God's Sacred Word
q
 Bible Study Lesson 15                                                 Hell                                                  April 12 / 1998




                       This is one of the most misunderstood word's in our Bible today . People just don't take the time to find out what their Bible really teaches . They would rather leave it up to a Minister or a Priest or some else ,  instead of finding out the truth for themselves . The majority of churches today teach that hell is a place of punishment . A place where Satan reigns . A place where the forces of Evil reside . A place where we go when we die if we have been doing wrong all of our lives . A place where we are going to be in everlasting torment for eternity . The majority of churches teach this false doctrine . They use it as a scare tactics to get you in to their congregation . These so called men of God teaching that hell is a place of everlasting punishment . They either believe what they say , or they know that this doctrine is false . They like to use the word hell to give a fiery sermon to frighten and scare people . And if they believe what they are preaching and teaching , then they believe and preach in ignorance . And if they know what they preach and teach is false , then they will have to answer to God the Father .



                        The Collins English Dictionary : hell (hell) n. 1. Christianity. (sometimes cap.) a. the place or state of eternal punishment of the wicked after death. with Satan as its ruler. b. forces of evil regarded as residing there. 2. ( sometimes cap.) ( in various religions and cultures) the abode of the spirits of the dead. See also Hel,Hades,Sheol.

                        As you can see this is what this world want's us to believe . This is the way the world and most religions see hell . They would have you to believe that hell is nothing but fire and brimstone which keeps on burning for ever and ever and ever . Satan is down there , he is in a little red suit with horns sticking out of his head . A pitch fork in his hand and a tail dragging behind him . Saying to the people or the souls , I got you now , and every time he speaks to them he is poking them with his pitch fork . Along with his little demon friends . Sort of funny isn't it , I think that it is hellarious.

                        So this is the English word for hell . Now you will find out that this English word means something completely different in the Hebrew & Greek . As you know the Bible was not written in English , it was written in Hebrew and Greek . We will now study what the English word hell means in Hebrew and Greek .



                        The English word hell in Hebrew & Greek had a completely different meaning altogether then the English word . Just as the Collins English Dictionary also refers to Hades and Sheol . Hades , Sheol , Gehenna , Hinnom . all refer to the same thing hell . We will now take a careful study of these words .
Hell = Hades = grave .
Hell = Sheol = grave .
Hell = Gehenna = Hinnom .
If we use the proper names and their meanings in scripture we will see that it means completely opposite of the word hell in English . We shall now start our study .


                        The New Strong's Complete Dictionary of Bible Words :

Hell = Hades = Grave. / Hades :Hah-dace; from (as neg.particle) and 1492;prop.unseen.i.e. Hades or the place (state) of departed souls;- grave. hell.

Hell = Shol = Grave . / Shol : sheh-ole; from 7592; hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat) incl. its accessories and inmates:-grave, hell , pit.

As you can see that Hell means nothing more than the Grave , Pit , Hole in the ground whatever you want to call it .



The Companion Bible ( King James Version ) .

Hell : is the English rendering of two different Greek words in the N.T.
The English word is from the Anglo-Saxon helan=to hide.
It is in the N.T. used as the translation of two Greek words:-

Gehenna. Br. geenna. Tis is the transliteration of the Heb. Gai Hinnom, i.e. the Valley of Hinnom or the Valley of (the sons of) Hinnom, where were the fires through which children were passed in the worship of Moloch.

In the O.T. Tophet was the Heb. word used, because it was a place in this valley.
In our Lord's day the idolatry had ceased, but the fires were still continually burning there for the destruction of the refuse of Jerusalem. Hence, geenna was used for the fires of destruction associated with the judgement of God. Sometimes, Geenna of fire.



The New Concise Bible DIctionary

Hell : The final destiny of the wicked, translating the Greek word Gehenna derived from the Hebrew for the valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem.

It was the place where in OT times child sacrifices were offered to Molech (2Ch. 28:3), and subsequently became a place for burning refuse. In later Jewish writings Gehenna came to mean the place of fiery punishment for sinners.

Having been used by Jeremiah as a symbol of judgement. The general idea of fire expressing God's judgement is also found in the OT (e.g.Dt.32:22;Dn.7:10).

In the NT hell is pictured as a place of unending fire and the undying worm (e.g. Mk.9:43), of outer darkness with weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mt.8:12), and as a lake of fire (Rev.19:20) It is the second death (Rev.20:14) destroying body and soul (Mt.10:28). The imagery derives from Is.66:24, but is markedly restrained compared with Jewish apocalyptic and later Christian writings.

It is clearly not intended to be taken literally, but indicates the terror and finality of what elsewhere is simply described as exclusion from the presence of Christ Mt. 7:23.

It probably should not be pressed to prove eternal torment (in the sense of unending inflicted torture) but the NT clearly teaches that it symbolizes a punishment from which there is no release Mt. 25:46; some scholars see no contradiction between this and a belief that the wicked do not remain conscious for ever but are annihilated.



