<><
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
On the Subject of Hell and Its Denizens - Part 1: The Place and Nature of Hell
“If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” Psalm 139:8
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:1
For this post, I’d like you to join me in a little Bible study.
Perhaps the most foundational point upon which this biblical study will be built is that the place we call “hell,” where the souls of the dead went, and the “lake of fire,” where the Lord will send the souls of the wicked for eternity, are two distinct and different places.
- Hell and Sheol –
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word “sheol” is translated as “hell” 31 times, “grave” and/or “the grave” 31 times, and “pit” 3 times [1]. Tradition holds that “hell” is where the souls of the wicked would go for eternity. Why then is “sheol” also translated as “grave,” and referred to as the place where the righteous went as well? Examples of this can be found in:
Genesis 37:35
“And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave [“sheol”] unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.” [emphasis added]
Psalm 49:15
“But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave [“sheol”]: for he shall receive me. Selah.” [emphasis added]
Psalm 139:8
“If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell [“sheol”], behold, thou art there.” [emphasis added]
Here we see that not the wicked, but the righteous, spoke of going to “sheol.” Therefore, we may conclude that, at least in the days of the Old Testament, more than just the wicked went to the place we refer to as “hell.” Consider the following verse:
Ezekiel 31:16
“I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell [sheol] with them that descend into the pit [sheol]: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.”
Ask yourself, “Why would anything or anybody be comforted in hell?” This is because, as many scholars and even different religions believe, that in the “realm of the dead,” there is a “bad” side, and a “good” side. This idea is illustrated in Jesus’ story about Lazarus and the rich man (I wish to make the point that this was not a figurative parable, as Jesus never named anybody in His parables, but a story relating actual events):
Luke 16
19“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20“And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21“And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22“And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23“And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24“And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25“But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26“And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27“Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28“For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29“Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30“And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31“And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
Jesus did not say that Lazarus was in Heaven. He said that he was carried by the angels into “Abraham’s bosom.” In keeping with the rest of Scripture up to this point (“this point” being that Jesus had yet to defeat death through his death, burial, and resurrection), one may conclude that Lazarus, as well as the rich man, went to “sheol.”
- The Place of Hell -
From the above, we can now conclude that there was a “bad” side and a “good” side to sheol. Not only that, the above verses tell us where sheol is: in “the nether parts of the earth.”
Matthew 12:40
“For as Jonas [Jonah] was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
Obviously, hell/sheol is in the center, or heart, of the earth.
- Hades, Tartarus, and Hell -
In the New Testament the word “hades” is translated as hell in Matthew, Luke, Acts, 1 Corinthians, and Revelation. In each instance hell as sheol is mentioned, not the “lake of fire,” the place of future punishment. Definitions of “hades” include:
1. name Hades or Pluto, the god of the lower regions
2. Orcus, the nether world, the realm of the dead
3. later use of this word: the grave, death, hell [2]
As you can see, there are similarities with hell as sheol, and thus we can conclude that hades and sheol are the same place. And again, the verses which use the word “hades” are not referring to the future place of eternal punishment.
Also in the New Testament, the word “tartaroo” or “tartarus” is used to refer to hell in 2 Peter chapter 2 verse 4:
“For if God spared not the angels that sinned , but cast them down to hell [tartarus], and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;”
Definitions of “tartarus” include:
“the name of the subterranean region, doleful and dark, regarded by the ancient Greeks as the abode of the wicked dead, where they suffer punishment for their evil deeds.” [3]
You can see the similarities between the two, and as you will see hades, tartarus, an hell/sheol are indeed the same place.
- The Nature of Hell -
Re-read this verse:
Matthew 12:40
“For as Jonas [Jonah] was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
Now, with that in mind, read the following verses:
Jude 1:6
“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”
1 Peter 3:18-19
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.”
