Many Christian denominations have, as one of their key tenets of faith, a belief that there is a hell where non-believers are assigned at the end of their physical lives. This is a place of eternal torment from which there can be no escape. We are all familiar with this concept, in which an underground cave deep in the heart of the earth has been prepared as a kind of torture chamber for those who have not accepted Christ's sacrifice for their sins and spurned God's call to salvation. Satan, who is the ruler of hell, relishes in forms of punishment that we can scarce fathom. Those who dwell there are tormented with fire and brimstone continuously, and so will it be for all eternity, time without end.
Does this belief have its roots in the bible? Is this what the bible actually teaches, or does this idea stem from some other source? We owe it to ourselves to study this subject, for the bible itself tells us in II Tim 3:16, " All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness". The bible should be our only source of truth when it comes to our core beliefs.
As I have studied the subject of hell in the scriptures, I have learned that the English word "HELL" appears 53 times in the bible, 30 times in the Old Testament. The original Hebrew word from which hell was translated was "Sheol". Strong's Concordance defines Sheol as "hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates:- grave, hell, pit."
The 30 times sheol was translated hell, it was used to signify the unseen state of the dead. The bible translators for the King James Version also chose to translate sheol 29 times as "grave" and 3 times as "pit".
So, if we look at the original word sheol, we find it refers to the grave or the place of the dead. The English revisers have, therefore, inserted the Hebrew word sheol where hell, grave and pit were used in the KJV. so as to keep the integrity of the original text. See the New American Standard Bible.
The word hell appears 23 times in the New Testament and was translated from the Greek word "hades" 11 times. Strong's Condordance defines hades as "the place (state) of departed souls: - grave, hell". Hell is translated 10 times from the word "Geena", defined as "Valley of (the son of) Hinnom, gehenna (or Ge Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem: used (fig.) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment: - hell.
Hell is translated from the Greek word "tartaros" once in II Pet 2:4,"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to HELL, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment". Tartaros is defined as "(the deepest abyss of Hades); to incarcerate in eternal torment: cast down to hell". Notice that it is the abode of the ANGELS that sinned, not man.
We can see that the majority of scriptures using the word hell refer to the grave or state of the dead. However, it is the translation of the Greek word gehenna that seemingly gives the impression of eternal punishment of the wicked. Jesus Christ was the only one who used the term, except for one passage in James 3:6, most often in conjunction with fire. See the exerpts below.
MATTHEW 5:22 Thou fool, shall be in danger of HELL fire.
MATTHEW 5:29 that thy whole body should be cast into HELL.
MATTHEW 10:28 able to destroy both soul and body in HELL
MATTHEW 18:9 having two eyes to be cast into HELL fire
MATTHEW 23:33 vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of HELL?
MARK 9:43 hands to go into HELL, into the fire
MARK 9:45 to be cast into HELL, into the fire
It would seem, from Jesus' warnings, that modern Christianity is on the right track with regard to the fate of the wicked being eternal fire. However, one must view the bible in its entire context. No one can rightfully claim to understand every scripture and there are those that are hard to grasp. Others, when taken out of context, are often used to build a complete doctrine that is completely contrary to the plain teachings of God.
When one studies the bible in its overall context, a theme emerges that is quite contrary to the teachings of modern Christianity. First of all, the bible does not teach that the dead are consciously alive and dwelling in any location, be it heaven or hell, in the terms that Christians have come to believe. The dead, we are plainly told are asleep in their graves awaiting a resurrection. We are told in I Cor 15 that Jesus Christ was the first to be resurrected. Verse 20 "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the FIRSTFRUITS of them that slept". Verse 23 "But every man in his own order: Christ the FIRSTFRUITS; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming". Verse 24, "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the KINGDOM to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power."
In fact, the Apostle Paul made it quite clear that the only hope for the believer is the resurrection of Christ. I Cor 16-17, " For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ RAISED: And if Christ be not RAISED, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins".
The major theme of the bible is the revelation that God has provided a way for the salvation of mankind through Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection at his first coming and that he has appointed a day in which this same Jesus will return to earth a second time to usher in the kingdom of God. As we have seen in I Cor 15:23, the righteous will be raised at the Lord's coming. Rev 20:4-6, "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a THOUSAND YEARS. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the THOUSAND YEARS were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a THOUSAND YEARS".
What happens to the unbeliever? Jesus tells us they will indeed have their part in the lake of fire. Rev 10:15 tells us, "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the LAKE OF FIRE". Rev 20:12, "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the BOOK OF LIFE: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the BOOK OF LIFE was cast into the lake of fire". Is it, however, a place of never-ending torment? Rev 21:8 reveals, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and BRIMSTONE: which is the second death". Did you catch that? IT IS THE SECOND DEATH! What is death? Death is not life. Death is the opposite of life! Mal 4:1 tells us,"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall BURN as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall BURN them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. Verse 3 continues, "And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ASHES under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts". Rev 11:18 speaks of that day, "And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest DESTROY them which DESTROY the earth".
The wicked shall surely be destoyed in that day. But, as we see from the bible, their punishment will be swift and complete. They will be totally destoyed, no longer to have their place among the living. Our creator is a merciful God. He is not in the business of torture. In Ezek 33:11, the Lord spoke through the prophet to his people,"Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have NO PLEASURE IN THE DEATH of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel"? Surely, that is God's plea to all mankind! "Turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die"?
