I have difficulty believing that souls will be damned to the Lake of Fire

[CadyandZoe]

Unpacking what Paul says here, we can see a clear distinction between those who repent and those who do not. Jehovah’s justice is completely perfect, so whatever judgment he gives to each one is based on his assessment of their actions, not just their words.

The “wrath and indignation” suffered by the wicked does not have to be protracted or to wait for a second judgment in “hell”.
When a wicked man broke God’s law, punishment involved the death penalty. Mercy was extended if there were mitigating circumstances but by and large, the death sentence was carried out, usually by stoning.

No law of God involved prolonged suffering or incarceration as a penalty. Even when a man was stoned, a direct hit to the temple usually meant a quick death. We saw that with David’s encounter with Goliath.

Since any kind of tribulation or distress involves the victim being fully conscious, this must occur whilst they are living. The dead cannot suffer. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10)

Are the wicked spared suffering in this world? They are usually the ones inflicting the suffering unless the law of the land catches up with them. Languishing in prison cannot be a picnic for anyone.....it would be akin to living in a snake pit.....but it isn’t God who causes that situation. Various countries have their own ways of dealing with hardened criminals....and the death penalty has various methods of implementation in some countries....beheading, hanging, lethal injection or firing squad.

So if ‘God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked’, then why would he take pleasure in their suffering? It serves no purpose. It is their elimination from existence that serves God’s purpose....never again to interfere with His plans for the future.

When God brings vengeance on those who have opposed him and his son, it will mean going into “the lake of fire” which is what “Gehenna” is.....for those he has consigned to “Gehenna”...there is no consciousness and hence no suffering.....eternal death is a just punishment, meaning that these will never live again.

When the final battle is fought, and those bound for “Gehenna” realise what is in store for them, that will be the time when “the weeping and gnashing of teeth” will take place.

God will have destroyed “Babylon the great” as the opening part of “the great tribulation”. If you know what “Babylon the great” is, you will understand why people will be angry that they were misled by satan who was the creator of this spiritual adulteress....this disgusting harlot. We are told to “get out of her”. (Rev 18:4-5) How do we do that?

What are your thoughts about it? Who or what, is “Babylon the great”?

It seems to me that during the time of the New Testament, the Apostles referred to Jerusalem as Babylon. 1 Peter 5:13. Also at that time, Jesus and Stephan were critical of Jerusalem (and her leaders) for her idolatry. Acts 7:43

Apparently, during the Babylonian exile, some of the Hebrews adopted many of the Babylonian religious practices and beliefs and upon return from Exile, some of them never repented of their idolatry. And many of the idolaters gained power and influence in society during that time. Stephen specifically mentions the worship of Molech.

From that point forward, the term "Babylon" referred to a city known for the practice of idolatry. In my view, Vatican City took the place of Jerusalem as Babylon the Great City.

Who knows what city has taken its place today?

The call to "come out of her" has always been appropriate because it is a call to repentance from idolatry. One could argue that the Protestant Reformation marked a significant time of "coming out of her." An attempt was made to purge idolatry from Christianity and to return to the apostolic faith. The reformers didn't go far enough but they at least made the attempt.

But the call to "come out of her" is also a call to physically leave the great city because God will ultimately destroy the city someday. The Great City Babylon is the city which believes and practices the religion of Babylon and adopts her perspective and preferences. The Great city continues to practice the worship of Molech, for instance. Some time in our future, the Great City will be destroyed.

As I look around today, I can't help thinking that "Jerusalem" and "Vatican City" are the twin towers of Babylon. I put these cities in quotes because it isn't so much a matter of a place as it is a matter of an occultic belief system, which has infiltrated the Abrahamic Religions and exercise power from those vantage points. Christians today need to come out of any and all forms of organized religion, meet in house churches and return to the apostolic faith as much as possible. And they need to reject all forms of idolatry wherever it might be found.

I apologize for the long answer.

 

[amigo de christo]

Enter not into her chambers .

 

[Aunty Jane]

It seems to me that during the time of the New Testament, the Apostles referred to Jerusalem as Babylon. 1 Peter 5:13. Also at that time, Jesus and Stephan were critical of Jerusalem (and her leaders) for her idolatry. Acts 7:43

Apparently, during the Babylonian exile, some of the Hebrews adopted many of the Babylonian religious practices and beliefs and upon return from Exile, some of them never repented of their idolatry. And many of the idolaters gained power and influence in society during that time. Stephen specifically mentions the worship of Molech.

