The Myth of Hell and Eternal Punishment

The myth of eternal punishment

There are 3 principal words that the English word “hell ‘is transliterated from, you don’t have any other words used to describe hell. Number one is the Hebrew word Sheol, number two is Gehenna and number three is Hades.

“Hell” G # 1067Gehenna, a valley W. and South of Jer., also a symbolic name for the final place of punishment of the ungodly Original Word: γέεννα, ης, ἡ Transliteration: geenna
Phonetic Spelling: (gheh'-en-nah) Definition: Gehenna, a valley west and South of Jerusalem: Gehenna, and originally the name of a valley or cavity near Jerusalem, a place underneath the earth, a figurative place of punishment for evil.
gehenna, hell.Of Hebrew origin (gay' and Hinnom); valley of (the son of) Hinnom; ge-henna (or Ge-Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem, used (figuratively) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment -- hell. see HEBREW gay'see HEBREW Hinnom

As used in Luke 16 “Hell” G # 86 hadés: Hades, the abode of departed spirits Original Word: ᾍδης, ου, ὁ Part of Speech: Noun, MasculineTransliteration: hadés Phonetic Spelling: (hah'-dace) Definition: Hades, the abode of departed spirits Usage: Hades, the unseen world. grave, hell.
From a (as negative particle) and eido; properly, unseen, i.e. "Hades" or the place (state) of departed souls -- grave, hell. see GREEK a see GREEK eido

“Hell” H # 7585 sheol: underworld (place to which people descend at death) Original Word: שְׁאוֹל Part of Speech: Noun Feminine Transliteration: sheol Phonetic Spelling: (sheh-ole') Definition: underworld (place to which people descend at death) grave, hell, pitOr shol {sheh-ole'}; from sha'al; Hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates -- grave, hell, pit. see HEBREW sha'al

Etymology of the word Hell in Hebrew
H # 7592 prime root shaal: to ask, inquire Original Word: שָׁאַלPart of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: shaal Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-al') Definition: to ask, inquire ask counsel, on, beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand, desire, Or shael {shaw-ale'}; a primitive root; to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand -- ask (counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand, desire, X earnestly, enquire, + greet, obtain leave, lend, pray, request, require, + salute, X straitly, X surely, wish.
Glaring contradictions in the eternal punishment doctrine.

Does fire have any effect on the spirit body? Answer; No
The second death is a complete contradiction of eternal punishment, you can’t have both. Death is final whether it be the flesh or the spirit, death is forever and not the punishment or sentence itself.

How can you be placed in hell without first being judged at the GWTJ which does not take place until after the Millennium?

How on earth do you jump from Gehenna a garbage pit outside of Jerusalem or Hades which is a state of mind to a lake of fire? The same goes for the Hebrew word Sheol. All three of these examples are the only ones we have to determine the meaning of the English word “hell”. Nowhere in God’s word does it say that hell is a lake of fire.

You can only approach this subject from the totality of scripture. Without it your assumptions will be erroneous. In my mind the whole concept of eternal punishment has been created in the mind of some lofty scripture butcher to get people into their Church.

Every time the word hell is used it would better be rendered “torment”.
God is the lake of fire as described in Hebrews 12:29. He is the only one who can actually consume your soul and destroy it. Fire has no effect on a spirit body.

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
The above verse cannot coexist with the eternal punishment doctrine. For it to exist there has to be awareness of it and this is a complete contradiction of Revelation 21:4.

If the flesh body were placed in fire it would only take minutes for it to be completely consumed. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom neither does corruption put on incorruption. This concept can only be found in the Greek words; nekros, hoi nekroi, ek nekron and 'ek ton nekron. If you don’t understand these Greek words you will be lost in your understanding of death hell and the grave.

With that in mind, the verses below will be clearly understood

Revelation 19:20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (The office the beast and false prophet will be consumed by God the consuming fire of Hebrews 12:29.) Death hell and the grave will also be consumed by God Almighty at the end of the millennium after the GWTJ.

The GWTJ at the end of the millennium;

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Consumed by God almighty after the GWTJ

Punished for Eternity is the second death-The punishment itself is forever. Once the punishment is carried out the consequences will be forever. Not the person receiving the punishment forever. You can only kill someone’s soul once. It’s really just that simple. The true definition is; you’re gone forever. Blotted out, never to be remembered; as if you never existed. Consumed by YHVH the Consuming Fire.

Eternally Punished means to be punished forever-ongoing punishment
This is the misguided modern Church version of Hell. Everybody floating on clouds playing harps and over in the distance is a big lake of fire with many of your own relatives burning in it, screaming bloody &*^%$ help me I’m burning. I think most people picture hell as the mouth of a volcano where people are swimming around in hot, fiery molten lava.

This is as bad as Santa and the easter bunny. Talk about not getting it? It’s an understatement. The church has used this false version of hell to beat people into heaven for centuries. But in fact in my own experience it has turned many unsaved people away from God. It is by far one of the worst interpretation errors in modern Christianity.

Hell is being described as a “state of mind” or torment for your own failure in the NT and the OT. With failure can bring torment, gnashing of teeth, being cast into outer darkness; all symptoms of failure and knowledge of it. Other symptoms of this are; a state of degradation or decay because you know you missed the mark and did not receive eternal life. You’re in a spirit body but you’re still mortal and aware of it. You are in a state of decay.

