HELL and the NEW TESTAMENT

This is the third and final discourse on this subject in this series. Interesting to say the least, is the statement made by some, that the writers of the New Testament (Jesus' disciples) are "virtually silent on the subject." Well, in one aspect, they are correct. Only two mention it specifically. Yet, this does not mean that they are silent on the matter.

In a previous blog post, we reviewed that Jesus HIMSELF did speak upon the subject directly, and indirectly. The parable of the Wheat and Tares speaks to it as well. Paul talks about what will happen in the end of time and found it enough to encourage his hearers "But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. The implication here is simple, what happens if one is a thief and caught? In the physical world, they are arrested, tried and if found guilty sent to jail or prison. If so in the physical world, Paul assumes that his audience knows that this is also true in the spiritual world, and that they do not want to face this outcome.

Let's now place out attention on the books of Acts to Revelation and ask ourselves of the writers that DO mention it specifically, WHAT do they say?

1. James 3:6 "And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell." HELL - in this passage is our familiar word "gehenna." It means the same here as we have seen it mean before. What is James saying, is that the person that is unable to control their tongue has their destiny before them. Just like you would pour a trail of gasoline, or gunpowder and light it - both will track back to their original source. In this case, the course is "gehenna," the place of eternal punishment.
2. 2 Pet.2:4 “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; ..." This passage is interesting because it introduces us to a couple of things. 1.) Angels that have sinned and 2.) Hell here is the word "tartarus” I cannot speculate on the "angels that sinned" part because I know nothing of the realm. I know here only what the text says, that evidently they can-did and there is punishment/judgment awaiting them as well. What is interesting here, is Peter's use of a pagan term to talk about what awaits these. Perhaps this is due to the audience to which he is writing. Let's explore the term. "tartarus" - is a word associated with Greek and Roman mythology. The Greeks viewed this as the lowest corner of the deepest abyss. It gained its conception from the deepest recesses of castles where prisoners were taken for either severe incarceration to be shut off from the outside world altogether, or to be taken for the purposes of torture. The Romans viewed this as the place where sinners go, a world once entered that you could never leave, guarded by hydras and overseen by a sleepless whip master to assure that those who entered never rested either. Now, what do you think Peter is trying to tell people here? That this is to be considered a vacation in Hawaii? He adds more. Peter also used the expression that these are "reserved in chains of darkness (KJV)" This expression is questioned, because some manuscripts contain it and others do not. What is interesting, is that the EARLIEST manuscripts of Peter's statement here, record this as being bound in chains in gloomy pits or corn bins. These were the dark "root cellars" of the day, that contained no light and were cool and damp (to preserve the vegetables placed in them). For humans, this was a bad place to be "housed" because they were infested with all sorts of snakes, rodents and insects. Notice that the text here says that they were "held" in this place to await Judgment. Peter's words, not mine.
3. Revelation - has four distinct places where it talks about this, but it does not come out and call this HELL. Yet, the imagery used is unmistakable for the serious reader.

• In Rev.2:11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death." Here, to the audience, John states the words of God given to Jesus and revealed to John, that there is something beyond a physical world with a physical death. There is a 2nd life and a 2nd death. Those in this passage who overcome, will not be harmed or injured by this 2nd death (at this point not defined other than this).
• Rev. 20:6 "Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years." Now, let's stick to point here because its easy to jump off the deep end and start all sorts of speculation on 1000 years, etc. Our study regards further definition of this 2nd death that we learned of in Rev.2:11. Notice again, that those who have part on the 1st Resurrection are not affected by the 2nd death. What is the first resurrection? Rom.6:4 "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life"
• Rev.20:12-15 "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." This is a scene of judgment. The DEAD are the DEAD those no longer living in a physical world. Either they have died physically (implied by text) or they have been changed (1 Cor.15). They are now immortal spiritual beings standing before the judge. The text here says that they are judged according to what was written in the books and what they had done. Now at this point, death (taking of physical life) and Hades ( the realm or dungeon that housed the dead) are no longer required and are thrown into "the lake of fire." We are told here that this "lake of fire" is "THE SECOND DEATH." Now notice vs.15, because it tells you of those judged in the previous verses whose name was not found written in the book of life, was "thrown INTO the lake of fire (i.e. 2nd death)." God's words, not mine.
• Rev.21:7,8 "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." Here again, the one who conquers, who is part of the 1st Resurrection, is not affected by the 2nd death. They are God's and part of God's heritage. Yet, those who are wicked have their heritage as well. It is 'the lake of fire (i.e., the 2nd death)." Notice further descriptions are given that it is a lake that "burns" with "fire and brimstone." What is the imagery cast here? A lake the burns with fire and brimstone, even to the people of this day would conjure images of a lava pit in a volcano. Doubtless they would have the image of either the Santorini eruption, or Mt.Vesuvius, both of which they would have know about at the latter part of the first century. They would have understood, that to be caught in something like this would be an unimaginable and painful death.

