Why Hell Does Not Involve Eternal Torment

The link to the video is at the bottom of the page.

1. Introduction

Jesus had much to say about Hell, so we must examine it closely. Understanding Hell is an essential foundation that will change how you evangelise in public meetings and during one-on-one faith sharing. It will greatly comfort you as you realise that God is just and good. We can trust Him to treat both believers and unbelievers fairly on the Day of Judgment. This is a very large lesson, anything shorter would not provide an in-depth theological argument against the Traditional View of eternal torment.

A. Personal Journey into Eternity

Over the past five years, I have been studying God’s word and patiently waiting on Him as He has gradually unfolded this lesson to me. Upon concluding this lesson, God reminded me of the following vision, and my friends encouraged me to share my journey in the introduction.

In the 1990s, God took me to Hell in a vision. We must carefully interpret visions and dreams because they come through our minds and can hold truths based on what we have already learned. At that time, I was an ardent follower of the Traditional View of Hell, even incorporating it into my evangelical sermons. However, in the vision, I did not see or hear anyone screaming or being tormented by the piles of fire I walked past. The absence of torment perplexed me as it contradicted my beliefs. Initially, I explained it away by saying it must have been too horrific for God to allow me to witness. Since then, I have been on a journey, grappling with how a good God can send people to an eternity of torment.

B. Three Views of Hell

There are three main views on Hell:

1. The Traditional View – those who do not accept Jesus suffer eternal torment.
2. The Conditional Immortality View – only those who accept Jesus enter into eternity; others die a second time with no eternal awareness.
3. The Annihilation View – at the end of time, those who do not believe in Jesus are vapourised.

C. Why It Is Important

If the Bible supports the Traditional View that those who do not believe in Jesus face eternal torment, this raises questions about a loving Father God. It also suggests that God is unjust, as the majority of His creation did not have the opportunity to hear the gospel and will suffer eternally in fire, being consumed by worms. Additionally, it implies that all innocent unborn children will go to Hell as well!

The Traditional View is a reason why many turn away from the opportunity to become a son or daughter of God because it calls into question the nature of God. They fairly argue that spending time with this kind of God is not their idea of heaven. In their view, believers in Jesus have done so out of fear of punishment.

D. Lesson Scope

In this lesson, we will address these questions:

1. What did the church fathers believe?
2. Does a good Father allow His creation to suffer for eternity?
3. What do the different Hebrew and Greek names of Hell refer to?
4. What does the Old Testament teach about Hell?
5. Why is the story of Abraham, Lazarus and the rich man essential to our understanding of Hell?
6. Why did Jesus refer to fire and worms?
7. Does Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goat’s eternal position relate to Judgement Day?
8. What is outer darkness’ relationship to Hell?
9. What did Jesus mean by weeping and gnashing of teeth?
10. What does Jesus mean by perishing?
11. Did Jesus mean if you call someone a fool, you will go to Hell?
12. What does corruptible seed have to do with Hell?
13. Is God just to allow people who have never heard the gospel to suffer for eternity?
14. Is Hell eternal torment or destruction?
15. Then, we will decide which of the three views is the most accurate: the traditional view, Conditional Immortality or Annihilationism.
16. Finally, we will look at the wrath of God in the final judgement.

E. Greek Mythology is the Foundation for the Traditional View

Unfortunately, much of the traditional Christian understanding of Hell relies more on Greek mythology than the Bible’s teachings. In Greek mythology, Hades was called the god of the underworld. This understanding influenced Augustine’s Traditional View of Hell.

We must first look into history and then the Word of God.

 “Well, emotionally, I find the concept of eternal suffering intolerable and do not understand how people can live with it without either cauterizing their feelings or cracking under the strain. But our emotions are a fluctuating, unreliable guide to truth … my question [is not] what does my heart tell me, but what does God’s word say?”

John Stott, Essentials p314

This lesson on Hell is the longest for a reason: 81% of professing Christians believe that others will face eternal torment. If there are more accurate views, we must investigate Hell thoroughly and biblically, starting with the Church Fathers’ perspective.

2. Church Fathers’ Teaching on Hell

The majority of the earlier church fathers did not teach about eternal torment in Hell, and some of the most important ones preferred conditional mortality. Some did not comment; only Augustine actively taught the Traditional View of Hell. His view of Hell, which differed from the other church fathers, arose out of his internal conflicts, from his inability to fully understand the freedom repentance, forgiveness, and grace bring from his sexual and other sins.

A. Ignatius

Ignatius, a disciple of the apostle John, taught that God grants eternal life to those who believe, while those who do not believe in Jesus will perish:

For this end did the Lord allow the ointment to be poured upon His head, that He might breathe immortality into his church. Be not anointed with the bad odour of the doctrine of the prince of this world; let him not lead you away captive from the life which is set before you. And why are we not all prudent, since we have received the knowledge of God, which is Jesus Christ? Why do we foolishly perish, not recognising the gift which the Lord has of a truth sent to us?

Ignatius: Letter to the Ephesians 17

B. Epistle of Barnabas

Historically credited to Barnabas from the Acts of the Apostles, the author contests the notion of eternal suffering.

It is well, therefore, that he who has learned the judgments of the Lord, as many as have been written, should walk in them. For he who keeps these shall be glorified in the kingdom of God; but he who chooses other things shall be destroyed with his works. On this account there will be a resurrection, on this account a retribution. I beseech you who are superiors, if you will receive any counsel of my good-will, have among yourselves those to whom you may show kindness: do not forsake them. For the day is at hand on which all things shall perish with the evil [one].

Epistle of Barnabas Ch 21

The author of the Epistle of Barnabas continues by referencing the destruction of human works as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15:

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Epistle of Barnabas Ch 21

C. Irenaeus

Irenaeus of Gaul (who died in 202 CE) taught that there is eternal fire and worms that do not die, referencing Isaiah 66. However, he did not advocate for eternal suffering. As we proceed, we will see that this teaching aligns with the views of Conditional Immortality and Annihilation more closely than with the Traditional View.

D. Athanasius

Athanasius was active before Augustine, who died in 373 CE when Augustine was 19 years old. He, like the other church fathers, taught that they were corrupted and dead, not suffering eternal torment.

He brought them into His garden and gave them a law: so that, if they kept the grace and remained good, they might still keep the life in paradise without sorrow or pain or care besides having the promise of incorruption in heaven; but that if they transgressed and turned back, and became evil, they might know that they were incurring that corruption in death which was theirs by nature: no longer to live in paradise, but cast out of it from that time forth to die and to abide in death and corruption.

