Eternal Torment

WHAT’S YOUR VIEW OF HELL?

Who? Is it for the really bad? Un-evangelized?
What? Are the fires literal or figurative?
Where? Is it in another realm or in the earth?
When? Do people go to hell now or later?
Why? What is God’s purpose in creating hell?

3 VIEWS OF ‘HELL’
1. Eternal Judgment
2. Conditional Mortality
3. Universal Reconciliation

‘HELL’ IN THE OLD TESTAMENT?

Sheol (65 times in OT)
Num. 16:30, 1 Kings 2:6, Job 14:13, Psalm 9:17
Psalm 139:8, Ecc. 9:10, Isaiah 14:9-11
Means ‘the grave’ or ‘underground’ or ‘death’
Never used as a place of torment
Conveyed as a place of limited or no activity

‘HELL’ IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?

Hades (11 times in NT)
Matt 11:23, Luke 16:23, Acts 2:27, 31
1 Cor. 15:55, Rev. 20:13-14
Greek translation of the Hebrew word ‘Sheol’
Uniquely described in Luke 16 as a place of torment
Distinguished from the Lake of Fire in Revelation 20

Tartarus (1 time in NT)
2 Peter 2:4
Place of suffering in Greek mythology
Place of punishment for angels in NT

Gehenna (12 times in NT)
Matt 5:29-30, Matt 10:28,
Parallel to O.T. Valley of Hinnom
Garbage heap of Jerusalem (literal)
Valley of Slaughter (symbolic)

Other References:
Eternal fire: Matt 3:12
Weeping & Gnashing: Matt 8:12
Everlasting Destruction: 2 Thes. 1:9
Torment w/o rest Rev. 14:9-11

The Lake of Fire (6 times in NT)
Revelation 19:20, 20:10, 20:14-15, 21:8
Place of eternal torment for Beast, False Prophet & Satan
Final destination for death and the grave
Final destination for wicked (those not in Book of Life)