The Hell of the Bible Explained!

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RR

Active member
Mar 13, 2022
140
41
28
Indiana
#1
Some deny the existence of hell, but the Bible clearly teaches it, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

MANY MISUNDERSTAND the subject, and some still hold to the heathen doctrine of eternal torture, which was attached to Christianity early in the Dark Ages, and so they believe in hell as viewed by the heathen instead of in the hell of the inspired Word of God.

  • It's important that we examine carefully and learn thoroughly the Bible teachings on hell. The only Old Testament word translated hell is sheol, to which the New Testament word Hades corresponds. In the King James Version the Old Testament word, sheol and the New Testament word, hades are translated hell 41 times, grave 32 times and pit 3 times. Frequently when translated hell, the margin reads, “or, the grave,” or vice versa (Psa. 49: 15; Jonah 2: 1, 2).
  • Contrary to the idea that hell is a place of fire and torture the Bible says, “there is no work, or device, or knowledge, or wisdom, in the grave [sheol], where you are going”; “in death there is no remembrance of you. In the grave [sheol] who shall give You thanks”; “the grave [sheol] cannot praise You: death cannot celebrate You” (Eccl. 9: 10; Psa. 6:5).
  • Good people, as well as bad, go to sheol (hell) at death. Jesus “poured out His soul to death” (Matt. 26: 38), and descended to hell, but “His soul [His being] was not left in hell” (Acts 2: 27, 31).
  • In Old English the word hell simply meant to hide or to cover. To "hell potatoes" meant to plant and cover them with earth. The word hell is properly used as signifying the secret or hidden condition of the dead. It had no reference whatever to a place of torture until that meaning was attached to it from heathen superstitions and theologians of the Dark Ages.
  • When God told Adam of sin’s penalty, He did not say “In the day that you eat of it you shall live forever in torture,” but He told him the truth: “you shall surely die, i.e., cease to live” (Gen. 2: 17).
  • Contradicting God, Satan told the first lie (John 8: 44), “You will not surely die” (Gen. 3: 4), by which he has since deceived many into believing that the dead are not really dead, but that at death they live on, and without waiting for the resurrection day (John 5: 28), go directly into heaven or into eternal torment.
  • The Bible states plainly that “the soul who sins shall die” (Ezek. 18: 4); that “the wages of sin is death” [cessation of life, not life in torment]. On the other hand, the gift of God is eternal life (Rom. 6: 23) through Jesus Christ.
  • Do you not see, that if the penalty against Adam and his race had been eternal torment, Jesus would have had to suffer an eternity of torture to redeem the human race? On the contrary, the “wages of sin is death,” “Christ died for our sins,” He tasted death for every man; and He “was raised from the dead” (1 Cor. 15: 3, 4). God through Christ ransoms all, not from eternal torture, but “from the power of the grave [sheol]” (Hos. 13: 14).
  • Eventually “all that are in the grave shall hear His [Jesus’] voice, and shall come forth” (John 5: 28, 29 RSV). When sheol or hades delivers up all who sleep in Adamic death, sheol and hades will forever cease to exist. “O grave [sheol] I will be your destruction.”
  • Sodom and Gomorrah are set forth by God “as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7) then; the fire that is not burning any longer did destroy those cities, and brought upon them destruction. These will be awakened in the world’s judgment day (John 5: 28). However, they will not be reinstated to their former wicked condition.
  • The word translated “tormented” in Rev. 20: 10 should have been rendered “tested” or “examined;” the devil, the beast and the false prophet will be examined forever by the righteous, and recognized as deserving destruction.
  • The wicked “shall be punished with everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1: 9). Moreover, they “shall go away into everlasting punishment” [not everlasting life in torture, but death], (Matt. 25:46); “for sin, when it is finished, brings forth death” (James 1: 15); everlasting death is everlasting punishment. But the righteous only will have life eternal (John 3: 36).
  • “God is love” and He desires us to “worship Him in spirit and in truth,” out of love for Him, not because of fear of punishment now and in the hereafter.
“Perfect love casts out fear” [dread]. (1 John 4: 8-12)​
 

homwardbound

Senior Member
Oct 24, 2012
16,401
435
83
#2
Some deny the existence of hell, but the Bible clearly teaches it, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

MANY MISUNDERSTAND the subject, and some still hold to the heathen doctrine of eternal torture, which was attached to Christianity early in the Dark Ages, and so they believe in hell as viewed by the heathen instead of in the hell of the inspired Word of God.

