Gehenna, Hell, Tartaros, Sheol:
The existence of hell is irrefutably taught in the Bible as a place for the wicked who have died in an unredeemed condition. The O.T. constantly alludes to the "cutting off" of evil from God. Except for James 3:6, the word is always used by Jesus and refers to the place of retributive suffering.
There are four distinct words in the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures, that are translated for the word Hell. They are as follows:
Sheol; pointedly refers to a shadowy existence beyond the grave, giving the reader the understanding of a future and continued existence.
Both Sheol, and Hades, signify the world of the departed. Neither distinguishes between the saved or the unsaved.
Neither point to the place of eternal punishment in it's strictest sense. What they do point to are the regions of the dead in general. This including both Paradise, and/or Gehenna; Gehenna being the world of the damned.
Tartaros: Gehenna: These are more specific in their character, and strictly signify in the language of theology, the place of God's punishment after death.
"Gehenna" or "hell." To be in hell reflect three conditions, The absence of righteousness, the separation from God, and judgment.
New Testament writers make use of the Greek word Gehenna, which is compounded of two Hebrew words, Ge- Hinnom, that is "The Valley of Hinnom." This was the literal valley of Hinnom, that was outside the walls of Jerusalem. Here young babies lost their lives in sacrifices by fire to the god Moloch, the god of the Ammonites.
The word gehenna is used in the N.T. 12 times; always in addressing Jews, to whom the analogical sense was easily understood.
Matt.5:22, Jesus said, "Whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." The word fool is sometimes rendered wicked, or having contempt for God.
Matt.10:28, Jesus said, "Fear not them = (men) which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him = (God) which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Matt. 23:15, Jesus said, "Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte = (new convert,) and when he is made, ye make him twofold = (twice) more the child of hell than yourselves."
Manasseh at the age of 12, was the fifteenth king of Judea to rule in Jerusalem. It is said of him, that he did evil in the eyes of the LORD, worshipping the idols of the Canaanites.
2 Chro.33:6, "And he = (Manasseh) caused his children = (Jewish children) to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hin'-nom:"
This place was also called To'-phet. (the word toph meaning a drum) This is clarified in 2 K.23:10, "To'-pheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hin'-nom,"
The name To'-phet alludes to the noise of drums, drums that would drown out the cries of the helpless children who were placed onto the red hot arms of an image of Moloch.
In this corrupt period of Jewish history, an idol, or statue of Moloch was erected in the valley south of Jerusalem. Ancient Rabbi's inform us that the image of Moloch was made of brass. The image was half man and half beast: the head of a calf, and the body of a man. He was displayed as one sitting on a throne. On its head sat a royal crown.
The image had It's arms extended out as if to embrace some-one, or something. Its victims were the very young that would be offered in sacrifice. With fire, the brass image was heated from within. When the brass became red hot, priests would place the child on it's arms where they would be consumed by the violence of the heat. In the background the drums would beat loudly, so that the cries of the young victims would be drowned out.
As time passed, this place came to be considered by the Jew's as an emblem, or a symbol of Hell. Like Hennon with all its sorrows and pain, hell is that place of torment, a place that God has reserved for the punishment of the wicked.
As for the nature or type of punishment expected in this place called hell, we can gain some idea from the expressions and descriptions revealed in Scriptures.
1. Matt.8:12, Jesus calls it a place of, "outer darkness," where there shall be "weeping and gnashing of teeth." The idea of both loss and pain still exists for those who are in hell. Gnashing of teeth means, pain, envy and rage. If we say there is no hell, then how do we account for the weeping, pain, and rage? So we can gather from this verse, that when a person is sent to hell, both their physical and spiritual body will feel the agony of God's punishment.
2. Matt.13:42-50, Jesus is speaking, "And (God's angels) shall cast them = (sinners) into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
3. Mark 9:44-48, Sinners are spoken of figuratively as worms. Jesus said, "Where their worm = (sinners) dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." This verse supports the teaching that sinners shall never die, and the fire of hell is not quenched.
