____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ December 1, 2002 ____________________________________________________ Hell and Hades by Tom Edwards The Bible warns of hell. If considered seriously, it is the worst place that anyone would ever want to spend even the least amount of time -- but hell is eternal. It is described as a place of "outer darkness," where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 8:12); a place of "eternal punishment" (Matt. 25:46) in which one will be forever separated from "the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power" (2 Thes. 1:9), and where there will be no rest for its inhabitants (Rev. 14:9-11). Hell is depicted as a "lake that burns with fire and brimstone," and referred to as "the second death" (Rev. 21:8). It is an eternal fire -- one that "is not quenched," Mark 9:48 -- which was originally prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41). Let us consider some points about hell, and possibly answer some questions. Are Hell and Hades the Same? Is "Hades" the equivalent of "hell"? Are these terms actually synonymous, or does the Bible show a distinction in the two? "Hell" in the New Testament The English word "Hell" in the New American Standard Bible is used just 13 times, exclusively in the New Testament. Twelve of these renderings come from the Greek word "Gehenna"; and one from the Greek verb "Tartaroo," which is translated as "to cast into hell" (2 Pet. 2:4); but does not refer to the same place as Gehenna. Origin on the Word "Gehenna" The Greek word "gehenna" is "a transliteration from the Aramaic form of the Hebrew gehinnom, `valley of Hinnom"' (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia). The valley of Hinnom, which was near Jerusalem on its south side, had served as a city dump, where much trash and animal carcasses -- and, at times, even human bodies -- were consumed in the flames, and where the heap of rubbish continually smoldered. It, no doubt, was also a habitat for worms and maggots, a place of putrid stench and uncleanness. Prior, however, it was also the location where some of the Israelites -- who had apostatized from God by going into idolatry -- had actually burned their children in sacrifice to the heathen god Molech (2 Chron. 28:3; 33:6; 2 Kings 17:17; 23:10; Psa. 106:34-39). This terribly shocking practice of immolating innocent children is said to have been virtually universal in the ancient world, and the Bible warns against it (cf. Deut. 12:31; 2 Chron. 28:3; 33:2-6; 2 Kings 17:15-17). Josiah, during his reign, had brought an end to child sacrifice (2 Kings 23:10); but Jeremiah, who began prophesying during the 13th year of Josiah's reign (Jer. 1:2) also speaks of it: now, however, the Lord's sinful people would be put to death by their enemy in that same place where the innocent children had been sacrificed, and which the Lord descriptively changed in name to "the valley of Slaughter" -- and, saying, "The dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the sky and for the beasts of the earth..." (Jer. 7:32,33) -- thus showing the dishonorable state of their death: they would not even be respectfully buried; but, rather, would become food for birds and beasts; and, perhaps, some of these would even be unclean animals that would do the devouring. How loathsome this would be -- especially to the Jew. What other garbage dump would evoke such repugnance as here in the valley of Hinnom? How odious it had become. Thayer refers to Gehenna as being "so called from the cries of the little children who were thrown into the fiery arms of Molech...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 GEHENNA PUROS [Gehenna Fire]." No wonder, as the ISBE points out, that "Gehenna became among the Jews the synonym for the place of torment in the future life." "Hell," translated from "gehenna," refers to the place of eternal punishment in which all who will be lost in the judgment day will receive. It will be an everlasting separation from the love, mercy, and goodness of God; and though it is "the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt. 25:41), it will also be for all "...those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus..." (2 Thess. 