S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Hell has become a controversial subject in recent years, even among Christians. However, the controversy is entirely man-made. The rejection of the reality of hell stems from a human inability to r...

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July 01 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Appelt Supporter

This is a difficult question because the word “hell” is several different words in Hebrew and Greek.

One word is “Gehenna,” Matthew 5:22, 29, 30, 10:28, 18:9, 23:15, 23:33, Mark 9:43, 45, 47, Luke 12:5, James 3:6. The term comes from “the Valley of the Son of Hinnom” where children were burned as an offering to Molech, II Chronicles 28:3, 33:6, Jeremiah 7:31, 19:2-6, 32:35. In contrast, when mentioning Gehenna, Jesus purposefully took a child in His arms, Matthew 18:1-9. 

Gehenna is the same as eternal fire, furnace of fire and the lake of fire, Matthew 13:42, 50, 18:8-9, 25:41, Jude 1:7, Revelation 19:20, 20:10, 20:14-15, 21:8. These terms always describe a place of future punishment, II Thessalonians 1:9.

Another Greek word is “Tartarus” meaning the deep or abyss, only in II Peter 2:4. A similar word is the Greek “abussos” used for the abyss, Luke 8:31. It is also used for the bottomless pit, usually associated with Satan, demons and the beast, Revelation 9:1-2, 11, 11:7, 17:8, 20:1, 3.

The Hebrew word “Sheol” and its Greek counterpart “Hades” are often translated “hell” in some versions. It signifies “grave,” “pit,” the dark, gloomy territory beyond death, Job 10:21-22. “Sheol” may mean “asking,” as if never satisfied, Proverbs 27:20, 30:15-16, Isaiah 14:9-11. Every person is destined for it, but no one ever escaped from there, Job 7:9, except the Lord Jesus, Acts 2:31-32. 

The Luke 16:19-31 parable mentions a rich man who was in Hades. Many think this is about going to heaven and hell immediately upon death, but instead it is part of a series of parables addressing the leaders who relied on riches. The use of “child” and “father” between Abraham and the rich man means the rich man’s spiritual condition was not an issue. He was in the grave where he could no longer relish his wealth and privilege. That was his torment which means anguish, sorrow, or anxiousness, Luke 2:48, Acts 20:38. The flame is figurative of the torture of not being able to attain satisfaction, not even a drop of water to cool the tongue. 

On the other hand, Lazarus, the deprived beggar, was transported at death by angels into Abraham’s bosom and comforted. Abraham’s bosom is figurative for a special intimate place as John 13:23, 1:18. This passage does not teach the Greek mythological two-compartment concept of Hades, but it portrays the contrasts between the rich and the poor in life and in death. 

So, the question concerning who goes to hell cannot be answered because many different words are rendered “hell.” However, some is known of what happens after death. Everyone ends up in Sheol/Hades, that is, the grave. No one is in hell or heaven yet. Then later, those who believed on Jesus, John 6:47, will be resurrected, I Thessalonians 4:16-17, I Corinthians 15:52. Finally, at the Great White Throne judgment, everyone whose names are not in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire (Gehenna), Revelation 20:13-15.

January 17 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report