Is hell really a fiery pit packed with souls burning like pieces of bacon?
Is it a “torture chamber” God throws people in when they don’t make heaven?
Is it true the devil is down there right now?
If you go by what the Bible says, the answer to all of the above is a big, fat no.
Here’s why:
The word “hell” is translated from four different words — only one of which has to do with “fire.”
Let’s take a whack at each one of those words so you can see for yourself:
Strong’s Concordance #7585:
“sheol”, sheh-ole; from 7592; hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat); include. its accessories and inmates:–grave, hell, pit
This is the “hell” spoken of through the Old Testament and has nothing to do with fire or the devil spitting naughty souls on a pitch fork.
It’s always rendered either “grave”, “pit”, or “hell”. It’s not the same as “a grave” but “the grave”, as in a specific place.
The second word in the Bible rendered “hell” in the English is:
Strong’s Concordance #86:
“hades”, hah’-dace; from 1 (as a negative particle) and 1492; prop. unseen, i.e. “Hades” or the place (state) of departed souls:–grave, hell
If you look up the verses this word is used in your Strong’s Concordance, you’ll notice it’s always talking about a place of holding… and not a place of torment.
For example:
Luke Chapter 16:
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
On the surface it seems to say hades is a fiery pit of burning souls, doesn’t it?
But if you check that word “torment” out in the Greek it says:
Strong’s Concordance #3600:
Odunao, od-oo-nah’-o, from 3601; to grieve:–sorrow, torment
It’s talking about “sorrow” — emotional torment.
This is the fiery “grief” of not being with God on the other side of the “gulf” (Luke was a medical doctor, the world “gulf” is actually related to the word “wound”).
This is a spiritual place of holding, not torture and burning.
The 3rd word rendered “hell” in the Bible is:
Strong’s Concordance #1067:
“geenna”, gheh-en-nah; of Heb. or [1516 and 2011]; valley of (the son of) Hinnom; gehenna (or Ge-Hinnom); a valley of Jerus., used (fig.) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment:–hell
If you look at all the times this word is used you’ll notice that “gehenna” is always referred to as a place of punishment.
The valley of hinnom was a giant garbage pit outside of Jerusalem that was constantly burning garbage… and is a physical analogy describing the spiritual lake of fire mentioned in Revelation:
Revelation Chapter 20:
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.
(NOTE: The word “tormented” here is NOT the same as in Luke 16. This word is Strong’s Concordance #928 and does mean to vex with pain and torture, etc).
This is eternal torment. But eternal in the sense that the second death is eternal.
14 And death and hell [hades] were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
In this second death where the soul is destroyed forever.
Notice how “hades” (the word rendered “hell” in the English in Luke 16) is cast into the lake of fire, further documenting they are not the same place?
Many scholars believe verse 10 is a Greek figure of speech meaning the beast, false prophet and devil are utterly destroyed — “burned up” so to speak.
There are two other Biblical witnesses to this:
Matthew Chapter 10:
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell [gehenna].
This word “destroy” means:
Strong’s Concordance #622:
Apollumni, ap-ol-loo-mee; from 575 and the base of 3039; to destroy fully (reflex. To perish, or lose), lit. or fig.:–destroy, die, lose, mar, perish
It means to “fully destroy.”
And that’s exactly what happens to souls cast into the lake of fire/gehenna.
Here’s a second witness:
John Chapter 3:
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
This word “perish” is the exact same word rendered “destroy” in Matthew 10:28 “apollumni” (Strong’s Concordance #622) — to fully destroy for all eternity.
Ezekiel also confirms this is what will happen to the devil:
Ezekiel Chapter 28:
16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
This word “destroy” means the same as “perish” does in the Matthew chapter 10 and John chapter 3:
Strong’s Concordance #6:
abad, aw-bad; a prim. root; prop. to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by impl. to perish (cause. destroy):–break, destroy (-uction), + not escape, fall, lose (cause to, make) perish, spend, X and surely, take, be undone, X utterly, be void of, have no way to flee
And just to make sure there’s no mistaking this, check out verse 18:
18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
This word “devour” means:
Strong’s Concordance #398:
akal, aw-kal’; a prim. root; to eat (lit. or fig.):–X at all, burn up, consume, devour (-er, up), dine, eat (-er, up), feed (with), food, X freely, X in…wise (-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, X quite
Of course, “bring thee to ashes” also implies complete destruction.
Now, back to Revelation for one more important point about hades and gehenna (and why they are not the same):
Revelation Chapter 20:
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Notice how “hades” will give up its “occupants” (see Luke Chapter 16) and be cast into the lake of fire (gehenna), too.
Incidentally, this also proves there’s no burning lake of fire right now.
There eventually will be — but not until after the great judgement (see Revelation 20:15).
And since it does not yet exist, the devil is obviously not there right now.
Believe it or not, he’s in heaven:
Revelation Chapter 12:
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
The devil is not in hell… he’s busy accusing Christians day and night.
But, as it says, Michael’s about to kick him out real soon.
Finally, the fourth word rendered “hell” in the Bible concerns where the fallen angels are being held:
Strong’s Concordance #5020:
Tartaroo, tar-tar-o-o, from Tartaros (the deepest abyss of Hades); to incarcerate in eternal torment:–cast down to hell.
2 Peter Chapter 2:
4 For God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell [tartaroo], and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgement;
And there you have it.
We don’t have to worry about there being any suffering or torturous screams in hot vats of lava, because those souls who don’t overcome will simply be wiped out (“blotted” out — according to Psalms 69:28) of the book of life — probably (just my opinion) as if they never existed:
Revelation Chapter 21:
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
No more tears… no more pain… and no more death.
All that stuff will be gone — burned up and blotted out forever.
All that’ll be left are things so incredible and magnificent… our little flesh minds can’t even begin to imagine how awesome it’ll be:
1 Corinthians Chapter 2:
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Posted by Azriel 