4. Luke 16:28, Hell is called, "This place of torment." Only if one remains alive, can they be tormented.
5. Rom.2:5, "The day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God."
6. 1 Pet.3:19, speaks of spirits, "In prison." The Greek idea of prison is a placed to be watched and guarded.
7. Jude 13, Speaks of those, "To whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." The word forever means, eternal, everlasting.
8. Jude 23. For sinners, there reward will be, "Fire."
9. Rev.20:3-7, Hell is called both a, "Bottomless pit, and a "prison."
10. Rev.21:8, "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."
It has long been debated whether the fire in Hell is symbolic or real. If the facts of Hell with its fire and brimstone are true, then Scripture should support it. If not, it will support the flip side of that teaching. So is fire and brimstone Biblical?
Rev.14:10-11, For those who worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark, Scripture states, "The same = (false worshippers) shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God = (suffer God's punishments,) which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His = (God's) indignation = (anger) and he = (the wicked) shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb = (Jesus Christ) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they = (the sinner) have no rest day nor night = (forever, eternal,) who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."
Rev.20:10, "And the devil that deceived them = (all those who denied and disobeyed God) was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever = (everlasting.)"
Rev.20:12-13, These are, in total, "The dead, small and great," shall stand "before God." And from the book of life = (their life) shall they be judged, according to their works = (the way they lived.)" All those who have their resting place on either land or sea, shall be raised from the dead. They will be made to stand before their Maker and Judge on this day of judgement.
Rev.20:14-15, After the book of life has been opened and read, judgement is now passed by the Judge of all mankind, Jesus Christ. He said, "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire." Death and hell are represented as personified representatives of the enemies of Christ and His Church. These are to be cast into the lake of fire.
This expresses the truth of what Jesus said about His children, they shall not suffer the second death. The lake of fire is that place of the eternal second death. Our first death is a natural death that all men must suffer.
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." This is that judgement of the whole man, his body, soul and spirit, these are those who have sinned against the Almighty.
Today there are those who deny the idea of hell with its eternal fire and brimstone. Scripture is very clear in its teaching and as to it's reality. According to several Biblical passages, there also appears to be various degrees of punishment in Hell. Examples follow.
Luke 12:47, Jesus said, "And that servant = (the sinner,) which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself = (received not the sacrifice of Jesus,) neither did according to his will = (repented and was baptized,) shall be beaten with many stripes = (suffer the pains of hell.)"
Rom.2:12, "For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;"
Those who transgress against the natural laws of nature itself, are compared to those who have transgressed against Christ Himself. The first shall not come under the same rule of judgement as the second. The second shall be judged under a higher standard, this for rejecting the works of Jesus finished work of salvation, and for not having received the teaching of His Holy Spirit.
Matt.12:25-32, Jesus said, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation: and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand ... whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." So my question for those who say there is no hell, "If NOT the world of the damned, then what world would that be?"
Heb.10:28-29, "He that despised = (rejected) Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer = (worse) punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden = (trampled) under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing = (common thing,) and hath done despite = (insults) unto the Spirit of Grace = (Holy Spirit?)" God will regard the measure of men's evil works.
It is the curse of evil eternally that propagates evil: Therefore for those who defile, or rail against Christ with their mouths, with their deeds, and blaspheme Him from their hearts, there is subjectively no renewal for that person. Therefore no further sacrifice for sins can be made. These shall suffer the second death.
Is hell eternal? Why? Because of the disproportion between temporary crimes here on earth, and the eternal punishments of hell. They claim that the word, "everlasting," is not to be taken in its utmost sense. It can only mean a long time having a limited time placed on it. Let's see what the Bible has to say about this. Do they proven these claims? or reject them?
First, the word everlasting. It is the Hebrew, "owlam," or, "olam." The Greek is, "alonios." It means perpetual, eternal. It is spoken chiefly of time future, and sometimes of time past, forever.
The answer lies in the observation that the word eternal is used, sometimes in the very same place to express,
The "eternal happiness of the righteous," as opposed to,
The "eternal misery of the wicked."