On the Incarnation of the Word

E. Augustine

Augustine, the last of the church fathers, stood out as an exception 380 years after Jesus’ ministry. He believed that Hell was a place of eternal torment and was the first of the church fathers to teach the Traditional View of Hell. The Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle, along with Greek culture, significantly influenced Augustine.

In his justification for eternal torment, he made several significant mistakes. For example, demons can perish. Most importantly, he incorrectly asserted that souls are immortal. Jesus teaches us that souls are destroyed in Hell:

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:28

Augustine then falsely asserts that salamanders can be thrown into a fire without dying and that peacock meat remains edible long before the flames destroy it as if these claims somehow validate his theory on eternal suffering! We know the first assertion is untrue, and the second one is illogical to the argument. Augustine, the last of the Church Fathers, was the first to regard eternal torment as a biblical view.

F. Augustine’s Other False Doctrines

Augustine also clung to other false doctrines due to his internal conflict stemming from his early sexual promiscuity.

• Original Sin is the belief that sinful nature is passed down to the next generation through sexual acts, meaning all babies are born with a sinful nature. (See “Sin Entered the World” for an explanation of why this is considered a false doctrine).
• Sex within marriage is sinful.
• He believed that Mary was the Mother of God.

We must seriously question Augustine, as numerous other false doctrines and logical inconsistencies exist in his teachings.

Therefore, let us examine what the Old and New Testaments teach about Hell. To determine which of the three views is the most accurate, we must set aside our previous understanding and study the Word of God carefully. We must also explore the Hebrew and Greek terms for Hell to do so.

3. Hebrew Names for Hell

There are two Hebrew names that are translated as Hell in English.

A. Sheol

שְׁאוֹל še’ôl; or שְׁאֹל shol; Hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates: — grave, Hell, pit.

B. Abaddon

אֲבַדּוֹן’ ăḇaddôn; a perishing; concrete, Hades: — destruction.

Abaddon signifies destruction. However, as is often the case, we must interpret the Old Testament alongside the New Testament. In the Book of Revelation, it is clear that Abaddon represents either the spirit of death or Satan himself.

And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.

Revelation 9:11

Initially, we might think it refers to the bottomless pit, but when we examine the phrase “whose name is Abaddon,” the word “whose” suggests that it refers to a living being. The following part of the verse employs the word “he” in both English and Greek. The bottomless pit is called ἄβυσσος (abyssos), which is occasionally translated as abyss.

C. Hades

Hades is the Greek god of the underworld, but it is not translated as Hades in the Old Testament. You may notice that the word Hades appears twice in the translators’ descriptions of Sheol and Abaddon. However, Hades is not a Hebrew word found in the Old Testament; rather, the term used is Sheol. Occasionally, Sheol is incorrectly translated as Abaddon.

4. Greek Names for Hell

A. Hades

Now that we have examined the Hebrew words for Hell, we will investigate the Greek terms for Hell.

Hades appears eleven times in the New Testament: ten times as Hell and once as the grave. It is used in Greek translations due to its contextual association with the god of the underworld and death.

Jesus used the Greek word Hades to denote the Hebrew place Sheol. Since Hades is not translated as destruction in Greek, using It to refer to Abaddon is incorrect. Abaddon and Hades are distinct.

B. Gehenna

Gehenna is a Greek term of Hebrew origin. In the New Testament, it is translated nine times as ‘Hell’ and three times as ‘Hellfire.’

The Strong’s concordance defines this word as:

γέεννα geenna; of Hebrew origin: ge-henna (or Ge-Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem, used figuratively as a name for Hell.

We must remember that the interpretation does not claim Gehenna is Hell. Gehenna refers to the Valley of Hinnom, located south of Jerusalem, where dead animals and city sewage were discarded and burned, symbolizing the future destruction of its inhabitants.

During the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, this valley became a place of death for the Jews. Titus’ army killed approximately 1,100,000 persons out of revenge, many of them ending up in Gehenna. The corpses were burned with fire.

C. Abaddon

We have observed that the only mention of Abaddon refers to either the spirit of death and destruction or Satan himself.

D. Tartaros

Peter refers to Hell as Tartaros:

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to Hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;

2 Peter 2:4

The Greek term for Tartaros refers to a lower part of Hades. This scripture cannot pertain to the time when Satan and his angels rebelled before creation, as they were in heaven until Jesus died and were subsequently cast to Earth by Michael and his angels. We will clarify this shortly. This scripture must refer to other angels who sinned between creation and before Jesus’ ascension. Biblically, the only plausible explanation for this is that angels had relations with women, resulting in the conception of the Nephilim.

The sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful, and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” There were giants on the earth in those days and also afterwards, when the sons of God came into the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

Genesis 6:2-4

There are many different views on who the sons of God were mentioned in this verse. I share the perspective of the early church fathers and the Rabbis who lived before and during Christ’s time. They all believed that the sons of God in this verse were angels. Subsequently, God decided to destroy humankind, except for Noah and his family.

So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Genesis 6:7-8

Further suggesting that this is the time when angels were sent to Tartaros, Peter, after discussing the angels’ sins, also mentions Noah.

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness,

2 Peter 2:4-5

5. Old Testament View

As noted above, the Old Covenant includes terms translated as Hell: Sheol and Abaddon. To emphasize, Sheol and Abaddon are distinct and do not convey the same meaning. Sheol refers to a place, while Abaddon signifies the spirit of death and destruction, or Satan himself.

A. Sheol and Abaddon are Not the Same

The term Sheol is inaccurately translated as Hell, while Abaddon is rendered as destruction in these two verses from Job and Proverbs:

Sheol is naked before Him,
And Abaddon has no covering.

Job 26:6

Thus, it indicates that Sheol is exposed before God, and the malevolent spirit Abaddon is revealed. Proverbs reiterate this theme.

Sheol and Abaddon are before the LORD;
So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.

Proverbs 15:11

We might interpret this as: “Sheol and the devil stood before the Lord when the Old Covenant was in effect.”

The Old Testament and the New Testament both confirm this. Satan has access to God only under the Old Covenant.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.

Job 1:6

However, this does not imply that Satan has access to God under the New Covenant.

B. Satan Cast Out of Heaven

Satan no longer has access to heaven. Before Jesus’ ascension, Michael and his angels expelled Satan from heaven.

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 12:7-9

After His death and resurrection, Jesus entered heaven and purified it with His blood, ensuring that Satan could no longer access the throne room. Claiming that Satan has access to heaven now under the New Covenant is a mistake, as he no longer holds any entry rights.

