Hell.
Death and Hell.
Many churches describe Hell as a place of ever ending fire. What is the Truth?
Many churches describe Hell as a place of ever ending fire. What is the Truth?
Revelation 20:13 Death and hell will be cast into the lake of fire.
1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.
Does the Bible speak of two deaths?
Yes. We all die the first death, which God speaks of as a sleep.
John 11:11, Jesus said, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” Then His disciples said, “Lord if he sleeps he will get well.” However Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that he was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.”
Where does the Bible say that there is a second death?
In Revelation 21:8, God’s word says, the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.
Does the Bible speak of two deaths?
Yes. We all die the first death, which God speaks of as a sleep.
John 11:11, Jesus said, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” Then His disciples said, “Lord if he sleeps he will get well.” However Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that he was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.”
Where does the Bible say that there is a second death?
In Revelation 21:8, God’s word says, the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
In Revelation 20:13, God’s word says that Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Does the fact that there is a second death, mean that we will be resurrected from the first death?
Yes. Jesus said, “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. John 5:25.
John 5:28,29, Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation.
Does everyone experience death twice?
No. The second death is only experienced by the wicked. If your name is found in the book of life you will not experience the second death.
Does the fact that there is a second death, mean that we will be resurrected from the first death?
Yes. Jesus said, “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. John 5:25.
John 5:28,29, Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation.
Does everyone experience death twice?
No. The second death is only experienced by the wicked. If your name is found in the book of life you will not experience the second death.
Rev 20:14-15 Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Any one not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:6. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Is the second death the punishment of the wicked?
Yes. 2 Thessalonians 1:9. These (who do not know God and obey the gospel) shall be punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord…..
Psalm 37:9. Evildoers shall be cut off. Those who love the Lord will inherit the earth
Psalm 11:6. Upon the wicked He will rain coals, fire and brimstone with a burning wind.
Rev 21:8. The wicked will burn with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
So when do the wicked experience the fires of hell?
The wicked experience hell when they are punished with the second death. Hell is the lake of fire that both destroys the wicked and cleanses the earth from every trace of sin.
Malachi 4:1,3. “For, behold the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, ye, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” says the Lord of Hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch. 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.
Revelation 20:6. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Is the second death the punishment of the wicked?
Yes. 2 Thessalonians 1:9. These (who do not know God and obey the gospel) shall be punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord…..
Psalm 37:9. Evildoers shall be cut off. Those who love the Lord will inherit the earth
Psalm 11:6. Upon the wicked He will rain coals, fire and brimstone with a burning wind.
Rev 21:8. The wicked will burn with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
So when do the wicked experience the fires of hell?
The wicked experience hell when they are punished with the second death. Hell is the lake of fire that both destroys the wicked and cleanses the earth from every trace of sin.
Malachi 4:1,3. “For, behold the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, ye, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” says the Lord of Hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch. 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.
2 Peter 3:7. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word are reserved for fire until the Day of Judgment, and perdition of ungodly men.
Doesn’t the fire of hell burn forever and ever?
No. Everlasting punishment, or everlasting fire, is not eternal conscious misery. It is not the fire that is everlasting; it is the punishment of destruction (the result of the fire) that is everlasting. The wicked will never again exist.
Proverbs 10:30. The righteous will never be removed but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
Psalm 145:20. The Lord preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.
For how long will the wicked burn?
The Bible does not say, but everyone is rewarded according to their works. The more evil a person is, the greater the punishment they will suffer.
2 Corinthians 5:10. We must all appear before the judgment seat that each receive the things done in the body according what he has done.
Hebrews 2:2. Every transgression and disobedience, received a just reward.
Where does the fire come from?
Genesis 19:24. Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens.
1 Kings 1:12. So Elijah answered and said to them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
Revelation 20:9. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.
When will the wicked be cast into the lake of fire?
The wicked will be cast into the lake of fire after their resurrection at the end of the thousand years.
Rev 20:7,8,9. Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from His prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sands of the sea. They went up on the breadth of earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.
Doesn’t the fire of hell burn forever and ever?
No. Everlasting punishment, or everlasting fire, is not eternal conscious misery. It is not the fire that is everlasting; it is the punishment of destruction (the result of the fire) that is everlasting. The wicked will never again exist.
Proverbs 10:30. The righteous will never be removed but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
Psalm 145:20. The Lord preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.
For how long will the wicked burn?
