Hades and the Bible

FreeinChrist · Jan 11, 2017

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Folks, per the site rules, annhilationism cannot be promoted here, only in Controversial Christian Theology. It is also not okay to teach there is no hell, and that also can only be taught in Controversial Christian Theology. Please note that the Statement of Faith for CF includes:

Faith groups that deny the full, eternal deity of Jesus Christ or His incarnation whereby He, as God, took on human flesh (becoming fully God and fully man in one person), are considered non-Christians at CF. Posts that deny the full, eternal deity of Jesus Christ or His incarnation are considered non-Christian theology and are not allowed in "Christians Only" forums. Discussions in all "Christians Only" forums must be in alignment with Trinitarian beliefs.
Non-Nicene unorthodox Christian topics may only be discussed in the Controversial Christian Theology forum. Non-Trinitarianism may only be discussed in the Christianity & World Religion forum and the Debate Non-Christian Religions forum. The Controversial Christian Theology forum is open to Christian members only (faith groups list). These unorthodox topics include (but are not limited to):
● Universalism
● Open Theism
● Full Preterism
● Annihilationism
● Gnosticism

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FreeinChrist · Jan 11, 2017

I once participated in a study using the original Greek and Hebrew, focusing also on Hebrews which bridges the old and the new. The conclusion we came to is that it is all about the cross and Jesus. This is a summary.

Christ is the firstfruits of the Resurrection ( 1Co 15:20). He is the source of our salvation and that is because of His sacrifice at the cross. His sacrifice was for the past and the future.
Now in Hebrews we learn that the animal sacrifices "covered" sin but did not remove it. Christ was the more perfect sacrifice as His sacrifice is able to remove sin. (Hebrews 9:9-15).
So the old testament saints who died in faith received salvation when Christ died on the cross. It is that group that Christ descended into hell and took to heaven. The 'hell' or 'hades' spoken of was not the fire or for the damned but is the place Jesus spoke of in the parable about Lazarus. Jesus didn't make up a fictional place. Luk 16:23 He told truth in stories.

Since the cross, when we are absent from the body, we are with Christ in heaven. The price was paid already. The Firstfruits was resurrected already. It is all about the cross - it is central.

But it helps to look at it from the original Greek.

As to the unsaved dead,

Rev 20:15

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Kiterius · Jan 11, 2017

FreeinChrist said:
Advisor Hat On:

Folks, per the site rules, annhilationism cannot be promoted here, only in Controversial Christian Theology. It is also not okay to teach there is no hell, and that also can only be taught in Controversial Christian Theology. Please note that the Statement of Faith for CF includes:

Faith groups that deny the full, eternal deity of Jesus Christ or His incarnation whereby He, as God, took on human flesh (becoming fully God and fully man in one person), are considered non-Christians at CF. Posts that deny the full, eternal deity of Jesus Christ or His incarnation are considered non-Christian theology and are not allowed in "Christians Only" forums. Discussions in all "Christians Only" forums must be in alignment with Trinitarian beliefs.
Non-Nicene unorthodox Christian topics may only be discussed in the Controversial Christian Theology forum. Non-Trinitarianism may only be discussed in the Christianity & World Religion forum and the Debate Non-Christian Religions forum. The Controversial Christian Theology forum is open to Christian members only (faith groups list). These unorthodox topics include (but are not limited to):
● Universalism
● Open Theism
● Full Preterism
● Annihilationism
● Gnosticism

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What's your definition of, "annihilationism?"

FreeinChrist · Jan 12, 2017

Kiterius said:
What's your definition of, "annihilationism?"

It is the final death of an unsaved person vs. eternal suffering .

Kiterius · Jan 12, 2017

FreeinChrist said:
It is the final death of an unsaved person vs. eternal suffering .

Okay, thanks. "Suffering", of course, can mean different things. We can take that word literally or metaphorically.

bcbsr · Jan 16, 2017

FaithfulPilgrim said:
Lately, I have been particularly interested in the study of the afterlife.

It is a popular belief that immediately after death, a person is judged by God and then goes to either heaven or hell.

Supposedly, some uses of the word "hell" is actually Hades, the holding place for all dead souls. Revelation mentions that at the Final Judgment.

Some of the Early Church Fathers affirm Hades and base it on the non-canonical book of Enoch. Despite not being canon, some early Christians seem to have accepted its credibility.

Many sources I have read say that Jesus led the righteous souls out of Hades after His death and is now just a temporary holding place for the unrighteous. What verses are used to promote this?

The only problem I see with this is that if we are already in heaven after we die, and Hades is now reserved for the unsaved, that means we have already been judged. Wouldn't that make the Final Judgment redundant?

First with regards to judgment, Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." John 5:24, so, yes, the heaven/hell judgement has been finalized for believers when then come to faith in Christ.

"Hades" is the actual Greek word for that which some translations have "hell". Jesus describes such a place in Luke 16 in his story of the rich man and Lazarus. Of the rich man it says, "being in torments in Hades". Luke 16:23

Hades there was described a place which contained paradise on one side and a place of torment on the other separated by "a great chasm" (Luke 16:26)

To the man on a cross beside him Jesus said, "today you will be with Me in Paradise" Luke 23:43

And yet Peter said of Jesus that after his death, "His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption." Acts 2:27,31.

So I take it that Jesus descended into the paradise side of Hades.

As for evidence that Christians, upon death don't go to Hades, but straight to heaven, we note

2Cor 5
4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Php 1:
22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

Notice that Paul viewed the option as doing fruitful labor on earth or being with the Lord. When a believer dies, he's immediately with the Lord. And where is the Lord, he ascended into heaven long ago.

rstrats · Jan 16, 2017

bcbsr,

re: "When a believer dies, he's immediately with the Lord."

I'm not aware of any scripture that says that. What do you have in mind?

FaithfulPilgrim · Jan 17, 2017

I'm mostly convinced that believers go straight to heaven after death as death has been conquered by Christ.

However, where did the thief on the cross go? Jesus promised him that they would be together in paradise, so does that mean the thief went to the paradise part of Hades and later went to heaven?

Pedrito · Jan 24, 2017

In Post #20 on Page 1, Ringo84 stated:

I just have a hard time believing in hell at all. It makes no sense to me that for refusing to toe the theological line in a finite life time, you're sent to eternal damnation, with absolutely no chance for redemption.

Perhaps Ringo84 (and maybe rstrats) have read the following Scriptures.

Romans 3:23:
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Romans 6:23:
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 6:7:
“For he that is dead is freed from sin.”

1 Corinthians 15:22:
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

If Ringo84 understood them to be general statements, then that might explain a lot.

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Hades and the Bible

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