We will explore David’s teaching on Hell as further examples of the Old Testament perspective on the topic. Next, we will examine Isaiah’s and Daniel’s understanding of Hades. Then, we will consider Jesus’ teachings regarding Old Testament Sheol, specifically His teachings on Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man.

6. King David and Hell

A. Sheol is not the Western concept of Hell.

The Western view of Old Testament Hell (Sheol) is that it is a place for evil individuals. However, King David mentions being in Sheol upon his death. Therefore, the Old Testament concept of Hell differs from the future Hell:

For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

Psalms 16:10

Peter references this verse in his sermon on Pentecost.

David spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Sheol, nor did His flesh see corruption.

Acts 2:31

Now we understand that this isn’t a figurative reference to Sheol because Jesus descended into Sheol. In other words, Sheol is a real place.

Therefore, David discusses goings about Sheol. Abraham and Lazarus occupied one area of Sheol, while the rich man resided in another. David was in the same area as Abraham and Lazarus. to Sheol, as we will observe in Jesus’ teaching.

Sheol does not equate to Hell because David is among the righteous, living by faith and a friend of God.

B. The Wicked Will be Destroyed

King David believed that the wicked would be destroyed rather than live in eternal torment.

For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the LORD,
They shall inherit the earth.

Psalms 37:9

We recognise that this verse pertains to our current era due to the following verse Jesus employs to describe the law of the New Covenant in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5):

But the meek shall inherit the earth,
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Psalms 37:11

Now, let’s focus on two significant prophets: Isaiah and Daniel.

7. Prophet Isaiah and Hell

The final verses of Isaiah represent his main teachings on eternity. They contrast with the Traditional View of Hell, in which the inhabitants are corpses unaware of any suffering or torment.

A. Hell’s Corpses will be Looked Upon

Isaiah states that the bodies of those who perish in fire will be visible to others.

“And they shall go forth and look
Upon the corpses of the men
Who have transgressed against Me.
For their worm does not die,
And their fire is not quenched.
They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

Isaiah 66:24

These are corpses, not souls being eternally tormented, as the Traditional View of Hell suggests.

B. Worms and Maggots

Jesus’ mention of worms in Hell originates from Isaiah’s prophecy.

Your pomp is brought down to Sheol,
And the sound of your stringed instruments;
The maggot is spread under you,
And worms cover you.’

Isaiah 14:11

Worms and maggots feed on corpses, not on live bodies, as they can be easily brushed away. However, we must also consider the context, as it pertains to a specific case regarding the King of Babylon.

That you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon and say:
“How the oppressor has ceased,
The golden city ceased!

Isaiah 14:4

Just as Solomon serves as an antitype of Jesus, in Isaiah, the king of Babylon represents a type of the devil.

“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!”

Isaiah 14:12

Here, God sends the king of Babylon to Sheol, where he lies on a bed of maggots. Likewise, the future Hell is reserved for Satan and all his demons.

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Matthew 25:41

8. Prophet Daniel and Hell

A. The Context of Daniel 12 Pertains to the Last Days.

The twelfth chapter of Daniel discusses the last days, which is evident due to several indicators outlined in C, D, and E below. Let’s look at the central teaching from Daniel about eternal life.

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Daniel 12:2

B. Awakened to Life

This verse expresses the same message as David: everyone will awaken from sleep, some to everlasting life and others to shame and contempt.

When we examine the Hebrew word for “awake,” we discover that it does not solely pertain to physical waking.

קוּץ qûṣ; or קִיץ qîṣ; to awaken abruptly (physically or figuratively).

When we think about being born again, it feels just like this: we awaken from death.

Even when we were dead in trespasses, God made us alive together with Christ,

Ephesians 2:5

The New Covenant provides believers in Jesus Christ with God’s righteousness rather than the consequences of sin.

C. Some to Shame

Daniel 12:2 concludes with some experiencing shame. Shame is an inward feeling. When individuals who are not born again stand before the Great White Throne of Judgment, they will feel shame for missing the chance to accept Jesus, not becoming children of God, and failing to live up to their destiny. However, this does not prevent them from dying.

D. Some to Everlasting Contempt

In this same verse, we learn that those who do not believe in Jesus will be regarded as objects of contempt.

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Daniel 12:2

A person does not need to be alive to be held in everlasting contempt. It is not they who possess contempt; rather, it is others who feel contempt toward them, whether they are dead or alive. Thus, we can hold deceased individuals in contempt without needing them to be in eternal torment. Daniel teaches us that when Jesus preached to those in Sheol, some would enter eternal life. Daniel 12 continues, providing insight into the timing of judgment.

E. The Holy People will be Shattered

… that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.

Daniel 12:7

The holy people of the Old Testament are the Jews, and the time when the Romans shattered them was in 70 CE. This corresponds to the three and half years from when Titus left Jerusalem in 67 CE until the time of its destruction in 70 CE.

F. Daily Sacrifice Taken Away And Abomination that Causes Desolation

“And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.”

Daniel 12:11

“And from the” does not appear in the original Hebrews. It could just as easily be any other preposition before the adverb “time.”

The phrase “there shall be” likewise is not in the Hebrew text.

This verse should be understood as:

G. The Blessing of Waiting an Extra 45 Days

To provide further context for Daniel’s resurrection teaching, we see a blessing for those who waited in the last days.

Blessed is he who waits and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days

Daniel 12:12

Survivors in Jerusalem who waited an additional 45 days beyond the 1260 days would be blessed. Over one million Jews died in Jerusalem in 70 CE, while 97,000 survived. This is because if they waited six more weeks, the Roman soldiers would keep them in Judea due to the approaching winter hindering sailing. This is evident in the account of Josephus:

He then went down with his army to that Cesarea which lay by the sea side, and there laid up the rest of his spoils, in great quantities, and gave order that the captives should be kept there. For the winter season hindered him then from sailing into Italy.

Josephus: Of the War. Book VII, Ch 1 Para 3

H. When Did Daniel Arise in the Last Days?

Although Daniel will rise on the Day of Judgment, the overall context of Chapter 12 pertains to the Last Days as defined by Jesus and the apostles, occurring between 30 CE (the death of Jesus) and 70 CE, which represents one generation. to the future,

“But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

Daniel 12:13

Daniel, like David, Abraham, and Lazarus, would receive the gift of eternal life (his inheritance). Our inheritance begins when we accept Jesus as Lord and enter eternal life. Daniel is no different from us, except that he had to be preached to in Sheol.