Someone will jump in here and say, "but there's nothing in this that says that this is eternal!" Well...first, whether eternal or not this isn't the point. The point is, is this something that you want to go through? Not from what I can see the text describe. Second, go back to Jesus' own use of the terminologies that we have been discussing. It was HE that used expressions such as "their worm dies not and the fire is not quenched (Mk.9:48)" and "weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth (Mt.13:42; 24:51)."

You may argue with men, you may disagree with me. That's fine, because I'm not the one you have to argue with. Remember Jesus' words in Jn.12:48 "he one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day." He and God are the one's you have to argue with. Are you sure you want to do that?

HELL and the Old Testament

Since launching this study on HELL, I have both learned - and been amazed. I have genuinely approached this study, not with an agenda in mind, but to learn - genuinely learn what does the Bible teach on this. This post will deal with the Old Testament.

Was-Is HELL something that was taught or even considered in Old Testament times? First, let me say that time and space here does not permit me to cover every aspect of this subject from this perspective. There are many arguments that are made, that I simply do not have opportunity to consider or just not worthy to consider. My goal here is to consider what the Bible teaches on the subject in the context of the matter at hand. One common comment that I have run across repeatedly in my research on the subject, especially on the Internet is the statement "..the Old Testament does not mention Hell at all..” Let me state here, that there is a sense in which this is right. The Old Testament does not come out and say, "thou shalt go to hell." Yet, many things which I have read across the Net-sphere assume this to be a diving platform on which to pontificate without much research into the matter from the scripture's perspective, or skewing biblical perspective to resemble their views. For example, making a claim that the sun does not exist, because ancient Egyptians considered the sun to be god, or because literature of the day does not specify the sun as a hot plasma ball is ludicrous. Arguments made by some authors on this subject fall into this same category. Which brings up to me a particular question, "What Bible are YOU reading?"

OK...enough talk. Let's delve into the scriptures themselves and see what the OLD TESTAMENT itself has to say about this subject. To say that people of the Old Testament did not have a concept of immortality is an incorrect assumption. As far back as the book of Genesis itself, people had two terms for death or burial and another for what they considered to be beyond death.

"qebûrâh" is the word that was used to state that a person had been buried or placed into a sepulcher or grave (Gen.35:20). In the passage cited, Jacob places a marker at the site of Rachel's grave - sepulcher.

"she'ôl" was a word that was used to refer to what they considered at the time lay beyond the grave or the world of the dead (Gen.37:35). In the passage cited, Jacob states that he will go into the world of the dead (notice the word is different than the one used in Gen.35:20) mourning his son. If he had meant that he would go down to the "DIRT" mourning his son "qebûrâh" would have been used. Jacob states plainly, that he will go down into "SHEOL" mourning his son - the world of the dead.

But someone will cry out, "THIS ISN'T HELL!" And...to this point you would be correct. It simply states a difference in concepts, that one - there is a place of burial and second that there is something beyond the grave. This is even more evident in the Psalms.

In particular, in Psa.16:7-10 "I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption." Notice in particular the last verse that the SOUL is not abandoned to SHEOL (the world of the dead) and the flesh would not see "corruption" (the decay of the grave). This passage, Peter says refers to Jesus (Acts 2:25-31). His body arose from the grave ("qebûrâh" - grk mnēma) Acts 2:32 and his Soul was not abandoned to SHEOL ("she'ôl" - grk hadēs) Acts 2:31 - because HE IS RISEN (Mt.28:6,7).

Psalm 30:3 - This Psalm was given at the dedication of the Temple. David states,"O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol (world of the dead - JH); you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit (cistern, dungeon, fountain, pit, well - JH).

Psalm 49:14,15 "Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell. But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me."

• Notice in this passage, it speaks of those who live rebellious to God, in haughtiness and trust in their own selves, riches, etc. They are "appointed (destined)" for SHEOL (world of the dead - JH). DEATH is going to be their shepherd there to guide them to this place.They will be consumed with "no place to dwell" - there will be no comfort, no peace.
• Not so for the people of God whose soul will be ransomed (severed, released) from the power of SHEOL (world of the dead - JH) - to be received by God! If they are released from the world of the dead and received by God what does that tell you? Sounds to me like the people of God are taken to be with Him, while the people that were wicked are SEPARATED from Him, with "no place to dwell."

