Hell

My brothers and sisters, I'd like you to open your Bibles with me this morning. But before I tell you where to turn, I want to let you know what I want to talk to you about today. It's a topic, my friends, that ought to evoke certain emotions in you. It's a topic that ought to send a literal chill up and down your spine when you really grasp the implications of it. ******* This topic I want to talk to you about ought to cause a terrible dread to come over your spirit as we consider it. *******

I want to talk to you about hell this morning, beloved. Hell. It's interesting that the Lord laid it on my heart to speak concerning it and then a couple of weeks ago I saw the Evangel (Assemblies of God Magazine) had it highlighted. I thought, "Confirmation. God wants me to preach on it." And here we are today. We're talking about hell. *******

And I read about how one Dr. Carl F. H. Henry had a heckler keep shouting at him in one of his last street meetings. This heckler was saying, "'Where did Cain get his wife?'" (It's a question sometimes posed by unbelievers.) Well, Dr. Henry said, "When I coul[dn't] ignore the disturber [any] longer, I replied [to him], 'When I get to heaven, I'll ask him! 'Suppose [Cain] isn't in heave[n?,' the heckler parried. [Dr. Henry] retorted, 'Then you can ask him!'" (Tan #2225). *******

And something else I read about how on an American troopship, the soldiers crowded around their chaplain [and they asked him], "Do you believe in hell?" "I do no[t," was the chaplain's reply]. "Well, the[n," said the soldiers, "W]ill you please resign, for if there is no hell, we do not need you, and if there is a hell, we do not wish to be led astray" (Tan #2221). *******

My friends, you can rest assured this morning. You have a pastor before you who believes in hell. It's a literal place. Hell, indeed, does exist. And I'm going to tell you about some of it's intricacies in just a moment today.

But first, I think it important that I make some distinctions as regards the biblical term, "hell." Actually, it's the English translation used in the Bible. "Hell" is the English translation. And here are some other words we need to look at that are attached to it.

If you could please turn with me to the Old Testament book of Dueteronomy and chapter 32 and we'll look at the first one. I want to look at the biblical term, "hell," in Dueteronomy 32. ******* I want to read v. 22 of Dueteronomy 32. ******* And unless you have the King James Version, you won't read "hell" in this verse in Dueteronomy. But you will read the Hebrew term for it. There's only one. Let me just read it to you in the King James. Dueteronomy 32:22 says--notice...

For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell (there's the term there)--and shall burn unto the lowest hell, (and the verse concludes) and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains (Duet. 32:22; KJV).

My beloved brethren, this is the first place we find the term, "hell" used in the Bible--in Dueteronomy 32:22. Hell is used here to translate the Hebrew word, "sheol." You probably noticed, those of you that have a Bible version other than the King James, that your versions use "sheol" instead of hell if it's the New American Standard Bible or the Amplified or the Revised Standard. If it's the NIV, you'll find "death below" instead of "hell." And in the Living Bible, it translates it, "the depths of the underworld." (Pause)

But I want to focus on "sheol" here because, like I've already said, it's the Hebrew word that the English term "hell" is translating in Dueteronomy 32:22. And there are some thirty other places in the Old Testament, by the way, where "hell" is used for "sheol." The definition of "sheol": (listen) it's "the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat) (I thought that was an interesting way of defining "hell"!)--the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat) (sounds kind of like a vacationing spot--we all know that hell is nothing of the sort) (and the definition goes on) includ. its accessories and inmates--the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat) includ. its accessories and inmates" (Strong's #7585). This is the definition of "sheol" or "hell" in the Strong's Concordance as it shows up in the entire Old Testament. "[T]he world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat) includ. its accessories and inmates."

And I don't want to forget to say it. But this "hell" in the Old Testament is only a holding cell type of hell. It's only a holding cell. It's important to keep this in mind. "Sheol" is not the "ultimate hell." It is only, in the words of the Bible Dictionary, "[an] intermediate state of the wicked previous to the judgment and eternal state" of damnation (UBD 395) which comes later on. We'll be talking about what is the "ultimate hell" in just a few minutes this morning. We find it mentioned in the New Testament.

