____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ February 21, 1993 ____________________________________________________ Where Does One Go After Death? by Tom Edwards I was recently asked to write an article on where people go when death comes. This is a good question, for there are many who are not fully informed as to what the Bible says on this subject. For instance, numerous individuals today are teaching--or at least giving the impression--that the Christian goes immediately to heaven when he passes away from this life. Especially at certain funerals, this misconception is often preached. Hades The Bible, however, shows that there is an intermediate state (or a waiting place) for the deceased, prior to heaven or hell--that occurs in a realm referred to in the New Testament as ``Hades.'' Though this term is not used even once in the King James Version, it is in the New King James, the New American Standard, and various other versions. Actually, the Greek word from which ``Hades'' is translated in these other versions is also in the King James Version; and it appears that these other versions are giving it a transliteration, for the Greek word is pronounced as ``Hades.'' This rendering, which is used at least ten times in the New Testament, is very helpful for the Bible student--for it enables him to be able to differentiate between the two ``hells'' that the KJV speaks of when it uses merely the one word ``hell'' for both of them; for in actuality, the King James is using the same word for two different Greek words: ``Hades'' and ``Gehenna.'' This latter term designates the everlasting abode of the wicked, the lake of fire, the eternal hell; and, as we shall see, Hades is not an endless dwelling for departed spirits, nor is it entirely a place of torment; though ``Gehenna'' hell is not only without end, but also a place of intense suffering and void of any comfort or blessing. Sheol When Peter spoke of the resurrection of Jesus in Acts 2:31 and pointed out that ``his soul was not left in HELL....,'' the term ``hell'' is from the Greek word translated as ``Hades'' in many other versions--though not in the King James. Its Hebrew equivalent is the word ``Sheol,'' which is defined as the ``underworld (place to which people descend at death).'' Though ``Sheol'' is found in sixty-five verses in the Old Testament of the NASV, it is not used even once in the King James. Rather, it is mostly translated as ``the grave'' (54 percent of the time); and it is also rendered as ``hell'' (41.5 percent) and as the ``pit'' (4.5 percent). Concerning the use of the word ``hell,'' Bullinger writes: ``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.'' This particular ``hell'' in Acts 2:31 (or--better translated as--''Hades'') is where Jesus had spent three days after His crucifixion. It was not the eternal lake of fire. The relationship between the Hebrew ``Sheol'' and the Greek ``Hades'' is also seen when comparing Acts 2:27, which uses the Greek word ``Hades,'' with Psalm 16:10, which is the passage that Acts 2:27 quotes; but here in the Old Testament, the Hebrew term ``Sheol'' is used instead. Again, it appears that the NASV, as well as other versions, simply transliterates the Hebrew word that it renders as ``Sheol,'' for this is how its Hebrew equivalent would be said. Paradise--a "Compartment" of Hades On the cross, Jesus had told the penitent thief that he would be with Him that very day in PARADISE (Luke 23:43), which is one of the ``compartments'' that makes up Hades, and where all the redeemed will await the Judgment Day. In the very word itself (paradise), can we not see that blessing is connoted--and certainly not any type of unbearable punishment? When Jesus went to Paradise with the thief on the cross after their deaths, He thus fulfilled the prophecy of being in Hades (``hell,'' KJV; Acts 2:27,31). Yet, in this section of it, He and the thief were greatly comforted. For to be in the Hadean chamber of Paradise has been metaphorically expressed as being in ``Abraham's bosom'' (Luke 16:22), and this symbolizes, especially to many of the Jewish people of Jesus' day, a place of great blessing--for to be affiliated with Abraham and to dwell where he abides would, by far, be an exceedingly great position to be in and a wonderful place to be. Tartaros--a "Compartment" of Hades In the story of the rich man and the poor beggar Lazarus, Jesus shows that at death a person will go to one of either two places: paradise or torment (Luke 16:19-31). From elsewhere, we learn that this place of torment, which is the second ``compartment'' of Hades, also has a name: though it is translated as ``hell,'' it comes from a word (``tartaroo'') that means ``to cast into tartarus''; and it is a derivative from the Greek word ``Tartaros.'' Hades, therefore, is made up of two chambers: Paradise and Tartaros. This particular Greek word is used in 2 Peter 2:4, in which it states that ''...God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into HELL (tartaroo derived from tartaros, tte), and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for punishment''; Note that this abode is a place where even the fallen angels await the Judgment Day. And in the same context, verse 9 speaks about God's ability to ``rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous UNDER PUNISHMENT FOR THE DAY OF JUDGMENT,'' (emphasis mine). Whether fallen angels or fallen man, it is in Tartaros that each will await the great, final judgment of God; and though it isn't the eternal hell, tartaros will still be a place of torment to some degree for those who have rejected the way of the Lord. Hades--Its Temporary Nature We can also note that Hades is a temporary place. It will only last until Christ returns to gather up all--those living and those deceased--so that each one may give an account of himself before God on that great Day of Reckoning (2 Cor. 5:10). This universal resurrection and gathering up will take place in the same hour for everyone (Jn. 5:28,29) and on the last day (Jn. 6:39,40; Jn. 12:48), in which every element of the physical universe will be completely destroyed by intense heat (2 Pet. 3:10-12)--and time shall be no more. After this, with Hades having fulfilled its purpose, there will be no more need for this temporary abode of departed spirits. We are, therefore, told in Revelation 20:13,14 that ''...the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged everyone of them according to their deeds. And death and HADES were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire'' (NASV). In the King James version, ``Hades'' is rendered as ``hell,'' which doesn't really make much sense if you think of it as the eternal hell; for then it would be that ``hell'' was cast into hell. Understanding that the ``hell'' to be cast is ``Hades'' makes the passage clear. Hades--a Place Experienced Though Hades is a temporary abode for the deceased prior to the Judgment Day, it also yields a great foretaste of the sealed destiny of each individual--whether of the eternal blessings or of the endless wrath of God, as we saw in the case of the rich man and Lazarus. Hades--a Realm Where Opportunities Have Ceased Let us lastly note also from the story of the rich man and Lazarus that once a person crosses over from the land of the living into the Hadean realm, one's destination becomes unalterable. There is no ``second chance'' after death. It is only while we remain in this earthly life that we can set our course for heaven or hell. Let us each, therefore, choose wisely--for the results will be for all eternity, and not merely a temporary dwelling. ___________________________________________ Selected Sentence Sermons The chains of habit are generally too small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken. Before you give anyone piece of your mind, you ought to be sure that you can get by with what you have left. The largest room in the world is the room for improvement. An ounce of fact means more than a ton of argument. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________