Isa.10:16-18 "Therefore the Lord GOD of hosts will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors, and under his glory a burning will be kindled, like the burning of fire. The light of Israel will become a fire, and his Holy One a flame, and it will burn and devour his thorns and briers in one day. The glory of his forest and of his fruitful land the LORD will destroy, both soul and body, and it will be as when a sick man wastes away."

• This is a prophesy of the captivity of Israel and of their return that would take place in the days of Cyrus and Ezra. While this particular passage doesn't have anything per se' to do with the world of the dead, there is a peculiar expression used here by Isaiah that is worth noting. Verse 18 contains what became a "proverbial" expression among the Jewish people, to be careful lest you invoke the wrath of God to "destroy (end) both body and soul."
• Notice that this is described "as when a sick man wastes away." Have you ever been around someone that lingers and lingers in throes of death? Humans ALWAYS associate this with pain, agony, hurtfulness, and suffering! Here, not only is the body gone (dead - in the GRAVE) but the soul continues in anguish - as one wasting away at a disease.

Isa. 66:24 "And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."

• This is again Isaiah's prophesy of the capture and return of Israel in the days of Cyrus and Ezra. What is of peculiar note here is that God describes punishment for evil (vs.17)! They will face the fire of God's wrath. Those faithful are to be remembered, established, and to continue.
• Notice however, those who are evil have a familiar expression applied to them in vs.24. "For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."
• Notice again, as observed from last week in Mk.9:44-49 it speaks of "THEIR WORM." Notice - IT SHALL NOT DIE (sounds eternal to me - JH). THEIR FIRE is NOT QUENCHED (sounds eternal to me - JH). THEY SHALL BE AN ABHORRENCE - (God's words not mine - JH)

Jer.19:1-7 –This passage is where the valley of Hinnom became the physical symbol of what becomes known as "gehenna" in the New Testament or eternal HELL!

• Notice WHY it becomes that symbol. Because the people have forsaken me and have profaned this place by making offerings in it to other gods whom neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have known; and because they have filled this place with the blood of innocents, and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or decree, nor did it come into my mind-- therefore, behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when this place shall no more be called Topheth, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.
• Notice now vs.7-9 I will give their dead bodies for food to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the earth. I will make this city a horror, a thing to be hissed at. Everyone who passes by it will be horrified and will hiss because of all its wounds. I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and their daughters, and everyone shall eat the flesh of his neighbor in the siege and in the distress, with which their enemies and those who seek their life afflict them.'

As I write this, I have two almost overpowering feelings. First, tremendous thankfulness and appreciation for the grace of God, who is thoughtful of me to offer me the opportunity to be with Him. Second, pity and fear for those who do not hear, see, understand or want to accept this grace.

It is true, that things must be accepted by faith. You must believe in order to understand. Some may deem me mad, crazy, religious fanatic, what-have-you because I choose to believe. My question though is have you truly considered the scripture's warning if YOU DO NOT?

Jim

Jesus on HELL!

This entry is prompted by some research I did as a result of a recent interview done on with an Evangelical preacher. The interview was streamlined as "There is NO HELL." In this interview, there was no scripture referenced, but the gentleman postulated something that is not new at all, but all too familiar - "..a loving God would never sentence human souls to eternal suffering..”

There are many who make such statements. Some would have us believe that HELL is just a fable made up by the Roman Catholic Church in its infancy in order to keep its parishioners inline, or so says one priest. Another man states, "It only stands to reason, then, that this same Jesus, who was completely appalled at the very idea of burning a few people, for a few horrific minutes until they were dead, could never, ever burn billions of people for an eternity!"

So....I asked myself (with no bias in mind to defend anything accept what the scripture itself teaches) if this could be true? I know the following things to start off with:

1. 1Jn 4:1 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." -- So we will put these thoughts to test with the scripture since they say this is not taught in the scripture.
2. Rom 3:4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged." God's word stands the test of time, men and proclamations of men. God will prevail, and His word will prevail after men and the words they speak are long gone!
3. John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. God's word is the truth. Men can flap their gums all they want, but unless God says it, it is not spiritual truth!

When speaking of "eternal hell" there are a couple of things that we must enter the discussion being aware of. First is that the older versions, especially the KJV or "authorized" version uses the word "hell" indiscriminately to refer to the grave, the place where the spirit goes upon death, and the eternal destination of the wicked. Most modern versions correct this, especially in the American Standard and New American Standard versions. For the purposes of our discussion and study, our focus will be on "eternal hell" the eternal abode of the wicked.

So, let's let Jesus speak on Hell. Does He confirm or deny its existence? This research then will be limited to the gospels, since this is where Jesus speaks personally - that is He is in person speaking, no one is saying it for Him.