1:7-9). This, therefore, includes even Christians who have fallen away from the Lord (cf. 2 Peter 2:20-22). Tartarus (from "Tartaroo") Several different Bible versions, instead of translating the Greek verb "tartaroo" as "cast down to hell" (2 Pet. 2:4), use the transliteration of the noun-form, thus referring to these fallen angels as having been cast down to "Tartarus" (Modern King James Version, The Literal Translation of the Holy Bible, The World English Bible, Weymouth New Testament, and Young's Literal Translation). There might also be other Bible versions that use this transliteration of "Tartarus," which makes it clear that the fallen angels are not in the eternal lake of fire yet; but, rather, in that temporary abode of the Hadean realm, which we will further consider. "Tartaroo," which is used just once in all the Bible, literally means to "incarcerate"; and Strongs defines Tartarus as "the deepest abyss of Hades." "Hades" in the New Testament The English word "Hades," which is a transliteration from the Greek word "Hades," is found 10 times in the NASB -- as well as in other modern translations. Here is the complete list of verses for it: Matt. 11:23; 16:18; Luke 10:15; 16:23; Acts 2:27,31; Rev. 1:18; 6:8; 20:13,14. The King James Version, however, renders the Greek word "Hades" as "hell"; so the term "hell" is found 23 times in this version -- and the English word "Hades" is not used even once. We, therefore, cannot discern the distinctions in these words from the English, since they are the same -- though they are from two different Greek words that are not the same in meaning. KJV Use of "Hell," "Grave," and "Pit" in OT "Hell" is also found 29 times in the Old Testament of the KJV, which is translated from the Hebrew word "Sheol." It also translates "Sheol" as the "grave" 28 times, and the "pit" 3 times. Not realizing that these three English words (hell, grave, and the pit) are each translated from the same Hebrew word might cause one to think that this "hell" would be the eternal hell (or eternal lake of fire), and the "grave" simply the realm of departed spirits -- or maybe even mistakenly assume just a cemetery. But let us remind ourselves that these three terms are each referring to the same place. Writing on the translation of "hell" for "Sheol," Bullinger states, "As to the rendering `hell,' it does not represent Sheol, because both by Dictionary definition and by colloquial usage `hell' means the place of future punishment. Sheol has no such meaning, but denotes the present state of death. `The grave' is, therefore, a far more suitable translation, because it visibly suggests to us what is invisible to the mind, viz., the state of death. It must, necessarily, be misleading to the English reader to see the former put to represent the latter" (A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament, pp. 368, 369). NASB Use of "Sheol" in OT The NASB clears this up by transliterating the Hebrew word "Sheol" as "Sheol" for each of these references. For Sheol is actually the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek word "Hades"; and, thus, speaks of the realm where the deceased exist -- and not necessarily indicating whether in pain or pleasure (just as Hades can be either -- Paradise or torment). For instance, in Acts 2:27 (NASB), in which Peter quotes David as saying, "Because you will not abandon my soul to Hades," the same statement is rendered in Psalm 16:10 (NASB) as "For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol...." Incidentally, in the Septuagint version, which translates the Old Testament into Greek -- instead of Hebrew -- "Sheol" is rendered as "Hades." KJV use of "Grave" for "Sheol" The frequent use of "grave" in the KJV, as a rendering for "Sheol," is probably due to the grave having been thought of as being "the door or the entrance" into the realm of the dead. Confusion When "Hades" Translated as "Hell" In the New Testament, to not be able to differentiate between the two "hells" (translated from "gehenna" and "Hades") in the KJV can make some passages confusing. For instance, did Jesus spend some time in "hell" after His death and prior to His resurrection? The KJV reads: "He (David, tte) seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption" (Acts 2:31). Consider, too, Revelation 20:13,14: "...death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire...." Are people right now in the eternal lake of fire awaiting the judgment day? And since the "lake of fire" is "hell" (Rev. 19:20; 20:10,15), then does this mean that "hell" will be cast into "hell"? Many modern translations make this clear by transliterating the Greek word "Hades" to "Hades." By them, we understand that it was not to "gehenna" hell (the eternal lake of fire) where Jesus went after His death and prior to His resurrection; but, rather, it was to "Hades" where He went -- that temporary abode of all departed spirits. Nor is it "gehenna" hell in which departed souls are awaiting the judgment; rather, it is Hades -- whether in Paradise or Tartarus (torment) (cf. Luke 16:19-31). And it is not that "gehenna" hell will be cast into the eternal lake of fire, but Hades will. So, clearly, hell and Hades are two different places. Jesus Went to the Paradise-Side of Hades We can note, in addition, that the specific place in "Hades" that Jesus went to (Acts 2:31) is called "Paradise." As He told the penitent thief on the cross, on the day of their crucifixion, "...today you shall be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). So, while, for three days, Jesus' deceased body lay in the tomb hewn