It is an Old English word substituted for "Sheol", "Hades", "Gehenna"and "Tartarus." "Sheol" and "Hades" refer to the same place and "Tartarus" is the depth of the same place. The final judgment place, the Lake of Fire, is not even called "hell"......but "hell" gets thrown into it. In Ecclesiastes, we find the very definition of "Sheol" or "Hades:"
(Eccl 9:10 KJV) Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
If the KJ translators would've kept their translation straight, it would've read ".....nor wisdom, in HELL, whither thou goest." The translators used the word "hell" in the Old Testament 31 times for the word "Sheol" and also 31 times they used "grave."
We all know,on the surface, there is no work, no reasoning, no knowledge, no wisdom in the grave or "hell".....so why point all this out if there wasn't a deeper, hidden meaning? Just 2 verses later in Ecclesiastes, we find:
(Eccl 9:12 KJV) For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
Who was caught in an evil net.....who has been snared in an evil time? The church has:
(Rev 2:10 KJV) Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Paul warned the church in tears for 3 YEARS because he knew this would happen:
Acts 20: 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Why did Jesus say he has the keys to "hell".....Hades.....and death to the churches? It means the church can be let out only by Jesus....who has the victory over his enemies. The gates of "hell".....Hades will not prevail:
(Mat 16:18 KJV) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The church has been lying in the condition of having no spiritual knowledge, wisdom, and reasoning. Without these things, there are no righteous works. Jesus described this condition as "night." The church has been "asleep" at night....men do not work at night:
(John 9:4 KJV) I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
There will no longer be any "night" of the church when the Lord comes to redeem us from this condition:
(Rev 22:5 KJV) And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
(Eccl 9:10 KJV) Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
If the KJ translators would've kept their translation straight, it would've read ".....nor wisdom, in HELL, whither thou goest." The translators used the word "hell" in the Old Testament 31 times for the word "Sheol" and also 31 times they used "grave."
We all know,on the surface, there is no work, no reasoning, no knowledge, no wisdom in the grave or "hell".....so why point all this out if there wasn't a deeper, hidden meaning? Just 2 verses later in Ecclesiastes, we find:
(Eccl 9:12 KJV) For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
Who was caught in an evil net.....who has been snared in an evil time? The church has:
(Rev 2:10 KJV) Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Paul warned the church in tears for 3 YEARS because he knew this would happen:
Acts 20: 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Why did Jesus say he has the keys to "hell".....Hades.....and death to the churches? It means the church can be let out only by Jesus....who has the victory over his enemies. The gates of "hell".....Hades will not prevail:
(Mat 16:18 KJV) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The church has been lying in the condition of having no spiritual knowledge, wisdom, and reasoning. Without these things, there are no righteous works. Jesus described this condition as "night." The church has been "asleep" at night....men do not work at night:
(John 9:4 KJV) I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
There will no longer be any "night" of the church when the Lord comes to redeem us from this condition:
(Rev 22:5 KJV) And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.