The term HELL in the sense of eternal hell, is referenced by the greek word "Gehenna." This word occurs 15 times in the New Testament and 11 of those times, it us used by Jesus personally. The word is taken from the Hebrew term that means "the valley of Hinnom." This referred to a literal place outside of the city of Jerusalem, that was basically the city dump or landfill of the day. It was the place where all trash within the city, all carrion, dead bodies of criminals or paupers who had no one to claim them were taken and thrown. It gained infamy in Old Testament history and thus became absolute anathema to the Jewish people, when children were sacrificed to the god Moloch there (Josh. 15:8; II Kings 33:10; Jer.2:23; 7:31-32; 19:6,13-14). For this reason the valley was thereafter deemed to be accursed, and "Gehenna" therefore became a figurative equivalent for "hell."

Jesus uses THIS term in the following Mt.5:29,30; Mk.9:43; Lk.12:5

Now, a couple of notes on these passages that reflect upon the same instance. Jesus is teaching in the Sermon on the Mount regarding adultery and how that to "look upon a woman so as to lust after her, he has committed adultery already in his heart." He then states, that it is better to pluck out an eye or cut off a hand and go through life maimed, than for "your whole body be thrown into hell" Let's now make some observations on this statement.

• The term HELL here is our term GEHENNA. Thus, there is no mistaking what Jesus is referencing.
• Jesus uses the word "cast" here, which means to throw. It is actually a gardening term, stating what one does when one finds a weed growing in a garden. The weed is plucked and "cast" or thrown out of the garden because the gardener does not want it growing there. Noticed here, Jesus says "the whole body be cast into hell."
• INTO - means to take from one place and put into another. This same term is used in Col.1:13, where it states we are transferred FROM the kingdom of darkness INTO the kingdom of God's dear Son. So, Jesus is stating that the "whole body" because of the sin it carries in an unrepentant person, will be cast or thrown INTO Hell! It will be taken out of God's garden and thrown into this place.
• THE WHOLE BODY - It is obvious, that the physical body decays and goes back to the dust from which it came (Gen.3:19) or "sheol" the grave. But, we are told that the spirit does not have flesh and blood as human bodies do (Lk.24:39), thus it does not decay but continues to exist (Lk.16:19-31). Jesus here states that a spirit of evil, is plucked from God's garden and cast INTO - Hell - Gehenna!

Mt.23:23 Jesus speaking to the Jewish Pharisees and scribes of His day, states to them, "You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?"

• HELL here is our familiar term again, Gehenna
• “damnation” here comes from the greek word "crisis" which means to meter judgment
• He is stating that because of their teaching, judgment would be metered to them and that judgment was HELL! Why? Is Jesus judging them? No...He did not come to judge. He came to proclaim God's truth. It is the truth that is judging them (Jn.12:48) and their refusal to heed that word or walk according to it. Thus, they judge themselves!

FURTHER ON Mt.5:22; Mk.9:43,44,46,48; Lk.12:5

• In Matt.5:22 and Mk.9:43 the descriptive phrase accompanying HELL or Gehenna is used --> Fire. Whether literal or figurative this word only has one meaning - FIRE. You cannot get around it. And, this makes sense, as in Lk.16:24 the rich man stated that he was tormented in the “flame.” What is the flame? If this is a spiritual place with something that is not flesh and bone, how can it burn? I DON'T KNOW! All I know is that Jesus states this, uses these words to describe it. Whatever it is - the associative idea being put with it is THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO GO THERE!
• In Mk.9:43,44,46 and 48, Jesus uses a further designation to describe this fire one that is "never quenched." The word used for this, is a familiar word to us “asbestos,” and means perpetual, unending. We use asbestos to retard flame to protect. There it is the flame that is asbestos - or never stops burning!
• Mark 9:48 - Jesus uses a peculiar phrase in a continuing description of this place. He states, "where their worm does not die." The term "worm" here its primary and first definition is maggot. Notice again the eternal descriptor that THEIR worm does not die! If something does not die it is eternal. What is THEIR WORM? Maggots, eat infectious, diseased materials. In the physical world, their life cycle is short, after they eat their fill, they go on to become flies. But there, they do not die, they do not get their fill, they continually feed and eat. What are they feeding on? The souls infected with sin and cast into the place where these worms abide for eternity and the flame or torment does not end.

Now, if you wish to argue with this, be my guest. These are Jesus' words, not mine. But, before I end this post, let me share one more thought. Jesus makes this statement in Luke 12:4,5 "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!"

There are those who state, "..a loving God would never sentence human souls to eternal suffering..” Is that what Jesus says?