  • It's important that we examine carefully and learn thoroughly the Bible teachings on hell. The only Old Testament word translated hell is sheol, to which the New Testament word Hades corresponds. In the King James Version the Old Testament word, sheol and the New Testament word, hades are translated hell 41 times, grave 32 times and pit 3 times. Frequently when translated hell, the margin reads, “or, the grave,” or vice versa (Psa. 49: 15; Jonah 2: 1, 2).
  • Contrary to the idea that hell is a place of fire and torture the Bible says, “there is no work, or device, or knowledge, or wisdom, in the grave [sheol], where you are going”; “in death there is no remembrance of you. In the grave [sheol] who shall give You thanks”; “the grave [sheol] cannot praise You: death cannot celebrate You” (Eccl. 9: 10; Psa. 6:5).
  • Good people, as well as bad, go to sheol (hell) at death. Jesus “poured out His soul to death” (Matt. 26: 38), and descended to hell, but “His soul [His being] was not left in hell” (Acts 2: 27, 31).
  • In Old English the word hell simply meant to hide or to cover. To "hell potatoes" meant to plant and cover them with earth. The word hell is properly used as signifying the secret or hidden condition of the dead. It had no reference whatever to a place of torture until that meaning was attached to it from heathen superstitions and theologians of the Dark Ages.
  • When God told Adam of sin’s penalty, He did not say “In the day that you eat of it you shall live forever in torture,” but He told him the truth: “you shall surely die, i.e., cease to live” (Gen. 2: 17).
  • Contradicting God, Satan told the first lie (John 8: 44), “You will not surely die” (Gen. 3: 4), by which he has since deceived many into believing that the dead are not really dead, but that at death they live on, and without waiting for the resurrection day (John 5: 28), go directly into heaven or into eternal torment.
  • The Bible states plainly that “the soul who sins shall die” (Ezek. 18: 4); that “the wages of sin is death” [cessation of life, not life in torment]. On the other hand, the gift of God is eternal life (Rom. 6: 23) through Jesus Christ.
  • Do you not see, that if the penalty against Adam and his race had been eternal torment, Jesus would have had to suffer an eternity of torture to redeem the human race? On the contrary, the “wages of sin is death,” “Christ died for our sins,” He tasted death for every man; and He “was raised from the dead” (1 Cor. 15: 3, 4). God through Christ ransoms all, not from eternal torture, but “from the power of the grave [sheol]” (Hos. 13: 14).
  • Eventually “all that are in the grave shall hear His [Jesus’] voice, and shall come forth” (John 5: 28, 29 RSV). When sheol or hades delivers up all who sleep in Adamic death, sheol and hades will forever cease to exist. “O grave [sheol] I will be your destruction.”
  • Sodom and Gomorrah are set forth by God “as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7) then; the fire that is not burning any longer did destroy those cities, and brought upon them destruction. These will be awakened in the world’s judgment day (John 5: 28). However, they will not be reinstated to their former wicked condition.
  • The word translated “tormented” in Rev. 20: 10 should have been rendered “tested” or “examined;” the devil, the beast and the false prophet will be examined forever by the righteous, and recognized as deserving destruction.
  • The wicked “shall be punished with everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1: 9). Moreover, they “shall go away into everlasting punishment” [not everlasting life in torture, but death], (Matt. 25:46); “for sin, when it is finished, brings forth death” (James 1: 15); everlasting death is everlasting punishment. But the righteous only will have life eternal (John 3: 36).
  • “God is love” and He desires us to “worship Him in spirit and in truth,” out of love for Him, not because of fear of punishment now and in the hereafter.
“Perfect love casts out fear” [dread]. (1 John 4: 8-12)​
Perfect love, casts out all fear. there is no fear in Love and God is true Love of 1 Cor 13:4-7, to get imputed in the next born new again person, thank you
 

jacko

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2024
720
407
63
#4
there's enough dudes on youtube talking about it and seeing it in some way or form and i don't think they are ALL faking it. .. maybe some... but no way all... too many similarities in their description.
 

