teaching that there is no such thing as Eternal
Damnation (Condemnation). Their reasoning is that since "God is love" (1 John 4:16)
He could not possibly sentence someone to be punished for eternity. It is no
mystery that these groups are becoming extremely popular. Their message is
pleasing to hear. Just imagine, "No matter what, everyone is going to Heaven."
Scripture addressed this situation,
- - "The time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine, but will
follow their own desires and will collect for themselves more and more
teachers who will tell them what they are itching to hear. They will turn away
from listening to the truth and give their attention to legends."
(2Ti 4:3-4)
Regardless of the beliefs of some, the Bible clearly teaches Eternal
Punishment (Condemnation - Damnation). On a another page, I have already
established that Hell is a real place, not just symbolic of the grave. For those
interested in the truth concerning God's Justice, I have listed appropriate
verses below. May the Holy Spirit guide & enlighten you as you study them.
"The Son of Man shall send out His angels, and they shall gather out of His
kingdom all things that offend, and those who do iniquity, and shall cast them
into a furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
(Mat 13:41-42)
"So it shall be at the end of the world. The angels shall come out and separate
the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire.
There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
Mat 13:49-50
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Away from me, you that are under God's
curse! Away to the eternal fire which has been prepared for the Devil and his
angels!"
"These, then, will be sent off to eternal punishment, but the righteous will go to
eternal life."
(Mat 25:41 & 46)
"And if your foot offends you, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame
than to have two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be
quenched where
their worm (conscience) dies not, and the fire is not quenched."
(Mark 9:45-46)
"And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham afar off,
and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy
on me and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and
cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame."
(Luke 16:23-24)
"He who believes on Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is
condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the onlybegotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the Light has come into
the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, because their deeds
were evil."
(John 3:18-19)
" - in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and who do
not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with
everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His
power, ...."
(2Th 1:8-9)
"And a third angel followed them, saying with a great voice, If anyone worships
the beast and its image, and receives a mark in his forehead or in his hand, he
also will drink of the wine of the anger of God, having been mixed undiluted in
the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented by fire and brimstone before the
holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment
goes up forever and ever. And they have no rest day or night, those who worship
the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name."
(Rev 14:9-11)
"And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he was
cast into the Lake of Fire."
(Rev 20:15)
"But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in
the Lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
(Rev 21:8)
It is abundantly clear that in addition to teaching, God is Love, it also teaches
Eternal Damnation (Punishment Condemnation) for the unbeliever.
"False prophets appeared in the past among the people, and in the same way
false teachers will appear among you. They will bring in destructive, untrue
doctrines, ..."
(2 Peter 2:1)