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DOCTRINE

ABOUT

HELL

With comments from Paul and the Prophets

Jesus had a wide variety of teaching and teaching methods. One of the chief things he taught about was forgiveness. (i.e. forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors) He had a lot to say about the kingdom of God. He also emphasized love. (i.e. love one another as I have loved you) What we sometimes don’t think about is that in his doctrine he also taught about the subject we refer to as “hell”. The first thing we need to comprehend is that Jesus did not use the word “hell”. When translating from the biblical text there were three words that the translators translated “hell”.
  • The first word was hades..the unseen state..”death”
  • The second word was geenna..Some pronounce Gehenna or Vally of Hinnom
  • The third word was “tartaroo”..to send into Tartarus: see 2 Peter 2:4

HADES

It is my intention to deal only with the first two: hades and geenna. When Jesus spoke about hell one of  two words were used in the Bible, i.e. hades,  from which was translated hell; and geenna which is also translated hell. See below for four instances used by Jesus where hades is translated hell:
  • In two separate places in the gospels about the city of Capernaum: Matt. 11:23, Luke 10:15:
  • Once in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Luke 16:23:
  • Once in Revelation when he made it clear that he had been there and he had its keys. Rev. 1:18.
 When the translators came to the word hades they translated it grave instead of hell in I Corin. 15:55. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Every time hades was translated hell it could have easily been translated grave instead. The future place of retribution for the unrepentant is not meant in these references.

GEHENNA

He also spoke about hell when the word geenna (Gehenna) was used: three times as “hell fire” and eight times as “hell”.
Why did Jesus use the idea of Gehenna  and what does it mean?

“This is literally the valley of the son or children of Hinnom, a deep and narrow ravine with steep, rocky sides, to the south and west of Jerusalem. In the Hebrew Bible, the site was initially where apostate Israelites and followers of various Ba'als and Caananite gods, including Moloch, sacrificed their children by fire. Another name for this place was Tophet where the custom of infant sacrifices seems to have been kept. It seems to have become, from the days of Josiah the King, the common cesspool of the city of Jerusalem into which its sewage was placed as well as the ever burning funeral piles.” Smith Bible Dictionary.

The word geenna (Gehenna) was used to get Jesus' hearers' attention in the Sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:
  • To those who would mistreat their parents; (Ver. 22)
  • To those who commit adultery with their eyes;  (Ver. 29)
  • To those who would misuse their right hand. (Ver. 30) 
Jesus made it plain that God intends to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna which is the future place of retribution  for the unrepentant. (Matt. 10:28). (Particularly notice the word “destroy”)  This is also the place where Jesus questioned how the scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites could avoid being cast. (Matt. 23:33). Please note that the word used in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is not the same word as used here. In that reference the word is “hades” which refers to the grave. When the rich man lifted up his eyes in hell, Luke 16:23, it was in “hades” or in the grave. As a matter of fact, he would have had to be in the grave because verse 22 says “he died and was buried”, so that’s where his eyes were when he lifted them up.

Let’s examine some of the references where Jesus refers to what Paul spoke of in Acts as a catalyst for repentance. But first look at Paul's statement:
  • God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead. Acts 17:30-31 (NASB)
Special notice should be made of Jesus’ instructions in Luke. When one contemplates the future day of judgment; due concern should be given to one’s preparation for that day. That would bring up the subject of repentance.
  • And that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Luke 24:47 (NASB)

JUDGMENT DAY

  • "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Matt 25:31-34 (NASB)
Jesus indicated that all of mankind will not be in that group set on his right hand. He will not say to those of all nations to “come…inherit the kingdom prepared for you”; only those who he places on the right. Some will be placed on the left and will be addressed in this manner:
  • "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;" Matt 25:41 (NASB)
This is the judgment that Paul spoke about. In my studies it is always useful to group together scriptures which are of similar topics.
  • But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.11 For it is written, "As I live , says the Lord , every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God."12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:10-12 (NASB)
  • For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Cor 5:10 (NASB)

LAKE OF FIRE

This also speaks about the time in the future which Jesus showed John to reveal to the church: (Rev. 1:1)
  • Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books , according to their deeds.13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.15 And if anyone 's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Rev 20:11-15 (NASB)

We must remember that these words in Revelation are also the words of Jesus; given to him by God his heavenly Father:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Rev 1:1-2 (NASB)

Jesus was giving further information regarding the dividing of the sheep from the goats and just what would become of those on the left. Notice that the unrepentant will be cast, as a result of the day of judgment, into the lake of fire. This is the same as the Valley of Hinnom or Gehenna where the refuse from Jerusalem as well as the bodies of those who could not afford a burial plot like Joseph of Arimethia. (Matt. 27:57-60). Are you beginning to see why the word “geenna” was used? The words of Jesus are very poignant regarding the lake of fire. The lake of fire is not a preserving fire but a destroying fire. A fire that consumes and burns up, not a fire that preserves and tortures for ever and ever. Think about it. A million years is a long time to burn and be tortued, as is forever.
 