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Matthew 27:51-53

9. Summary of Old Testament Hell

The Old Covenant remained active until Jesus died on the cross. From what we learn from the Old Testament:

• It features gates and prison bars.
• It was a place where the worms never died.
• A fire tormented people in Sheol of the Old Testament.
• It is a site of remorse.
• David was in Sheol, meaning that Sheol is not a future Hell.
• Daniel knew he would rise to eternal life when Jesus preached to him in Sheol.
• Isaiah taught that they were corpses but did not teach they would suffer.
• Daniel’s teachings about the last days were realised between 67 CE and 70 CE.
• Daniel was resurrected after Jesus preached to him in Sheol.

Just because there was a place of torment in the Old Covenant doesn’t mean there will be one in the future. The Old Covenant was a period when sin and death reigned. Now, under the New Covenant, grace and righteousness reign supreme.

10. Jesus’ Teaching on Sheol Before His Resurrection

A. Sheol at the Time of Jesus

We have learned that Hades is the Greek term for the Hebrew word Sheol. This lesson from Jesus also teaches us that there was a separation between the righteous in God’s eyes—Abraham’s bosom—and the unrighteous, represented by the rich man. The place in Sheol where the rich man resided was a place of torment, and there is no evidence that he was aware of others present.

B. Abraham, Lazarus and the Rich Man

Jesus teaches the lesson of the rich man, Abraham, and Lazarus, while the Old Covenant remains in force. However, we must be careful not to use the story of these three men to teach about the current age or any time in the future, as the Old Covenant is no longer active.

“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and angels carried Lazarus to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. “Then 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.’ … And besides all this, between you and us, there is a great gulf fixed so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’… Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'”

Luke16:24-31

This scripture reveals that Sheol consists of two parts: one for the righteous (Abraham and Lazarus) and the other for the unrighteous (the rich man).

C. Jesus Preaches In Sheol

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison.

1 Peter 3:18-19

Jesus preached to the spirits of Abraham, Lazarus, the rich man, and all others in Sheol, including David, Isaiah, and Daniel. After His death on the cross, He accomplished this by the Spirit of God.

Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Ephesians 4:9

He entered Sheol before entering heaven. But aside from preaching, why did Jesus go to Sheol?

D. Leading Captivity Captive

Therefore He says:
“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”

Ephesians 4:8

Jesus descended into Sheol to lead the principalities and powers that held people in captivity, taking them captive themselves. Paul provides the Ephesians and Colossians with a vivid image of the Roman army defeating another army. They would march them as captives into Rome, demonstrating their triumph over them.

Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it

Colossians 2:15

This means that the demons, empowered by the law, were taken captive. We need to be cautious not to empower these principalities and powers again by adhering to the law, such as observing the Sabbath.

E. Removing the Keys of Death and Hell from Satan

When Jesus entered Sheol, He took the keys of Sheol and the devil’s hold on death.

I am He who lives and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death

Revelation 1:18

11. Jesus’ Teaching on Hades After His Resurrection

Now that we have examined what occurred before His resurrection, let us explore what transpired after His ascension.

A. Hades in the First 40 Years

And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

Matthew 11:23

This scripture confirms that Hades (Sheol) remained after Jesus preached there, as Capernaum was destroyed 40 years later by Titus in 69-70 CE before Jerusalem was attacked.

B. Hades in the Millennium is Locked

In our lesson on the Millennium, we learnt that it was not a literal 1000 years but began shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. We also learned that Jesus, having died and preached there, We also learned that Jesus, having died and preaching there, holds the keys to Death and Hades. Jesus teaches us that during the Millennium, the devil will be confined in the abyss.

He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him,

Revelation 20:2-3

Moreover, it is a prison:

Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison

Revelation 20:7

C. Satan is Bound So We Can Reign

He did this to empower the church to reign during the Millennial age.

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years (literarily a period of unknown time).

Revelation 20:6

D. Only Dead People are in Hades

After Jesus preached to those in Hades and the righteous were resurrected, only the unrighteous remained in Hades.

The sea gave up the dead in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

Revelation 20:13

E. Hades is Not Where People Go to Now

Let us examine this same scripture again, where we observe an interesting word. Not only does Hades give up the dead, but the sea also releases its dead. Under the Old Covenant, everyone went to Hades. However, since the sea gives up its dead, it suggests that people are not going to Hades until the Great White Throne of Judgement. Biblically, the sea symbolises the nations.

12. Jesus Teaching on Worms and Fire

But I notice that Our Lord, while stressing the terror of hell with unsparing severity usually emphasizes the idea not of duration but of finality. Consignment to the destroying fire is usually treated as the end of the story—not as the beginning of a new story. That the lost soul is eternally fixed in its diabolical attitude we cannot doubt: but whether this eternal fixity implies endless duration—or duration at all—we cannot say

CS Lewis, “The Problem of Pain,” p114-115

A. Valley of Gehenna

The Gospels refer to worms and fire just once. This scripture particularly pertains to those who wrong others.

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.

Mark 9:42

More specifically, the context of the previous verses refers to those who oppose the gospel; this context informs us that these are Jewish religious and political leaders who lead people to stumble because of the law:

For he who is not against us is on our side.

Mark 9:40

This scripture warns that they were in danger of Gehenna if they were to sin by offending.

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to Hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— where
‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’

Mark 9:43-44

B. Better to be Thrown into the Sea

We have learned that Gehenna was the place outside of Jerusalem where sewage and dead animals were burned. There would have certainly been worms and fire in that valley. But here’s an important question we need to ask ourselves. How would throwing yourself into the sea with a millstone around your neck help you if this refers to a future Hell? You would still end up there!

Jesus was referring to the enemies of the gospel who, in 70 CE, would perish after enduring five and a half months of starvation, consuming their filth and drinking their urine. They would watch their pregnant wives, sisters and daughters being cut open to kill the babies. Who would watch people being crucified outside Jerusalem, in the Valley of Gehenna? The people who had come to celebrate Passover earlier that same year, namely those who adhered to the law. Their bodies were thrown into the valley and then burned, 1,100,000 of them (97,000 were spared). This all happened in 70 CE with the destruction of Jerusalem.

It would be far better to be thrown into the sea, as your death would be a dreadful way to go, yet comparatively quick when measured against dying during the siege of Jerusalem.

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.

Mark 9:42

C. Corpses, Not Perpetual Suffering

Now that we have looked at the one time the worm and fire are mentioned, we can look again at the prophecy of Isaiah from where it comes:

“And they shall go forth and look
Upon the corpses of the men
Who have transgressed against Me.
For their worm does not die,
And their fire is not quenched.
They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

Isaiah 66:24

These are corpses, deceased individuals, and the Jewish religious and political leaders who would perish in Jerusalem if they did not follow Jesus. With 1.1 million dead bodies, it would resemble “a fire that does not go out and worms that do not die” as they burned the bodies. We will examine the everlasting aspect of this later in the lesson.