out of rock, His soul was in this blissful section of the hadean realm. Paradise and Tartarus Are Both in Hades Hades is the place where all departed spirits go to await the Judgment Day -- but not all go to the blissful abode of Paradise that is there. For, tragically, many will await the judgment in that part of Hades that is a place of torment; and which we see illustrated in the account of the poor, afflicted Lazarus and the rich man who both had passed away from this life (Luke 16:19-31). In the hadean realm, Lazarus was in Paradise -- a place of blessing, and symbolically referred to as being "in Abraham's bosom" -- whereas the rich man was in torment (tartarus). They were both in Hades, but how extremely different the contrast of those two places therein. "Soul Sleep" Theory -- Not So From this, we also infer that the deceased are not in a state of "soul sleep," in which they are simply oblivious to their new abode; but, instead, they are very well aware of their circumstance -- whether of blessing or of wrath. Tartarus, this suffering section of Hades, is also where the fallen angels are awaiting the judgment day; and they, along with all the lost, are kept there "under punishment for the day of judgment" (2 Pet. 2:4,9). How could it, therefore, be a punishment, unless the inhabitants were experiencing that? For if not, it would be no different from "Paradise"; if that, too, could not be experienced; and if this be the case, why even call one of the "compartments" of Hades "Paradise" and show the other as a place of torment? For there would be no difference if the "soul sleep" theory were true. But, obviously, that theory is false because the hadean realm is something the deceased are very much aware of. Hell is Eternal, Hades is Temporary Whereas hell (gehenna) is eternal, this is not the case for Hades. It is temporary. Hades will continue until the end of time when there will be a universal resurrection (John 5:28,29; Rev. 20:13,14). Then, as this latter passage shows in prophecy, "...death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them...Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire...." So not only Tartarus, but also Paradise will be thrown into this lake of fire, which implies that the hadean realm is a temporary abode. After its purpose has been fulfilled, there will no longer be a need for it. For following it, all mankind will have then arrived to their eternal destination -- whether heaven or hell. Conclusion Clearly, the Bible shows that hell and Hades are not the same place. Rather, they are two different abodes. And though Hades is temporary, hell is eternal. In addition, while there are no "compartments" of blessing in hell, Hades is made up of two "compartments": a place of blessing (Paradise) and a place of torment (Tartarus). Hades is for this side of the Judgment Day, where all the departed souls await their final sentence. Following the judgment, however, the lost will be cast into hell -- and Hades along with them -- and the redeemed will go to heaven. Because the Bible speaks of hell, God wants us to be aware of it --and may it serve as a good deterrent to keep us away from the many paths that lead there. It will do us well to occasionally give some serious thought to what the Bible says about hell. An Appeal to the Reader The fate of the devil and his fallen angels is sealed. But how about your eternal destiny? We hope that you will never learn from first-hand experience what tartarus and hell are like. For it is our desire -- and even more so God's -- that you be saved from the wrath to come. As the Bible shows, the Lord is "...not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9). For God "...desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth "(1 Tim. 2:4); and Jesus died so that heaven can be attainable for every person -- if we will simply meet His conditions. Will the Lord's sacrifice, however, be nothing more than a "vain" thing in your life? -- or will you avail yourself of its power to free you from your every sin (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18), as you humbly submit to the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ the Lord? To become a Christian, one must hear the gospel (Rom. 10:17; 1:16), believe in Jesus (Jn. 8:24), repent of sins (Luke 13:5), publicly confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36,37), be baptized in water so that sins may be forgiven (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3,4; 1 Pet. 3:21), and be faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10; Heb. 10:36-39). Your eternal destiny is now up to you. Is it Hades and then hell, or Paradise and then Heaven that now awaits you?! We pray your choice will be a wise one -- for whichever one you make, it will lead to your eternal destination. ________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ________________________________________