Does The Bible Teach A Literal Hell?

"The Greek word for punishment in Matt 25:46 is KOLASIS - which means corrective discipline. TIMORIA is the Greek word for vindictive punishment. I suggest you look into the original lanuages and study this subject more closely."~Savedbygrace

"FYI Harvey - Is 5:14 is about SHEOL - the grave - not Hell. There is not one single mention of any place called hell in the OT. Are you reading the KJV or NKLV? I sugget(sic) you get yourself a LITERAL - word for word Bible."..."Also, it is a LAKE of fire - not a torture chamber or prison of fire. There are no bars on a Lake to keep anyone in. This LAKE {referring To Revelation 20:13-14}is the baptism of fire that will purify and cleanse away sin and it's effects." ~ Savedbygrace

Another gentleman responded saying that teaching that hell is an everlasting place of punishment was wrong. Regarding the preaching of everlasting condemnation he said: "The latter on the other hand needs to be debunked, eviscerated, shown for the attempted psychological rape it is, and ultimately stamped out of civilized society." ~ Nightmare

What Does The Bible Say?

For the unregenerate, teaching hell is "psychological rape" and should be "stamped out of civilized society"??? WOW!

Although many would say that due to the suffering and evil that we readily observe that hell is here on earth. There is yet another place, however, prepared wherein the eternal wrath of God will be displayed upon all of them that do not submit to the Lordship of Jesus, through repenting and turning from their sins.

With so many, such as the Jehovah's Witnesses who dissent over the idea of hell, we should ask, what does the Bible actually teach regarding hell? Is the Christian wrong for believing in eternal or everlasting judgement or punishment? Does the teaching of hell make the love of God ineffectual? Is the teaching of hell merely obsolete control mechanism held over from ancient societies?

What Is Hell?

Hell is an Anglo-Saxon word used to translate the Hebrew word Sheol (whose root word means to ask or demand)Sheol is translated as "hell" 31 times in the Old Testament(OT) an additional 31 times as "grave" in the OT and 3 times as "pit" (see; Num. 16:30,33 & Job 17:16).

At either rate the word literally means "the abode of the dead". In the OT there was no distinction as to whether Sheol was the place of overwhelming misery or a place of overwhelming happiness, outside of examining the context of the verse. Clearly we can observe that hell was a place where the presence of God exists perpetually:

Ps.139:7-9 ~ "7-Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8-If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9-If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;"

There were figurative and emotional appeals to Sheol (Hell) such as describing it as describing it as a prison, as a hunter setting snares, or as overflowing waters, waves and floods.

Keeping the tradition of Jewish understanding, in the NT Jesus referenced both hell and destruction some 46 times in the gospels and continued and to expanded the Jewish understanding of Sheol's compartments. One such example was through a teaching regarding the rich man and the beggar, Lazarus (Lk. 16:19-31). In that teaching both individuals die and appear in the underworld, except one exists in "Abraham's bosom" and the other in another place more directly described as Sheol (hell). The one in Abraham's bosom experiences peace and relative comfort while the other experiences torment, and wants relief that is unobtainable. Both individuals experience the presence of God in continuing to understand that their plight or current condition is because of their direct relationship, or lack thereof, to God and humanity.

Sheol & Hell In The New Testament

In the New Testament there are 3 words translated as hell. Hades, Gehenna and Tartaroo. The critic asserts that these words were used to indicate "soul sleep" and possibly even annihilation or merely the grave. Annihilationism is the teaching of the total relinquishment of the consciousness of the individual at death. eg: No consciousness after death for the unrighteous. This sounds appealing to some, especially the critics of Christianity and those who oppose traditional teachings regarding Christianity. However, is the critic correct? Let's see:

Hades: In the earliest translation of the Hebrew bible into the Greek, this translation is known as the Septuagint, the word Sheol is always translated as "hades". Orcus (Pluto), was the Greek god of the underworld who oversaw torment of the dead and disembodied spirits in hades. In the NT hades (hell) takes on the idea of both a place of punishment, torment, and also a force opposing both God and his church.(Mt. 16:18)

Gehenna: This word is a neologism (2 words combined to make a new word) Ge~valley and Henna~Hinnom (eg: Valley Of Hinnom) Hinnom was the place on the southern part of Jerusalem where idolatry and specifically child sacrifice took place(see: 2 Kings 23:10, Jer. 7:32, & 2 Chron. 28:3) and was later known as the place of garbage or refuse. Gehenna was known as the place of "burning","whining" and "lamentation". In intertestimental writings Gehenna was also associated with final judgement. Jesus taught that it was better to be maimed in this life than to go to this place. (Mk. 9:43-45) Thus Gehenna was also representative of the place of punishment and not merely sleep or the grave as some suppose.

Tartaroo: Appearing once in the NT (2 Pet. 2:4) this word was and also representative of the Greek thoughts of the subterranean world. This world in Greek thought was doleful, dark and regarded as a place for the punishment of the wicked who passed from life to death. Once again, there is no correlation to sleep associated with this word.

One More Thing: Another expression that we find that is equally equivalent to hell is the phrase or term "outer darkness" (Mt. 8:12, 22:13, and 25:30)This place is equally filled with torment as it is often associated with weeping and gnashing of teeth. We find a progressive understanding of hell or Sheol from the OT to the NT especially during and after the life and resurrection of Jesus. Whereas Sheol is only contextually distinguishable in the OT, when Hades, Gehenna, and Tartaroo are used in the NT they are more readily distinguishable as being related to punishment and judgement.

What Can Be Drawn From This?

In the OT Sheol had two meanings, one being the grave and the other torment or punishment. The usage was distinguishable based upon scriptural context.

