by Joseph C. Alkire

Created on: July 16, 2009   Last Updated: July 25, 2009

Is Hell a real place or just a metaphor to deter evil- doers? Let us look at this question a little further. What is a metaphor? A metaphor is nothing more than a description of a real object, person, place, or event. There are metaphors to describe Hell such as "Sinners being cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth", a place where "The smoke of their indignation will rise forever", a place of "Fire and Brimstone", and a place where "Death and Hades were cast into the Lake of Fire".

The parable of the Rich man and Lazarus is a perfect example. It starts off with the rich man living a sumptuous life enjoying everything his heart desires. Now Lazarus was a poor man. He must also have been ill as the dogs licked the sores off his body. Lazarus dies and was being comforted and consoled in the bosom of Abraham. The rich man eventually dies and is sent to his reward. The rich man cries to Father Abraham and begs him to send Lazarus to touch his lips with a drop of water just to cool down. Father Abraham replies "When you were alive you lived sumptuously and Lazarus suffered, now Lazarus is being comforted. Besides, there is an expanse between us and you, you cannot pass from there to here and we cannot pass from here to there". The rich man further asks Father Abraham to warn his brothers so they won't be sent there. Father Abraham ends the rich mans pleading by telling him that if they did not believe Moses and the prophets, they would not believe him, even if he rose from the dead.

Hades, Sheol, or the Pit is often used in the Old Testament to describe a place for the dead. King David described many times when he was anguished about the Pit or Sheol. Shadrack, Meshack, and Abidnago were cast into the burning fiery furnace for not worshiping when the sound of the bell rung. A fourth person was walking around in the furnace with them. This can be found in the Book of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon gave a warning with the sound of the bells. Is this a metaphor for today?

It does not matter how we look at, Hell is a real place and there are many metaphors in the Bible to describe it. Just as the people in Noahs' time were given warnings and laughed at him, they eventually drowned and regretted their decisions. Nearly all of the Israelites disobeyed God and never entered the Promised Land. Lots' wife disobeyed the angels and she was turned into a pillar of salt. Nadab and Abihu disobeyed God by offering strange incense and were swallowed by fire. The Ninevehites obeyed Jonas' warnings, repented, and were saved from Gods' oncoming wrath. Many people suffered for their disobedience to Gods' warnings back then because they did not repent. They have their place secured for them. Do we want to be secured in the same place (Hell) or with God in all His Glory?

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