All of the above symptoms are describing what happens after people die who are unsaved. All saved and unsaved people enter paradise whether the left or the right side. These above will go to the left side as goats and then separated from the sheep that go to the right side of the gulf. All are judged at the JSOC the moment they die.

The torment described in Luke 16 by the rich man was a symptom of the JSOC and not the GWTJ. The GWTJ will not happen until 1000 years later. Only then will people be sentenced to the second death.
This to me is further proof that the description of hell in Luke 16 is only a state of mind being described and not a literal location. How could the rich man go to hell if he hadn’t been sentenced yet? The GWTJ is not until a thousand years later but the text says he woke up in hell.
Better said; torment.
He woke up in torment not a lake of fire.

Only after the GWTJ will people be sentenced to the second death
The English word Hell has morphed into this creepy idea of a place where bad people are sent the moment they die. The way in which it’s characterized is misleading.
It is very important to know the difference between a location and a state of mind.
There is only one place people go after they die…Paradise; The left or right side of the gulf.
If you believe hell is a location then show me the scripture.
You will be tormented by your decision not to follow Jesus. You will be rewarded if you do.
Can you imagine if you died and woke up in paradise and you were with the goats on the left side of the great gulf? At that moment you would realize you had missed a chance at immortality. It would be hell to pay for a thousand years. The absolute grief and torment you would feel would cast you into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. All caused by the realization of your failure and bad decisions, not from swimming in a lake of hot molten lava.
The left side of the great gulf in Philippians 1:23 and Luke 26 would best describe the common understanding of where hell is. But it doesn’t have a lake of fire. It’s a place where the unsaved are. All who are there are tormented by their failure.
The right side of the great gulf would best describe Heaven or Paradise where there is rejoicing.

The verse below is the only verse you need to describe eternal life and the second death

John 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Perish G#622 apollumi: to destroy, destroy utterly Original Word: ἀπόλλυμι Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apollumi Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ol'-loo-mee) Definition: to destroy, destroy utterly Usage: (a) I kill, destroy, (b) I lose, mid: I am perishing (the resultant death being viewed as certain). destroy, die, lose, mar, perish. From apo and the base of olethros; to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively -- destroy, die, lose, mar, perish. see GREEK apo GREEK olethros (Satan is called the destroyer)
Revelation 9:11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

Second death
Revelation 2:11He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Revelation 20:6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Revelation 20:14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Revelation 21:8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

You’ve only got two choices for the word “hell” as it’s used here; Gehenna or Hades. Both of these Greek words are figurative, not literal. Hell is not literally a garbage pit outside of Jerusalem or a cave of hot molten lava at the center of the earth. It is the left side of the gulf where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth for the realization of failure. Torment and cast into outer darkness are descriptions of the realization of failure as well. When you understand this, Luke 16 will make better sense to you.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
>The word “buried” (above) is # 6912 in Hebrew and 2290 in Greek and simply means to “enter” or an event, i.e. burial. Not in the literal sense “with dirt” You have to think in the spirit. Is there dirt in heaven? Not in the literal sense. >How could Lazarus see Abraham if he was literally “buried” with dirt? They are both in Heaven, or “paradise” as Jesus said in Luke23:43. “This day you will be in paradise”.
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (This should be obvious; hell in the modern false interpretation does not exist until after the GWTJ) The real hell which is an oxymoron is the second death which is not mentioned in Luke 16.
24 And 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.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Philipians 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Hell is mentioned 31 times in the OT and 23 in the NT
The figurative translation and not a transliteration should be rendered;

Torment, degradation or decay
Luke 16 uses the word torment in conjunction with the word hell. Both mean the same.

Deuteronomy 32:22For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
2 Samuel 22:6The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
Job 11:8It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
Job 26:6Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
Psalm 9:17The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
Psalm 16:10For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psalm 18:5The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
Psalm 55:15Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
Psalm 86:13For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
Psalm 116:3The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
Psalm 139:8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
Proverbs 5:5Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
Proverbs 7:27Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
Proverbs 9:18But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Proverbs 15:11Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
Proverbs 15:24The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
Proverbs 23:14Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
Proverbs 27:20Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
Isaiah 5:14Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
Isaiah 14:9Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
Isaiah 14:15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Isaiah 28:15Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
Isaiah 28:18And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
Isaiah 57:9And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.
Ezekiel 31:16I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
Ezekiel 31:17They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.
Ezekiel 32:21The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.
Ezekiel 32:27And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
Amos 9:2Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:
Jonah 2:2And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
Habakkuk 2:5Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

New Testament
Matthew 5:22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Matthew 5:29And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Matthew 5:30And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Matthew 10:28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 11:23And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
Matthew 16:18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 18:9And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
Many simple minded Christians believe the above verse to be literal. In reality this verse is speaking of the body of Christ in a figurative sense. The concept of hell is the same.

Matthew 23:15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Matthew 23:33Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Mark 9:43And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mark 9:45And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mark 9:47And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
Luke 10:15And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
Luke 12:5But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Luke 16:23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Acts 2:27Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Acts 2:31He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
James 3:6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
2 Peter 2:4For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; (Tartroo)

Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Revelation 6:8And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death

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