So I ask the question, Is there any reason to believe that the words express two different ideas, as standing in the same connection?" If happiness is eternal, why then would misery not be eternal?
It is not true that temporary crimes do not deserve eternal punishment?
Why? Because the length of punishment is never measured by the time it takes to commit the crime. It only takes a moment to kill a person in cold blood. When that person is caught, convicted, and judged guilty, that person must forfeit their life. If the convicted person refuses to repent of that sin, then the justice of an offended God will and must vindicate His injured majesty, this glorifying His eternal justice. It is God's justice, not ours that has been offended.
The prophet Job also believed in a future resurrection of the dead. His book is thought to be the oldest book of the Bible. Many scholars believe that Job lived soon after Noah's flood. We read the following in,
Job 14:14-15, "If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come (given an incorruptible body.) Thou = (God) shalt call, and I will answer thee (be raised from death" Job speaks of the future coming of Messiah, and the resurrection of the dead.
Job 19:25-29, "I know that my redeemer = (Jesus) liveth, = (the resurrected Saviour,) and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh = (resurrected new body) shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. Ver.29: Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment."
Question; How did Job come by this doctrine of a resurrection, and of a future judgement? My reply would be;
Jude 14-15, "Enoch also the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold the LORD cometh with ten thousand of His saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince = (convict) all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed."
Enoch was a prophet of God, before the flood, therefore before Job. He understood the raising of the dead.
He goes on to say that there remains transgressions and errors. Moral error and dangerous tendencies in confining rewards for the just, and punishments to the wicked, in the present life only.
The rich and the poor, the strong and the weak, king's and beggars alike will all be brought down by the first death. Paradise or hell? We have a merciful God. Where we finish up will be determined by our choices here, the choices made while we are still alive. If unsuccessful here, no blame will be allowed, no excuses, no pity, no appeals allowed. Judgement will be just, swift, and final. Will you be found Innocent? or will you be found guilt?
To conclude; those who enter into hell will never again enter into the presence of God. Therefore this idea of judgment, this note of finality to all mankind is a warning against sin and mans sinful nature.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com
The existence of hell is irrefutably taught in the Bible as a place for the wicked who have died in an unredeemed condition. The O.T. constantly alludes to the "cutting off" of evil from God. Except for James 3:6, the word is always used by Jesus and refers to the place of retributive suffering.
There are four distinct words in the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures, that are translated for the word Hell. They are as follows:
Sheol; pointedly refers to a shadowy existence beyond the grave, giving the reader the understanding of a future and continued existence.
Both Sheol, and Hades, signify the world of the departed. Neither distinguishes between the saved or the unsaved.
Neither point to the place of eternal punishment in it's strictest sense. What they do point to are the regions of the dead in general. This including both Paradise, and/or Gehenna; Gehenna being the world of the damned.
Tartaros: Gehenna: These are more specific in their character, and strictly signify in the language of theology, the place of God's punishment after death.
"Gehenna" or "hell." To be in hell reflect three conditions, The absence of righteousness, the separation from God, and judgment.
New Testament writers make use of the Greek word Gehenna, which is compounded of two Hebrew words, Ge- Hinnom, that is "The Valley of Hinnom." This was the literal valley of Hinnom, that was outside the walls of Jerusalem. Here young babies lost their lives in sacrifices by fire to the god Moloch, the god of the Ammonites.
The word gehenna is used in the N.T. 12 times; always in addressing Jews, to whom the analogical sense was easily understood.
Matt.5:22, Jesus said, "Whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." The word fool is sometimes rendered wicked, or having contempt for God.
Matt.10:28, Jesus said, "Fear not them = (men) which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him = (God) which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Matt. 23:15, Jesus said, "Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte = (new convert,) and when he is made, ye make him twofold = (twice) more the child of hell than yourselves."
Manasseh at the age of 12, was the fifteenth king of Judea to rule in Jerusalem. It is said of him, that he did evil in the eyes of the LORD, worshipping the idols of the Canaanites.