From that point forward, the term "Babylon" referred to a city known for the practice of idolatry. In my view, Vatican City took the place of Jerusalem as Babylon the Great City.

Who knows what city has taken its place today?

The call to "come out of her" has always been appropriate because it is a call to repentance from idolatry. One could argue that the Protestant Reformation marked a significant time ofuu "coming out of her." An attempt was made to purge idolatry from Christianity and to return to the apostolic faith. The reformers didn't go far enough but they at least made the attempt.

But the call to "come out of her" is also a call to physically leave the great city because God will ultimately destroy the city someday. The Great City Babylon is the city which believes and practices the religion of Babylon and adopts her perspective and preferences. The Great city continues to practice the worship of Molech, for instance. Some time in our future, the Great City will be destroyed.

As I look around today, I can't help thinking that "Jerusalem" and "Vatican City" are the twin towers of Babylon. I put these cities in quotes because it isn't so much a matter of a place as it is a matter of an occultic belief system, which has infiltrated the Abrahamic Religions and exercise power from those vantage points. Christians today need to come out of any and all forms of organized religion, meet in house churches and return to the apostolic faith as much as possible. And they need to reject all forms of idolatry wherever it might be found.

I apologize for the long answer.

Don’t ever apologise for a long answer...details are important and we know that the Bible is a long book.

Babylon is highly symbolic in the Bible and reference to her, when you understand what she represents is vital to how we respond to God’s command to “get out of her”. (Rev 18:4-5) First we have to understand how God’s “people” got to be IN “Babylon the great” her in the first place....

Just as “Jerusalem” was used by Jesus to describe the wickedness that her leaders had led his people into, (Matt 23: 37) so “Babylon” describes a much wider religious system that has led so many people away from God. Sects that developed in Judaism were compounded in Babylon the great. She is not just one religious system, but a world empire of the devil’s making. Each religion fractured into divisive sects. The stamp of the devil is division, whereas God promotes unity.

I believe that Babylon, as it was portrayed in the scriptures shows us an amazing parallel. Original Babylon was the city built by Nimrod in defiance of God’s command for mankind to spread abroad in the earth. He and his cronies rebelled and wanted to establish themselves as rulers of the world, so they decided to build “a tower with its top in the heavens” to be above any threat that God could make to them after the flood. Seeking to make gods of themselves, they defied Jehovah in every way and promoted ideas that God never taught.
Nimrod’s mother was Semiramis and legend has it that she was the one who placed her son among the gods and became “the mother of god”....the ancient origin of the trinity. Her symbol was a dove, so she, her husband, and her son were the original Babylonian trinity.

By confusing their language, God forced them to scatter, (Gen 11:1-9) and the various language groups separated and settled in other lands and established their own cultures, taking Nimrod’s false religious beliefs with them. So from my understanding, original Babylon was the springboard for all false worship in the world. They all have a basic flood legend as well which is more confirmation.

To identify false religion is easy because they all have the same central core of beliefs implanted by satan to gain control of mankind as their god and ruler. If you step back and see the big picture, all worship that does not go to the true God, goes to the pretender by default, no matter how sincere these ‘worshippers’ are.

What are the core beliefs that identify those who are part of Babylon the great? A trinity or multiple gods.....belief in an immortal soul....and a hell of eternal torment for the wicked, contrasted with a heaven of bliss for the good. You will find this telling thread in all false worship....including Christendom, which was born when Roman Catholicism became the stage religion of the Roman Empire. So all who sprang from the RCC and took her false doctrines with them, are by definition, part of Babylon the great...she promotes all those teachings.

The picture is so much bigger than most people imagine because what we hold dear cannot be wrong in our own eyes. We will ignore all faults found, and all evidence against our chosen belief system and justify remaining in Babylon the great, no matter what “brand” of worship we choose to practice.

Satan has had thousands of years to formulate his counterfeit belief systems and true to Jesus’ words, “few” will be found on the road to life. (Matt 7:13-14) God’s command to “get out of Babylon the great” means that we will not receive the due punishment for all the errors she has taught to mankind since the flood of Noah’s day. (Rev 18:4-5)

Again, God is about to bring the world into judgment and those found to be engaging in false worship will be like the ones who ignored Noah....Jesus said our day would be just like that time......people were put on notice but refused to believe the messenger. (Matt 24: 37-39)

The world power of Babylon was used to punish God’s ancient people for their disobedience and they were exiled in Babylon until God released them....but only a remnant returned.
“Babylon the great” held those who wanted to worship the true God, but whose leaders succumbed to the temptation to adopt the false worship that became accepted as truth in their land. These last days are an opportunity for all who are held captive, to walk out of their counterfeit religions and unite with God’s true worshippers who have separated entirely from the devil’s world empire of false religion.

