Awhile ago, I looked at what the Bible says about Heaven.
The other day, a friend challenged me to tell them what the Bible says about Hell and the other names that seem to refer to the same place.
Here’s my attempt.
Tartarus: only (1) ref in KJV : deepest abyss of Hades; eternal torment
Abyss/bottomless pit (9)
Hades, (10) “unseen” place or state of departed souls
Gehenna (12) valley of Jerusalem, figuratively place or state of everlasting punishment
Sheol, (65) world of the dead (as if subterranean retreat) and accessories and inmates: grave
In 2 Gospels, it states Capernaum will descend to Hades.
Gates of Hades will not overpower the Lord’s Church. (interesting side note there was a cave in Caesarea Philippi where the Greco-Roman gods were worshipped/sacrificed to. It was here where Jesus told His disciples that the Gates of Hell would not prevail against the Church.)
David spoke of Christ’s soul not being abandoned to Hades, nor decaying.
The Living One has the keys of death and of Hades.
Death and Hades were given authority to kill ¼ of the population.
Death and Hades give up the dead in them and they’re thrown into the Lake of Fire which is the 2nd death.
Jacob said he’d go down to Sheol in mourning.
Korah and those who rebelled with him descended alive into Sheol.
God’s anger fire burns to the lowest part of Sheol.
The Lord kills and makes alive, brings down to Sheol and raises up.
Cords of Sheol can surround people.
David told Solomon not to let Shimei go to Sheol in peace.
Sheol is deep. Those who go there do not return. Some make their bed/home there in darkness.
Sheol consumes those who have sinned. No one praises God there! The wicked “return” there… (interesting…)
God brought David’s soul up from Sheol, kept him alive that he wouldn’t go down to the pit.
The wicked in Sheol are put to shame.
God bought back souls from the power of Sheol.
“my soul has had enough troubles and my life has drawn near to Sheol.” Psalm 88:3 (Reading this Psalm made me think Heman the Ezrahite must have had a very rough time of it!)
Man cannot redeem his own soul from the power of Sheol.
It is a terrifying place but God (being omnipresent) is there too! Of course there is nowhere He is not (apart from in the thoughts of the wicked.)
Fools go there- it is open before the Lord, it is down/below.
The disciplining of children, if they take heed, can rescue their souls from Sheol.
It is never full or satisfied. It has a large appetite.
In Sheol there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
Jealousy is as severe as Sheol.
It is enlarged and excited to receive Lucifer whose pomp and music has been brought down to Sheol and Lucifer himself will be thrust down there.
Though people think they can make a pact with it, it is deception- it would not stand.
It has gates. It cannot thank God.
It has power and sting.
Hell is fiery; bodies and souls are thrown there; people are sentenced there and God has authority to cast there.
The tongue is set on fire by hell.
God casts the sinning angels there.
The fire is not quenched and the worm doesn’t die.
Demons implored the Lord not to command them to go to the abyss.
An angel was given the keys to the bottomless pit.
Abaddon/Apollyon is the “angel” as king over the pit.
The beast comes up out of it, and Satan is thrown into it.
The devil, beast and false prophet are tormented in the Lake of fire and brimstone day and night forever and ever.
Eternal fire was prepared for the devil and his angels.
It will be a dreadful place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. We all deserve Hell but Thank You Heavenly Father for providing the way of escape!!!