As Isaiah says, they are an abhorrence to all flesh. This term “they” refers to those who looked upon the bodies in the Valley of Gehenna: the Roman soldiers from various nations and the 97,000 Jews the Romans spared.

13. Jesus Teaching on Eternal Punishment

Jesus’ sole mention of everlasting punishment is found in Matthew 25:

And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Matthew 25:46

A. What Does Punishment Mean in Greek?

The Greek word for punishment is g2851 κόλασις kolasis; from 2849, penal infliction

The Greek root word for punishment (g2849) is κολάζω kolazō; to curtail, curb, check, restrain

Neither of these words refers to causing pain, as in the Traditional View of Hell; instead, they denote a sentence of punishment similar to a prison term.

Kolasis appears in scripture one other time, addressing the believer in Jesus who lives in fear of punishment.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18

In this verse, John encourages us not to be afraid of punishment on the day of judgment. He states in the preceding verses that we remain in Him:

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:15-16

B. Jesus Sits on His Throne in His Teaching About Punishment

Jesus’ teaching on punishment is when Jesus is seated on His throne to pass judgment.

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.

Matthew 25:31

This may refer to one of two judgments.

• The first judgment it could refer to is at the Great White Throne of Judgement. However, it is not Jesus who is seated at the Great White Throne of Judgment, it is God Himself:

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

Revelation 20:11-12

Why is God sitting on the throne at the Great White Throne of Judgement, not Jesus? Because Jesus returns the kingdom to Father God at the end of the age:

Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

1 Corinthians 15:24

Until the Great White Throne of Judgment, Jesus is the one seated on the throne, not God the Father. Consequently, this lesson on punishment in Matthew 25 is not related to that.

• The correct application is the judgment of Jerusalem at the end of the last days in 70 CE, when He came to judge the city. The lesson on wars and rumours of wars teaches us that the Roman army consisted of many nations. It also teaches us that Jerusalem was overflowing with people from numerous nations arriving for the Feast of Passover.

C. Goats Represent the Followers of the Old Covenant

Jesus addresses Jews using goats and sheep. The goat is a significant symbol for them, especially on the Day of Atonement.

The Day of Atonement was the most significant event of the Old Covenant. During it, the temple was cleansed, and the nation’s sins were atoned for through the blood sacrifice of animals, particularly two goats. One goat acted as a sin offering, while the other was a scapegoat who bore the people’s sins into the wilderness. 

Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the LORD’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness.

Leviticus 16:8-10

The goats symbolize those who would adhere to the Old Covenant, which is no longer active. When Jesus mentioned the goats, asking why they neither fed the hungry nor clothed the naked, it was a direct reference to the same challenge posed by Isaiah:

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Isaiah 58:7-8

Jesus refers to Isaiah 58 throughout his teaching on the negative attributes of the goats. Isaiah 58 concludes with teachings related to the initial parts of the New Covenant. Isaiah 59 discusses the vipers (Pharisees and Sadducees) and how Jesus will come as their redeemer, while Isaiah 60 focuses on the glorious bride of Christ.

D. Sheep Represent the Followers of Jesus

Jesus then compares the sheep to the goats. There is little doubt that the sheep represent those chosen. Jesus, the Lamb of God, was the sacrifice of the New Covenant.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world

John 1:29

And Jesus refers to the followers of the New Covenant as His sheep:

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

John 10:14

If we examine the other parts of Matthew 25, we observe that additional requirements for being sheep include the virgins who maintain their anointing and utilize their talents for the kingdom.

E. Everlasting Punishment?

We see the sheep and goats relate to Jerusalem’s judgment when Jesus was seated on the throne; we must ask why Jesus mentions eternal punishment.

The word for everlasting in Greek is αἰώνιος (aiōnios), which is rooted in the word αἰών (aiōn). This term does not necessarily imply eternity and is also the source of the word eon. Additionally, it can refer to an age. Paul uses it in this way numerous times to indicate something that does not mean eternity as we commonly understand it.

which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

1 Corinthians 2:8

When we examine Paul’s teaching about the Jews returning to recognize Jesus at the end of the age, it becomes evident what Jesus is referring to:

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Romans 11:25

14. Jesus Teachings on the Gates of Hades

A. Jesus teaches us about the gates of Hades:

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 16:18-19

He taught about this because both Job and Jonah referred to the gates of Hades. Job lived before the law was established, during a time when death prevailed, while Jonah lived when the law was in effect. Thus, we understand that the gates of Hades existed both before the law was given and during its application.

Understanding this scripture is crucial because it indicates that Hades is present during the current age. He will provide us with the keys to the kingdom of heaven, which could only occur after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. However, we have observed that in the Millennial Age, Hades is confined along with Satan within it.

B. Gates Do Not Prevail

Gates are physical structures that cannot prevail, which, in Greek, is the term κατισχύω katischyō, which means to overpower. So why does Jesus use this term? Because gates were the place where the rulers of the city sat and passed judgment:

“You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

Deuteronomy 16:18

Jesus is referring to Satan’s principalities, powers and rulers, who attempt to make judgments against the believers. This corresponds to Jesus’ victory over them:

Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Colossians 2:15

And the purpose of the church:

to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

Ephesians 3:10-12

We have learned that Hades is not for people to go to; it is only accessible to the devil. As is often misquoted, we can no longer take people out of Hell because only dead people from the previous age are there now.

15. Jesus Teaching on Darkness

A. Sons of the Jewish Kingdom

‘The sons of the kingdom’ that Jesus refers to are those who adhere to the Jewish law and the prophets rather than the sons of the Kingdom of God.

But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 8:12

In “God’s Plan for Kingdom Rule,” we learned that the Jewish kingdom ended on the cross with Jesus wearing the crown of thorns and a placard that read “King of the Jews.”

B.Darkness Implies Absence of Fire

The common belief is that the darkness Jesus refers to relates to a future Hell. However, a question must be asked: how can there be darkness if there is fire? Therefore, this darkness must not be physical but something else entirely.

C. Outer Versus Inner Darkness

Jesus adds the term “outer” to “darkness” for a specific reason. The Greek word for “outer” is “exterior,” which appears only three times in the New Testament. It does not signify a unique type of darkness; rather, it denotes something opposed to inner darkness. Jesus defines inner darkness as the darkness within your body:

But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Matthew 6:23

D. Defining Darkness

The Greek word for darkness is σκότος (skotos), which signifies both physical darkness and figurative obscurity.