And that's where I want to turn your attention now--to the New Testament and it's definition of "hell." There are three Greek words that the English term "hell" is used to translate in the New Testament. The first one I want you to see in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 16 and v. 18. If you could please turn there. It is a most well-known verse of Scripture. ******* Do you have it yet, my friends--Matthew 16:18? Notice then, it says in the KJV--it's Jesus speaking...

Now if you happen to have a different version, "hell" probably reads "hades" in this verse. Anybody here have the New American Standard or New International Version of the Bible? If you do, "hell" reads as "hades" in Matthew 16:18, doesn't it?

And that's one of the Greek words "hell" (Strong's #86) is used to translate in the New Testament that I wanted you to see. "Hades." It is "the [New Testament] counterpart of [the Old Testament] Sheol (we just looked at), [hades is] the place where all of the dead dwell--all of the dead" according to the Zondervan Pictorial Bible Encyclopedia (Vol. 3; pg. 114). The Greek "hades" is translated "hell" a total of ten times in the New Testament. And "hades" like "sheol" is only a holding cell type of hell (UBD 395). It isn't, like I've already said about "sheol"--"hades" isn't "ultimate hell." "Sheol" isn't "ulitmate hell." And "hades" isn't "ultimate hell."

Now if you could please turn with me to 2 Peter 2 and v. 4. Hold your place in Matthew and turn to 2 Peter 2 and v. 4. ******* We're going to come back to Matthew in just a moment after we look at a second Greek word that "hell" is used to translate in the New Testament. ******* In 2 Peter 2 and v. 4, it says--notice...

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell (there it is again--this time in the NAS, NIV, KJV, RSV, Living and Amplified Bibles--they all have "hell")--For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell (and the verse concludes) and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment . . . (2 Pet. 2:4).

The Greek word used here as "hell" is "tartaroo"--"tartaroo" (Strong's #5020). It's only used once in the New Testament. It's defined as the "subterranean region, doleful and dark, regarded by the ancient Greeks as the abode of the wicked dead, where they suffer punishment for their evil deeds" (New Thayer's 615b).

But "tartaroo," also, is not "ultimate hell." We can surmise this by just reading the verse it's used in. According to 2 Peter 2:4--did you notice?--"tartaroo" is the "hell" where fallen angels are awaiting judgment day. It, too, is a holding cell. "Tartaroo," therefore, is not "ultimate hell."

"Ultimate hell," as I'm referring to it today, is described by another New Testament Greek word that I want to turn your attention to now. It's found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5 and v. 22. I had you hold your place in Matthew. Turn to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5 and v. 22. The last Greek word "hell" is used to translate in the New Testament is found in Matthew 5:22 and it is "ultimate hell." It happens also to be the first place in the New Testament where "hell" is used--Matthew 5:22. Notice now, my brothers and sisters, it reads--Matthew 5:22...

"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, ' Raca,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say, ' You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell (there it is again--"hell")" (Mt. 5:22).

And, by the way, before I give you the definition of "gehenna"--it is the "hell" as it most often is understood and used in our language today by us--let me just say that Jesus spoke about hell a whole lot while He was alive. Have you noticed that when reading your Bible? Jesus spoke about hell a whole lot while He was alive. Listen--of the 11 times "gehenna" is used, Christ was the One who used it 10 of those 11 times. 10 out of 11. I'd say that's a whole lot of talking about hell by our Lord. And then of the 10 times "hades" is used--we looked at "hades" today--it was Jesus who used it half of those times. So 5 out of 10 when it came to "hades."

