Posted on 10/17/2006 7:04:21 PM PDT by tang-soo
Three words from the Greek are translated "Hell" in the New Testament. The first of these is Hades and the translation simply means the grave. You'll find Hades in Matthew 11:23 & 16:18; Luke 10:15 & 16:23; Acts 2:27 & 2:31; Revelation 1:18, 6:8, 20:13 & 20:14. All these verse are speaking of the grave....or a tomb (death).
The second of these words means "Gehenna" or simply, the valley of Hinnom. This valley outside Jerusalem was a local garbage dump but earlier in Israel's history had been used to sacrifice children into the ever burning flames to appease the God Molech [Jeremiah 32:35]. As a garbage dump, the fires continually burned....even during the first century. You'll find Gehenna in Matthew 5:22, 5:29-30, 10:28, 18:9, 23:15 & 23:33. Mark 9:43, 9:45 & 9:47. Luke 12:5 & James 3:6. This place was a final resting area for deceased, common criminals and local human debris....not a nebulous, spiritual place where tortured, immortal souls were sent.
The third word translated "Hell" in scripture is Tartarus meaning a place where God has restrained sinning Angels until the day of judgment. The only place you'll find this used is in 2 Peter 2:4....but it is alluded to also in 1 Peter 3:19.
None of these scriptures speak of that, but Ephesians 4:8 has been mistranslated to try and show that to be the case. Let's take a look at what the Greek says and maybe we can figure it out. Ephesians 4:8.
Here is a good study on the subject: leading captive captivity.
The book of first Timothy was written after the book of Ephesians and the Apostle is calling Our Saviour the only one with immortality here. If he had taken up Old testament folks with him to heaven at that time Paul would never had made that statement in I Timothy about him being the only immortal.
Leading captive....captivity, is Paul's way of saying Our Saviour had conquered death!
Hey friend, just asking, is hades hell or not?
Revelation 20:13-15 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
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13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
John is speaking of the grave....and death in these verses. Everytime you see the word Hades.....substitute grave. Strong's #86.
My version of Christianity is based upon my personal experience of being born again and baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.
NOWHERE in the Bible does it even remotely suggest we're going to "spend eternity as naked spirits". I don't know where you got that from but it's not in the Bible.
And .. Paul was talking spiritually .. Jesus taught us to "put on the whole armour of God wherewith we might quench the firey darts of the enemy". To be "naked" spiritually is to be without protection. It has nothing to do with clothing.
I wish people would realize that studying the Bible is a SPIRITUAL undertaking. You have to be connected by rebirth to the author of the book in order to understand it.
Using scripture to explain scripture, I look to these verses:
Mat 27:52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; Mat 27:53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
Joh 11:11 This He said, and after that He *said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep." Joh 11:12 The disciples then said to Him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." Joh 11:13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. Joh 11:14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, Joh 11:15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him."
I can see how some folks see these verses pointing out an end to death, but the Holy Spirit NT authors don't seem to see this shift:
Heb 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
It looks to me that we all die once. The second death - the permanent one - is the one that Jesus frees us from.
Yup! The second one is the lake of fire.....and death and the grave will also be thrown into it.
I understand it know, thanks!!
Mormons would say something very similar.
NOWHERE in the Bible does it even remotely suggest we're going to "spend eternity as naked spirits".
Precisely.
I don't know where you got that from but it's not in the Bible.
It's what you've been advocating. I'm the one arguing against it, in case you lost track.
And .. Paul was talking spiritually .. Jesus taught us to "put on the whole armour of God wherewith we might quench the firey darts of the enemy". To be "naked" spiritually is to be without protection. It has nothing to do with clothing.
That was Paul who said that, and not in the context of being further clothed. The spiritual armor is discussed in Ephesians. I was alluding to a passage in 2 Corinthians.
"It's what you've been advocating"
Well .. I have reread what "I" wrote - and I have no idea what you're referring to that I was "advocating".
And .. if you're using another scripture - then why don't you quote it - I haven't memorized the whole Bible - but I have a Bible program on my computer so I can look things up. And .. since Paul wrote letters to all the churches - surely there was similar writing in the letters - even though the main focus of the letter might have been about another subject. The church at Ephesus' letter may have contained similar writings as the letter to the church at Corinth.
We don't have to be adversaries in order to discuss things we see differently. I don't have a problem with discussing what other religions believe. It doesn't change what I believe.
I have one thing against Mormons - they falsely teach that they are the "one true church". And .. that statement is not what the Bible says. Jesus told his followers that "the church" was made up of those who believe in Jesus. So, everyone who believes in Jesus, no matter what church they attend, is part of "the church".
Different religions teach a lot of different things. Some of them are off the wall - and have no relationship to Christianity. But Christians all believe Jesus is the Savior, who died for our sins, who was raised from the dead, and who prepares a place for us to always be with Him.
If you can't discuss what you believe without attacking me .. then you're not very secure in what you believe.
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