“The good news of the Kingdom” was to be preached in all the world, so all are given that opportunity before “the end” comes. (Matt 24:14) God does not see religious denominations...he sees the hearts of people as individuals and “draws” them to his truth. (John 6:44, 65)

History repeats because humans never learn the lessons from the past.

 

[rockytopva]

Can you tell me which Greek word is translated "hell" in this passage? It's the same word that Jesus used at Matt 10:28....which says basically the same thing....what "hell" is this?...and where is it?

If this is not a terrible place then why fear him?

 

[Aunty Jane]

If this is not a terrible place then why fear him?

I believe that every human is designed and born with an expectation to go on living....death is a foreign concept to all of us....we fight it because it goes against our natural desire to go on living. There is nothing in the Genesis account that says death was a natural part of being mortal. Everlasting life (not immortality) was offered to mankind on the condition that they obeyed their Creator. They didn’t, and when sin entered the human race, so did death. We all fear it more than anything.....for ourselves and those we love.

No one with a decent quality of life, wants to die.....the thought of not being here is hard to process, which is why I believe that humans adopted the idea of an immortal soul so readily....that concept is not in the Bible.
But neither is suffering for all eternity in an unquenchable fire.

The two words translated “Hell” in some Bibles are not the same, and have completely different meanings.
“Hades” is the place where all humans go at death.....it is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word “Sheol” and the ancient Jews had no belief in an afterlife...they believed only in a resurrection, which was not a continuation of life, but a restoration of it in the future. Hades releases its dead according to Revelation 20:13-14....and then death itself is destroyed forever in the lake of fire.
All went to “Sheol” (the grave) to “sleep” and to await their future resurrection. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10; John 5:28-29)

“Gehenna”, OTOH is a symbolic place that was pictured by the Valley of Hinnom...a place outside the walls of Jerusalem where the faithless Jews once sacrificed their children to the false god, Molech. Jehovah put a stop to that and turned the valley into a garbage dump. Fires were kept burning day and night with the addition of brimstone (Sulfur) to consume the refuse. The carcasses of dead animals and executed criminals were often thrown into the fire for disposal....what the flames missed, the maggots finished off.....this is where the ‘fire and worms’ of Gehenna came from. It was a symbol of eternal death because those who were not considered worthy of a decent burial, were also deemed to be unworthy of a resurrection. Gehenna is the lake of fire...a place where things are destroyed....never to be seen again. (Matt 10:28)

There is no such place as “hell”.....the fear of eternal death is enough.
God has better things to do than to torture people forever with no way to repent. He will simply eliminate the wicked from existence...isn’t that enough?

 

[The Learner]

Informational for anyone who wants to read this. I am in too much physical pain related to shoulder replacement to discuss this.

"

What are the distinctions among sheol, hades, hell, the lake of fire, paradise, and Abraham's bosom?​

Many terms are used in reference to heaven and hell in the Bible. These terms can often be confusing, yet each provides important information about these locations in the afterlife.

Sheol is a Hebrew term used in the Old Testament to describe the realm or location of the dead. It is sometimes used more specifically in a negative manner as a place of judgment.

Hades is a Greek term used in the New Testament as a rough equivalent to the Hebrew word sheol and also describes the grave or location of the dead.

Gehenna is a Greek word used in the New Testament that referred to the Valley of Hinnom, an actual valley outside of Jerusalem known as a burning rubbish pile. When used as a term for the dead, it was a way of noting a place of judgment in the afterlife.

The lake of fire is mentioned in Revelation 19:20; 20:10, 14-15 as the final destination of Satan and unbelievers at the end of time. Though not the current dwelling place of Satan or unbelievers, it will be the ultimate resting place for all those who do not spend eternity with the Lord.

Paradise is mentioned in three accounts in the New Testament as the place where believers will be with the Lord after this life. It is first seen in Luke 23:43 where Jesus told the repentant man on the cross that he would be with Him that day in paradise. In 2 Corinthians 12:3 Paul referred to heaven as paradise as did John in Revelation 2:7.

Abraham's bosom is only referred to on one occasion in the New Testament in Luke 16:19-31. A poor man named Lazarus died and was take to Abraham's bosom, in contrast with the rich man who was in torment after his death. This contrast notes that the poor man was in heaven. Further, this reference to being at Abraham's side clearly indicates Lazarus was with God. Why? Abraham was known as a friend of God. Referring to Abraham was about the strongest evidence a Jewish teacher could give to claim a person was in the presence of the Lord."