The Bible does not say, but everyone is rewarded according to their works. The more evil a person is, the greater the punishment they will suffer.
2 Corinthians 5:10. We must all appear before the judgment seat that each receive the things done in the body according what he has done.
Hebrews 2:2. Every transgression and disobedience, received a just reward.
Where does the fire come from?
Genesis 19:24. Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens.
1 Kings 1:12. So Elijah answered and said to them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
Revelation 20:9. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.
When will the wicked be cast into the lake of fire?
The wicked will be cast into the lake of fire after their resurrection at the end of the thousand years.
Rev 20:7,8,9. Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from His prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sands of the sea. They went up on the breadth of earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.
They will come up from their graves in a bodily form. The devil will deceive them. They surround the Holy City which has been brought to earth. Then God will send fire to devour them.
Why does the Bible say hell fire is never quenched?
Mark 9:43. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched.
The word quenched means to put out or extinguish. No one will be able to put hell fire out, it will burn until there is nothing left to burn, and then it will simply go out of its own accord.
Zechariah 14:12. Says, their flesh shall dissolve, while they stand on their feet. Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths. It will be complete destruction.
Why does the Bible say the fires of hell are everlasting, or will burn forever ?
Revelation 14:11. “And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and forever; and they have no rest day or night….” The smoke of their torment ascending forever does not mean that they will burn for all eternity, but that they will be forever burned up.
Math 25:46. “And these (the wicked) will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” The result of the punishment is everlasting.
Note: Forever:
The word forever as used in the phrase “tormented day and night forever” is a rendering for various phrases formed with the Greek word “aion” as a base. Its idea is expressed by Greek scholars as meaning continuity (without a break), for a definite period, long or short. In other words, “forever” as used in the Bible, does not necessarily mean a period of time that never ends. In one scripture it may refer to a short period of time, or in another other to a longer period. It is a rule in Greek, that forever in respect to length of time depends upon the nature of the subject to which it refers.
A Hebrew servant could of course serve his master only as long as he lived, yet the Old Testament writer expresses it as being “forever”
Ex 21:2-6. His master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.
Jonah was only three days and nights in the belly of the fish, yet he writes that it was “forever.”
Jonah 2:6, says, The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; yet You have brought up my life from the pit.
Are there other examples of eternal fire that is not burning today?
Yes. Jude 7 says, Sodom and Gomorrah are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
2 Peter 2:6. God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly.
Why does the Bible say hell fire is never quenched?
Mark 9:43. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched.
The word quenched means to put out or extinguish. No one will be able to put hell fire out, it will burn until there is nothing left to burn, and then it will simply go out of its own accord.
Zechariah 14:12. Says, their flesh shall dissolve, while they stand on their feet. Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths. It will be complete destruction.
Why does the Bible say the fires of hell are everlasting, or will burn forever ?
Revelation 14:11. “And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and forever; and they have no rest day or night….” The smoke of their torment ascending forever does not mean that they will burn for all eternity, but that they will be forever burned up.
Math 25:46. “And these (the wicked) will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” The result of the punishment is everlasting.
Note: Forever:
The word forever as used in the phrase “tormented day and night forever” is a rendering for various phrases formed with the Greek word “aion” as a base. Its idea is expressed by Greek scholars as meaning continuity (without a break), for a definite period, long or short. In other words, “forever” as used in the Bible, does not necessarily mean a period of time that never ends. In one scripture it may refer to a short period of time, or in another other to a longer period. It is a rule in Greek, that forever in respect to length of time depends upon the nature of the subject to which it refers.
A Hebrew servant could of course serve his master only as long as he lived, yet the Old Testament writer expresses it as being “forever”
Ex 21:2-6. His master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.
Jonah was only three days and nights in the belly of the fish, yet he writes that it was “forever.”
Jonah 2:6, says, The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; yet You have brought up my life from the pit.
Are there other examples of eternal fire that is not burning today?
Yes. Jude 7 says, Sodom and Gomorrah are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
2 Peter 2:6. God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly.
Today the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, are most certainly not burning, they no longer exist.
Why are so many confused by the Bible teachings about hell?
Confusion over Bible teaching about hell could result from the fact that the word hel, as used in the Bible, and has 3 different meanings. (1) Hell, (2) Sheol, (3) Gehenna.
