 |
 |
| Hell |
| Introduction The Word Hell Read Deut. 32:22 Read Matthew 16:18 Mark 9:43-49 Revelation 20:12-15 Conclusion |
| Many people shy away from discussion on the thought of eternal punishment. Many churches are uncomfortable with preaching on the subject and only teach on the subject of Heaven. Although this may be useful for reaching the lost, problems can arise. There are some who teach that what awaits the unsaved is only the grave and not eternal punishment. They claim that the saved will be resurrected to life and the unsaved will be destroyed. Therefore, it is import that the subject of Hell is taught so that people do know the truth. The origins of the word Hell can be directly traced back to Old English word "hel" and German word of "helan." In it's origin form, the word meant to "to cover or conceal" and it is from is we derive such modern words as hall, hole, hollow, and helmet. Later the word is associated as a place for the dead, the grave, and finally as a place of torment for the wicked after death. Depending on which Bible translation used, the original Hebrew word of "Sheol" will appear as "the realm of death", "hell", or "hades." In other verses, "Sheol" is translated as "grave" or "pit." Sheol is the an invisible world of the dead in which Daniel 12:2 tells us that those there were "sleeping" to be awoken either to everlasting life or everlasting contempt. In Old Testament times, all who died pass into the area of Sheol. The original Greek word of "Hades" is left in many modern translations, though some translations such as the King James use the word "hell" instead. "Sheol" in Hebrew and "Hades" in the Greek are the same place. Of great interest is Jesus teaching the story of "The Rich Man and Lazarus" (Luke 16:19-31). Most consider this to be a parable and a figurative description of what waits people. The parable did challenge the Jewish belief that someone of wealth must be righteous and someone of poverty must have sin in there life. Almost all Bible translations render the Greek word "Gehenna" as Hell. During the time of Jesus ministry, Gehenna was an area outside of Jerusalem used as a garbage dump. A fire continually burned there and even the bodies of criminals were placed on it. In these verses we see that those not entering in to Heaven would be discarded on a never ending fire. Any one who was not found in the Book of Life, is thrown into the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire corresponds directly with that of "Gehenna" in the verses listed above. In verse 10, we see that the devil is to be thrown into the Lake of Fire and will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Some question if an eternal punishment includes people or does this only apply to the devil and the fallen angels. The answer to this question is found in Jesus speaking in Matthew 25:46. It is clear that those who are not saved will go to "everlasting punishment." Many people today associate the word Hell as a place of torment and an everlasting punishment. This definition of Hell applies to the Lake of Fire and therefore, we must concluded that Hell is a real pace that the un-saved with go to. At the same time, we must remember that English is a living language and that words evolve over time. If we understand that the word Hell can mean a place concealed and a grave, then we will have a better understanding of what the word means when it is used in translations of the Old and New Testament. |
|
 |
|