Hell, Sheol, Hades, Paradise, and the Grave

There seems to be some confusion about the meaning of Hell and who goes there because of the way the Hebrew word Sheol and the Greek word Hades have been translated in our English Bibles. Since this confusion has led some into an erroneous understanding of what the Bible actually teaches about the i

www.bereanbiblesociety.org

 

[The Learner]

Sheol does not refer to the grave.

In the Old Testament Sheol is translated hell 31 times, grave 31 times and pit 3 times. In the New Testament Hades is translated hell 10 times and grave one time.

Even though these words are translated "grave" in the KJV, it is better to understand Sheol/Hades as the place where departed spirits go (where the souls of the dead go). There are many solid reasons for not identifying Sheol with the grave:

The Hebrew language has a common word which clearly means "the grave."

This is the word "queber." It is used in Genesis 50:5--"Lo, I die: in my grave (queber) which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me." It is possible that there could be two different Hebrew words to describe the same thing (i.e. "grave"), but let us consider the following points:

Sheol is never used in the plural.

If the word meant "grave" we would expect it to be used in the plural. For example, "And they said unto Moses, because there were no graves (plural of queber) in Egypt" (Exodus 14:11). But the word Sheol is never used in this way. Queber is used in the plural 29 times.

When Sheol is used, it never speaks of the body going there.

If the word meant "grave" we would expect that it would be associated with a dead body or carcass or bones. Example: "And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they...in the sepulchre (queber) of Kish his father" (2 Sam. 21:14). The body is said to go to queber 37 times. The body is never said to go to Sheol.

Sheol is never said to be located on or near the face (surface) of the earth.

If the word meant "grave" then we would expect it to be described as being located on or near the face or surface of the earth. Example: "In my grave [queber] which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me" (Gen. 50:5) This was a grave that was dug on the surface of the earth, deep enough for a body to be placed in it. Queber is located on or near the face of the earth 32 times. Sheol is never used in this way.

Sheol never refers to an individual's grave.

If the word meant "grave" then we would expect it to refer to an individual's grave, as in this made up sentence, "There is Joseph's grave." But the word is never so used. Queber is used in this way often: "The sepulcher (queber) of Kish" (2 Sam. 21:14). The O.T. would never say, "The Sheol of Kish." Queber is used of an individual's grave 44 times; Sheol is never so used.

The Bible never speaks of a man putting a dead person into Sheol.

If the word meant "grave" then we would expect that there would be verses describing a dead person being put into Sheol, but we do not find this. A dead body is put in queber 33 times as in this example: "He laid his carcass (the carcass of the man of God) in his own grave (queber)" (1 Kings 13:30).

Man never digs or makes a Sheol.

If the word meant "grave" then we would expect to find verses which speak of man digging a Sheol, but we do not find this. Queber is used in this way six times: "In my grave (queber) which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me" (Genesis 50:5). The Old Testament never speaks of a Sheol being dug.

The Old Testament never speaks of a man touching Sheol.

A grave can be touched. In Genesis 50:5 (quoted in the above paragraph) Jacob dug and prepared his own grave (queber), and his hands must have touched it in one way or another as he was preparing it. The Bible never speaks of Sheol being touched.

The Old Testament never speaks of a man going down to queber (the grave).

Twenty-two times the Bible speaks of going down or descending into Sheol, but it never speaks of going down or descending into the grave (queber). The reason for this will become more apparent later when we discuss the location of Sheol/Hades.

There are three places where the Bible speaks of conversations taking place in Sheol.

See Ezekiel 32:21, Isaiah 14:9-20 and Luke 16:19-31. It is obvious that in the grave it is impossible for conversations to take place. A dead person does not talk to the corpse next to him. No conversations are ever mentioned in connection with the term queber.

 

[The Learner]

The Old Testament distinguishes between the grave and Sheol, proving that they are not the same.

In Genesis 37:35 Jacob says, "I will go down into Sheol unto my son (Joseph) mourning."

This is the first place where Sheol is found in the Old Testament. Jacob believed that Joseph had been devoured by a beast (verse 33) and thus Jacob knew that Joseph was not buried in a grave. Yet he seemed to believe that he would be reunited with his son in Sheol, which, in this passage, cannot possibly mean the grave.