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  • "If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, 48 where Their worm does not die , and the fire is not quenched. Mark 9:47-48 (NASB)
As nothing could escape the Valley of Hinnom; whatever was cast into the trash heap of the Valley of Hinnom was either consumed by the fires or by the worms on the perimeter; nothing could escape their destruction. Notice that the lake of fire is referring to the “second death”. (Rev. 20:14) Why did Jesus use those words?

Jesus knew that “the wages of sin is death,” and that the lake of fire brings about the second death which is the wages of sin. Rom. 6:23. He knew exactly how to give a visual image to the people of his day as well as our day that would impress his point upon our minds.

Many of the people Jesus spoke to in his days on the earth had probably cast garbage into the Valley of Hinnom, and some had likely, because of circustances, had to let the rubish heep in the Valley of Hinnom be the burial place for their loved because they did not have the wherewithal to bury them in a proper grave. Jesus was clear about the outcome of the lake of fire when he said:
  • "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NASB)
Jesus knew that if you are not placed on his right you will “perish” in the Valley of Hinnom, the lake of fire. John the Baptist, who was the forerunner, of Christ also knew this and put it this way about the one whose sandals he was unworthy to stoop down and untie: (Mark 1:6-7)
  • "His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Matt 3:12 (NASB)
Most people will in their mind go strait to the unquenchable fire and miss the part that says “burn up the chaff”. The fire is unquenchable in the sense that it cannot be extinguished by mankind; but the fire that is unquenchable will burn up the chaff which is symbolic of the unrepentant. There is coming a great day of separation.

Malachi the prophet foresaw a time when those whose names have been inscrolled in a book of remembrance because of they spoke often with each other, evidently about the things of God; feared the Lord and thought upon his name; said the time will come when it will be apparent who serves God and who doesn’t. It is not now apparent (who serves God and who does not) because we do not know one another’s heart. Jesus, the God-appointed judge of the world, knew what was in man. (John 2:25)

DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN

RIGHTEOUS AND WICKED

  • Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name.17 "They will be Mine," says the Lord of hosts, "on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him."18 So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. Mal 3:16-18 (NASB)
God will make it apparent in that day who serves him and who does not; who fears him and who thinks upon his name. The process he will use is described in the next chapter (Chapter 4) in Malachi.
  • "For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the Lord of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch."2 "But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.3 "You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the Lord of hosts. Mal 4:1-3 (NASB)

BURNING LIKE AN OVEN

The process he will use so we might know for sure who has thought upon God’s name; spoken frequently to others about the things of God; and those who serve him; is described in verse one. Malachi called it a “day” burning like an oven. John the Baptist called it unquenchable fire. Jesus called it the lake of fire and the Gehenna. He also called it a furnace of fire. Any way you look at it there is to be a day of judgment at the end of the age:
  • "So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, 50 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matt 13:49-50 (NASB)
Let me share a thought concerning the weeping and gnashing of teeth. The weeping and gnashing of teeth will not only be because of the fire, I would think; but the realization of being barred from the glorious presence of the Lord and his glorious power; barred from the kingdom of God on the earth made new. (Away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. 2 Thess 1:9) (NASB) The realization:
  • That you have been placed on the left;
  • That you have been severed from among the righteous;
  • That you are apparently not one of those who think on the name of God;
  • That you have not feared him and carried on conversations with others who share common faith.
The realization of all that will finally sink in. Everyone will finally know his/her destination. The lost will finally absord their fate: realize what a wonderful opportunity they missed, and be forced to come to grips with what their lives could have meant and their future could have been. Some will question their rejection, but note carefully how Jesus says he will respond:
  • "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles ?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness .' Matt 7:22-23 (NASB)
Jesus, Paul, the apostles and the prophets were in agreement as to the final outcome of “the wicked”.  After it is all said and done here it is:
  • "You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the Lord of hosts. Mal 4:3 (NASB)
You do realize that we have been given an example of this event way back in Genesis don’t you? God reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes and made them an example to those of us who live carelessly without repenting, believing the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and being baptized in the name of Christ for the remission of our sins. (Acts 2:38-39)
  • He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter; 2 Peter 2:6 (NASB)

BOOKS OPENED

The judgment will be set and the books will be opened. What books will be opened. One would think that found in these books will be “every careless word that people speak , they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment”. Matt. 12:36 (NASB) Judgment day is coming. Court will be in session. Books will be opened. What books will be opened?
  • What about the book of remembrance in Malachi 3:16?
  • What about the book of life in Revelation 20:12?
  • What about “The book” Daniel referred to in chapter 12:1?
  • What about the “book of the living” David referred to in Psalms 69:28?
  • What about God’s book that Moses referred to in Exodus 32:32?
  • And why wouldn't the Bible itself be opened?
"I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire.10 "A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened. Dan 7:9-10 (NASB)

 
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