Is there a real everburning hell for sinners?
The Bible in its different translations uses the word "hell" in different ways, but many believe that it refers to a place of everburning torment reserved for sinners.
Catholic or Protestant teachings have their versions of hell set aside for mankind; but is that what the Bible really tells us about what happens to sinners after death?
In the Old Testament, "hell" is translated from the Hebrew word "sheol" which literally means grave. When the King James translation was written, "hell" was simply the word used for "in the ground"; e.g. "I'm going to store my potato crop in hell for the winter."
In the New Testament, three words are translated as "hell."
The first is "gehenna" noting the valley of Hinnom which was a garbage dump south of Jerusalem where refuse and the occasional dead criminal was disposed of.
The rubbish there didn't burn forever- it did burn up and was gone. (I will eventually write text for the lake of fire, but it's hard to do in one sitting because all these subjects are very interwoven)
The second is "hades" again meaning the grave.
The third is tartaroō, exclusively used to describe the punishment awaiting for fallen angels, now demons.
What's interesting is that the false doctrine of hell as the punishment for wicked humans is really the punishment reserved for the rebellious angels.
Created over 2 years ago
