I am writing this
topic, because I feel that "hell" is a slippery subject to many Christians.
Some believe so strongly that there is a hell, because God
judges Sinners by condemning them to eternal punishment in hell.
While others believe that God loves us all, why would He send anyone to
Hell? I don't have all the answers to these questions, but my hope is that by
the time you read this message it will give you more insight into God's
inspired word.
I would like to
point some things out before I start talking about Hell.
Some Thoughts to Consider:
1: When we are being
taught the Bible by our pastors and priests, is it the same as what is written in the Bible? Is what you hear the truth?
Peter warns us in 2 Timothy
4:3-4 For
the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to
have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in
accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth
and will turn aside to myths. (NASB)
This is not to say
that the church you attend is not teaching truth. I am saying test what is
being taught by doing your own studying.
2: The Bible was written in three different languages the Old
Testament is in Hebrew and Aramaic and
the New Testament is in Greek.
When you and I read the Bible in English, we are reading a Translation, very
different from the original manuscripts.
3: To help you better
understand Scripture, use Bible helpers.
Such as Concordances,
Bible Dictionaries, Study Bibles, Bible related Websites, Using More than one Translation
of the Bible, Bible Professors and other
believer's council. I discuss this more in detail in my post Bible Helpers.
Question:
Are we getting the authenticity of the Bible?
4:
When one word in a sentence is changed, it changes the entire meaning of that
sentence.
Example:
Sentence 1: 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. Matthew 16:18
(KJV)
Sentence 2: And I
also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church,
and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18
(NKJV)
The word Hell is listed 54 times in the King James Version. This is why most
people believe in Hell, because it is there in the Bible! Hell is also in other
translations not just in the King James Bible. I'm sure you knew that
I am going to use the
King James, because Hell is listed the most times in this version than any
other English translation of
the Bible.
Here is the 54 times in each Book, chapter and verse that the world Hell shows up in both Old and New
Testament:
Old
Testament
Deuteronomy
32:22
For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell,
and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations
of the mountains.
2
Samuel 22:6
The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented
me;
Job
11:8
It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what
canst thou know?
26:6
Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
Psalm
9:17
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget
God.
16:10
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine
Holy One to see corruption.
18:5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
18:5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
55:15
Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for
wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
86:13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
116:3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
86:13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
116:3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
Proverbs 5:5 Her feet go down to
death; her steps take hold on hell.
7:27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
9:18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
15:11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
15:24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
23:14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
7:27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
9:18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
15:11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
15:24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
23:14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
Isaiah 5:14 Therefore hell
hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory,
and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into
it.
14:9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
14:15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.)
14:9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
14:15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.)
28:15 Because ye have
said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at
agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come
unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid
ourselves:
28:18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
57:9 And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.
28:18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
57:9 And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.
Ezekiel 31:16 I made the nations
to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with
them that descend into the pit: 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.
31:17 They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.
32:21 The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.
32:27 And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.)
31:17 They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.
32:21 The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.
32:27 And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.)
Amos
9:2
Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they
climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:
Jonah 2:2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
Jonah 2:2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
Habakkuk
2:5
Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth
at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot
be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all
people:
New
Testament
Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you,
That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of
the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger
of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell
fire.
5:29And
if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is
profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy
whole body should be cast into hell.
5:30And
if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable
for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body
should be cast into hell.
10:28And
fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but
rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
11:23And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
16:18 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.
11:23And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
16:18 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.
18:9
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is
better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to
be cast into hell fire.
23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
23:33
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape thedamnation of hell?
Mark 9:43
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into
life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that
never shall be quenched:
9:45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
9:45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
Luke 10:15 And thou, Capernaum,
which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Acts 2:27 Because thou wilt
not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to
see corruption.
2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
James 3:6
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our
members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of
nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
2 Peter 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;
Revelation
1:18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;
and have the keys of hell and of death.
6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
20:13
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.
20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
What is read is what
is writing, right. Not in this case. Before I go on let me explain how a
concordance works for those of you who haven’t use one. Let’s look at
Deuteronomy 32:22
For a fire 784 is kindled 6919 in mine anger 639, and shall burn 3344 unto the lowest 8482 hell 7585, and shall consume 398 the earth 776 with her increase 2981, and set on fire 3857 the foundations 4144 of the mountains 2022.
You see the numbers
beside the words. Notice Hell’s number (7585). That number will take you to the
Hebrew Dictionary-Index in the Strong's Concordance. Hell is the translated word and (7585) is the actual
Hebrew word. Scene most of us can't read Hebrew a concordance helps you
by using numbers to help you find
the corresponding Hebrew word
Translation. The numbers start from 0.1 to 8674 instead of A-Z. Just go to page
where (7585) is and read the Hebrew word and English meaning. In this case you
get sheh·ōle or sheol not Hell.
The meaning of Sheol is grave; by extension, realm of the dead, deepest depths
This is very different from the traditional belief of Hell “Place of
Unquenchable Fiery Pain and Torment!”
Sheol sounds rather harmless, "Look at all the dead people who are in
torment and pain in the grave!" If you are dead how can you feel pain?
Finishing up with the Old Testament Deuteronomy
threw Habakkuk.
In each of these verses, Hell (7585) is Translated sheol- grave; by extension, realm
of the dead, deepest depths.
Here’s where it gets
interesting, stay with me… Now Let us look in the New Testament.
Since the New
Testament was translated from Greek we must now go to the Greek Dictionary-Index
in a concordance to better
understand the actual meaning of the word Hell in each scripture of the New
Testament.