Also Isaiah 14:15 describes a man who will be "brought down to Sheol." But in verse 19 we learn that this same man had been cast out of his grave. Thus the grave and Sheol cannot be the same in these verses.

Note: The arguments here given showing the differences between Sheol and the grave (queber) are largely taken and adapted from the very helpful booklet, Life and Death by Caleb J. Baker.

Sheol/Hades does not refer to hell as hell is normally understood.

The Hebrew term "Sheol" and the Greek term "Hades" are often translated "hell" in the KJV Bible. This can be confusing for two reasons:

1) When we think of hell, we think of it as being a place of eternal punishment for the wicked, for unbelievers, for the unsaved. However, as we shall see in this study, the Bible indicates that saved people have been in Sheol/Hades as well as the wicked. This was true during the Old Testament period. Sheol/Hades was divided into two compartments, one for the righteous and one for the wicked (Luke 16:26). After the resurrection, Sheol/Hades held only the souls of the unsaved.

2) Hell is normally thought of as the place of eternal punishment, the final, permanent abode of the wicked. However, as we shall see in this study, the Bible teaches that Sheol/Hades is merely a temporary abode for the wicked, a temporary prison while they await the final judgment. It is the lake of fire, not Sheol/Hades, which is the final abode of all unbelievers.

The Lord Jesus went to Sheol/Hades between His death and resurrection.

The Lord's body went into Joseph's tomb (Matthew 27:59-60) but His soul went to Sheol/Hades: Acts 2:27--"Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (Hades), neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." The body of Christ was in the grave, but God did not allow it to see corruption. The soul of Christ went to Hades but He was there only briefly. In Acts 2:31 Peter gives further explanation: "He (David) seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell (Hades), neither his flesh did see corruption." Christ's soul was in Sheol/Hades between His death and resurrection. The place where Christ's soul went between His death and resurrection is also called paradise (Luke 23:43). Christ promised the thief on the cross that on that very day that he would be with Him in paradise. It is obvious that the thief on the cross was not with Christ in Joseph's tomb, but he was with Him in paradise (Sheol/Hades).

Note: Acts 2:27 (where the Greek word is Hades) is an exact quotation of Psalm 16:10 (where the Hebrew word is Sheol). Both passages are speaking of the place (Sheol/Hades) where Christ's soul went after He died on the cross.

Sheol/Hades is located in the center of the earth.

Between Christ's death and resurrection it is obvious that His body was in Joseph's tomb. The Bible also clearly teaches that between Christ's death and resurrection, the soul of Jesus was in the heart of the earth: "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12:40). The term "heart" refers to the core or center of the earth. Joseph's tomb was not in the heart of the earth, but it was located on the surface of the earth. Matthew 12:40 is not talking about our Lord's body and it is not talking about the location of our Lord's tomb. Jesus' body went to the tomb; Jesus went to Sheol/Hades (Paradise) in the heart of the earth.

It may seem strange to think Sheol/Hades is located in the center of the earth, but Matthew 12:40 is not the only passage that teaches this. Ephesians 4:9 teaches that before Christ ascended, He first "descended into the lower parts of the earth." This agrees fully with Matthew 12:40. Psalm 16:10, Acts 2:27 and 2:31 teach that Christ's soul went to Sheol/Hades. Matthew 12:40 and Ephesians 4:9 teach that Christ went to the heart of the earth, even the lower part of the earth. We conclude then that Sheol/Hades is located in the heart of the earth or the lower part of the earth.

Not only Christ, but other people went down to Sheol/Hades also.

In Numbers 16:30-32 God did a very unique thing to those who rebelled with Korah. God caused the earth to swallow them up and they went down into the pit (Sheol). Most wicked men die before they go to Sheol/Hades. These men were swallowed alive and transported immediately to the lower part of the earth. This was different from the way most men die (see Numbers 16:30 where God explains that He was doing something very unique). In the case of most men, their bodies would go to the grave and their souls would go to Sheol/Hades. In the case of those who rebelled with Korah, both body and soul went to Sheol/Hades, and therefore this was a unique experience.

Philippians 2:10 teaches that someday every knee will bow to Christ. Paul is apparently referring to humans, and these humans who shall someday bow the knee to Christ presently are in three habitations (see verse 10): 1) humans who are in presently in heaven (those who are saved); 2) humans who are presently on earth (those who are still living); 3) humans who are under the earth, an apparent reference to the wicked who are in Sheol/Hades. Wicked Cain, Pharaoh, Haman, Judas, Hitler and every other child of the devil will someday be released from Sheol/Hades and will bow the knee to Christ before being cast into the lake of fire forever.