Saul-to-Paul

Junior Member
Jun 5, 2017
403
71
28
#6
Some deny the existence of hell, but the Bible clearly teaches it, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

MANY MISUNDERSTAND the subject, and some still hold to the heathen doctrine of eternal torture, which was attached to Christianity early in the Dark Ages, and so they believe in hell as viewed by the heathen instead of in the hell of the inspired Word of God.

  • It's important that we examine carefully and learn thoroughly the Bible teachings on hell. The only Old Testament word translated hell is sheol, to which the New Testament word Hades corresponds. In the King James Version the Old Testament word, sheol and the New Testament word, hades are translated hell 41 times, grave 32 times and pit 3 times. Frequently when translated hell, the margin reads, “or, the grave,” or vice versa (Psa. 49: 15; Jonah 2: 1, 2).
  • Contrary to the idea that hell is a place of fire and torture the Bible says, “there is no work, or device, or knowledge, or wisdom, in the grave [sheol], where you are going”; “in death there is no remembrance of you. In the grave [sheol] who shall give You thanks”; “the grave [sheol] cannot praise You: death cannot celebrate You” (Eccl. 9: 10; Psa. 6:5).
  • Good people, as well as bad, go to sheol (hell) at death. Jesus “poured out His soul to death” (Matt. 26: 38), and descended to hell, but “His soul [His being] was not left in hell” (Acts 2: 27, 31).
  • In Old English the word hell simply meant to hide or to cover. To "hell potatoes" meant to plant and cover them with earth. The word hell is properly used as signifying the secret or hidden condition of the dead. It had no reference whatever to a place of torture until that meaning was attached to it from heathen superstitions and theologians of the Dark Ages.
  • When God told Adam of sin’s penalty, He did not say “In the day that you eat of it you shall live forever in torture,” but He told him the truth: “you shall surely die, i.e., cease to live” (Gen. 2: 17).
  • Contradicting God, Satan told the first lie (John 8: 44), “You will not surely die” (Gen. 3: 4), by which he has since deceived many into believing that the dead are not really dead, but that at death they live on, and without waiting for the resurrection day (John 5: 28), go directly into heaven or into eternal torment.
  • The Bible states plainly that “the soul who sins shall die” (Ezek. 18: 4); that “the wages of sin is death” [cessation of life, not life in torment]. On the other hand, the gift of God is eternal life (Rom. 6: 23) through Jesus Christ.
  • Do you not see, that if the penalty against Adam and his race had been eternal torment, Jesus would have had to suffer an eternity of torture to redeem the human race? On the contrary, the “wages of sin is death,” “Christ died for our sins,” He tasted death for every man; and He “was raised from the dead” (1 Cor. 15: 3, 4). God through Christ ransoms all, not from eternal torture, but “from the power of the grave [sheol]” (Hos. 13: 14).
  • Eventually “all that are in the grave shall hear His [Jesus’] voice, and shall come forth” (John 5: 28, 29 RSV). When sheol or hades delivers up all who sleep in Adamic death, sheol and hades will forever cease to exist. “O grave [sheol] I will be your destruction.”
  • Sodom and Gomorrah are set forth by God “as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7) then; the fire that is not burning any longer did destroy those cities, and brought upon them destruction. These will be awakened in the world’s judgment day (John 5: 28). However, they will not be reinstated to their former wicked condition.
  • The word translated “tormented” in Rev. 20: 10 should have been rendered “tested” or “examined;” the devil, the beast and the false prophet will be examined forever by the righteous, and recognized as deserving destruction.
  • The wicked “shall be punished with everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1: 9). Moreover, they “shall go away into everlasting punishment” [not everlasting life in torture, but death], (Matt. 25:46); “for sin, when it is finished, brings forth death” (James 1: 15); everlasting death is everlasting punishment. But the righteous only will have life eternal (John 3: 36).
  • “God is love” and He desires us to “worship Him in spirit and in truth,” out of love for Him, not because of fear of punishment now and in the hereafter.
“Perfect love casts out fear” [dread]. (1 John 4: 8-12)​
Luke 16:23,24
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
 
