The Horrors of Hell

“Behold scoffer … and perish … I am accomplishing a work in your days … you will never believe, though someone should describe it to you.” Habakkuk 1:5 / Acts 13:41

Definition of Terms:

Sheol: An O.T. Hebrew term. Signifying the place of the dead, the netherworld, abode of departed spirits of human beings. Hebrews Root means, “to make hollow or inquire of.” Hence, it is a receptacle for the dead or a place the living inquires of in occult practices. (1 Samuel 28:8–25)

A ____________________*4 place to which no one looked forward

1. “The terrors of Sheol came upon me”  (Psalm 116:3)
2. “Jealousy is as severe as Sheol”  (Song of Solomon 8:6),
3. A place that humbles and abases all men.  (Isaiah 5:14, 15, chapt. 14)
4. Holds people in state of death/separation from life on earth and heaven (2 Samuel 22:6; Job 7:8). No voice in Sheol is heard again on Earth (Psalm 31:17)
5. Sheol “swallows” those who die (Proverbs 1:12, 27:20 ; Isaiah 5:14)
6. A place of darkness , “Make my bed in darkness”  (Job 17:13)
7. “no activity, planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going…” (Eccleciastes 9:10)
8. “O Death, where is your thorns, O Sheol, where is your sting.” (Hosea 13:14)
9. Doorway to Sheol is the grave: “The worm feeds sweetly…” (Job 24:11)

Exists below Earth’s surface.

1. Job and Isaiah speak of Sheol synonymously with “the pit” whose obvious direction is down:





2. After Samuel’s death, he returns briefly via a medium to speak with King Saul. (1 Samuel 28)


3. Isaiah declares, “Sheol, from beneath is excited over you to meet you when you come … Have you been brought down to Sheol” (Isaiah 14:9, 11).


4. Jesus Christ following His crucifixion.



Has at least ___________________*5 chambers (Proverbs 7:27)


Tartarus: For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to ‘Tartarus’ (Hell—KJV), and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment… (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6)

1. Place of Torment   (Luke 16:23, Rich man)
2. Abraham’s bosom  (Luke 16:19–31, Lazarus)

5. God is in Sheol



Hades: New Testament _________*6 synonym for Hebrew word “Sheol”

1. Used four times in the Gospels—always by Jesus. (Matthew 11:23, 16:18; Luke 10:15, 16:23)
2. Used twice in Acts concerning Christ’s soul not left there. (Acts 2;27,31)
3. Used four times in Revelation

Personified riding an “ashen” horse. (Revelation 6:8)



Conclusion: Sheol / Hades is a temporary place of torment before the Lake of Fire.



Gehenna:Hebrew word translated directly into English with the word “Hell” or “Hell fire.”

1. Originally meant the “valley of Hinnom” S.W. of Jerusalem, where during the Monarchial period, children were sacrificed by fire to Moloch.  (2 Chronicles 28:3, 33:6)
2. Following generations desecrated it by making it the city dump for Jerusalem
3. Came to be used metaphorically during the intertestamental period as a designation for Hell or eternal damnation, not a geographic place as Sheol / Hades.
   
   
   1. Gehenna was composed of things spoiled, ruined & worthless, trash, sewage, fires, worms, unburied corpses, darkness, stench and decay.
      
4. It is the state of final punishment of the wicked as stated by Jesus Christ
   
   
   1. “Whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.” (Matthew 5:22)
   2. “Fear Him who is able to cast soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
   3. Better to lose body parts than go into “unquenchable fire” (Matthew 18:9, 5:29–30; Mark 9:43)
   4.  “How shall you escape the sentence of Hell?” (Matthew 23:33; Luke 12:5)
   5. “Throw them into the furnace of fire … Weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  (Matthew 13:42, 50)
   6. “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire…prepared for the devil…” (Matthew 25:41)
   7. “Eternal ‘aionios’ punishment … Eternal ‘aionios’ life” (Matthew 25:46)

6. Synonymous with the “Lake of Fire” (Revelation 19:20, 20:14)

False Doctrine of Universalism:
Universalism is the teaching that God, through the atonement of Jesus, will ultimately bring reconciliation between God and all people throughout history.  This reconciliation will occur regardless of whether they have trusted in or rejected Jesus as Savior during their lifetime. This universal redemption will be realized in the future, where God will bring all people to repentance. This repentance can happen while a person lives or after he has died and lived again in the millennium or some future state. Additionally, a few Universalists even maintain that Satan and all demons will likewise be reconciled to God.


The Bible speaks of a great number who are saved, but ‘relatively few in comparison’ to all that have ever lived.

Revelation 5:9	Thou didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
Matthew 7:13, 14	The gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few there be who find it.
Matthew 22:14	For many are called but few are chosen  ...
Luke 13:24	A few who are being saved? ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.’
Romans 9:27	Though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sands of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved
1 Peter 3:20	In the days of Noah, a few—eight persons—were brought safely through the water.
Revelation 17:14	Those who are with Him are the called, the chosen and faithful.

False Doctrine of Annihilation:
This false doctrine states that the unsaved do not suffer “everlasting destruction” but are annihilated and as a result cease to exist. This doctrine denies the eternal nature of the human soul and spirit which is made in the image and likeness of God. It, like Universalism, is wishful thinking of those who refuse the direct teachings of Jesus Christ and the Apostles.

The same word ‘everlasting’ (Greek: “aionios”) modifies both ‘life’ and ‘punishment’ (Matthew 25:46). Therefore to ascribe a different meaning to the same word is inconsistent with reason. The concept of annihilation of the human soul (ceasing to exist any longer) is not supported scripturally.

1. The texts (used by “Annihilationists) are based on the use of the Greek word “apollumi”. This word does not mean cessation of existence but: “ruin, lost, waste, ongoing destruction, penalty.” (Matthew 9:17, 10:28; 26:7,8; Luke 15:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:7)
2. Thayer (author of Thayer’s ‘Greek/English Lexicon) was himself a Unitarian, not believing in Jesus Christ, Heaven or Hell. So, with no religious bias, he clearly states as a matter of accurate Greek scholarship that the word ‘apollumi’ never means cessation of existence.

The clear texts of Revelation declare on-going, everlasting destruction of:

1. The Beast/Anti-Christ and the False Prophet (Revelation 17:8, 20:10)  
2. The Devil (Revelation 20:10)
3. The unbelievers and those who receive the mark of the Beast (Revelation 14:9–2)

The Scream

Edvard Munch was an artist of the 19th century caught for a moment in the horror of Hades that is taking place right beneath our feet. Few understand the horror and urgency of this reality.He explains his inspiration to paint the canvass with what has become a classic piece of art.




“I was walking along the road with two friends. The sun was setting. I felt a breath of melancholy. Suddenly, the sky turned blood-red. I stopped, and leaned against the railing, deathly tired; looking out across the flaming clouds that hung like blood and a sword. Over the blue-black ford and town. My friends walked on – I stood there, trembling with fear. And I sensed a great, infinite scream pass through nature.”
— Edvard Munch, Norway, 1893, “Expressionism” artist.

“I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord” (Ezekiel 18:32)
“God … Desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)
“Go into all the world and preach the Good News … He that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:15)


 
* Answers for Blank Spaces:
*1 Heaven
*2 Hell
*3 “When you don’t know something, you don’t know how much you don’t know.”
*4 Severe
*5 Three
*6 Greek