What this video covers
This video examines the topic of Hell. Where is it? What is its purpose? What does the Bible have to say about it?
Dante and popular ideas of Hell
You may be surprised to learn that much of what people conceptualize Hell to be was influenced by a narrative poem written in 14th Century by Italian writer, Dante Alighieri (1265–1321). In The Divine Comedy, he describes the journey of a fictionalized version of himself going through Hell, guided by the ancient Roman poet Virgil. Hell is depicted as nine concentric circles of torment located within the Earth. It is a place of torture and purification of the soul.
Unfortunately, with the Divine Comedy in mind, many read into passages in the Bible this same vision of a burning hell. But does the Bible actually describe anything remotely like this?
The death state in Scripture
To understand Hell, we need to first have an understanding about what the Bible teaches us about the death state. Is there consciousness after death? Do we have a soul that continues on without our body?
Well, the Bible is very clear on this. There is no conscious existence outside of the body. Here’s a few examples of what the Bible teaches.
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.
— Psalm 146:3–4 (ESV)
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
— Ecclesiastes 9:10 (ESV)
When we die, all consciousness ceases. We will remain this way forever, unless we are resurrected to life by the Lord Jesus Christ, which is the hope of believers.
Sheol: one word, several English renderings
But did you notice that word, “sheol” in Ecclesiastes 9? That is an important word, untranslated from the original Hebrew. In numerous translations of the Bible, this term is rendered as “the grave.” That makes sense, since the grave is where unconscious bodies are placed. But the word sheol is translated several ways in the Bible. In some places it is simply “pit.” But in other places it is translated as “hell.” But it is all the same word, sheol. Even Jonah, when he was in the belly of the fish for three days, described it as sheol, or hell.
The grave, or hell, is not a place of torment. It is a place of darkness and unconsciousness. It is the destiny of all mortals, both men and animals.
Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish. Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell
— Psalm 49:12, 14 (ESV)
Was Jesus “in Hell”?
So, let’s return to the concept of Hell being a place of torment. Some understand Hell as being a place where evil people are sent after death, to be tormented under the supervision of a supernatural devil. But would it surprise you to know that even Jesus was in Hell?
Peter spoke of the assurance that King David had written about. David knew that one of his descendants, his Seed, would not perish in the grave, but be resurrected.
Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses
— Acts 2:30–32
Since the New Testament was written in Greek, we see another word appearing here—Hades. But we know that Jesus was laid in the grave. After his crucifixion, Jesus was unconscious, lying in the tomb. He was in Hades, or sheol, as it would have been in Hebrew. It only means that Jesus was dead. It required God to raise him from the dead.
Lazarus and the resurrection hope
You may also remember that in his mortal life, Jesus performed the incredible act of raising Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus was unconscious, having been lying in a tomb for four days. Before Jesus raised Lazarus, Martha, the sister of Lazarus, was told by Jesus:
“Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
— John 11:23–24 (ESV)
Martha was under no misconception about the state of the dead. She knew that her brother was dead and that he would not be alive again until “the resurrection at the last day.” This is the case of all men and women. When we die, we do not go to a burning hell to be tormented, but rather we wait unconsciously until the day when Jesus returns, raises the dead, and judges both the dead and the living.
Judgment when Jesus returns
Another reason we need not fear a burning hell is because all judgment will not happen until Jesus returns to the earth. The Apostle Paul tells us that God has appointed a day in which the judgment will occur, through Jesus Christ. He further wrote to Timothy:
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom
— 2 Timothy 4:1 (ESV)
The Judgment of mankind will occur only when Jesus returns to the earth. There is no conscious existence or condemnation that occurs before that time. Those who have died remain asleep, waiting for the call of the Lord Jesus Christ from the grave.
The Apostle Paul knew that the enemy to be destroyed was sin and death. When Jesus returns, he will grant immortality to the faithful. Then it can be said:
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
— 1 Corinthians 15:55 (KJV)
God’s character
One final thought on this topic. The idea of Hell and torture is completely inconsistent with what we know about the character of God. God is merciful, gracious, longsuffering, abundant in mercy and truth. He does command obedience from men and women, and He has appointed His Son to perform that Judgment. But we are also told that God takes no pleasure in the death of wicked men and women.
Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
— Ezekiel 33:11 (ESV)
Our Heavenly Father is not an angry vindictive God. He does not wish to torment the dead. Rather, what He desires is for men and women to repent, to turn back to Him in their life. We need not worry about a supernatural being and a burning Hell. God is working with you to save you, to bring you to repentance. When His Son returns to the earth, may you, by God’s grace, be raised to immortality. This is the true Christian hope.