Jun 2, 2022
83
41
18
#7
Luke 16:23,24
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
That's a parable about the judgement on Judah after their rejection of the Messiah. In Hell in the ground to be seen by God no more. The dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue - refers to angry words spoken by the Jewish Priests against Jesus - if cool my tongue refers to a request to put out eternal fires in a pagan Hell then the tip of the tongue being cooled would be irrelevant
 

PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
13,562
9,080
113
#8
That's a parable about the judgement on Judah after their rejection of the Messiah. In Hell in the ground to be seen by God no more. The dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue - refers to angry words spoken by the Jewish Priests against Jesus - if cool my tongue refers to a request to put out eternal fires in a pagan Hell then the tip of the tongue being cooled would be irrelevant
You made this interpretation up in your mind out of thin air.

Jesus preached at least 38 Parables.

In how many of those Parables did He use a person's proper name?
 
Jun 2, 2022
83
41
18
#9
You made this interpretation up in your mind out of thin air.

Jesus preached at least 38 Parables.

In how many of those Parables did He use a person's proper name?
Well a wise man will learn and a proud man will dig his heels in to his pagan belief
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,263
3,098
113
#10
Some deny the existence of hell, but the Bible clearly teaches it, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

MANY MISUNDERSTAND the subject, and some still hold to the heathen doctrine of eternal torture, which was attached to Christianity early in the Dark Ages, and so they believe in hell as viewed by the heathen instead of in the hell of the inspired Word of God.