Take a look at
Matthew 5:22
But 1161 I
1473
say 3004
unto you 5213,
That 3754
whosoever 3956
is angry 3710
with his 846
brother 80
without a cause 1500
shall be 2071
in danger 1777
of the judgment 2920:
and 1161
whosoever 3739
302
shall say 2036
to his 846
brother 80,
Raca 4469,
shall be 2071
in danger 1777
of the council 4892:
but 1161
whosoever 3739
302
shall say 2036,
Thou fool 3474,
shall be 2071
in danger 1777
of 1519
hell 1067
fire 4442.
Notice The number
beside the word Hell(1067) The Greek Dictionary-Index results are, The Greek
word geenna meaning Gehenna, “Velly of Hinnom”
Gehenna is use 12
times in Greek in the New Testament instead of Hell (1067)
Verses
in which the word Gehenna Include:
Matt 5:22,
Matt 5:29, Matt 5:30, Matt 10:28, Matt 18:9, Matt
23:15, Matt 23:33, Mark 9:43, Mark 9:45,Mark 9:47, Luke 12:5 and James
3:6
Question: Was Jesus Talking
About Hell in a literal scene or was he using
Gehenna to tell a spiritual lesson?
Side Note:
Gahenna Refers to a valley just outside Jerusalem the word is derived from the
Hebrew word Ge-Hinnom, the valley of Hinnom (Joshua18:16). At the Time of Jesus
this valley was what we might call the city dump-the pace where garbage, trash
and refuse were thrown and consumed in the fires that constantly burned there.
The carcasses of dead animals-and bodies of despised criminals-were also cast
into Gehenna to be burned. Jesus used this particular location and what took
place there to help us understand the fate of the wicked and unrepeated will
suffer in the future. (Hevean & Hell: What Does The Bible Really Teach)
Now you’re probably
thinking this explains Hell, “A Place of Unquenchable Fiery Torment”
Another
place where Jesus spoke of gehenna fire is in Matthew 10:28 And do not
fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who
is able to destroy both soul and body in hell(gehenna).(NKJV) We should
notice that Jesus did not speak of people suffering everlasting torment. He
said God can destroy –annihlate-both body and soul in Gehenna. (Haven &
Hell What does The Bible teach p.25)
Again
in Psalm 37: 9-11; 9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those
who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while
and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look
carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.11 But the meek
shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of
peace. (NKJV) Now in the (NLT) 9 For the wicked will be destroyed, but
those who trust in the Lord will
possess the land.10 Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for
them, they will be gone.11 The lowly will possess the land and will live
in peace and prosperity.
And
another Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an
oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And
the day which is coming shall burn them up, “Says the LORD of
hosts,” That will leave them neither root nor branch.
Something
To Ponder:
God is able to destroy both body and soul, He will destroy the wicked both body
and soul and not throw them into hell being tortured for eternity. To me that
sounds more frightening then going hell. God is love and his judgment is
perfect.
Now to the Greek
Dictionary of the word Hell in the New Testament.
Take a look In Matthew 11:23.
And 2532
thou 4771,
Capernaum 2584,
which 3588
art exalted 5312
unto 2193
heaven 3772,
shalt be brought down 2601 to 2193 hell 86: for 3754
if 1487
the mighty works 1411,
which 3588
have been done 1096
in 1722
thee 4671, had been done 1096 in 1722 Sodom 4670,
it would have remained 302 3306 until 3360
this day 4594.
Notice the number
beside the word Hell(86) this time it is not (1067) so we have another word we
need to look at to get a better understanding of what Jesus is saying here.
Now look in the Greek Dictionary-Index to find (86) is hadēs meaning-The Grave, The place of
the Dead, “the underworld”
Hell is Translated
Hades 10 Time in The New Testament.
Verses
Include:
Matt 11:23, Matt
16:18, Luke 10:15, Luke 16:23, Acts 2:27, Acts 2:31, Revelation 1:18,
Revelation 6:8, Revelation 20:13, Revelation 20:14.
Here is where it gets interesting.
Take a look at 2
Peter 2:4
For 1063
if 1487
God 2316
spared 5339
not 3756
the angels 32
that sinned 264,
but 235
cast [them] down to hell 5020,
and delivered 3860
[them] into chains 4577
of darkness 2217,
to be reserved 5083
unto 1519
judgment 2920;
Notice the number beside the word Hell is (5020) Now going in the Greek
Dictionary-Index and Find the Greek Word tartaroō meaning- to send to
hell, hold captive in Tartaus. A derivative of the Greek noun “Tartaus” a place
of torture and torment lower then Hades in Greek and Jewish apocalyptic
literature
Question: Is Peter talking about hell or another place?
Your probably thinking this explains Hell and I would agree with you but my
question is: Do humans go to hell or is it just fallen angles? Look at what
Peter says, For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them
down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness,
to be reserved for judgment;
Nothing in there
about Humans who sinned going down to hell, just fallen angles.
I must admit
“Tartaus” has me confused about Hell, but I'm still wrestling with the scriptures.
From What I have read
Peter was talking about this place being a holding cell for the falling ones
Questions: If there is a Hell do Human Beings Go There for Judgment?
What Awaits the punishment
of the wicked if there is no Hell?
Is the Belief in Hell exclusive to Christianity?
Is the Lake of Fire
the same as Hell the Final Judgment on all who separate themselves from
God?
I
must end this for now because this is a lot of information. I would like
everyone who reads this to think about what is being said here and do your own
research. On my next post I will talk about the soul remember Matthew 10:28 and
the questions I will attempt to answer, more on this as it develops...
May God give you
wisdom and understanding in his word and on this topic.
Web Sites Used
Bibles Used
The New King James
Version
The King James
Version
New American Standard
Books used
Haven & Hell What
does The Bible Teach
Strong's Concordance
Thank You For
Reading
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