If we consider the destruction of Jerusalem and all the cities of Judea and Samaria in 70 CE, this is precisely what occurred to the Jews. They fell into obscurity for around 1830 years.

16. Jesus’ Teachings on Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth

A. Outer Darkness and Weeping and Gnashing

And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Matthew 25:30

We have observed that the concept of weeping and gnashing of teeth in Matthew 25 is associated with outer darkness. We have also noted that this same parable pertains to the destruction of Jerusalem as a judgment against the enemies of the kingdom of God, particularly targeting the religious and political leaders of Israel. Let us delve deeper into these teachings.

This relates to the unprofitable servant who hides their talent in the ground:

And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

Matthew 25:25

Now let’s examine the other examples of weeping and gnashing of teeth:

B. I Do Not Know You

But He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.

Luke 13:27-28

Who is He talking to here? In the previous verse, we find he is talking to those who have been with Jesus. Who is He talking to here? He is speaking to those who were with Jesus. Those who ate and drank while Jesus was on earth, as well as the people of Jerusalem, where He had taught, who would weep and gnash their teeth during the siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE.

then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’

Luke 13:26

It is also those who would see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the prophets in the kingdom of God. This may be speaking spiritually, but it is possible that these three were seen as having been resurrected when the graves were opened at Jesus’ death, as we saw with Daniel.

C. Sawn in Two

and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 24:51

It seems Jesus is suggesting that Father God will cut people in two. This clearly contradicts the nature of God, so He implies that we need to explore this parable more deeply.

This scripture is the first in the eschatology parables of Jesus from Matthew 24:45 through Matthew 25. Once again, careful study of this parable shows that it does not relate to Hell but instead to the first forty years after Jesus’ death. Historically, this aligns with the first persecutions of Christians by the Jews.

In “The Child, The Woman and the Seven-Years Peace”, we have learned Daniel 9:27 teaches there were three and a half years of peace with Jesus’ ministry, then the New Covenant of Peace, then a further three and a half years of peace before the persecution of Stephen in 33 CE.

Let’s look closer into this parable:

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?

Matthew 24:45

The wise servant refers to those whose master is Jesus. These are Christians who carry on the work of the Bread of Life to nourish others as Jesus did in the first three-and-a-half-years

But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunkards.

Matthew 24:48-49

D. Persecution

The wicked servant claims that My Master, the Messiah, has been delayed, even though they have just crucified Him. It is the wicked servant who mistreats the wise servants and is likened to those who continue to follow the law and persecute Christians.

Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord, and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Acts 7:57-58

Persecution of Christians by the Jews began in 33 CE when there was relative peace between the Jews and Rome. However, everything changed abruptly when Emperor Caligula rose to power seven years after Jesus’ death and resurrection in 37 CE.

Emperor Caligula was the only Caesar known to have cut people in two, just as Jesus had prophesied. This was Jesus’s first eschatological prophecy, which occurred within the forty years as foretold.

E. Hypocrites

Jesus clarifies even further who he is referring to by equating the wicked servants with hypocrites:

and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 24:51

The hypocrites are none other than the scribes and Pharisees. Seven times, He pronounces a woe upon them in His prelude to His Last Days prophecy, starting with:

”But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

Matthew 23:13

17. Jesus’ Teachings on Perishing

A. Father’s Will

First, it is not the Father’s will for anyone to perish.

Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Matthew 18:14

B. Repentance is Essential to Avoid Perishing

I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Luke 13:3-5

Jesus teaches that we must repent to avoid perishing. In our lesson “Repentance,” we learned that repentance means changing our thinking because the kingdom has come into anyone who believes.

C. Eternal Life or Perish

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

This is the most famous of Jesus’s words. Jesus provides only two options: believe in Him and have eternal life or do not believe and perish. It does not imply that one must suffer for eternity.

D: Perish means Death, Not Eternal Suffering

Some may argue that the word “perish” implies eternal punishment. However, this scripture clearly indicates that the term “perish” means to die and be completely destroyed.

The word “perish” in all of these scriptures is the same Greek word: ἀπόλλυμι (apollymi), which means to destroy fully.

It signifies total destruction. In other words, Jesus teaches that those who do not believe in Him will be completely destroyed. There is no suggestion that those who perish suffer indefinitely.

18. Jesus’ Teaching On Cursing and Danger of Hell

A. You Fool

In His teaching on murder, Jesus linked declaring someone a fool to being in danger of Hellfire.

You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 5:21-22

We understand how serious cursing is, putting us in danger of hellfire. Hellfires does not say that a person who curses goes to Hell. We learned that the seriousness of David’s sin of murdering Bathsheba’s husband did not cause him to go to Hell. So, in the same way, cursing does not mean someone will go to Hell. Jesus says that the person cursing is in danger of Hellfire. The Epistle of James clarifies this teaching by Jesus.

B. Tongue Set on Fire

James teaches us that the tongue is ignited by Hell.

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

James 3:6

James isn’t suggesting that using the tongue incorrectly will lead us to Hell. Let’s keep reading for more clarity.

With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

James 3:9-10

James clarifies that cursing puts us at risk of becoming a mouthpiece for the devil. He further elaborates in the following verses, discussing devilish wisdom.

This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

James 3:15

So, James explains what Jesus means. Cursing does not condemn us to Hell. As Jesus indicated, we are at risk of hellfire. When we curse, we act as a mouthpiece for demons, and our tongue turns into a world of wrongdoing.

19. Paul’s Teaching On Incorruptible Seed

Paul wrote to the Corinthians about the last trump around 53-54 CE.

A. The Last Trump

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. The trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53

Paul speaks in the future tense about an event after 54 CE.

B. The Last Trump is Not a Rapture

This frequently misquoted scripture by Futurists claims that we will be transformed in the blink of an eye in the future by being raptured before Jesus returns. However, we have already observed that the Antichrist existed during the time of the apostles, and the seven-year peace treaty was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

It pertains to the Great White Throne of Judgment, when the dead arise for judgment:

The sea gave up the dead in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

Revelation 20:13

C. Corruptible Seed is Flesh and Blood

Paul clearly indicates that he is referring to flesh and blood in the previous verse:

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption

1 Corinthians 15:50

D. Incorruptible Seed is Immortal

Paul continues that immortality comes out of mortality:

This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

1 Corinthians 15:53-54

Corruption is mortal, while incorruption represents immortality. However, he has already indicated that corruption does not automatically lead to incorruption. Therefore, only some individuals become incorruptible and, as a result, immortal.