2 Chro.33:6, "And he = (Manasseh) caused his children = (Jewish children) to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hin'-nom:"
This place was also called To'-phet. (the word toph meaning a drum) This is clarified in 2 K.23:10, "To'-pheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hin'-nom,"
The name To'-phet alludes to the noise of drums, drums that would drown out the cries of the helpless children who were placed onto the red hot arms of an image of Moloch.
In this corrupt period of Jewish history, an idol, or statue of Moloch was erected in the valley south of Jerusalem. Ancient Rabbi's inform us that the image of Moloch was made of brass. The image was half man and half beast: the head of a calf, and the body of a man. He was displayed as one sitting on a throne. On its head sat a royal crown.
The image had It's arms extended out as if to embrace some-one, or something. Its victims were the very young that would be offered in sacrifice. With fire, the brass image was heated from within. When the brass became red hot, priests would place the child on it's arms where they would be consumed by the violence of the heat. In the background the drums would beat loudly, so that the cries of the young victims would be drowned out.
As time passed, this place came to be considered by the Jew's as an emblem, or a symbol of Hell. Like Hennon with all its sorrows and pain, hell is that place of torment, a place that God has reserved for the punishment of the wicked.
As for the nature or type of punishment expected in this place called hell, we can gain some idea from the expressions and descriptions revealed in Scriptures.
1. Matt.8:12, Jesus calls it a place of, "outer darkness," where there shall be "weeping and gnashing of teeth." The idea of both loss and pain still exists for those who are in hell. Gnashing of teeth means, pain, envy and rage. If we say there is no hell, then how do we account for the weeping, pain, and rage? So we can gather from this verse, that when a person is sent to hell, both their physical and spiritual body will feel the agony of God's punishment.
2. Matt.13:42-50, Jesus is speaking, "And (God's angels) shall cast them = (sinners) into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
3. Mark 9:44-48, Sinners are spoken of figuratively as worms. Jesus said, "Where their worm = (sinners) dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." This verse supports the teaching that sinners shall never die, and the fire of hell is not quenched.
4. Luke 16:28, Hell is called, "This place of torment." Only if one remains alive, can they be tormented.
5. Rom.2:5, "The day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God."
6. 1 Pet.3:19, speaks of spirits, "In prison." The Greek idea of prison is a placed to be watched and guarded.
7. Jude 13, Speaks of those, "To whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." The word forever means, eternal, everlasting.
8. Jude 23. For sinners, there reward will be, "Fire."
9. Rev.20:3-7, Hell is called both a, "Bottomless pit, and a "prison."
10. Rev.21:8, "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."
It has long been debated whether the fire in Hell is symbolic or real. If the facts of Hell with its fire and brimstone are true, then Scripture should support it. If not, it will support the flip side of that teaching. So is fire and brimstone Biblical?
Rev.14:10-11, For those who worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark, Scripture states, "The same = (false worshippers) shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God = (suffer God's punishments,) which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His = (God's) indignation = (anger) and he = (the wicked) shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb = (Jesus Christ) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they = (the sinner) have no rest day nor night = (forever, eternal,) who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."
Rev.20:10, "And the devil that deceived them = (all those who denied and disobeyed God) was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever = (everlasting.)"
Rev.20:12-13, These are, in total, "The dead, small and great," shall stand "before God." And from the book of life = (their life) shall they be judged, according to their works = (the way they lived.)" All those who have their resting place on either land or sea, shall be raised from the dead. They will be made to stand before their Maker and Judge on this day of judgement.
Rev.20:14-15, After the book of life has been opened and read, judgement is now passed by the Judge of all mankind, Jesus Christ. He said, "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire." Death and hell are represented as personified representatives of the enemies of Christ and His Church. These are to be cast into the lake of fire.
This expresses the truth of what Jesus said about His children, they shall not suffer the second death. The lake of fire is that place of the eternal second death. Our first death is a natural death that all men must suffer.
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." This is that judgement of the whole man, his body, soul and spirit, these are those who have sinned against the Almighty.
Today there are those who deny the idea of hell with its eternal fire and brimstone. Scripture is very clear in its teaching and as to it's reality. According to several Biblical passages, there also appears to be various degrees of punishment in Hell. Examples follow.