Because of its location under the earth, we are not surprised to find that the Word of God speaks of going down or descending into Sheol 22 times in the Old Testament. "I will go down into Sheol [KJV--the grave]" (Gen. 37:35). Deuteronomy 32:22 and Psalm 86:13 speak of the lowest Sheol [KJV-hell]. The vast height of heaven is contrasted with the great depth of Sheol: "It is as high as heaven...deeper than Sheol [KJV-hell]" (Job 11:8). If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol [KJV-hell], behold, thou art there" (Psalm 139:8). The same contrast between the height of heaven and the depth of Sheol is found in Amos 9:2 ("hell"=Sheol).

 

[The Learner]

In the New Testament Hades is described as being DOWN: "And thou, Capernaum, which are exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to Hades" [KJV-"hell"]. Notice the contrast between being exalted very high and brought down very low. In the parallel passage in Luke 10:15 the Lord spoke of being "thrust down to Hades."

Sheol/Hades once had two compartments: one for the souls of the saved, the other for the souls of the unsaved.

This is clearly taught in Luke 16:19-31. The rich man died, his body was buried and he went to hell (Sheol/Hades)--see verses 22-23. In Sheol/Hades he was being tormented (tortured) by a flame (verses 23, 24, 25, 28). It is a literal "place" (v. 28). This is the place where the souls of the unsaved go upon death. But also in Sheol/Hades is another compartment occupied by Abraham and Lazarus (verse 23). It was the place where the righteous dead would go. This compartment is a place of comfort (v. 25). It is called "Abraham's bosom" (Luke 16:23). "Abraham's bosom" is the place where the righteous dead can have fellowship with each other and with Abraham who is the father of the faithful. Sheol/hades is also called "paradise" where the thief on the cross and Christ went (Luke 23:43).

Between these two compartments communication was possible (verses 24-31). However passing from one compartment to the other was impossible (verse 26). The destiny of the people in each compartment was fixed and settled and could not be changed. The way to avoid the compartment which involved torture in the flame and the way to enter the blessed compartment with Abraham was to hear and heed the Word of God while one is still alive (verses 27-31).

The following diagram represents Sheol/Hades prior to the resurrection of Christ, showing the two compartments:

Hades/Sheol--Where Do the Dead Go?

 

[The Learner]

Home Content Index Eternity Eternity in Hell Sheol Hades Hell
QUESTION

​

What is the difference between Sheol, Hades, Hell, the lake of fire, Paradise, and Abraham’s bosom?​

ANSWER

The different terms used in the Bible for heaven and hell—sheol, hades, gehenna, the lake of fire, paradise, and Abraham’s bosom—are the subject of much debate and can be confusing.

The word paradise is used as a synonym for heaven (2 Corinthians 12:3–4; Revelation 2:7). When Jesus was dying on the cross and one of the thieves being crucified with Him asked Him for mercy, Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Jesus knew that His death was imminent and that He would soon be in heaven with His Father. Therefore, Jesus used paradise as a synonym for heaven, and the word has come to be associated with any place of ideal loveliness and delight.

Abraham’s bosom is referred to only once in the Bible—in the story of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19–31). Abraham’s bosom was used in the Talmud as a synonym for heaven. The image in the story is of Lazarus reclining at a table leaning on Abraham’s breast—as John leaned on Jesus’ breast at the Last Supper—at the heavenly banquet. The point of the story is that wicked men will see the righteous in a happy state, while they themselves are in torment, and that a “great gulf” that can never be spanned exists between them (Luke 16:26). Abraham’s bosom is obviously a place of peace, rest, and joy—in other words, paradise.

In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word used to describe the realm of the dead is sheol. It simply means “the place of the dead” or “the place of departed souls/spirits.” The New Testament Greek equivalent to sheol is hades, which is also a general reference to “the place of the dead.” The Greek word gehenna is used in the New Testament for “hell” and is derived from the Hebrew word hinnom. Other Scriptures in the New Testament indicated that sheol/hades is a temporary place where souls are kept as they await the final resurrection. The souls of the righteous, at death, go directly into the presence of God—the part of sheol called “heaven,” “paradise,” or “Abraham’s bosom” (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23).

The lake of fire, mentioned only in Revelation 19:20 and 20:10, 14-15, is the final hell, the place of eternal punishment for all unrepentant rebels, both angelic and human (Matthew 25:41). It is described as a place of burning sulfur, and those in it experience eternal, unspeakable agony of an unrelenting nature (Luke 16:24; Mark 9:45-46). Those who have rejected Christ and are in the temporary abode of the dead in hades/sheol have the lake of fire as their final destination.

