Jason Goroncy has a provoking and stimulating post on the Church’s doctrine of hell over at Per Crucem ad Lucem. Here’s a sneak peak:
If Hell is the nemesis of hope, can it be part of the Gospel? If Christ came to “free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Heb. 2:15), should the fear of Hell keep the Church in business?2 If not, what on earth does “hell” mean in the New Testament?
November 1, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Hello! First of all, Jesus did come to free mankind from the fear of death, for whoever has the Son has life, but whoever does not have the Son does not have life and the wrath of God rest on him/her. In order for one to be freed from the fear of death, one must willfully receive Christ, acknowledging ones sin, repenting and from there go from faith to faith. For those who reject Christ there is then no other means of salvation and their sin remains on them, as well as the wrath of God. Jesus said it, Matthew 10:28
“Do not be afaid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Also, there are three individual words translated ‘Hell’, which are different locations.
Hades: This is a temporary place of torment for the lost dead located within the heart of the earth (Luke 16:19-31). Those who find themselves here will wait in torment until the great white throne judgment.
Geenna: Also called the “Lake of Fire” and the “Second Death” (Rev.2:11,20:6,21:8).” This place is rightly translated ‘Hell’and was prepared for Satan and his angels (Mt.25:41). At the end of the millennial reign of Christ the resurrection of the unjust occurs and all of the lost dead are gathered before what is called the great white throne judgment(Revelation 20:11-15)and the books are opened and everyone will be judged individually according to what they had done in life. They will not have the shed blood of Christ to cover their sins because they rejected Him and so they will be accountable for everything. Unlike Hades, the location of the lake of fire is not revealed.
Tartaroo: This word is also translated ‘Hell’, but is used only once found in II Peter 2:4 and is speaking of a place within the deepest Abyss where God imprisoned the angels (sons of God) who sinned by taking wives from the progeny of men and the their wives brought forth giants (Genesis 6:1-4 and Enoch 7:2-10). This group of angels, also called ‘The Watchers’ will also be judged at the great white throne judgment.
I hope that this helps.