What is Hell?

[SteelDisciple]

Is Hell different than it was in the OT? What does the Bible say it is like now? When Jesus comes back?

I remember a story in the bible of two men in hell talking across a vast chasm. One was in firey torment, the other wasn't. Does this mean there are multiple levels of hell based on the persons sins?

If not..and there is only one hell..a firey one...why does it seem to show that there is not always firey torment in hell? If it is always firey torment...why would a God of love create a place of absolute torment? Isn't being eternally seperated from God enough?

thank you!

[calidog]

Is Hell different than it was in the OT? What does the Bible say it is like now? When Jesus comes back?

I remember a story in the bible of two men in hell talking across a vast chasm. One was in firey torment, the other wasn't. Does this mean there are multiple levels of hell based on the persons sins?

If not..and there is only one hell..a firey one...why does it seem to show that there is not always firey torment in hell? If it is always firey torment...why would a God of love create a place of absolute torment? Isn't being eternally seperated from God enough?

thank you!
there is only one hell throughout scripture. At the end, Hell will be thrown into the lake of fire. I would agree that being eternally separated from God would be punishment enough for not accepting Christ, but who am I?

[knownbeforetime]

Before Christ, Old Testament Saints went down to Paradise. Paradise and Hades were in the same place seperated by a vast gulf.


When Jesus died on the cross, he went down into Paradise and ministered there to people like Moses and Abraham and all their family.


When Jesus died, it is said that Old Testament Prophets came to life. Matthew 27:52 and 53 - "The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people."


Today, Paradise is empty because believers go straight to Heaven. All that's left is Hades which holds all unbelievers since the beginning of time. Some day, yet future, death and Hades will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. That's in Revelation 20.

This analogy might help. Hades is like the county jail. You stay there without bond until your case goes before the judge. When you're judged guilty, you go to prison which is the Lake of Fire.

[tapero]

I remember a story in the bible of two men in hell talking across a vast chasm. One was in firey torment, the other wasn't. Does this mean there are multiple levels of hell based on the persons sins?


You are thinking about the story about the rich man and Lazarus. Lazarus had died and was in heaven with Abraham. The rich man is in hell.

Here is the story:

Luke 16:19-31

19"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In hell,[c (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=49&chapter=16&version=31#fen-NIV-25636c)] where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
25"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
27"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
29"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'
30" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 31"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "

why would a God of love create a place of absolute torment? Isn't being eternally seperated from God enough?

The bible doesn't answer this question to my knowledge, but we know that God is fair and just and just have to trust that what He does is always right.

Tapero.

[brotherChristian]

There are many reasons to believe that hell is a place of eternal punishing, particularly: burning fire and a gnashing of teeth. There is also reason to believe that when hell is cast into the lake of fire there will be an eternal punishment, particularly: those who reject their salvation will cease to exist as though they never had been born (ergo not eternally suffering). But all the debate there could ever be about what Heaven or hell is like doesn’t amount to much when you consider that these are descriptions of how we would experience things with our earthly bodies and their methods of sensory input. Not a one of us can really know what it will be like, and imagining it via our limited perceptions and experience is an exercise in futility. Two things you can know for sure: God is to be trusted and hell is a place to be avoided.

[CrazyforYeshua]

Before Christ, Old Testament Saints went down to Paradise. Paradise and Hades were in the same place seperated by a vast gulf.


When Jesus died on the cross, he went down into Paradise and ministered there to people like Moses and Abraham and all their family.


When Jesus died, it is said that Old Testament Prophets came to life. Matthew 27:52 and 53 - "The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people."


Today, Paradise is empty because believers go straight to Heaven. All that's left is Hades which holds all unbelievers since the beginning of time. Some day, yet future, death and Hades will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. That's in Revelation 20.

This analogy might help. Hades is like the county jail. You stay there without bond until your case goes before the judge. When you're judged guilty, you go to prison which is the Lake of Fire.


:thumbsup: :amen: This is exactly right!

[knownbeforetime]

:thumbsup: :amen: This is exactly right!Thanks!!!! :kiss: *cough*reps*cough* Sorry... :help:

[Cinra]

Before Christ, Old Testament Saints went down to Paradise. Paradise and Hades were in the same place seperated by a vast gulf.