And certainly Christ didn't use "tartaroo." That was Peter in his epistle who used it. But of the other 21 times "hell" is used in the New Testament, my friends, it was Jesus who used it 15 of those 21 times. I'd say that's a whole lot of talking about hell. You see why we ought not to avoid the topic as some might have us do in our day? There isn't as much preaching about "hell" anymore as there used to be, I'd imagine. Anybody agree with that? *******

The definition of "gehenna" real quickly now. It is what I call, "ultimate hell." According to Unger's Bible Dictionary--the Greek "gehenna" actually refers to a place called the Valley of Hinnom. The Valley of Hinnom was "a deep, narrow glen to the south of Jerusalem, where the Jews [of old] offered their children to Moloch (II Kings 23:10; Jer. 7:31; 19:2-6)" (UBD 394) allowing them to literally "pass through or in the fire" as a way of honoring that false god (UBD 416). "In later times [the Valley of Hinnom] served as a receptacle of all sorts of putrefying matter (stuff that causes rot--Webster's 486), and all that defiled the holy city [was deposited in the Valley of Hinnom] (a literal garbage dump, this place!), and so [it] became the representative or image of the place of everlasting punishment, especially on account of its ever-burning fires" (UBD 416). The Valley of Hinnom. It's the place that the Greek word "gehenna" refers to. It's a picture in the physical realm of the "ultimate hell" that exists in the next.

And one final thing now about "gehenna." You may or may not have known this. But it "is identical in meaning (listen)--["gehenna"] is identical in meaning with [the book of Revelation's] 'lake of fire' (Rev. 19:20; 20:10, 14, 15)" (UBD 394). You've probably either read or studied about the lake of fire. Let me just read you some verses. Listen while I read. Revelation 19 and v. 20...

And the beast was seized (that's the Antichrist), and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone (Rev. 19:20).

And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire (remember I told you "hades" was only a holding cell type of "hell")--And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire (v. 14 of Revelation 20 reads). This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name (v. 15) was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14-15).

My brothers and sisters, I want to switch gears and speak to you regarding some of the intricacies of hell. I want to describe to you what hell is like a little bit more in depth Again, this is "gehenna," "ultimate hell" I'm focusing on here.

themselves going to end up in hell--some of our neighbors--some of our coworkers--some of our acquaintances--even some of our relatives--the grocery clerk, the postman, the UPS driver, the teller at the bank, the real estate broker. This fact ought to scare us that some of these are going to end up in hell that we know in this life right now. It ought to scare us and motivate us to do all we can do to stop it from ever happening.

If you could please turn with me to Matthew 8. ******** I'm speaking to you a little bit more in depth now about what hell is like. I want you to notice what Matthew 8 and v. 12 says. This verse says much about hell. ******* Notice now--those of you that have it--Mt. 8:12 reads--actually, let me begin by reading at v. 11...

"And I say to you, that many shall come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom (v. 12) shall be cast out into the outer darkness (you can underline "outer darkness" if you're into underlining)--but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Mt. 8:11-12). ("Sons of the kingdom"--Jesus is referring to some Jews here who will be excluded from heaven.) *******

And I remember how growing up that I'd be scared of places where there wasn't any light. I'd be scared of the dark at times. And now that I have kids, it's funny, they need the light on while they're trying to fall asleep.

And I never thought about this before until I put together this message. But could it be, partly, that innate sense in all of us manifesting itself--that God-endowed deep down consciousness that there indeed is a terrible "darkness" that exists beyond this life and each of us is afraid--we're repulsed by it? This could be partly why we're afraid of the dark while we're alive. Whatever the case, hell is a place of darkness, first of all, my friends. There is no light in hell.

That being said, let me remind you that both darkness and light are also used as figures of speech in Scripture. Darkness stands for all that's immoral, impure, degrading, and the like. While light stands for all that's righteous, pure, holy, and good, including things like hope, joy, happiness, peace, etc., etc. ******* And so this truth about hell being a place of darkness is all the more enlarged, I believe. There isn't only literal light missing in hell, I'm convinced. But there's moral light missing--moral light.