But those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life should have no fear of this terrible fate. By faith in Christ and His blood shed on the cross for our sins, we are destined to live eternally in the presence of God.

What is the difference between Sheol, Hades, Hell, the lake of fire, Paradise, and Abraham’s bosom? | GotQuestions.org

What is the difference between Sheol, Hades, Hell, the lake of fire, Paradise, and Abraham’s bosom? What are all the different realms of the dead?

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[Aunty Jane]

My goodness...all that space to post what is absolute fabrication......

The Jewish Tanakh translates “Sheol” as “the grave”.....no one is alive and conscious in Sheol or hades. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10) The grave is the end of a person’s existence as a “soul”.....which means a living, breathing creature. Souls die when breathing stops. (Ezekiel 18:4) Animals are called “souls” in the Bible, so does that mean they also go to heaven to be with the Lord?

Not according to Solomon.....(Ecclesiastes 3:19-20) All “souls” go to the same place.....like God told Adam, they “return to the dust”.....they breathe the same air and die the same death.....there is no continuation of life after death in the spirit realm....the Bible does not teach that we have an immaterial part of us that lives on after the body dies. Therefore there is no need to invent places for the dead to go.

A resurrection, which is what Jews were taught, is a return to life under the kingship of the Messiah....a physical resurrection that was demonstrated by Jesus and his apostles. The dead were raised back to this life and reunited with their families.

The “bosom of Abraham” is a position of favour with God....nothing more complicated than that. The parable is nothing to do with heaven and hell because those concepts were never taught in Jewish scripture...they came later when Israel apostatized and introduced the concept of life after death, following Greek philosophical ideas rather than God’s word. Jews were taught about resurrection, not immortality of the soul.

All you do is reaffirm the lies that Christendom has told for centuries.
The dead are dead....and by God’s choice, once his Kingdom is established over this earth, many will awaken....some will not.....simple. (John 5:28-29)

There is a “first resurrection” for Christ’s elect (Rev 20:6)...and there is another to follow when God’s kingdom is ruling the whole earth. Rev 21:2-4 then has its fulfilment.....

“I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

A return to God’s first purpose will be the fulfilment of Isaiah 55:11......what Jehovah starts, he finishes in complete perfection. The former things have passed away...never to be called to mind again. (Isaiah 65:17)

 

[Adam]

Regarding justice, the Bible says:

23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,

24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

The punishment should fit the crime. This is God's word. Is there any who believes that God does not live by His own morality? So how can there be destruction of the soul or eternal torture, if a person has not destroyed the soul of another or tortured them eternally?

I have heard the argument "God has infinite dignity, therefore any slight against God (like, let's say, jaywalking) is worthy of infinite punishment". This makes God out to be a tyrant, but the Bible says repeatedly, God is merciful and aware of our needs. I have infinite dignity compared to my dog, my dog can't vote or work for a living or speak, so then does this mean I should beat my dog to death for peeing on the carpet? If I, being evil, can treat my dog with mercy, then how can you believe that God, who is good, won't treat a man with mercy? You might say "that was Jesus' job, Jesus' death was a free gift, they just had to welcome Jesus in but they didn't". To which I respond, I also gave my dog a free gift, I put a bell by the door. If he bats it with his paw, I will come and open it. But my dog ignored the free gift, he didn't bat the bell to open the door and still peed on the carpet. Am I justified in beating my dog to death now?

 

[The Learner]

Доброго времени суток .
Ваш форум мне показался очень привлекательным и перспективным. Хочу приобрести рекламное место для баннера в шапке, за $1500 в месяц. Оплачивать буду через WebMoney, 50% сразу, а 50% через 2 недели. И еще, адрес моего сайта Интернет-магазин недорогих диванов и мягкой мебели. Мебельный магазин МерсиШоп. - он не будет противоречить тематике?
Спасибо! Напишите о Вашем решении мне в ПМ или на почту [email protected]

Google's russian to english translation.

Good day .
Your forum seemed to me very attractive and promising. I want to buy an ad space for a header banner for $1500 per month. I will pay via WebMoney, 50% immediately, and 50% in 2 weeks. And yet, the address of my site is an online store of inexpensive sofas and upholstered furniture. MercyShop furniture store. - it will not contradict the theme?
Thank you! Please send me your decision via PM or email.