The Oxford Companion To The Bible

Hell : Hell (from a Germanic root meaning to cover) is the traditional English translation of the Hebrew word Sheol. These words are simply transliterated into English, and the translation hell is reserved for Gehenna. Both Sheol and Hades refer to a general dwelling place of souls after death ( the grave ).

It was also called the pit or the lower parts. Gehenna . Hades corresponds to Gehenna , where all dead are kept. (meaning in you're grave until the judgement).



                        With all of this in mind , we can now understand our Bibles a little bit better . The word Hell only means the grave , hell fire only means Gehenna or Hinnom . The Bible becomes so much clearer when we understand the meanings of God's word's outlined in the Bible . Are you going to believe those so called Ministers and Priests and whoever that preaches that hell is a place of torment , a place where a fire never dies , a place for everlasting punishment .

                        We know that there is only one way to Salvation , and that is through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ . Are you saying, that our heavenly Father in heaven is a cruel and hateful God . Well that is what you are saying , if you believe this false doctrine . The doctrine of men . You mean to tell me that all who have died , that didn't know Christ , they are all in hell . You mean to say , that the millions of people today who don't know Christ will be put into this everlasting fire . Or when a little baby dies at birth or shortly after will be put into this place of hell fire .

                            Well you're God and my God are two completely different God's . My God is gracious , loving , kind , merciful , all great , supreme , master , and forever forgiving . My God wouldn't do such a thing . And anyone who teaches and preaches such a thing is using blasphemy against God .

                            We will now look at a few Scriptures proving just the opposite of what man teaches . 11 Chronicles. 28:1-3. Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sigh of the Lord, as his father David had done. /2/ For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made moulded images for the Baals./3/He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

                            As you can see that this was a common practice in Ahaz day , he burned his children in the fires of the Valley of Hinnom (gehenna).

                            Once again in 11 Chronicles.33:1-6. Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem./2/But he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel./3/For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; he raised up altars for the Baals, and made wooden images; and he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them./4/He also built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall My name be forever./5/And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord./6/Also he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom; he practised soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists, He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.

                            Manasseh another king who made sacrifices of the children , sacrificing them in the Valley of Hinnom (gehenna). But also notice that they were making wooden images and graven images . Practising soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery and consulting mediums and spiritualist . Isn't that exactly what man is doing today , everyone of the abominations that king Manasseh did . Except for the sacrifices of children , we are not there yet . Or are we ! When you think about all of the children who go missing every year in Canada and the U.S. it makes you wonder . When you hear of Cults sacrificing animals and cattle for their sacrifices .

                            Now lets look at a few Scriptures in the New Testament . Matthew.5:22. But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement. ANd whoever says to his brother, Raca ! shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, You fool ! shall be in danger of hell fire (Gehenna fire).

                            Now remember when Jesus was talking to these people they knew exactly what He was talking about hell fire / Gehenna fire / the Valley of Hinnom . The same thing if I said to you , the fires of World War 2 . The first thing you would think of would be England all ablaze during World War 2. That is if you know you're history about the war . Just the same as the Jew's will never forget Hitler for the killing of over two million Jews. Just the same as we have Memorial Day in both Canada and the U.S. For remembering all of the war vets . Well the same with the Jews in Jesus day they remembered what Gehenna Fire and Hinnom fire was . It was passed down through history , just as it is today .

                            In the story of Jonah , Jonah used the the belly of a fish as hell. Jonah.2:2. And he said: I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, And He answered me. Out of the belly of Hell (Sheol) I cried, And you heard my voice . Acts.2:31. he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the CHrist, that His soul was not left in Hell (Hades) nor did His flesh see corruption .

                            Now how is this possible for Christ to be in hell , Christ had never sinned . But still He was in hell for three days and three nights. Well of course not , He was in His grave / tomb .

                            We read in Malachi the prophecy of the end time . It says that the wicked will be stubble , that they shall be burned up . They will have neither root nor branch , They will be ashes under the soles of the righteous feet . Malachi.4:1-3. 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 leaven them neither root nor branch./2/But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings, And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves./3/You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this , Says the Lord of hosts.

                            The wicked are going to be utterly destroyed , not in a place of punishment . Again in Revelation.20:13 -14. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hell (Hades=grave) delivered up the dead who were in them. ANd they were judged, each one according to his works./14/Then Death and Hell (Hades) were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

                            These are but a few Scriptures proving that you are not going to go to a place where you will be tormented forever . You're Bible doesn't teach such a thing . These are the teachings of men , this is one of Satans greatest deceptions . That you will be burning up forever and forever . Until eternity . 

    Do you feel the heat !

  You are responsible for what you read !

   May the Father & Jesus Christ be with you always

   Amen.

By : Edward P. Porter


HOME