  • It's important that we examine carefully and learn thoroughly the Bible teachings on hell. The only Old Testament word translated hell is sheol, to which the New Testament word Hades corresponds. In the King James Version the Old Testament word, sheol and the New Testament word, hades are translated hell 41 times, grave 32 times and pit 3 times. Frequently when translated hell, the margin reads, “or, the grave,” or vice versa (Psa. 49: 15; Jonah 2: 1, 2).
  • Contrary to the idea that hell is a place of fire and torture the Bible says, “there is no work, or device, or knowledge, or wisdom, in the grave [sheol], where you are going”; “in death there is no remembrance of you. In the grave [sheol] who shall give You thanks”; “the grave [sheol] cannot praise You: death cannot celebrate You” (Eccl. 9: 10; Psa. 6:5).
  • Good people, as well as bad, go to sheol (hell) at death. Jesus “poured out His soul to death” (Matt. 26: 38), and descended to hell, but “His soul [His being] was not left in hell” (Acts 2: 27, 31).
  • In Old English the word hell simply meant to hide or to cover. To "hell potatoes" meant to plant and cover them with earth. The word hell is properly used as signifying the secret or hidden condition of the dead. It had no reference whatever to a place of torture until that meaning was attached to it from heathen superstitions and theologians of the Dark Ages.
  • When God told Adam of sin’s penalty, He did not say “In the day that you eat of it you shall live forever in torture,” but He told him the truth: “you shall surely die, i.e., cease to live” (Gen. 2: 17).
  • Contradicting God, Satan told the first lie (John 8: 44), “You will not surely die” (Gen. 3: 4), by which he has since deceived many into believing that the dead are not really dead, but that at death they live on, and without waiting for the resurrection day (John 5: 28), go directly into heaven or into eternal torment.
  • The Bible states plainly that “the soul who sins shall die” (Ezek. 18: 4); that “the wages of sin is death” [cessation of life, not life in torment]. On the other hand, the gift of God is eternal life (Rom. 6: 23) through Jesus Christ.
  • Do you not see, that if the penalty against Adam and his race had been eternal torment, Jesus would have had to suffer an eternity of torture to redeem the human race? On the contrary, the “wages of sin is death,” “Christ died for our sins,” He tasted death for every man; and He “was raised from the dead” (1 Cor. 15: 3, 4). God through Christ ransoms all, not from eternal torture, but “from the power of the grave [sheol]” (Hos. 13: 14).
  • Eventually “all that are in the grave shall hear His [Jesus’] voice, and shall come forth” (John 5: 28, 29 RSV). When sheol or hades delivers up all who sleep in Adamic death, sheol and hades will forever cease to exist. “O grave [sheol] I will be your destruction.”
  • Sodom and Gomorrah are set forth by God “as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7) then; the fire that is not burning any longer did destroy those cities, and brought upon them destruction. These will be awakened in the world’s judgment day (John 5: 28). However, they will not be reinstated to their former wicked condition.
  • The word translated “tormented” in Rev. 20: 10 should have been rendered “tested” or “examined;” the devil, the beast and the false prophet will be examined forever by the righteous, and recognized as deserving destruction.
  • The wicked “shall be punished with everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1: 9). Moreover, they “shall go away into everlasting punishment” [not everlasting life in torture, but death], (Matt. 25:46); “for sin, when it is finished, brings forth death” (James 1: 15); everlasting death is everlasting punishment. But the righteous only will have life eternal (John 3: 36).
  • “God is love” and He desires us to “worship Him in spirit and in truth,” out of love for Him, not because of fear of punishment now and in the hereafter.
“Perfect love casts out fear” [dread]. (1 John 4: 8-12)​
Just wrong. Jesus took the sins of mankind into His mortal body as a sacrifice for the sins of mortal man. That sin filled body was left in the grave as Jesus rose from the dead.

Mankind's real problem is not that he has sinned. It is that he is dead. There is no opportunity for anyone to be made alive after they have rejected the Lord Jesus in this life. Death is the consequence of sin. Jesus had to die to pay the price of sin and had to rise again so that mankind may be be alive again. It's not automatic. It is he who has the Son who has life. Those who do not have the Son are dead in trespass and sin.

Death has never meant the end of existence. It is separation from God. God warned Adam not to eat from the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. God said that the day Adam ate he would surely die. Yet Adam was physically alive and still had an active soul. However, he hid from God because of his now sinful nature.

Unbelievers will be no more desirous of being in heaven in the next life than they are in this life.

You seem to forget that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. One of the symptoms of the corruption of the current generation is a lack of respect for authority. Some change their tune when they face years in prison. Unbelievers need to be convicted of sin. That's God's incentive to seek salvation. If there is no hell (in the sense used traditionally) then who cares? "Let's eat and drink for tomorrow we die".
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,089
3,681
113
#11
Well a wise man will learn and a proud man will dig his heels in to his pagan belief
The bible references hell no less than 54 times. It's not made up, nor is it some metaphor. Hell is a literal place and the bible describes it fully.
 
Jun 2, 2022
83
41
18
#12
The bible references hell no less than 54 times. It's not made up, nor is it some metaphor. Hell is a literal place and the bible describes it fully.
Do a word study of the Greek and Hebrew words translated as hell, put the time in and study and you will have your answer, rather than sticking with what we have been taught and told, study it.
 
Jun 2, 2022
83
41
18
#13
Just wrong. Jesus took the sins of mankind into His mortal body as a sacrifice for the sins of mortal man. That sin filled body was left in the grave as Jesus rose from the dead.

Mankind's real problem is not that he has sinned. It is that he is dead. There is no opportunity for anyone to be made alive after they have rejected the Lord Jesus in this life. Death is the consequence of sin. Jesus had to die to pay the price of sin and had to rise again so that mankind may be be alive again. It's not automatic. It is he who has the Son who has life. Those who do not have the Son are dead in trespass and sin.

