Misconception 1- The Term Hell actually refers to more than one place.
This may surprise many, but there are several misconceptions regarding Hell in Christendom that actually deviate from the Biblical description. For starters, the term Hell in Scripture actually refers to more than one place. Some of these locations currently exist and others do not at this point in time. The old anglo saxon term Hell is actually used to translate one Hebrew Word and three Greek Words. The Hebrew word “Sheol” is often translated as Grave in English translations of the Old Testament. The Greek equivalent of this place would be Hades. The Second Greek word would be “tartarus” and the third place would be ‘Gahenna.’ A brief synopsis on each location is given below.
Misconception 2- Sheol and Hades refers to more than just a hole in the ground.
The first Hebrew term that can be translated as Hell is Sheol. The Term Sheol is most often translated as grave in the Bible. According to Scripture, Sheol is located geocentrically in the depths of the earth. We know this because Dathan and Abiram were swallowed alive into Sheol during Korah’s rebellion (Num 16:29-35). Annihilists who believe that people simply cease to exist at death try to justify their position by stressing how the term Sheol means grave. They believe that merely being buried in the ground is all that the deceased should come to expect. Unlike the Hebrew term “qeber,” Sheol refers to more than just a hole in the ground. It refers to the underworld. How do we know this? Sheol is translated into the Septuagint (the Ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament) with the Greek word Hades. The Greek term Hades comes from a compound word meaning ‘not seen.’ Ancient Greek Culture held some extensive beliefs regarding Hades. In Greek mythology, the term Hades referred to both the God of the underworld and to the underworld itself where people were consigned at death. Most people are unaware that The Bible uses similar references. In Revelation, Hades is referenced as another angel following the death angel on a pale horse who takes a fourth of the people from the earth during the fourth seal judgement (Rev 6:8). The Greek word Thanatos for death used in this particular passage also happens to be the same name of the God of death in Greek mythology. The Bible makes further references to these angelic beings in the taunt ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory (I Cor 15:55)?’ This body of evidence for the afterlife makes the concept of Annihilation (the idea people simply cease to exist when they die) very difficult. The people of the Old Testament clearly believed in the Afterlife (Hannah’s prayer 1 Sam 2:6).
Misconception 3: Everyone who dies was consigned to Hades (or Sheol) and some would find comfort there.
Jesus himself gave an account of Hades in the story of the Rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). At death, the Angels carry a person’s Spirit to Hades. Departed Spirits are conscious & aware in Hades. Before Jesus Death on the cross, both believers and unbelievers were consigned to Sheol (Ps 89:48). Saul would also reunite with the prophet Samuel at his death there (I Sam 28:19). While everyone would be reunited in Hades, what each would experience in Hades could be very different. Not everyone has the same experience in Hades. Unbelievers consigned to sheol were said to rot there and suffer torment. Believers consigned to Sheol would enter peace and freedom from evil (Isa 57:1-2); this place of comfort for believers is often referred to as Abraham’s bosom. A great chasm exists in Hades to keep it’s residents permanently segregated. Both the righteous and the wicked will see the other’s fate. The righteous will see the fate and punishment of the wicked (Ps 52, 91, 92, and Isa 66). The wicked will see the victory and blessing of the righteous (Ps 112, Rev 3:9). There will also be degrees of reward and punishment there. The ignorant will be beaten with few blows while the defiant will be beaten with many (Luke 12:45-48). Hell will be more bearable for Sodom than for others on the day of Judgement.
Misconception 4: Hades is only a temporary abode and not a permanent resting place for anyone.
Another fact that may surprise some is that Hades is not an eternal abode for anyone. In Scripture, Hades is also referenced as a place with gates that will not ultimately prevail over the church (Mt 16:18). Jesus holds the keys of death and Hades (Rev 1:18). God would someday deliver believers from Sheol at the resurrection (Ps 49:13-15, Hosea 13:14). An unbelievers stay in Hades is also only temporary while they await the final judgement (Rev 20:13). While their stay may be temporary their ultimate fate does not really change. A man is destined to die once and then face the judgement (Heb 9:27). There is a finality exhibited to the fate of Lazarus and the Rich man. There is only a sense of hope for all who have yet to enter Hades.
Misconception 5- In Tartarus, Demons will not rule but suffer torment.
