Bible Foundations Lesson 29 Subject Hell and the Lake of Fire

 

Bible Foundations Lesson 29 Subject Hell and the Lake of Fire

Although this subject is not edifying, every Bible student should have some understanding of it's truths.

There are many questions in people's minds concerning hell. Is it a real place? Do all unsaved people go there? Will it continue to exist forever? Will those who are consigned there be tormented forever, or will they be annihilated?

The only way to understand this subject is to make a progressive study through the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

There are five names used in the Bible to describe the place we commonly call Hell and each name adds it's truth, so that when completed the student should have a deeper and more profound understanding of God's attitude toward the “unrighteous dead.”

2. Sheol: is the Hebrew word of broad meaning which is translated as “hell”, “grave” and “pit” in the King James Versions. Most Bible scholars consider it to mean “the unseen state” or “the place of the dead.” The various usages of Sheol in the Old Testament make it a word of uncertain meaning. Usually, the student will find it necessary to examine the context in order to determine the meaning. No scholar can explain the word in detail; all are compelled to accept Sheol as a word that means, “the world of the dead,” the hidden world, the unseen world. It does not mean "the lake of fire,” it does not mean “the pit” or “the grave” - it simply denotes the place of departed spirits” or those who have “departed this life” Thus, we find that God begins His instructions on the abode of the wicked by using a word of uncertain meaning.
   
   a.  Sheol – when translated “hell”: Deuteronomy 32:22; 2 Samuel 22:6 Job 11:8, 26 :6 Psalms 9:17 Psalms 16:10 18:5 55:15 86:13, 116:3, 139:8; Proverbs 5:5, 7:27, 9:18. 15:11,24, 27:20; Isaiah 5:14 14:9,15, 28:15,18, 57:9; Ezekiel 31:16,17, 32:21,27:  Amos 9:2; Jonah 2:2; Habakkuk 2:5

b. Sheol – when translated “grave”: Genesis 37:35, 42:38, 44:29, 31; 1 Samuel 2:6; 1 Kings 2:6,9; Job 7:9, 14:13, 17:13, 21:13, 24:19; Psalms 6:5, 30:3, 31:17, 49:14,15; Psalms 88:3, 89:48, 141:7; Proverbs 1:12, 30:16; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Song Solomon 8:6; Isaiah 14:11, 38:10,18; Ezekiel 31:15; Hosea 13:14

c. Sheol – when translated “pit”: Numbers 16:30,33: Job 17:16

2. Hades is the Greek word of the New Testament which is most closely allied in thought to the “Sheol” of the Old Testament. Once again, the Bible scholars cannot give us an absolute definition of the word in the original language. Harper's Analytical Greek Lexicon calls it: “The invisible abode or mansion of the dead . . .” Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon refers to it as “The common receptacle of disembodied spirits.” This word of uncertain definition appears eleven times in the New Testament.

“Hades”, however is not quite as difficult as “Sheol”, because in one of the eleven references, we have the description, by Jesus, of a man who was consigned to that place!! Thus, although the original language is somewhat unclear, we find that the Bible itself is beginning to supply us with contextual information which causes the meaning of “hell” to clarify

a. Hades when translated “hell”: Matthew 11:23, 16:18; Luke 10:15, 16:23; Acts2:27, 31; Rev 1:18, Revelation 6:8, 20:13,14.

b. Hades when translated “grave” I Corinthians 15:55

3. Gehenna, is the Greek word which Jesus particularly used in describing the abode of the wicked dead. The word itself is of Hebrew Origin, from “valley” and “hinnom”. The Valley of the son of Hinnom was the valley on the South East of Jerusalem, which was used as a garbage dump, and it's name in scripture is used for the place of unending punishment. It received this name from the cries of the little children who were thrown into the fiery arms of the god Moloch, an idol having the form of a bull. The Jews so abhorred the place after these horrible sacrifices had been abolished by King Josiah (2 Kings 23:10) that they cast into it not only all manner of refuse, but even the dead bodies of animals, and of unburied criminals who had been executed. And since fires were always needed to consume the dead bodies, that the air might not become tainted by their putrefaction, it came to pass that the place was called “heena tou puros” (Gehenna of the fire) . . .Thayer's Greed Lexicon, page 111.