E. Hades has Lost Its Victory

The following verse by Paul is a frequently misquoted passage regarding Death and Hades:

“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”

1 Corinthians 15:55 NKJV

The word for death is θάνατος (thanatos). However, both the NKJV and KJV mistranslate the second line as Hades, while in Greek, it actually refers to the same word for death: θάνατος (thanatos).  

So, this is more accurately written as:

“O Death, where is your sting?
O Death, where is your victory?”

1 Corinthians 15:55

This verse does not pertain to Hades; rather, it addresses victory over death and the Great White Throne of Judgment.

F. Victory Over Death is for those who are in Jesus Christ

Paul poses the question of death: where is your victory? That victory is revealed in the following verse:

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57

G. Incorruptible Seed has Eternal Life

Victory over death is granted to those in Jesus Christ. They transform into incorruptible seeds that germinate into eternal life.

H. Corruptible Seed Die

Those who do not believe in Jesus Christ are the corruptible seed who do not have victory over death. Like any seed that does not germinate, it does not mean they will become eternal and suffer forever!

Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:14-15

Here, we see that those who do not believe in Jesus are dead in Hell, not living. This is precisely what Jesus stated.

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:28

Contrary to Augustine’s teaching on soul sleep, Both the soul and the body are destroyed in Hell. It is important to note that the Greek word for soul represents both the breath of life and the spirit:

g5590. ψυχή psychē; from 5594; breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from 4151, which is the rational and immortal soul

Strongs Concordance g5590

I. We will Have a Physical Body in Heaven

However, for those of us who believe in Jesus, referencing 1 Corinthians 15, we will not merely be spirits in heaven with God for eternity; like Jesus, we will possess physical bodies that are free from pain, disease, and, of course, sin.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:4

20. Peter’s Teaching on the Return of Jesus

We have observed that Jesus, James, Paul and the church fathers do not endorse the Traditional View of Hell. Likewise, Peter’s teachings regarding the final coming of the Lord and Hell do not support it.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

2 Peter 3:10-13

A. Dissolved by Fire

Peter teaches that the works and elements will be destroyed by fire. There is no mention of eternal torment, only that the righteous can look forward to a time when righteousness dwells. Arguably, this does not refer to a future event because we have learned that we are already in a realm where righteousness reigns.

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:17

Thus, 2 Peter 3 could also pertain to the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple in a few years, as righteousness already prevailed.

21. Judgement Requires Justice.

A. Those Who Have Not been Preached To

Is God just if those of the current gentile age did not have the opportunity to accept Jesus because they were not preached to? According to the Traditional View of Hell, they would suffer for eternity. Unlike the people who had the chance when Jesus preached to them, these individuals could never believe in Jesus and enter heaven.

B. Unborn Children

Can a just and loving God truly send innocent unborn children to suffer in Hell for eternity? Even the most ardent Classical and Reformed theologians struggle with the implications of their theology. If they adhere to this theology, then the natural consequence of their doctrine and the Traditional View of Hell asserts that unborn children will endure eternal torment! They cannot provide a genuine theological answer to this question while remaining true to their theological foundation.

In “Sin Entered the World,” we learned that Augustine’s theory of Original Sin is false and that sin does not pass from generation to generation. Sin entered the world, and humankind could not resist it; thus, each person developed a sinful nature. Therefore, unborn children do not possess a sinful nature. So, why would a just God condemn them to suffer for eternity?

C. Good Versus Bad

Let’s assume, for the sake of argument, that the Traditional View of Hell is correct. What about truly wicked individuals? If God is just, should a person who has led a good life, never committed adultery or fornication, and never murdered suffer as much as, say, Hitler or Genghis Khan? The Traditional View of Hell offers no distinction in punishment. While God says we will be judged according to our works, this does not imply that one individual will be tormented more than another. It merely states that they will be judged and experience eternal separation.

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

Revelation 20:12

Whereas if they perish or are dissolved into dust, then besides shame and regret when they stand before God on Judgement Day, they will feel nothing, simply dying the second death as Revelation declares. Their soul and body will die as Jesus promised. But for us who believe:

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Revelation 20:6

This teaching demonstrates that God is just and that those who have not had the opportunity to hear the gospel will not experience eternal torment. Now, let us examine the two other views on Hell. They are alike in that neither suggests that those who enter the future Hell will be aware of their surroundings after the Great White Throne of Judgment. However, they differ in the speed of the destruction of the flesh.

22. Wrath of God

As we have discovered, God has emotions, including love. It is tempting to say that God does not experience anger. However, we know that Jesus is the express image of the Father and displayed anger at the Jews’ careless attitude toward the covenant with God. He rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees on multiple occasions and overturned the tables in the Temple.

The Greek word for wrath is ὀργή (orgē), which signifies desire as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind. This term is the origin of the word “orgy,” indicating a concept associated with it passion.

A. Against All Ungodliness

Romans begins with the following statement about the wrath of God:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

Romans 1:18

On one end of the theological spectrum, some teachers have gone to the extreme of asserting that God no longer displays wrath against individuals, only against sin. However, when we examine this scripture, we see that the word “against” is included. Desire toward someone would not contain the word against. Furthermore, we observe that it addresses the unrighteousness of men, indicating that the wrath is directed not just at sin but also at the men who suppress the truth.

B. Delayed Wrath

The writer offers further clarification to the Romans:

And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

Romans 2:3,5

And so Paul makes it clear that wrath is delayed for the Gentiles. Until Judgment Day, people are given over to the lifestyle that they desire:

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.

Romans 1:28

C. No Eternal Torment

As Romans 1 and 2 unfold, revealing the practices of ungodliness, we find the vilest sins, yet at no point does Paul say that they will suffer eternal torment. Instead, they are given over to their desires. Paul is clear that the wage of sin is death. When we get involved in sexual immorality or murder, God does not need to show wrath; sin, once it has come to fullness, has its own rewards. Sexual immorality and other sins will result in broken relationships and diseases of the body and mind. But none of these (for example HIV) are the wrath of God, it is that sin has its own reward.

D. Perishing

In his conversation with the Gentiles, Paul clearly states that they die.

who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Romans 1:32

It does not state that they will endure torment for eternity.

E. Distinctions Between Jews and Gentiles.

Paul differentiates between Jew and Gentile:

For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law

Romans 2:12

First, Paul reiterates that Gentiles will not suffer for eternity; they will perish. We have found that the Greek word for perish means to be completely destroyed. But why does Jesus draw a distinction between Jews and Gentiles?

F. Judged by the Law.

Paul states that the Jews were judged by the law. When he wrote this epistle in 56-57 CE, Jerusalem and the rest of Judea were on the brink of destruction during the Jewish-Roman Wars, which began in 66 CE. While the Jews played a significant role in the wars, they faced judgment from the Romans, resulting in the deaths of over 1.1 million of them. This was a higher percentage than during the Holocaust.