Luke 12:47, Jesus said, "And that servant = (the sinner,) which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself = (received not the sacrifice of Jesus,) neither did according to his will = (repented and was baptized,) shall be beaten with many stripes = (suffer the pains of hell.)"
Rom.2:12, "For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;"
Those who transgress against the natural laws of nature itself, are compared to those who have transgressed against Christ Himself. The first shall not come under the same rule of judgement as the second. The second shall be judged under a higher standard, this for rejecting the works of Jesus finished work of salvation, and for not having received the teaching of His Holy Spirit.
Matt.12:25-32, Jesus said, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation: and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand ... whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." So my question for those who say there is no hell, "If NOT the world of the damned, then what world would that be?"
Heb.10:28-29, "He that despised = (rejected) Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer = (worse) punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden = (trampled) under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing = (common thing,) and hath done despite = (insults) unto the Spirit of Grace = (Holy Spirit?)" God will regard the measure of men's evil works.
It is the curse of evil eternally that propagates evil: Therefore for those who defile, or rail against Christ with their mouths, with their deeds, and blaspheme Him from their hearts, there is subjectively no renewal for that person. Therefore no further sacrifice for sins can be made. These shall suffer the second death.
Is hell eternal? Why? Because of the disproportion between temporary crimes here on earth, and the eternal punishments of hell. They claim that the word, "everlasting," is not to be taken in its utmost sense. It can only mean a long time having a limited time placed on it. Let's see what the Bible has to say about this. Do they proven these claims? or reject them?
First, the word everlasting. It is the Hebrew, "owlam," or, "olam." The Greek is, "alonios." It means perpetual, eternal. It is spoken chiefly of time future, and sometimes of time past, forever.
The answer lies in the observation that the word eternal is used, sometimes in the very same place to express,
The "eternal happiness of the righteous," as opposed to,
The "eternal misery of the wicked."
So I ask the question, Is there any reason to believe that the words express two different ideas, as standing in the same connection?" If happiness is eternal, why then would misery not be eternal?
It is not true that temporary crimes do not deserve eternal punishment?
Why? Because the length of punishment is never measured by the time it takes to commit the crime. It only takes a moment to kill a person in cold blood. When that person is caught, convicted, and judged guilty, that person must forfeit their life. If the convicted person refuses to repent of that sin, then the justice of an offended God will and must vindicate His injured majesty, this glorifying His eternal justice. It is God's justice, not ours that has been offended.
The prophet Job also believed in a future resurrection of the dead. His book is thought to be the oldest book of the Bible. Many scholars believe that Job lived soon after Noah's flood. We read the following in,
Job 14:14-15, "If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come (given an incorruptible body.) Thou = (God) shalt call, and I will answer thee (be raised from death" Job speaks of the future coming of Messiah, and the resurrection of the dead.
Job 19:25-29, "I know that my redeemer = (Jesus) liveth, = (the resurrected Saviour,) and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh = (resurrected new body) shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. Ver.29: Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment."
Question; How did Job come by this doctrine of a resurrection, and of a future judgement? My reply would be;
Jude 14-15, "Enoch also the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold the LORD cometh with ten thousand of His saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince = (convict) all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed."
Enoch was a prophet of God, before the flood, therefore before Job. He understood the raising of the dead.
He goes on to say that there remains transgressions and errors. Moral error and dangerous tendencies in confining rewards for the just, and punishments to the wicked, in the present life only.
The rich and the poor, the strong and the weak, king's and beggars alike will all be brought down by the first death. Paradise or hell? We have a merciful God. Where we finish up will be determined by our choices here, the choices made while we are still alive. If unsuccessful here, no blame will be allowed, no excuses, no pity, no appeals allowed. Judgement will be just, swift, and final. Will you be found Innocent? or will you be found guilt?
To conclude; those who enter into hell will never again enter into the presence of God. Therefore this idea of judgment, this note of finality to all mankind is a warning against sin and mans sinful nature.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com
...your SHAME shall be exposed WITHOUT EXCUSE. 
