Is Hell Real part 3?

The Greek word “geenna” translated hell, as we outlined before is used to be a place of punishment. This word has falsely been used to establish the notion of an ever-burning hell. Let us see how this word is used in scripture.

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels…And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." (Matthew 25:41, 46) "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." (Matthew 10:28)

In addition to these texts, others often quote "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire… And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell… And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." (Matthew 5:22, 29, 30)

As well as “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” (luke 9:47, 48) And “And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.”(Isaiah 66:24)

These passages of scripture, rather than prove the existence of “hell” each refer to the final destruction of the wicked or the “second death.” It is in this sense that “geenna” is used to show the separation that sin causes. Isaiah says “Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (Isaiah 59:1, 2)

Sin separates us from our loving heavenly Father. He is the fountain of living waters. Why oh why should anyone choose other than to submit, be forgiven and cleansed and be prepared by going “… on unto perfection [of character]; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” (1 Corinthians 6:1) for the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Christ.

Is Hell real? Part 2

Where is Hell? Do souls really burn forever?

The thought of"Hell" has made many a person a legalistic Christian. That is, they serve God from fear of punishment rather than an intelligent appreciation of His unfathomable love. Hell is said to be a place of torture for disembodied souls. Let us candidly examine this claim by the word of God.

What causes death? The bible makes it clear that "For the wages of sin is death; …" (Romans 6:23) and further "… when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1: 16). Again, "… as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12)

Our lord and Saviour has redeemed humanity by His infinite sacrifice on the cross of calvary giving our world a second chance at life. Scripture says "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." (John 1:4) "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." (John 3: 16)

It is clear that sin causes death and the "gift of God" is life. But what about the doctrine of hell? Does our all wise and everloving God burn His creatures who exercise their choice against Him. Is this the character of our God?

Let us examine the words for hell in the bible. "[Heb. she'ôl; [1]Gr. hadēs and geenna; the Greek verb tartaroō, "to cast (down) to hell," occurs once (2 Pe 2:4).] The word "hades' refers a place of death and the greek "geenna" refers to a place of punishment. Since our English word hell refers to a place of disembodied spirited being tormented in fire there is some confusion that occurs.

"Everlasting fire" and "eternal fire" are also used by some to establish the never-ending nature of the flames of hell. We have already seen that the words translated hell simply mean the grave and "geenna" is a place of punishment, let us look closer at the words translated 'everlasting" and "eternal" they are "olam "in the old testament and "anionios."

The scripture says "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, 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." (Jude 7) Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by "olam" or eternal fire but that fire turned"...the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;" (2Peter 2:6)

Moreover, the fire destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah rather quickly. "For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her."(Lamentations 4:6)  


In fact, the same eternal or everlasting fire will destroy the wicked, ""For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts."(Malachi 4:1-3.) "But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away." (Psalms 37:20)

The wicked will be as though they had never been. "For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been." (Obadiah 16) "Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord." (Psalm 104:35.)

The second death is the final destruction of unrepentant sinners. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."( Rev. 21:7,8)

The gift of God is eternal life and conversely sin when it is finished produces eternal death. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)


 Therefore, from our study the bible makes it clear that these words are used to describe the length of time that lasts as long as the subject lasts.

In our next study we will examine the use of "geenna."