THE TRUTH ABOUT A PLACE CALLED “HELL”
Let’s begin by laying out the facts.
There is no mention or teaching in the entire Old Testament of a place where the dead go that involves eternal punishment of suffering and burning. The Hebrew word “Sheol” is translated in the KJV 31 times as “grave”, 32 times as “hell”, 3 times “a pit”, but never as eternal punishment of suffering and torment for the lost. All the dead go to a place called Sheol, the “grave” after death. The ancient Israelite did not teach about a place of eternal torment. So we can see “hell” in the Old Testament is equal to the grave.
7585 she'owl (sheh-ole');
or sheol (sheh-ole'); from 7592; Hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates:
KJV-- grave, hell, pit.
In order to believe in a place of eternal torments, where the dead go and are never rescued, one must believe in the “immortality” of the soul. The Bible is quite plain on who alone has “immortality”. Only Jesus has immortality, He is the Life and Resurrection. He that has the Son has Life and he that has not the Son has not Life.
1 Tim 6:14-16
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
(KJV)
If we believe that the unsaved dead are immediately sent to “eternal torments to be punished” then we must believe that they have been sentenced to punishment before they have been judged. The White Throne Judgment is after the 1,000 years reign of Jesus on the Earth, when all the dead are judged. As a result of that belief then, we have the wicked in “hell” in torments waiting for the Judgment day when they will be taken out of hell to be judged and then cast back into hell and torments. Why? If they are already in torments, then why not leave them there? Because all the dead are in the grave asleep awaiting the resurrection.
If we believe that the unsaved dead will burn forever in a “hell” of eternal torment, then we must believe that the consequence of sin is eternal suffering, tormenting fire forever and ever time without end. If the consequence of sin is eternal suffering time without end, then Jesus did not pay “sin’s debt” when He died on the cross, because He only died, and did not spend eternity in a burning hell to pay for sin. But if we look at the Word, the Bible says the wages of sin is “death”. In light of that, we see Jesus did pay the sin debt in full. Result is that burning and suffering forever is not required of the soul that sins, but only death. "The soul that sins, it shall die. "
The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is Eternal life. The Word does not say the wages of sin is eternal punishment of torments time without end. Jesus paid the sin debt, so that we can inherit eternal life. If the soul is immortal, as some teach, why do we need eternal life, if everyone already has eternal life (immortality of the soul)?
The Word declares the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is Eternal Life. Nothing here mentions eternal torments. The Lord told Israel that He set before them life and death, choose life that they may live. There are only 2 choices here, life or death, and no mention of eternal torments.
Some teach that the dead, immediately upon death, go to one of two places, either heaven or hell. Yet the Word declares that no one has ascended to heaven but the Son of Man. John 3:13. Where was Lazarus when he was dead in the tomb? Did Jesus call him forth from heaven or paradise, to come again to this wicked world? Or did he raise him from sleep, like He said, “Lazarus sleeps”? When Jesus was in the tomb for 3 days and 3 nights, did He ascend to heaven? Or was He asleep in the tomb for the 3 days and nights? After His resurrection He told Mary, “Don’t touch me for I have not yet ascended.” So during the 3 days in the tomb He did not ascend. John 20:17
The Bible teaches that when men die, they sleep in the grave, tomb until the resurrection. There are to be 2 resurrections, the first and the last. Why would there be a resurrection if we were already alive somewhere else? The Bible says the rest of the dead “lived not” again until after the 1,000 years were finished. So the Bible says the dead are not alive, but asleep.
Paul never taught about an eternal torment, or place of suffering called “hell”. And Paul declared that he spoke the whole council of God. How could Paul leave out something so important as a place called hell where the ungodly would suffer forever and ever time without end?
The Lord God taught me to forgive my enemies, and yet will He burn his forever and ever time without end in place called hell. Or did we misunderstand hell (the grave) with eternal torments?
The word “hell” in the New Testament is derived from 3 Greek words: Hades, Gehenna, Tartaros. “Hades” is the Greek equal to “Sheol” of the Old Testament used 10 times in the New Testament, and is the grave. “Gehenna” is used 12 times in the New Testament, it was the equivalent of a dumpsite where garbage and dead animals were thrown, whose fire never went out and the worm never died, though the destruction of the trash and animals was complete, there was always enough new garbage to keep things going. And finally, only one time in the whole Bible the word “Tartaros” which means to hold captive or incarcerate, and is only used once in the Bible speaking of Satan and the evil spirits, which cannot die, but will be held in bondage forever. So we can see how men could be confused into thinking the wicked men will go where the devil and his angels go, but not so according to the Word of God. All those judged whose name is not written in the Lamb’s book of Life will have their part in the Lake of Fire, which is the second death. The heathen was created for destruction, not everlasting torments. Pv 10:29, Isa 1:28.
If we rightly divide the Word of God, we understand that the wages of sin is death, and Jesus paid that debt for sin completely when He died. He remained in the tomb 3 days and nights and did not ascend to heaven until after the resurrection. No one else has ever ascended to heaven but the Son of Man. The rest of the dead lived not again until the second resurrection, when all the dead will be raised from the grave (hell) to be judged. After such judgment, those not found written in the Lambs book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire, the second Death, for destruction. Paul taught that the dead in Christ are asleep and will rise to meet Him in the air at the last trumpet of God. Paul made one statement, “absent in the flesh and present with the Lord”, not to say that he, Paul, is not in the grave awaiting the resurrection of those in Christ. Paul is asleep in the grave but he has no knowledge of the passing of time (for the dead know nothing). Paul closes his eyes in death and awakes in the presence of the Lord, at the first resurrection. (a 2000 year period between).
What about the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, told to us by Jesus?
We must ask ourselves what was the purpose of this parable?
Was it to teach us about salvation? What did the rich man do to be lost and what did Lazarus do to be saved? Nothing, but the Jews, who were being spoken to, thought riches spoke of being righteousness, and poverty spoke of being cursed. Jesus contradicted that with this parable.
Is it possible that the dead speak back and forth between the saved and lost? Can the lost see the saved? Can the Bible contradict itself? The Bible says the dead know nothing.
The plea was for Lazarus to be raised from the dead and sent back as a sign to the Jews. Lazarus was indeed raised from the dead, and they did not believe, but only plotted to kill both Lazarus and Jesus after the resurrection of Lazarus.
The purpose of this parable was to teach of the resurrection from the dead, as a sign. Both Jesus and Lazarus were resurrected from the dead and still the Jews did not believe. The purpose of this parable was not to teach instructions for salvation, or the result of being lost.
Jude 1:7
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
2 Pet 2:6
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
(KJV)
(KJV)
And example of what is going to happen to the ungodly, they will be burned to ashes.
Isn’t it amazing that when we read the Word, we see what we want to see?
Are Sodom and Gomorrha still burning, even now with that eternal fire? No, they suffered the vengeance of eternal fire and were burned to ashes, as an example of what will happen to the ungodly and those without Life in them.
Fear has torment, and He did not give us a spirit of fear, but of peace love and a sound mind. The Truth sets us free. So when we know the real truth about a place called “Hell” (the grave) we are set free from torment. Be blessed.
Billy Wells
Billy20772@gmail.com
Let’s begin by laying out the facts.
There is no mention or teaching in the entire Old Testament of a place where the dead go that involves eternal punishment of suffering and burning. The Hebrew word “Sheol” is translated in the KJV 31 times as “grave”, 32 times as “hell”, 3 times “a pit”, but never as eternal punishment of suffering and torment for the lost. All the dead go to a place called Sheol, the “grave” after death. The ancient Israelite did not teach about a place of eternal torment. So we can see “hell” in the Old Testament is equal to the grave.
7585 she'owl (sheh-ole');
or sheol (sheh-ole'); from 7592; Hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates:
KJV-- grave, hell, pit.
In order to believe in a place of eternal torments, where the dead go and are never rescued, one must believe in the “immortality” of the soul. The Bible is quite plain on who alone has “immortality”. Only Jesus has immortality, He is the Life and Resurrection. He that has the Son has Life and he that has not the Son has not Life.
1 Tim 6:14-16
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
(KJV)
If we believe that the unsaved dead are immediately sent to “eternal torments to be punished” then we must believe that they have been sentenced to punishment before they have been judged. The White Throne Judgment is after the 1,000 years reign of Jesus on the Earth, when all the dead are judged. As a result of that belief then, we have the wicked in “hell” in torments waiting for the Judgment day when they will be taken out of hell to be judged and then cast back into hell and torments. Why? If they are already in torments, then why not leave them there? Because all the dead are in the grave asleep awaiting the resurrection.
If we believe that the unsaved dead will burn forever in a “hell” of eternal torment, then we must believe that the consequence of sin is eternal suffering, tormenting fire forever and ever time without end. If the consequence of sin is eternal suffering time without end, then Jesus did not pay “sin’s debt” when He died on the cross, because He only died, and did not spend eternity in a burning hell to pay for sin. But if we look at the Word, the Bible says the wages of sin is “death”. In light of that, we see Jesus did pay the sin debt in full. Result is that burning and suffering forever is not required of the soul that sins, but only death. "The soul that sins, it shall die. "
The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is Eternal life. The Word does not say the wages of sin is eternal punishment of torments time without end. Jesus paid the sin debt, so that we can inherit eternal life. If the soul is immortal, as some teach, why do we need eternal life, if everyone already has eternal life (immortality of the soul)?