Here are the 12 references (11 were spoken by Jesus); Matthew 5:22, 29, 30, 10:28, 18:9, 
 Matt 3:15,33;  Mark 9:43, 45, 47; Luke 12:5; James 3:6

4. Tartarus, appears only once in the Bible – 2 Peter 2:4 - and is translated “hell” by both Authorized and Revised versions. To the Greek mind this name conveyed the thought of the 'abode of the wicked dead,” where they suffer punishment for their evil deeds.” Strong's Greek dictionary defines the word Tartarus as meaning “the deepest abyss of Hades”. Generally, Tartarus was to the Greek what Gehenna was to the Jews.

5. The lake of fire (and brimstone) Is the firth expression used by God's Word in describing the abode of the unrighteous. It only appears in the last book of the Bible.

At last we have the crystallized statement of the final abode of the unrighteous: That which was dim in the shadows of the Old Testament uncertainty has at last been clearly revealed in the Light of Revelation's great throne of Judgment. Reverences: Revelations 14:10, 19:20, 20:10, 14, 15, 21:8.

Characteristics of the Abode of the Unrighteous Dead - - -

1. A place of fire: The new Testament used eighteen graphic “fire” expressions.

“Hell fire” Matthew 5:22 “out of the fire:” Jude 23

“furnace of fire” Matthew 13:42 “fire and brimstone” Revelation 14:10

“everlasting fire” Matthew 18:8 “lake of fire burning with brimstone” Rev 19:20

“fire that never shall be quenched: Mark 9:44 “lake of fire and brimstone” Rev 20:10

“salted with fire; Mark 9:49 “lake of fire Revelation 20:15

2. A place of torment; Jesus used the most extreme human reaction that he knew in portraying the torment of the unrighteous after life - - -

“weeping and gnashing of teeth” Luke 13:27

“wailing and gnashing of teeth: Matthew 13:42

“it had been good for that man if he had not been born” Matt 26:24

“In hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments” Luke 16:23

“But now he is comforted, and you are tormented” Luke 16:25

“lest they also come into this place of torment: Luke 16:28

“And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone: Revelation 14:10

And the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever” Revelation 14:11

“and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever” Revelation 20:10

Note that in Mark 9 beginning with verse 43, Jesus emphasizes five times that the fire of Gehenna will never be extinguished!

Since certain cults have challenged the above meaning of “everlasting,” let us notice eleven ways that “everlasting” is descriptively used in the Bible:

1. God Himself Romans 16:26

2. divinely imparted life; Matthew 19:29; Luke 18:30; John 3:16, 36, 4:14, 5:24, 6:27, 40, 47, John 12:50; Acts 13:46; Romans 6:22; Galatians 6:8; 1 Timothy 1:16

3. punishment; Matthew 25:46

4. Tabernacles or dwelling places; Luke 16:9

5. Destruction; 2 Thessalonians. 1;9

6. comfort or consolation; 2 Thessalonians 2:16

7. The might and power of the Lord; 1 Tim 6;16

8. the blood covenant; Hebrews 13:20

9. the kingdom; 2 Peter 1:11

10. fire; Matthew 18:8, 25:41

11. Gospel; Rev 14:6

Note “Forever and ever” is used to describe the duration of:

1. Attributes of God:

   (a) Glory, Galatians 1:5, 2 Tim 4:18

   (b) Honor, 1 Timothy 1:17;

   (c) Throne, Hebrews 1:8

   (d) Praise, Glory and Dominion, 1 Peter 4:11

   (e) Existence, Revelation 4:9,10

   (f) Reign, Revelation 11:15, 22:5

2. Torment of:

   Beast's followers Revelation 14:11

   Babylon, Revelation 19:3

   Devil, beast and False Prophet, Revelation 20:10

   The unsaved, Revelation 20:12-15

It may be logically concluded that: As long as God's people exist in the blessing and presence of the Almighty - - just that long will the devil and his followers exist in a state of torment and judgment