Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - HELL

HELL

It is generally accepted that most people believe in a heaven and that most also hope to go there after death. But fewer appear to believe also that there is a hell awaiting those who do not make the proper arrangements for heaven. And in the Bible, the prophets and Christ  apparently speak more about hell than about heaven.

There are three words translated as hell in the Bible. The greek words:

Gehenna: the place of punishment 

Matthew 5:22,29; 10:28 and James 3:6 (YLT)

Hades: the abode of the dead

Matthew 11:23, 16:18, Luke 16:23, Acts 2:27

Sheol: a Hebrew word meaning the grave

Psalm 16:10, 18:5

Scripture does not describe a situation in which a person ceases to be aware or to have a conscious existence. If there is no awareness after our death, then what Jesus stated about punishment makes no sense when He referred that it would be better to live life handicapped than:

 

to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-

where [the] worm does not die, 

And the fire is not quenched. 

(Mark 9:43-44)

And the Bible refers to the fate of those unsaved with the following words and statements.

…many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,

Some to everlasting life,

Some to shame and everlasting contempt. 

(Daniel 12:2)

…He will answer them saying,

‘Assuredly, I say to you, 

inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, 

you did not do it to Me.’

And these will go away into everlasting punishment, 

but the righteous into eternal life. 

(Matthew 25:45-46) 

[T]he master of that [evil] servant 

will come on a day when he is not looking for him 

and at an hour that he is not aware of, 

and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. 

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(Matthew 24:50-51)

His winnowing fan is in His hand, 

and He will…gather the wheat into His barn; 

but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.

(Luke 3:17)  

…the righteous judgement of God, 

who “will render to each according to his deeds”: 

eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good 

seek for glory, honour and immortality; 

but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, 

but obey unrighteousness—

indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish…

(Romans 2:5-9)

…those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

These shall be punished with everlasting destruction 

from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power… 

(2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)

…the Lord, having saved the people out of Egypt, 

afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 

And the angels who did not keep their proper domain…

He has reserved in everlasting chains…for the judgement of the great day; 

As Sodom and Gemorrah… 

having given themselves over to sexual immorality 

and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, 

suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 

But these speak evil of whatever they do not know. 

These are spots in your love feasts…

wandering stars for whims reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 

(Jude 1:5-7; 10-13) 

…If anyone worships the beast and his image…

he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God…

He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone…

and the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; 

and they have no rest day or night. 

(Revelation 14:9-11)

A lot has been said regarding those who do not believe and accept the gospel. It certainly should be enough to give one something to think about.

Adapted from The Evidence Bible, p.g. 1659