The word hell is used 55 times in Scripture. In the Old Testament the word hell is used 31 times. Each time it is derived from the word "sheol.” In the New Testament “hell” is used 24 times and in 11 instances comes from the Greek word “hades”. The primary meaning of Hades and Sheol is the grave. In 42 places in the Bible “hell” simply means the grave. (compare Psalm 16:10 – Jesus soul not left in Sheol, with Acts 2:31- Jesus soul not left in Hades)
Twelve times in the New Testament the word “hell” comes from the Greek word “Gehenna” which refers to the valley of Hinnom; which was situated just outside the city of Jerusalem, and where the continually burning rubbish heap was located. Christ used the valley of Hinnom to illustrate how the disobedient will be destroyed soul and body in the lake of fire at the end of the 1,000 years of Rev 20.
Once in the New Testament (2 Peter 2:4) the word “hell” comes from the Greek word “tartarus,” which means the darkness of the material universe to which the evil angels were cast down.
Where is hell?
Hell is not somewhere in the middle of the earth, it is the state of the earth, at the time of the destruction of the wicked: hell fire happens upon the earth, during the time of the second death.
2 Peter 3:10-12. Heaven will pass away with a great noise and the elements will melt with fervent heat, both earth and its works. The heaven will be dissolved being on fire and elements will melt.
What happens to the faithful people of God?
The faithful are safe in the presence of Jesus. After the fire has done its work God will recreate this earth and it will be the eternal home of the saved.
Revelation 21:5. Then he who sat on the throne said, “Behold I make all things new.” And He said “Write for these words are true and faithful.”
Matthew 5:5. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.
Matthew 16:27. When the Son of Man comes He will reward each one to his works.
Romans 6:23. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God’s promises.
Revelation 20:13 Death and hell will be cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21: 4. God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
Why are so many confused by the Bible teachings about hell?
Confusion over Bible teaching about hell could result from the fact that the word hel, as used in the Bible, and has 3 different meanings. (1) Hell, (2) Sheol, (3) Gehenna.
The word hell is used 55 times in Scripture. In the Old Testament the word hell is used 31 times. Each time it is derived from the word "sheol.” In the New Testament “hell” is used 24 times and in 11 instances comes from the Greek word “hades”. The primary meaning of Hades and Sheol is the grave. In 42 places in the Bible “hell” simply means the grave. (compare Psalm 16:10 – Jesus soul not left in Sheol, with Acts 2:31- Jesus soul not left in Hades)
Twelve times in the New Testament the word “hell” comes from the Greek word “Gehenna” which refers to the valley of Hinnom; which was situated just outside the city of Jerusalem, and where the continually burning rubbish heap was located. Christ used the valley of Hinnom to illustrate how the disobedient will be destroyed soul and body in the lake of fire at the end of the 1,000 years of Rev 20.
Once in the New Testament (2 Peter 2:4) the word “hell” comes from the Greek word “tartarus,” which means the darkness of the material universe to which the evil angels were cast down.
Where is hell?
Hell is not somewhere in the middle of the earth, it is the state of the earth, at the time of the destruction of the wicked: hell fire happens upon the earth, during the time of the second death.
2 Peter 3:10-12. Heaven will pass away with a great noise and the elements will melt with fervent heat, both earth and its works. The heaven will be dissolved being on fire and elements will melt.
What happens to the faithful people of God?
The faithful are safe in the presence of Jesus. After the fire has done its work God will recreate this earth and it will be the eternal home of the saved.
Revelation 21:5. Then he who sat on the throne said, “Behold I make all things new.” And He said “Write for these words are true and faithful.”
Matthew 5:5. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.
Matthew 16:27. When the Son of Man comes He will reward each one to his works.
Romans 6:23. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God’s promises.
Revelation 20:13 Death and hell will be cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21: 4. God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
Note.
There is no place in the Bible where “hell” means a lake of fire which is burning now, or where the wicked will be burned to all eternity. There is no place in the Bible called Purgatory where people can pay for their own sins. Jesus sacrifice on Calvary paid the penalty of our sin. Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life. We need to accept Him as our Saviour if we wish to inherit eternal life.
There is no place in the Bible where “hell” means a lake of fire which is burning now, or where the wicked will be burned to all eternity. There is no place in the Bible called Purgatory where people can pay for their own sins. Jesus sacrifice on Calvary paid the penalty of our sin. Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life. We need to accept Him as our Saviour if we wish to inherit eternal life.
