by Charleine Fenn

Created on: February 13, 2009

First I think we must take a look at the meaning of the word hell to determine what the person who ends up in that awful place will be doing. There are four different translations in the Bible of the word hell. In the Hebrew it is the word sheol meaning or signifying the unseen state. King James also translated the word sheol as grave in the Old Testament. One of the Greek word used for hell is hades meaning the unseen world, another Greek word used for hell is gehenna, signifying the place of torment. The last word in the Greek used for hell is the word tartarus meaning the infernal region. I think it is helpful to know the different meanings and translations from the original Hebrew and Greek text on any Bible subject.

Hell is the future abode of the wicked and the unbelievers. The book of Matthew describes it in chapter eight, verse twelve like this, it is a place of outer darkness where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew seven and thirteen says, wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and there will be many who go there. Matthew gives us a good picture of hell in chapter thirteen verses forty nine and fifty, when it tells us that Christ shall send forth his angels and cast them into the furnace of fire, where there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. The word gnashing means grinding so we know there will be grinding of teeth.

Wailing means fits of crying, bawling, blubbering or sobbing. We all know what goes into a furnace; it is a place of fire. We also know it to be punishment of everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power. Hell is also described as bottomless pit in the book of Revelations chapter nine and verse two. The smoke of which arose out of the pit so the sun and the air were darkened by the reason of it. Chapter fourteen verses ten and eleven says, they shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and the smoke of their torment ascended up forever and ever and there shall be no rest day or night.

Some people may like to simplify these scriptures and paint a prettier picture of hell by saying, "Oh it just means you will be separated from the Lord. No big deal. We can just sit back and throw a big party, eat, drink and be merry. We can all sit around the fire together laughing, singing and dancing. No my friend I don't think that is what the Bible means or says when referring to hell. Hell is a place reserved for the devil and his angels, it is a place of torment and great sorrow. Like the rich man in the book of Luke, you too may beg for Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool your tongue. Hell is eternal damnation.

Today is the day of salvation. Don't put it off any longer; accept Jesus now before it is too late. Jesus is the way out, he is the truth and the light. I leave you with this simple plan. Have a humble heart and say a prayer of faith and repentance. "Lord I repent of my sins. I know you died and rose again for my sins and I want you to save me, please come into my life. He died to save you from ever having to know what hell is going to be like. Romans chapter ten verse nine says, If thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thy heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved.

Learn more about this author, Charleine Fenn.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.