Death has never meant the end of existence. It is separation from God. God warned Adam not to eat from the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. God said that the day Adam ate he would surely die. Yet Adam was physically alive and still had an active soul. However, he hid from God because of his now sinful nature.

Unbelievers will be no more desirous of being in heaven in the next life than they are in this life.

You seem to forget that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. One of the symptoms of the corruption of the current generation is a lack of respect for authority. Some change their tune when they face years in prison. Unbelievers need to be convicted of sin. That's God's incentive to seek salvation. If there is no hell (in the sense used traditionally) then who cares? "Let's eat and drink for tomorrow we die".

God is a God of equity - an eye for an eye. How much sin does a man have to commit to justify eternal punishment? In fact God will show mercy over justice at times, he never goes the opposite way. The eternal punishment doctrine is why people become atheists - they see God as an unjust tyrant.
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
7,055
1,680
113
#14
To "hell potatoes" meant to plant and cover them with earth.
Um.... actually, the proper term is "hilling" potatoes... not "helling".... you make a "hill" of dirt or sawdust, etc, to give the potatoes a new area to grow into.... "hilling"....
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,263
3,098
113
#15
Do a word study of the Greek and Hebrew words translated as hell, put the time in and study and you will have your answer, rather than sticking with what we have been taught and told, study it.
You are right about the word "hell". A lot of what we think of is coloured by the imagery of Dante's Inferno, which was also entitled "A Divine Comedy". The Roman Catholic organisation latched onto this as it was a tool to terrify those who questioned Rome's authority. However, while Satan does not have a tail and horns, he is real enough. His end is the lake of fire. Those who are not born again face an eternity of separation from God in torment. Men choose their destiny. They mock God and ridicule His people. They will have eternity to regret their folly.
 
Jun 2, 2022
83
41
18
#16
You are right about the word "hell". A lot of what we think of is coloured by the imagery of Dante's Inferno, which was also entitled "A Divine Comedy". The Roman Catholic organisation latched onto this as it was a tool to terrify those who questioned Rome's authority. However, while Satan does not have a tail and horns, he is real enough. His end is the lake of fire. Those who are not born again face an eternity of separation from God in torment. Men choose their destiny. They mock God and ridicule His people. They will have eternity to regret their folly.
I agree about the reality of the Devil and the lake of fire, but I see it as destruction of the person , never to have eternity with God
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,263
3,098
113
#17
God is a God of equity - an eye for an eye. How much sin does a man have to commit to justify eternal punishment? In fact God will show mercy over justice at times, he never goes the opposite way. The eternal punishment doctrine is why people become atheists - they see God as an unjust tyrant.
Do you not know that the wages of sin is death? God shows mercy to the unbeliever right up to the moment he dies. After that comes the judgement.

People become atheists because they deny God and His ways. They reject God's right to do as He sees fit. My father was an atheist. I have some knowledge of the subject. They do not acknowledge that they are sinners. They think that they are superior beings. There is no logic or reason to their unbelief. They also cannot bring themselves to accept the logic of atheism. God has a word for them: "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God'." I can tell you something else. When there is no conviction of sin, there is no salvation. God saves sinners.
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,263
3,098
113
#18
I agree about the reality of the Devil and the lake of fire, but I see it as destruction of the person , never to have eternity with God
Like I said, it is obvious that death is not the end of existence. Unbelievers endure the second death, which again does not imply the end of existence.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,089
3,681
113
#19
Do a word study of the Greek and Hebrew words translated as hell, put the time in and study and you will have your answer, rather than sticking with what we have been taught and told, study it.
I've studied it thoroughly in the holy, preserved word of God, the KJV. It never lies. You should take the bible more literally, if not, you can make it say anything you want to fit any made up theology.
 

HeIsHere

Well-known member
May 21, 2022
5,749
2,241
113
#20
Some deny the existence of hell, but the Bible clearly teaches it, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

MANY MISUNDERSTAND the subject, and some still hold to the heathen doctrine of eternal torture, which was attached to Christianity early in the Dark Ages, and so they believe in hell as viewed by the heathen instead of in the hell of the inspired Word of God.

  • It's important that we examine carefully and learn thoroughly the Bible teachings on hell. The only Old Testament word translated hell is sheol, to which the New Testament word Hades corresponds. In the King James Version the Old Testament word, sheol and the New Testament word, hades are translated hell 41 times, grave 32 times and pit 3 times. Frequently when translated hell, the margin reads, “or, the grave,” or vice versa (Psa. 49: 15; Jonah 2: 1, 2).
  • Contrary to the idea that hell is a place of fire and torture the Bible says, “there is no work, or device, or knowledge, or wisdom, in the grave [sheol], where you are going”; “in death there is no remembrance of you. In the grave [sheol] who shall give You thanks”; “the grave [sheol] cannot praise You: death cannot celebrate You” (Eccl. 9: 10; Psa. 6:5).
  • Good people, as well as bad, go to sheol (hell) at death. Jesus “poured out His soul to death” (Matt. 26: 38), and descended to hell, but “His soul [His being] was not left in hell” (Acts 2: 27, 31).
  • In Old English the word hell simply meant to hide or to cover. To "hell potatoes" meant to plant and cover them with earth. The word hell is properly used as signifying the secret or hidden condition of the dead. It had no reference whatever to a place of torture until that meaning was attached to it from heathen superstitions and theologians of the Dark Ages.
  • When God told Adam of sin’s penalty, He did not say “In the day that you eat of it you shall live forever in torture,” but He told him the truth: “you shall surely die, i.e., cease to live” (Gen. 2: 17).
  • Contradicting God, Satan told the first lie (John 8: 44), “You will not surely die” (Gen. 3: 4), by which he has since deceived many into believing that the dead are not really dead, but that at death they live on, and without waiting for the resurrection day (John 5: 28), go directly into heaven or into eternal torment.
  • The Bible states plainly that “the soul who sins shall die” (Ezek. 18: 4); that “the wages of sin is death” [cessation of life, not life in torment]. On the other hand, the gift of God is eternal life (Rom. 6: 23) through Jesus Christ.
  • Do you not see, that if the penalty against Adam and his race had been eternal torment, Jesus would have had to suffer an eternity of torture to redeem the human race? On the contrary, the “wages of sin is death,” “Christ died for our sins,” He tasted death for every man; and He “was raised from the dead” (1 Cor. 15: 3, 4). God through Christ ransoms all, not from eternal torture, but “from the power of the grave [sheol]” (Hos. 13: 14).
  • Eventually “all that are in the grave shall hear His [Jesus’] voice, and shall come forth” (John 5: 28, 29 RSV). When sheol or hades delivers up all who sleep in Adamic death, sheol and hades will forever cease to exist. “O grave [sheol] I will be your destruction.”
  • Sodom and Gomorrah are set forth by God “as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7) then; the fire that is not burning any longer did destroy those cities, and brought upon them destruction. These will be awakened in the world’s judgment day (John 5: 28). However, they will not be reinstated to their former wicked condition.
  • The word translated “tormented” in Rev. 20: 10 should have been rendered “tested” or “examined;” the devil, the beast and the false prophet will be examined forever by the righteous, and recognized as deserving destruction.
  • The wicked “shall be punished with everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1: 9). Moreover, they “shall go away into everlasting punishment” [not everlasting life in torture, but death], (Matt. 25:46); “for sin, when it is finished, brings forth death” (James 1: 15); everlasting death is everlasting punishment. But the righteous only will have life eternal (John 3: 36).
  • “God is love” and He desires us to “worship Him in spirit and in truth,” out of love for Him, not because of fear of punishment now and in the hereafter.
“Perfect love casts out fear” [dread]. (1 John 4: 8-12)​
There is some great information here about the original meaning of the words in the original language, so important and I do think the translators of the KJB can take some blame, however annihilationism is also not a biblical doctrine.