God did not need to judge them. They believed they were protected by their covenant with God, not realizing that the law had already died on the cross with Jesus. The Old Covenant judged them.

23. Annihilationism

John Stott was undoubtedly one of the leading theologians of the 20th century. He made the following statement:

A. What is Annihilationism?

Annihilationism teaches that “the wicked” simply disappear. All humans, demons, fallen angels and Satan himself are all destroyed with no awareness or consciousness.

However, Revelation clearly states that Satan and his demons will be tormented day and night:

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 20:10

In our lesson about the Two Witnesses of Revelation, we have observed that the Beast and the False Prophet are spiritual beings.

B. Partial Annihilationism

Partial annihilationism is where humans are destroyed fully, but Satan and his demons continue to suffer. It is similar to Conditional Immortality in that those going to Hell are not in eternal torment, and they no longer exist. The central scripture to this teaching is:

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

2 Peter 3:10-13

From what we have learned, Partial Annihilationism is more accurate than full Annihilationism.

24. Conditional Immortality

Conditional Immortality resembles Partial Annihilationism, focusing on John’s writing about being born again:

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life…

John 3:36

It simply means that eternity is conditional on the Covenantal Atonement. Those who believe in Jesus become sons and daughters of God for eternity and will dwell in God’s presence.

However, those who are not born again will face God and explain why they do not go to heaven. According to Paul’s writings to the Romans, they will receive judgment.

25. Evangelism and Hell

Some evangelists believe that since Jesus often spoke about Hell, we should also follow suit. However, our careful examination of Jesus’ teachings, as well as those of the apostles and church fathers, aside from Augustine, shows that none of them endorsed the Traditional View of Hell. Over our decades on the mission field, I have seen tens of thousands come to Christ cross-culturally. I no longer use the word “Hell” in my messages, as I do not find it necessary. 

A. Using Fear

Fear is a powerful emotion and mindset; some use it to gain converts. I saw a lot of using Hell and Rapture theology from the 1970s to the 2000s. Although people accepted Christ, they did so based on fear and incorrect doctrine. As a result, most of them either do not follow Christ or are lukewarm about being truly effective with the gospel. As I mentioned at the beginning of this lesson, they eventually come to the mistaken belief that a God of love can create a heaven and allow innocent people to suffer for eternity. They then do not know how to teach people about this false doctrine.

B. Double Dead

Jesus teaches that when a person dies, they are asleep. They will awaken at the Great White Throne of Judgment and must confront the truth that God’s decision about them is just. They have judged others and have not put their faith in Him. Consequently, they will experience a second death without enduring the eternal torment that is reserved for Satan and his angels.

C. Not Different from the Rest of Creation

Although humanity is created in the image of God and is therefore considered sons of God, they cannot truly be part of the family of God unless they enter into the New Covenant. They follow the same path as all of creation. After dying physically, they are consumed by fire or worms so they do not experience suffering. As Jesus stated, the soul and body die; their spirit was never alive.

D. Covenant Theology and Eternity

Having a mindset that God is good to His creation requires honesty in explaining eternity. The truth is that without Christ, people are spiritually dead. Only when we enter into the New Covenant with God are our names inscribed in the Book of Life.

• This is how I evangelise people if asked about Hell:
• They ask Jesus to be their Lord. This means they enter into a Covenant.
• The Father, Son and Holy Spirit come into their body and make it a temple
• They give their sins in exchange for His righteousness
  The law of Christ (not the Old Covenant) is written on their heart and mind.
• Their sins and unrighteousness are not remembered.
• They receive eternal life. If they ask what happens if they don’t accept Jesus, then I tell them they will meet God to explain their judgement and then, after that, die. 

That is all I say, and I usually do not even talk about Hell unless asked.

26. Summary

• Before Augustine, the Church Fathers either adhered to Annihilationism or Conditional Immortality or refrained from discussing eternal torment.
• Augustine is regarded as the father of the Traditional View of Hell. He espoused numerous false teachings, including those regarding Hell.
• The Old Testament had two terms for Hell: Sheol and Abaddon, and it sometimes used the Greek term Hades.
• Sheol and Hades completed their function after the destruction of Jerusalem. Only dead unrighteous individuals and the devil remain in Hades/Sheol now.
• The fire and worms of Isaiah allude to the destruction of Jerusalem.
• The shame and contempt mentioned by Daniel also relate to the destruction of Jerusalem.
• Abraham, Lazarus, and everyone from the Old Testament in Hades were preached to by Jesus, many of whom were raised from the dead by His preaching.
• The tale of Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man is no longer relevant.
• Jesus’ teachings about worms and fire allude to the Valley of Gehenna, where 1.1 million Jews were thrown, burned, and consumed by worms.
• The worms and fire cannot pertain to the future, or else there is no benefit to having a millstone around your neck.
• Punishment refers to a penal sentence in Greek, not to torment. In this context, eternity indicates the Gentile Age, which began in 70 CE and lasted until 1948, coinciding with the establishment of the Jewish state.
• Outer Darkness literally means obscurity and pertains to the Jews during the Gentile Age.
• References to perishing in Hell refer to death, specifically total destruction; it does not imply suffering for eternity.
• Cursing someone or calling them a fool does not mean that a person will go to Hell. Instead, it unleashes demonic wisdom and activity surrounding both the person being cursed and the person who curses.
• Paul’s teaching on corruptible seed suggests that without accepting Jesus, the seed fails to germinate and simply disappears. There is no basis for eternal torment.
• Peter’s teaching on the day of the Lord suggests that fire will consume everything. It also alludes to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE.
• God’s judgment must be fair. Everyone is spiritually dead until the Holy Spirit breathes life into them. It is unjust for God to eternally torment those who have never heard the gospel. Instead, they experience a second death.
• The wrath of God reflects God’s passion.
• Judgment is postponed until the Great White Throne of Judgment.
• Any visible wrath now stems from the consequences of sin.
• Annihilationism teaches that everything not redeemed is destroyed by fire.
• Partial Annihilationism limits this to those who are not the sons and daughters of God, while Satan and his demons will suffer perpetually.
• Conditional Immortality teaches that immortality hinges on accepting the New Covenant in Jesus. Everything else ceases to exist without eternal consciousness.
• We shouldn’t use fear of Hell inbecause it is not truth. our evangelism

© 2025 Use by Permission Awakening Impact Ministries / Dr Neville Westerbeek van Eerten D. Miss. BVSc.