When Jesus died on the cross, he went down into Paradise and ministered there to people like Moses and Abraham and all their family.


When Jesus died, it is said that Old Testament Prophets came to life. Matthew 27:52 and 53 - "The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people."


Today, Paradise is empty because believers go straight to Heaven. All that's left is Hades which holds all unbelievers since the beginning of time. Some day, yet future, death and Hades will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. That's in Revelation 20.

This analogy might help. Hades is like the county jail. You stay there without bond until your case goes before the judge. When you're judged guilty, you go to prison which is the Lake of Fire.

I was the one who originally wanted to know but for some reason my account couldn't post messages.

So, if Hades still exists and the bad go there...does that mean Jesus can still minister to them and they have a chance of being redeemed before final judgement and the lake of fire?

[RichardT]

I believe in 1 God in 3 persons ... The Father , The son , The Holy Spirit..

I believe that God is infinitely Righteous , Infinitely Just , Infinitly Loving...

Which is why if you do not believe in the name of the Lord , you will not have eternal life...

Once again , I believe that God is infinitely Just and infinitely righteous , therefore , if you were to commit the smallest sin , you would deserve to be condemned forever in hell...

But God is also infinitely loving , so he gives us a way out , through the Man , Jesus Christ ( the physical God , ie: God in the Flesh) so that whoever believes in the son will have everlasting life , and whoever does not believe is already condemned...

This is my oppinion on hell...

[knownbeforetime]

I was the one who originally wanted to know but for some reason my account couldn't post messages.

So, if Hades still exists and the bad go there...does that mean Jesus can still minister to them and they have a chance of being redeemed before final judgement and the lake of fire?No, the old testament saints were 'saved' but they didn't have the blood of Jesus to get them into heaven. So, a section of Hades was set apart until they could be officially redeemed.

However, Jesus never went to the other side (the bad side) of Hades. Those people didn't believe while they were alive and now they have no second chance.

[CrazyforYeshua]

Thanks!!!! :kiss: *cough*reps*cough* Sorry... :help:


Awww, do you have a cold??? :P

[knownbeforetime]

*cough*reps*cough*

Sorry... My pride is getting in the way of things...:sorry:

BTW, I do have a cold...

[SteelDisciple]

No, the old testament saints were 'saved' but they didn't have the blood of Jesus to get them into heaven. So, a section of Hades was set apart until they could be officially redeemed.

However, Jesus never went to the other side (the bad side) of Hades. Those people didn't believe while they were alive and now they have no second chance.


You've been providing GREAT info. :) Thanks a lot...would you by chance (or anyone) be able to provide scriptural evidence for Hades...and paradise being empty, etc..?

thanks again!

[Advent Christian]

Hello all: :wave: There are vast interpretations on the description of hell. In my humble opinion the Word of God establishes Hell as a place of torment for the souls of those which do not believe. The catch is not in what hell is but how it applies. In my understanding hell is the location the soul of unbelievers go to when they leave their earthly body until the final judgment. At that time, after standing before God and being justly judged, they will be cast into the lake of fire which is the second death. I believe all sin will be destroyed prior to the new Heaven and Earth.
As always my love to all and May God Bless. :prayer:

[prophecystudent]

I was the one who originally wanted to know but for some reason my account couldn't post messages.

So, if Hades still exists and the bad go there...does that mean Jesus can still minister to them and they have a chance of being redeemed before final judgement and the lake of fire?

By their presence in Hades they have already been condemned. The bible is clear about second chances and the eternal fate of unbelievers. Read Revelation. It leaves no question as to the fate of unbelievers. AIR, the words are, "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever!".

The residents of Hades go into the eternal lake of fire with all the other unbelievers. No more chances. They had lots and lots of chances and refused them all.

Fred

[Evangelica]

This is just kind of a warped guess, but to me hell is the learning that we go thro on this earth and if we`er blessed we will be wisked away and this hellish earth will go up like a torch. Forever and ever.
Ok I needed 1 more post to go on the big team. Sorry! :wave: