Jesus Christ on Hell

Published on Updated on Hell, Jesus Christ, Mission of Jesus Christ, Theology

The Lord Jesus Christ talks about Hades, Gehēnna, fire, and darkness. Christians often call those things Hell. Is Hell a location where people are sent? Or a state of being?

 

QUESTIONS

1. Is Hell a location where people are sent? Or a state of being?

2. Does the word “Hell” have the same meaning as “Condemnation”? As “Damnation”?

3. Does Hell happen during our earthly life? Or afterwards?

4. Why do so many Christians say “Go to Hell!”

 

HADES

Traditionally, Hades was considered the realm of the dead. But the Lord Jesus Christ used the word Hades to describe a place of torment.

Matthew 11:23. You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until today.

Matthew 16:18. I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

Luke 10:15. You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.

Luke 16:23. In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.

 

GEHĒNNA

The word Gehēnna originally referred to the Hinnom Valley south of Jerusalem. Later, rabbis referred to it as a destination of the wicked. Finally, the Lord Jesus Christ used the word to describe the opposite of life in the Kingdom.

Matthew 5:22. But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.

Matthew 5:29. If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.

Matthew 5:30. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.

Matthew 10:28. Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

Matthew 18:9. If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.

Matthew 23:15. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of Gehenna as yourselves.

Matthew 23:33. You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna?

Mark 9:43. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire,

Mark 9:45. If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched—

Mark 9:47. If your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into God’s Kingdom with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire,

Luke 12:5. But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

 

FIRE

The Lord Jesus Christ often combines the word Gehēnna with fire.

Matthew 5:22. But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.

Matthew 13:50. and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 18:8. If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.

Matthew 18:9. If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.

Matthew 25:41. Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;

Mark 9:43. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire,

Mark 9:45. If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched—

Mark 9:47. If your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into God’s Kingdom with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire,

Mark 9:48. ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’

Luke 16:24. 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 in anguish in this flame.’

 

DARKNESS

The Lord Jesus Christ speaks of people being thrown into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 8:12. but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 22:13. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’

Matthew 25:30. Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Luke 13:28. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s Kingdom, and yourselves being thrown outside.

 

SEE ALSO

The Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire is the first eternal destination in the Book of Revelation. It is portrayed as a literal place. People are thrown into it alive.

Jesus Christ on Hell. The Lord Jesus Christ talks about Hades, Gehēnna, fire, and darkness. Christians often call those things Hell. Is Hell a location where people are sent? Or a state of being?

What was the mission of Jesus Christ? What was the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ? How did he himself define it?

 

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.