Hell, Hades, and Sheol
by Paul J Rico paulrico@hotmail.com
Some people don’t want to believe in Hell, and it’s understandable why they have an aversion to it. To think that there will be people suffering in Hell for eternity as the Scriptures teach, is heart breaking to say the least. Understanding the reality of Hell should terrify everyone. Even if one bad dog had to go to Hell for eternal suffering, it should break our hearts and motivate us to do what ever possible to keep such a thing from occurring. So let’s look at what the Bible has to say about Hell. Whether we believe or don’t believe in Hell, what is the evidence that it exists and why should we believe in it? In fact Messiah Yahshua talked more about Hell than He did about Heaven. If He believes in hell what profit is there for us to deny it?
Words that are used in the Bible’s original languages to translate as hell in English translations:
Hebrew—The Hebrew word exclusively used is Sheol (7585) and means literally “the grave” but is also translated as hell and pit. Ps 16:10 King David wrote, “For you will not leave my soul in hell (sheol).” Ps 139:8 We can not escape HaShem even in Sheol, for He is there also.
Num 16:30-33 Sheol is translated as the pit in the demise of Korah and his 250 followers in the rebellion against Moses and Aaron.
Deut 32:22 Sheol is translated as hell and first described here as a place of fire.
Greek– Hades (86) This word is used the same as Sheol in Hebrew. It is used in Acts 2:27 which is a quote of Ps 16:10 (quoted above).
Geenna (1067) (or Gehenna) From the Hinnom Valley to the south of Jerusalem used as a garbage dump for centuries where the fire from the burning refuse never extinguished so it became a metaphor for the eternal fire of hell. Mt 5:23, Lk 12:5
Tartaroo (5020) the deepest abyss of Hades from tartaros which means to incarcerate in eternal torment (cast down to hell) 2 Pet 2:4
Observations concerning Sheol, Hades, and Hell
Sheol and Hades are never found in a plural tense.
Sheol and Hades are never located on the surface of the earth.
The Bible never speaks of an individuals Sheol.
Man never puts anyone in it as they do in a grave.
Man never digs or makes a Sheol or Hades.
Scripture never speaks of a human touching Sheol.
Scripture never speaks of a human body going into Sheol with the exception of Korah and his followers.
Further Biblical teaching on Hell
Luke 16:19-31 The Story of the Rich Man and the Beggar Lazarus: Some believe this account to be a parable, however the usual use of parable by Yahshua were identified as parables, sometimes with words like “learn the parable of …” or “He spoke unto them in parables” Matt 13:3. The account of Lazarus and the Rich Man has no such identification as a parable.
Also Yahshua never used proper names in parables, but did use proper names in historical accounts such as this. Regardless every parable was based in fact, and this would make this account a fact even if it were a parable.
Some teachers place allegorical interpretations on to passages such as this even though Scripture gives no such interpretation. Such a gratuitous (for no reason or without reason) assertion is equally gratuitously denied. Allegorical interpretations are the gateway to false doctrine because they only limited to the imagination of the false teachers.
Accurate observations (not allegorical interpretations) about this account
Sheol or Hades has two sides or compartments, Torment and Paradise (or the Bosom of Abraham)
The rich man in Torment was being tormented being in flames that he could not escape, so that he begged for relief of even a drop of water on his tongue from the hand of the beggar Lazarus. The rich man also begged that someone would witness to his beloved brothers whom he didn’t want to come to that place of torment. Meanwhile Lazarus was comforted in paradise being with the saints of the ages, also see Luke 23:43 concerning the thief on the cross and Ps 16:10.
Abraham according to Yahshua didn’t deny that either the rich man, Lazarus or himself had bodies, in fact they all had resurrected bodies, but rather that they were restricted to their own areas, with a great gulf between, that could not be transversed. This is in line with the teaching of Yahshua concerning the resurrection in John 5:24-29.
From Luke 16 we learn that people in Hell especially the torment side can remember their life on earth and those they loved. We also learn that people in hell beg for release from the torment they are in to no avail, but are eternally in bondage with no escape.
Matt 16:18 (v13-18) Gates of Hell Matt 12:39-40, 27:50-54, Eph 4:7-10 After the sacrifice of Messiah the side of Hell that is the Bosom of Abraham could not restraint the saved from entering the presence of HaShem as happened before hand. Gates open and close to keep people or animals in or out of restricted areas. After the sacrifice of Messiah the gates of Hell are no longer able to hold the saints of God in paradise but rather we go directly into the presence of God (2 Cor 5:8).
Yahshua didn’t go to hell to suffer there for us to pay for our sins. He paid for our sins on the tree with His shed blood. He went to Hell (paradise, not torment) to open the gates of hell (the paradise side only, as those who are in torment are there for eternity) and set free those who had previously trusted in Him as the coming Messiah. These were the OT saints who died before the sacrifice of Messiah. There is a misunderstanding that Messiah went to torment to suffer for our sins. This isn’t true as our sins were 100% paid for by His shed blood and applied to us by our faith in that sacrifice.
Mark 9:42-48 Hell fire can not be quenched and their worms do not die.
Matt 25:41-46 Hell is a place of everlasting fire and eternal punishment, prepared for Satan and his angels, 2 Pet 2:4 Hell was not intended for people but we of our own free will can choose to go there by rejecting the sacrifice of Messiah to pay for our sin. John 3:18, 36
Matt 8:12 Hell is a place of outer darkness
2 Thess 1:9 Hell is a place of everlasting destruction.
Rev 21:8 Hell is for the wicked.
Rom 2:8,9 Hell is for the disobedient
Rev 19:20 Hell is for the Beast and False Prophet
Rev 14:11 Hell is for worshipers of the Beast
Matt 10:15 Hell is for rejecters of Messiah
Punishment of Hell
Matt 5:29,30 Bodily punishment
Matt 10:28 Punishment of the soul
Matt 23:14 Punishment in degree
Luke 16:22-31 Unchangeable punishment.
Considering the evidence in the Holy Scriptures for Hell, and the confirmation of Yahshua the Messiah that it exists, we should believe in Yahshua and the sacrifice He provided on the tree so that we can escape the horrors of eternal damnation. Metaphorically sticking our heads in the sand and denying the truth about Hell doesn’t make the danger untrue. If we walk blindfolded down the interstate highway with cars rushing by at 70 mph it’s only a matter of time before we would get run down and killed regardless of our denial of the danger. The same holds true about denying the truth concerning Hell.
Believe that Yahshua died in your place to pay for your sin and remove the barrier between you and the Creator. Admit that you are powerless to save your self and trust Yahshua to provide you with forgiveness. If you need prayer or have a question feel free to contact paulrico@hotmail.com.