The word “prison” here is “phulake” (foo-lak-ay') and its definitions are as follows:
1.guard, watch
a.a watching, keeping watch
1.to keep watch
b.persons keeping watch, a guard, sentinels
c.of the place where captives are kept, a prison [4]
Read this verse again:
Jude 1:6
“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”
Consider the similarities of being “bound in chains of darkness” “reserved unto the judgment of the great day” and being in prison.
It would seem that Jesus went to the “heart of the earth” and preached to the spirits, both of angels and men, which were imprisoned there.
- Jesus and Sheol -
At this point you may find yourself thinking, “Ok, so sheol is like a prison and Jesus went there, but did He go to the good side or bad side?” I do not know for certain, but here is a verse that may give us something of a clue:
Luke 23:43
“And Jesus said unto him [the thief on the cross near to Jesus], Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Jesus did not immediately go to Heaven after dying on the cross. In His own words, He went to “the heart of the earth.” It is therefore possible that He went to the so-called “good side,” but we can’t know for sure.
It is worth noting that some believe, in the above verse, Jesus was telling the thief that, not just today, but “because you have done this today” you shall be with me in paradise. That is up for debate. Either way, there is enough evidence to suggest that there was a “bad” side (hell) and a “good” side (paradise) to sheol/hades/tartarus.
On another note, some people claim that Jesus lead all the souls out of “paradise” in some kind of triumphal victory march to Heaven, but there is absolutely no biblical proof for this whatsoever.
John 5:28, 29
“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
It is also possible that the “dead in Christ” that “shall rise” during the Rapture are souls that were in the “good side” of sheol, and are now being let into Heaven. Again, this is just speculation.
- The Nature of Hell (cont.) –
Ok, hell/sheol/the pit/hades/tartarus is in the heart of the earth, has a “good” side and a “bad” side, and acts as a kind of “prison” or holding place until the Day of Judgment. Now what is the place of eternal punishment?
A key passage for this question can be found in Revelation 20: 11-15:
“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 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 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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
From this passage we find that “death and hell [hades]” will be cast into the “lake of fire.” Therefore, hell is not the place of eternal punishment in which the souls of the wicked are cast. If it was, this would mean that God is casting “hell” into itself, which makes no sense. So this passage reinforces that hell is a “holding cell.”
Here are all verses concerning the “lake of fire”:
Revelation 19:20
“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
Revelation 20:10
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
Revelation 20:14
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
Revelation 20:15
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Revelation 21:8
“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.”
The term “geenna” (gheh'-en-nah) is also used to refer to the place of future punishment in Matthew (5:22, 18:9, 23:15), Mark (9:43, 9:45, 9:47), Luke (12:5), and James (3:6).
Thus, the lake of fire/geenna is the place of future punishment, and not hell.
Where is the lake of fire/geenna? These verses provide some clues:
Matthew 8:12
“But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 22:13
“Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 25:30
“And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
This also answers a question that unbelievers ask: “How can you be happy in Heaven knowing there are people burning in hell?” The Bible says that God will create a new heaven and a new earth. How can we be happy, they ask, if we know people are burning beneath us? The above verses answer this by pointing out that hell will be cast [from earth] into the “outer darkness” of the lake of fire/geena.
- Conclusion -
To review,
Hell/sheol/the pit/hades/tartarus is in the heart of the earth, has a “good” side and a “bad” side, and acts as a kind of “prison” or holding place until the Day of Judgment.
The lake of fire/geena is in outer darkness, and is the place in which the devil, his angels, and all wicked spirits shall be cast for all eternity.
Well, I hope you got something out of this Bible study, and hopefully had some questions answered. God bless!
[1] http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/sheowl.html
[2] http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/hades.html
[3] http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/tartaroo.html
[4] http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/phulake.html
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:1
For this post, I’d like you to join me in a little Bible study.
Perhaps the most foundational point upon which this biblical study will be built is that the place we call “hell,” where the souls of the dead went, and the “lake of fire,” where the Lord will send the souls of the wicked for eternity, are two distinct and different places.