 

[Patrick1966]

What is your understanding of the serious nature of Sin?

It's serious, but the Bible tells us that ALL will be with God in the end.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Exactly this. A perfect Christian is an absolute pacifist. If I am ever drafted for war I would rather be hanged than kill someone.

In my country, there is a lot of injustice. People who have diabetes or other medical conditions need to pay out of pocket for life-saving medicines, and in some cases, they have to pay out of pocket for specialist consultations as well (which is very expensive). What really made me mad was when I learnt that transvestites are completely covered by government health plan, both consultations and drugs, all of it, for their "transition".

I had a dream last night, I was a diabetic, and I wasn't taking my medicine because it was too expensive. I was told I was at risk of losing my legs and I got mad at the fact that I was going to lose my legs while sinners were given blank cheque to indulge in their perverted fantasies at taxpayer expense. As I was going off on them, I felt a faint, ghostly grip on my neck, which grew tighter as I angrily ranted, until I was choking and realized too late that I was being strangled by the Devil. I woke up understanding exactly what this meant. The Devil wants you to believe that by hating sinners, by hating gays, communists, Nazis, Jews, atheists, etc. that you are doing God's work, because they are the enemies of God and should be destroyed so that justice can reign, right? It is a lie. By making you hate someone, you've taken the Devil's bait which he laid out for you, and now he has you too. You must pray and love the sinners, pray for them to be free of their demons, it is the only way for you yourself to be free.

It really is a major ploy of a covert (wanting to stay hidden) narcissist. You make people angry at each other like they are the problem and no one sees you as the enemy. And satan was the very first narcissist.

 

[quietthinker]

Going by your logic, I can live it up, no fear of eternal consequences, for I will be unconscious, dead, "destroyed"

Ever noticed that for every verse quoted there are 1K heteros answers and opinions?

'living it up' assumes value. I suppose the prodigal Son got value in 'living it up'?
Were there consequences for this guy?

Forgetting evil has its own demise built in is the realm of foolishness. 'You will surely die' was his definitive statement from the outset.....has it been forgotten?

 

[Adam]

Jesus suffered for all the sins of mankind and rose from the dead.

So we have two takeaways:
1. That sin isn't without consequence, there is at least 1 person who will have to suffer because of it
2. Death is not eternal

 

[Johann]

'living it up' assumes value. I suppose the prodigal Son got value in 'living it up'?
Were there consequences for this guy?

Forgetting evil has its own demise built in is the realm of foolishness. 'You will surely die' was his definitive statement from the outset.....has it been forgotten?

I am very selective in whom I am dealing with, yes, even "Christians" are "living it up"
as if there is no tomorrow, on here, they are perfect, at home, the mask off.

J.

 

[Adventageous]

I'm confident that even Hitler, Stalin, and Mao loved someone. Based on the verse below, is it possible that they are not and will not be destroyed?​

​

1 John 4:7 ESV​

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

Love is not defined as a wishy-washy 'sentimental lovism', but is defined by scripture, as:

Exo_20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.​

​

Joh_14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.​

​

2Jn_1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.​

What are God's commandments?

Exo 20:1 And God spake all these words, saying,​

Exo 20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.​

Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.​

​

Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:​

Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;​

Exo 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.​

​

Exo 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.​

​

Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.​

Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:​

Exo 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:​

Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.​

​

Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.​

​

Exo 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.​

​

Exo 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.​

​

Exo 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.​

​

Exo 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.​

​

Exo 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.​

The Two greatest commandments, which are summaries of the Ten Commandments, are:

Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.​

Deu 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: (context, Deut. 5, the second giving of the Ten Commandments)​

​

Lev 19:17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.​

Lev 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. (sin is the Transgression of the Law of God, 1 John 3:4)​

​

Therefore, Hitler, Stalin and Mao, are going to the lake of fire, soon.

1Jn_2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.​

​

Rev_21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.​

 

[quietthinker]

I am very selective in whom I am dealing with, yes, even "Christians" are "living it up"
as if there is no tomorrow, on here, they are perfect, at home, the mask off.

J.

Using the available time to attempt to unravel the many hypocrisies floating around everywhere leaves no time for sharing the good news of hope.

Telling others how wrong they are and what the right thing is to believe only fertilises self righteousness....in oneself.

People are lost.....many prefer to relabel their lostness as something cool or holy or righteous. Isn't it obvious that a full cup can't take in any more?

Jesus' strategy he operated by was/is, watch/observe, listen/hear, decide.......and he respected the right of people to make their choice/s without labouring it.