Which brings us to something else we learn about hell now from Matthew 8:12. I was thinking about that word, "outer," in the verse. Certainly, it's dark in hell, but's it's more than just darkness. It's "outer" darkness--"outer."

I can remember my dad would sometimes put me and my brother outside of the house when we got in trouble when I was growing up. And sometimes it would be at night when he'd do it. And it was cold some of those times that it happened. I didn't like it being out there alone without my coat. I didn't like being out of the house.

And I couldn't help but think about my experience back then in light of what we're considering now about hell. There are many things that could be said about being outside as I was. But the one thing I thought about was how I was separated from my dad, first of all, being outside like that. I was separated from my dad. And I was also separated from my family and separated from the warmth of home and separated from the feeling of safety from the night, etc.

This, my brothers and sisters, I believe, is part of the picture we have with "ultimate hell." It's dark there, sure. But's it's "outer" darkness where a person is separated from God the Father never to be united again. I got to come back into the house when I was growing up when discipline was over with. There was an end to it. But with "ultimate hell"--in "gehenna," there's never any coming back into the house. Hell is more than just darkness. That would be bad enough. On top of that, hell is "outer" darkness. A person is put "outside" to be left there forever. One can never come back into the house who ends up in hell.

Two more things we learn about hell now from Matthew 8:12 and then we're through this morning. These two things have to do with the people that'll be found in hell. Did you happen to notice the term, "weeping," and the phrase, "gnashing of teeth" in the verse? Let me just read that part of it again. The last part of Matthew 8:12 says...

This is speaking of the people in hell. First of all, they have all their faculties functioning including consciousness, I want you to notice. People are both awake and aware in hell. Luke 16:23-24--the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus--furthers this truth. If you could please flip over there real quickly. Hold Matthew 8 and flip over to Luke 16. ******* I want you to notice v. 23-24 of Luke 16. We're talking about consciousness in hell. People are both awake and aware there. Luke 16:23-24 reads...

"And in Hades (certainly this is only the holding cell type of "hell," but it still goes to making the point)--And in Hades [the rich man] lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame'" (Lk. 16:23-24).

And so we find that the rich man in Luke 16 was conscious in hell. He was able to respond to what was happening to him. And the same thing's being spoken about in Matthew 8 and v. 12, if you could please turn back there. The people in Matthew 8:12 have all their faculties and they're responding to their situation having been found in hell.

And what are they doing--the people in Matthew 8:12, my brothers and sisters? What are they doing? They're weeping, first of all. It's an expression of their conciousness in hell. Weeping is just another word for crying (AHD 1371). These people in hell in Matthew 8:12 are crying. It's because of the suffering they're having to endure as we've just read about the rich man who was in burning agony in hell. The people are crying in Matthew 8:12 because of the suffering they're having to endure in hell. Hell is a painful place beyond description. That's why people will be crying/weeping there.

according to Matthew 8:12. It speaks, my friends, of the state of the souls that'll exist in hell. The state of the souls. Listen--people in hell will remain in an eternal unrepentant state ("Matthew" by Ironside, pg. 91). People in hell will remain in an eternal unrepentant state. They will be indignant towards God and resentful as well.

It's interesting that the rich man in Luke 16 we just looked at, never once does he say he's sorry or ask for forgiveness. Have you ever noticed that in reading the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus? Go back and read it when you have time. Check it out. Never once does the rich man say he's sorry or ask for forgiveness. It's because he can't, beloved. It's impossible for him to do so. His soul exists in hell in an eternal unrepentant state.

People simply cannot go from unrepentance on this side--in this life--to repentance on the other side--in the next. If they're unwilling to accept Jesus while living, they'll remain forever unwilling to accept Him upon dying. Does that make sense? ******* This is what "gnashing of teeth" speaks about--the state of the souls that'll exist in hell. People in hell will remain in an eternal unrepentant state. God couldn't take them to heaven if He wanted to.