In his epistle, Peter references Tartarus as the temporary abode of fallen angels (II Peter 2:4). Tartarus is the Greek word for the lower parts of Hades. In Greek mythology, Tartarus was said to be as far below Hades as the Earth is below Heaven. It is the place where Angels were consigned when they sinned. I have written about these fallen angels and their offspring the Nephilim in other posts. Tartarus may be synonymous with the bottomless pit (abyss) in Scripture. Being at the center of the earth would be a locale from which every direction would be going up and could be also be said to be below Hades. Scripture tells us Fallen angels are afraid and tremble at going to this place. Like Hades, Tartarus is also a temporary abode for fallen angels awaiting the judgement (Jude 1:6-7). When Satan falls from Heaven, He will release these demons from the abyss (Rev 9:1-11). During the millennium, Satan himself will be thrown into the Abyss for 1,000 years only to be released a second time to deceive the nations. When Satan is consigned to Tartarus, unbelievers will taunt him there and not the other way around (Isa 14:2-4. Isa 14:12).
Misconception 6- Gahenna (or the Lake of Fire) has yet to exist.
The Last and most important term for Hell In scripture is the Greek form of two Hebrew words ge hinnom meaning the ‘valley of Hinnom.’ This Greek term is what christians normally equate with the place of eternal torment. This valley can be found in the city of Jerusalem and is currently a very green park. In the days of Judah's kings, the valley was once used as a place to sacrifice children on the altar to the false God Molech. After Jeremiah would prophesy about this place (Jer 7:32-34, 19:6-11), it would later be converted into a city dump. Jeremiah said the judgement of God would resemble Topheth (the fireplace) in the Hinnom Valley. What will Gahenna be like? Scripture says it will be an unquenchable fire (Isa 33:14, Isa 66:24) and a lake of burning sulfur (Isa 30:33). This lake of fire does not exist yet, but will be set ablaze by Jesus himself near the end of the current age. The global fires of Gahenna are reserved after the second coming and judgement (II Peter 3:7,12). Jesus will initiate this fire on the earth at his return (Luke 12:49-51, Isa 66:15-16) and He will begin this fire in Jerusalem (Isa 31:9, Amos 2:5). Gahenna is the term that refers to the Lake of Fire that the Devil and his Angels will be eventually consigned to after the Judgement. Since the days of Jeremiah the prophet, the valley of Hinnom has been prophesied to become a starting place of future eternal torment (Josh 15:8, II Chron 28:3, II Chron 33:6, II Kings 23:10). Both fallen angels and ungodly men will be herded together to Gahenna (Isa 24:21). Jesus will consume his enemies with fire from his mouth (Ps 18:7, Ps 21:8-10, Ps 97:3-5). In terms of chronological progression, the beast and the false prophet will go there first in Jerusalem (Rev 19:20). Babylon will be destroyed like Sodom and Gommorah (Isa 13:19). Egypt, Gaza, Damascus, Moab, Edom, Tyre & others will also be destroyed with fire. Gog and Magog will be destroyed like Sodom and Gommorah after the millennium. Satan will then be thrown into the lake of Fire after the millennium (Rev 20:10). All those who follow Satan and the Beast will go there at the Judgement (Rev 14:9-10). The ungodly will be raised to be Judged and tormented there (Jer 8:1, Rev 20:15, Rev 21:8). This fire will eventually spread from Jerusalem and consume the entire Heavens and the Earth (Zech 12:6, Ob 1:18). After the Judgement, all of Death and Hades itself will be thrown into the lake of fire (Gahenna).
Misconception 7 - God will light a fire under everyone to refine them of sin.
It is important to realize that the God of Justice will make sure everyone is salted with fire (Mrk 9:49). In a very literal sense, God will light a fire under every believer in order to refine them of their sin. The refiner’s fire is a purifying extension of Gahenna for believers. The Messiah will baptize his own Children with the Spirit and with Fire (Mt 3:8-11, Lk 3:9). Every man’s work will be tested in the fire for it's quality (I Cor 3:11). By God’s grace, the elect will survive the refiner’s fire (Isa 43:1-2, Dan 3:17). Christians with poor works will suffer loss, but be saved as thru fire (I Cor 3:15). Given that all the earth and it's works will be burned up, men ought to be holy in conduct and Godliness (II Peter 3:10-13). The wicked will be consumed like Sodom and Gommorah in this flame (II Peter 2:6). It would be better to lose a body part than to be consumed in this fire (Mt 5:29;18:8-9; Mk 9:43-45, 47-48). To those who do not survive the test, there is no rest or reprieve from the torments of Gahenna (Rev 14:11). Because of this, men should purify themselves just as God is pure.
No comments:
Post a Comment