- Hell and Sheol –
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word “sheol” is translated as “hell” 31 times, “grave” and/or “the grave” 31 times, and “pit” 3 times [1]. Tradition holds that “hell” is where the souls of the wicked would go for eternity. Why then is “sheol” also translated as “grave,” and referred to as the place where the righteous went as well? Examples of this can be found in:
Genesis 37:35
“And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave [“sheol”] unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.” [emphasis added]
Psalm 49:15
“But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave [“sheol”]: for he shall receive me. Selah.” [emphasis added]
Psalm 139:8
“If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell [“sheol”], behold, thou art there.” [emphasis added]
Here we see that not the wicked, but the righteous, spoke of going to “sheol.” Therefore, we may conclude that, at least in the days of the Old Testament, more than just the wicked went to the place we refer to as “hell.” Consider the following verse:
Ezekiel 31:16
“I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell [sheol] with them that descend into the pit [sheol]: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.”
Ask yourself, “Why would anything or anybody be comforted in hell?” This is because, as many scholars and even different religions believe, that in the “realm of the dead,” there is a “bad” side, and a “good” side. This idea is illustrated in Jesus’ story about Lazarus and the rich man (I wish to make the point that this was not a figurative parable, as Jesus never named anybody in His parables, but a story relating actual events):
Luke 16
19“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20“And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21“And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22“And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23“And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24“And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25“But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26“And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27“Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28“For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29“Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30“And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31“And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
Jesus did not say that Lazarus was in Heaven. He said that he was carried by the angels into “Abraham’s bosom.” In keeping with the rest of Scripture up to this point (“this point” being that Jesus had yet to defeat death through his death, burial, and resurrection), one may conclude that Lazarus, as well as the rich man, went to “sheol.”
- The Place of Hell -
From the above, we can now conclude that there was a “bad” side and a “good” side to sheol. Not only that, the above verses tell us where sheol is: in “the nether parts of the earth.”
Matthew 12:40
“For as Jonas [Jonah] was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
Obviously, hell/sheol is in the center, or heart, of the earth.
- Hades, Tartarus, and Hell -
In the New Testament the word “hades” is translated as hell in Matthew, Luke, Acts, 1 Corinthians, and Revelation. In each instance hell as sheol is mentioned, not the “lake of fire,” the place of future punishment. Definitions of “hades” include:
1. name Hades or Pluto, the god of the lower regions
2. Orcus, the nether world, the realm of the dead
3. later use of this word: the grave, death, hell [2]
As you can see, there are similarities with hell as sheol, and thus we can conclude that hades and sheol are the same place. And again, the verses which use the word “hades” are not referring to the future place of eternal punishment.
Also in the New Testament, the word “tartaroo” or “tartarus” is used to refer to hell in 2 Peter chapter 2 verse 4:
“For if God spared not the angels that sinned , but cast them down to hell [tartarus], and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;”
Definitions of “tartarus” include:
“the name of the subterranean region, doleful and dark, regarded by the ancient Greeks as the abode of the wicked dead, where they suffer punishment for their evil deeds.” [3]
You can see the similarities between the two, and as you will see hades, tartarus, an hell/sheol are indeed the same place.
- The Nature of Hell -
Re-read this verse:
Matthew 12:40
“For as Jonas [Jonah] was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
Now, with that in mind, read the following verses:
Jude 1:6
“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”
1 Peter 3:18-19
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.”
The word “prison” here is “phulake” (foo-lak-ay') and its definitions are as follows:
1.guard, watch
a.a watching, keeping watch
1.to keep watch
b.persons keeping watch, a guard, sentinels
c.of the place where captives are kept, a prison [4]
Read this verse again:
Jude 1:6
“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”
Consider the similarities of being “bound in chains of darkness” “reserved unto the judgment of the great day” and being in prison.
It would seem that Jesus went to the “heart of the earth” and preached to the spirits, both of angels and men, which were imprisoned there.
