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 Part 1 – The Words translated “Hell”

 

Hebrew – Old Testament

  1. Strong’s # - 7585 – Sheol

    1. 65 times

    2. Hell – 31

    3. Grave – 30

    4. Pit – 3

    5. Grave’s – 1

    6. Sheol is Hebrew equivalent to Hades in Greek

 

Greek – New Testament

  1. Strong’s # - 86 – Hades

    1. 12 times

    2. KJV always translates – “hell”

    3. Most other versions – “hades”

    4. Unseen, hidden, the unseen world of departed spirits

  2. Strong’s # - 5020 – Tartarus

    1. 2 times

    2. Hell – 1

    3. 2 Peter 2:4

  3. Strong’s # - 931 – Basanos

    1. 3 times

    2. Torments –2

    3. Torment – 1

  4. Strong’s # 1067 - Gehenna

    1. 12 times

    2. Background

    3. People’s New Testament with Notes - The Greek is "the Gehenna of fire." The term Gehenna arose from the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the Canaanites burned human sacrifices to Moloch. After the return of the Jews from the Captivity they made it a place of defilement, where the refuse of the city was thrown and burned. The name was applied to the place of future punishment by the Jews. The word is often used in the New Testament (Matthew 23:33; Matthew 5:29; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 18:9; Mark 9:43), and always denotes a place of future punishment.

  5. NOTE: There are many passages that discuss the subject of hell. But the word itself only occurs 12 times in the entire Bible.

Part 2 – Jesus was a “Hell Fire” Preacher

  1. As noted in part 1, the word meaning the place of eternal punishment (Gehenna) occurs only 12 times in the Bible.

  2. Of those 12 times – 11 of them were spoken by Jesus

  3. James 3:6 only time not spoken by Jesus

  4. Of the 11 time Jesus spoke the word – 10 of times was in a public setting

  5. Matthew 10:28 – to the 12 apostles only

  6. Jesus in a public setting –

    1. Matthew 5:22

    2. Matthew 5:29

    3. Matthew 5:30

    4. Matthew 18:9

    5. Matthew 23:15

    6. Matthew 23:33

    7. Mark 9:43

    8. Mark 9:45

    9. Mark 9:47

    10. Luke 12:5

 

Part 3 – Why does hell exist?

  1. Hell vs. Loving God – How could a just, merciful, kind, and loving God send people He created to a place of eternal torment?

    1. Atheists claim that Christianity could not be true because a loving God would not send billions of people to hell. This argument makes some assumptions that are not correct.

      1. True love is not permissive – Parents who allow their children to do whatever they want do NOT love them.

      2. God’s moral laws have a purpose – Follow the rules of God and your life will be better.

        1. See Exodus 15:26.

        2. Think about the spread of AIDS – drug use / homosexuals

      3. God’s creation of free will beings must allow for the possibility of rejecting God completely

      4. Some prefer hell over complete submission to God

    2. Another Question – How could a Holy, Righteous God do any less?
       

  1. Eternal Torment OR Eternal Destruction

    1. Many passages teach eternal torment

    2. Others teach eternal destruction

    3. If one is “destroyed” then the punishment is not “eternal”

    4. Does destruction mean the end of existence?


 

Eternal Torment Eternal Destruction
Matthew 8:29, 18:8, 25:41, 46, Luke 16:23-24, 28, Hebrews 6:1-2, 2 Peter 2:9, Jude 1:7, Revelation 14:11 Matthew 7:13, John 5:24, John 8:51, Romans 6:21, 23, 9:22, 2 Corinthians 7:10, Philippians 3:18-19, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, James 1:15, 1 John 3:14, 2 Peter 3:7, 3:16, Revelation 2:11, 19:20, 20:6, 10, 14-15, 21:8

 

  1. For Whom - Who will go to hell? For whom was hell planned?
     

Idolatry Adultery Prostitution
Theft Greed Drunkenness
Swindling Impurity Witchcraft
Discord Jealousy Fits of rage
Dissensions Factions and envy Orgies
Lying Cowardice Unbelief
Sorcery Sexual immorality Homosexual offenses
Slander Hatred Selfish ambition
Abomination Murder  

 

  1. Beyond Help – Are some beyond redemption? Revelation clearly shows that God gives us multiple opportunities to repent, stop sinning and return to God.

    1. Matthew 23:37 – And you would not

    2. Revelation 2:21 – I gave her space to repent

    3. 2 Peter 3:9 – Is long suffering to us

    4. Hebrews 10:36-37 – He will come and not delay

 

Part 4 – 25 Descriptions of Hell

  1. Hell is a burning lake of fire – Revelation 20:15; Matthew 18:8-9

  2. Hell is a bottomless pit – Revelation 21:1

  3. Hell is a horrible tempest – a place for the wicked – Psalms 11:6

  4. Hell is a devouring fire – Isaiah 33:14

  5. Hell is a place of damnation – Matthew 23:33

  6. Hell is a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth – Matthew 8:12; 13:42; 22:13; 25:30; 24:51

  7. Hell is a place of eternal torments – Luke 16:23; Revelation 14:11; 20:10

  8. Hell is a furnace of fire – Matthew 13:42; John 15:6

  9. Hell is a place of destruction – 2 Thessalonians 1:9

  10. Hell is a place where they will curse God – Revelation 16:11

  11. Hell is a place where people pray so their relatives will not come there but it does no good – Luke 16:27-28

  12. Hell is a place where they cry for mercy – or a drop of water to ease the pain of the fire – Luke 16:24

  13. Hell is a place of everlasting punishment – Matthew 25:46

  14. Hell is a place of everlasting fire – Matthew 18:8; Mark 9:43

  15. Hell is a place of eternal separation from God – 2 Thessalonians 1:9

  16. Hell is a place of unquenchable fire – Matthew 3:12

  17. Hell is a place for those who perish – John 3:16

  18. Hell is a place of blackness and darkness forever – Jude 1:13

  19. Hell is a place prepare for the devil and his angels – but men go there by choice also – Matthew 25:41

  20. Hell is a place where they will be tormented with brimstone and fire – Revelation 14:10

  21. Hell is a place where they will drink the wine of God’s wrath – Revelation 14:10

  22. Hell is a place for the wicked who will be judged – Psalm 139:19; 112:10; 55:23; 37:10; Isaiah 13:11

  23. Hell is a place for those who have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ and His work on the cross – Hebrews 10:29; 2:3

  24. Hell is the second death

    1. 1st death is physical

    2. 2nd death is spiritual separation from god

    3. Revelation 21:8

  25. Hell is a place to fear going to – Luke 12:5

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