The Word declares the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is Eternal Life. Nothing here mentions eternal torments. The Lord told Israel that He set before them life and death, choose life that they may live. There are only 2 choices here, life or death, and no mention of eternal torments.
Some teach that the dead, immediately upon death, go to one of two places, either heaven or hell. Yet the Word declares that no one has ascended to heaven but the Son of Man. John 3:13. Where was Lazarus when he was dead in the tomb? Did Jesus call him forth from heaven or paradise, to come again to this wicked world? Or did he raise him from sleep, like He said, “Lazarus sleeps”? When Jesus was in the tomb for 3 days and 3 nights, did He ascend to heaven? Or was He asleep in the tomb for the 3 days and nights? After His resurrection He told Mary, “Don’t touch me for I have not yet ascended.” So during the 3 days in the tomb He did not ascend. John 20:17
The Bible teaches that when men die, they sleep in the grave, tomb until the resurrection. There are to be 2 resurrections, the first and the last. Why would there be a resurrection if we were already alive somewhere else? The Bible says the rest of the dead “lived not” again until after the 1,000 years were finished. So the Bible says the dead are not alive, but asleep.
Paul never taught about an eternal torment, or place of suffering called “hell”. And Paul declared that he spoke the whole council of God. How could Paul leave out something so important as a place called hell where the ungodly would suffer forever and ever time without end?
The Lord God taught me to forgive my enemies, and yet will He burn his forever and ever time without end in place called hell. Or did we misunderstand hell (the grave) with eternal torments?
The word “hell” in the New Testament is derived from 3 Greek words: Hades, Gehenna, Tartaros. “Hades” is the Greek equal to “Sheol” of the Old Testament used 10 times in the New Testament, and is the grave. “Gehenna” is used 12 times in the New Testament, it was the equivalent of a dumpsite where garbage and dead animals were thrown, whose fire never went out and the worm never died, though the destruction of the trash and animals was complete, there was always enough new garbage to keep things going. And finally, only one time in the whole Bible the word “Tartaros” which means to hold captive or incarcerate, and is only used once in the Bible speaking of Satan and the evil spirits, which cannot die, but will be held in bondage forever. So we can see how men could be confused into thinking the wicked men will go where the devil and his angels go, but not so according to the Word of God. All those judged whose name is not written in the Lamb’s book of Life will have their part in the Lake of Fire, which is the second death. The heathen was created for destruction, not everlasting torments. Pv 10:29, Isa 1:28.
If we rightly divide the Word of God, we understand that the wages of sin is death, and Jesus paid that debt for sin completely when He died. He remained in the tomb 3 days and nights and did not ascend to heaven until after the resurrection. No one else has ever ascended to heaven but the Son of Man. The rest of the dead lived not again until the second resurrection, when all the dead will be raised from the grave (hell) to be judged. After such judgment, those not found written in the Lambs book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire, the second Death, for destruction. Paul taught that the dead in Christ are asleep and will rise to meet Him in the air at the last trumpet of God. Paul made one statement, “absent in the flesh and present with the Lord”, not to say that he, Paul, is not in the grave awaiting the resurrection of those in Christ. Paul is asleep in the grave but he has no knowledge of the passing of time (for the dead know nothing). Paul closes his eyes in death and awakes in the presence of the Lord, at the first resurrection. (a 2000 year period between).
What about the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, told to us by Jesus?
We must ask ourselves what was the purpose of this parable?
Was it to teach us about salvation? What did the rich man do to be lost and what did Lazarus do to be saved? Nothing, but the Jews, who were being spoken to, thought riches spoke of being righteousness, and poverty spoke of being cursed. Jesus contradicted that with this parable.
Is it possible that the dead speak back and forth between the saved and lost? Can the lost see the saved? Can the Bible contradict itself? The Bible says the dead know nothing.
The plea was for Lazarus to be raised from the dead and sent back as a sign to the Jews. Lazarus was indeed raised from the dead, and they did not believe, but only plotted to kill both Lazarus and Jesus after the resurrection of Lazarus.
The purpose of this parable was to teach of the resurrection from the dead, as a sign. Both Jesus and Lazarus were resurrected from the dead and still the Jews did not believe. The purpose of this parable was not to teach instructions for salvation, or the result of being lost.
Jude 1:7
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
2 Pet 2:6
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
(KJV)
(KJV)
And example of what is going to happen to the ungodly, they will be burned to ashes.
Isn’t it amazing that when we read the Word, we see what we want to see?
Are Sodom and Gomorrha still burning, even now with that eternal fire? No, they suffered the vengeance of eternal fire and were burned to ashes, as an example of what will happen to the ungodly and those without Life in them.
Fear has torment, and He did not give us a spirit of fear, but of peace love and a sound mind. The Truth sets us free. So when we know the real truth about a place called “Hell” (the grave) we are set free from torment. Be blessed.
Billy Wells
Billy20772@gmail.com