- Jesus and Sheol -
At this point you may find yourself thinking, “Ok, so sheol is like a prison and Jesus went there, but did He go to the good side or bad side?” I do not know for certain, but here is a verse that may give us something of a clue:
Luke 23:43
“And Jesus said unto him [the thief on the cross near to Jesus], Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Jesus did not immediately go to Heaven after dying on the cross. In His own words, He went to “the heart of the earth.” It is therefore possible that He went to the so-called “good side,” but we can’t know for sure.
It is worth noting that some believe, in the above verse, Jesus was telling the thief that, not just today, but “because you have done this today” you shall be with me in paradise. That is up for debate. Either way, there is enough evidence to suggest that there was a “bad” side (hell) and a “good” side (paradise) to sheol/hades/tartarus.
On another note, some people claim that Jesus lead all the souls out of “paradise” in some kind of triumphal victory march to Heaven, but there is absolutely no biblical proof for this whatsoever.
John 5:28, 29
“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
It is also possible that the “dead in Christ” that “shall rise” during the Rapture are souls that were in the “good side” of sheol, and are now being let into Heaven. Again, this is just speculation.
- The Nature of Hell (cont.) –
Ok, hell/sheol/the pit/hades/tartarus is in the heart of the earth, has a “good” side and a “bad” side, and acts as a kind of “prison” or holding place until the Day of Judgment. Now what is the place of eternal punishment?
A key passage for this question can be found in Revelation 20: 11-15:
“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 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 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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
From this passage we find that “death and hell [hades]” will be cast into the “lake of fire.” Therefore, hell is not the place of eternal punishment in which the souls of the wicked are cast. If it was, this would mean that God is casting “hell” into itself, which makes no sense. So this passage reinforces that hell is a “holding cell.”
Here are all verses concerning the “lake of fire”:
Revelation 19:20
“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
Revelation 20:10
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
Revelation 20:14
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
Revelation 20:15
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Revelation 21:8
“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.”
The term “geenna” (gheh'-en-nah) is also used to refer to the place of future punishment in Matthew (5:22, 18:9, 23:15), Mark (9:43, 9:45, 9:47), Luke (12:5), and James (3:6).
Thus, the lake of fire/geenna is the place of future punishment, and not hell.
Where is the lake of fire/geenna? These verses provide some clues:
Matthew 8:12
“But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 22:13
“Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 25:30
“And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
This also answers a question that unbelievers ask: “How can you be happy in Heaven knowing there are people burning in hell?” The Bible says that God will create a new heaven and a new earth. How can we be happy, they ask, if we know people are burning beneath us? The above verses answer this by pointing out that hell will be cast [from earth] into the “outer darkness” of the lake of fire/geena.
- Conclusion -
To review,
Hell/sheol/the pit/hades/tartarus is in the heart of the earth, has a “good” side and a “bad” side, and acts as a kind of “prison” or holding place until the Day of Judgment.
The lake of fire/geena is in outer darkness, and is the place in which the devil, his angels, and all wicked spirits shall be cast for all eternity.
Well, I hope you got something out of this Bible study, and hopefully had some questions answered. God bless!
<><
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[1] http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/sheowl.html
[2] http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/hades.html
[3] http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/tartaroo.html
[4] http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/phulake.html
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Familiarity with Sin
"Sin is a monster of such awful mien,
That to be hated needs but to be seen,
But seen too oft, familiar with face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace." (Alexander Pope)
"...know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (James 4:4)
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20)
http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/009/america-6.htm
That to be hated needs but to be seen,
But seen too oft, familiar with face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace." (Alexander Pope)
"...know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (James 4:4)
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20)
http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/009/america-6.htm
<><
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Jesus and Santa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NStpjQ477HA
"Lately, it seems like some of us have been confusing Jesus with Santa. After all, they both have beards and several nicknames, and often, we get caught up hoping that they both bring us everything we want. However, this season let us remember that one of them comes to give us what we think we want; the other came to give us what we need."
"Lately, it seems like some of us have been confusing Jesus with Santa. After all, they both have beards and several nicknames, and often, we get caught up hoping that they both bring us everything we want. However, this season let us remember that one of them comes to give us what we think we want; the other came to give us what we need."
<><
Monday, December 7, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