The earliest available version of the Greek translation of the OT, The Septuagint, translated Sheol as Hades. Thus punishment for wickedness was included in the earliest thought of what Sheol was.

In the NT, especially during and after the life of Jesus, "Hades" took on an even greater connotation and meaning of punishment for the wicked and was further associated with perpetual not temporal judgement.

The other two words translated as hell in the NT, Gehenna and Tartaroo also carry the idea of judgement and perpetual punishment for the wicked. These places are to be avoided at all costs for the believer, even if that means being thankful for the loss of uncontrollable flesh that is subject or prone to sin.

There is no biblical expectation the righteous or the wicked will be in or remain in a state of unconsciousness. The righteous and wicked both rise to judgement and full conscious awareness. The righteous in reward and the wicked in wrath.

From the OT to the NT, wicked works are not simply skirted over or rewarded through soul sleep neither are the sins of the unrepentant merely forgotten. The sins of the righteous (repentant) are cast away, while the wicked pay for their actions through judgement.

Let's Look At The Rhetoric Regarding Hell Again:

Apostasy 1- Savedbygrace declared that the Greek word "Kolasin" (punishment) as used in Mt. 25:46 was merely a corrective type of discipline. Is he right about this?

Obviously Not. 1 based on the context of the scripture it is plain to see that the assertion of a temporary light discipline is unbiblical. In context, Jesus is dealing with the reward of the "goats" for their failure to meet the needs of the people through service. In a greater context this scripture displays that the "goats" did not have relationship with the Son of Man or King (v.31 and v.34). Their punishment was not temporary but "everlasting" (Gk: aiwnion ~ Never ceasing and without end). Therefore, everlasting is the adjective that describes the punishment. The same Greek word "ainwnion" is used to describe the life that believers have in Jesus (Jn. 3:15 and 36) The blood of the New Covenant in Jesus (Heb. 13:20) and the Kingdom of Jesus (2 Pet. 1:11). Therefore, in order to teach a "temporary hell" successfully, one must simultaneously demonstrate that the life, kingdom and the blood of the covenant in Jesus are only temporary in nature. As we know salvation is everlasting, the Kingdom of God is everlasting and and the blood of the covenant is everlasting. Unfortunately for the critic, the use of the word "everlasting" does not deviate from the use and application of the same word in other parallel passages. So the correct interpretation is that punishment would be forever and without end.

A final note regarding this, the punishment kolasin was NOT merely a corrective disciple NET Bible says this of this particular word:

"kolasiv in classical Greek meant usually punishment which aimed at the reformation of the offender. But sometimes in later Greek, and always in the N.T., the idea of reformation seems to disappear, so that there remains simply the idea of punishment, but viewed in relation to the punished"

Apostasy 2- "Is 5:14 is about SHEOL - the grave - not Hell. There is not one single mention of any place called hell in the OT." What are we to make of this critique?

Absolutely NOTHING! The facts are plain and simple and context is the telling part of the scripture:

Isa. 5:10-17 ~ "10-Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah. 11-Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! 12-And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands. 13-Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. 14-Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. 15-And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled: 16-But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness. 17-Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat."

This particular scripture dealt with the six fold woes pronounced upon Judah for his sins. This scripture points out unjust judgements by landowners and a love of sin rather than fairness, equity and righteousness. This was why hell was enlarged. As verse 15 says that mean man, and lofty (prideful) would be punished and brought down. There is not a hint contextually that this is a mere waiving of the hand or that the Bosom of Abraham would be extended as opposed to the lower part of Sheol where punishment existed.

Apostasy 3~ "Also, it is a LAKE of fire - not a torture chamber or prison of fire. There are no bars on a Lake to keep anyone in. This LAKE {referring to Revelation 20:13-14}is the baptism of fire that will purify and cleanse away sin and it's effects." Are any of these statements accurate?

Not even in dreamland! Here's the scripture:

Revelation 20:11-15 ~ "11-And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12-And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13-And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14-And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15-And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

In this passage there was judgement (Gk: Krino ~ passing of a Kingly edict or decree) this was done upon an individual according to their works. Ultimately, since this was the final judgement, death and hell(Sheol)[The only region left in the last day would be the place of torment as Abraham's bosom ascended when Jesus "led captivity captive"- Eph. 4:8] Were cast into the "lake of fire" and that lake of fire was the "second death".

This fire was not a cleaning of the effects of sin. It was a punishment because of sin. In addition death would have no control over God's people or permanence of effect.(1 Cor. 15:55-56) Notions to the contrary are simply totally absurd.

Finally: Should the teaching of hell be stamped out of civilized society? Is hell merely a control mechanism?

God would be derelict in not exposing the penalty of sin. Exposing the nature of hell does not condemn one to go to hell. In other words, one can choose not to go by choosing life in Jesus who is able to save the soul from hell:

Mt. 10:28 ~ "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Gehenna eg: place of destruction)

Example, on a map there are many different directions that one could go. If you are going to New Mexico why should you be offended just because the map shows how to get to San Antonio? It's ridiculous to say that just because hell is described in the bible as a literal, physical place in which the wrath of God will occur that the message somehow should be overlooked or minimized. Jesus referenced hell more than he referenced heaven. So are we to discard all of his teachings because of this? 

Were the teachings of Jesus just a way to keep people in line or order? If it is it hasn't worked because sin has abounded more now than almost ever before in history. Men love their sins but yet the true church continues to preach against it. So, in short, all we find in dissent against the teaching of hell is yet another weak and cop-out argument with a basis in human relative moral values and not objective moral values based upon God or his nature of truth.

Hell, like heaven is real, is not simply soul sleep, and is a literal and physical destination that encompasses mind and individual reality

For sure, it's one place I won't want to go, even IF you tell me to-LOL!

Blessed!