Lesson Five

Chapter 9:1-2

Hell Know!

a) There are three bible terms for hell:

1) Abyss/Tartarus

2) Sheol/Hades

3) Gehenna/Tophet

b) Abyss/Tartarus:

- Abyss is the place called the bottomless pit in Scripture. It is the dwelling place of demons and the prison of disobedient spirits.

- Tartarus is the place in hell where wicked spirits are punished

- Scripture references for Abyss: Rev 9:1-2, 11: 11:7: 17:8; 20:1, 3 (cf. Jude 6, 7)

- Scripture reference for Tartarus: 2 Peter 2:4 (cf. Gen. 6:1-5)

c) Sheol/Hades

- This is described in scripture as the place of the dead. Hebrew term is Sheol and the Greek term is Hades.

- Old Testament Scripture references: Gen. 37:35; Duet. 32:22; Num 16:16; 30, 33; Job 9:31; 17:16; 2 Samuel 22:6; Psalms 9:7; 16:10; 40:2; 86:13; 88:4-6,10; Eccl 9:10; Isaiah 14:15 (Lucifer in Sheol cf. Job 38:7); 38:10; Ezek 31:15, 17; Amos 9:2.

- New Testament Scriptures references: Matt 11:23; 16:18; Luke 16:19-31; Acts 2:27-31 (cf. Eph 4:8; 1 Pet. 3:19)

d) Gehenna/Tophet

- This is described in the bible as the "Valley of Ben Hinnon". This is known by Israelites/Jews as the place of refuse or garbage dump, or waste land area. It is the place were mutilated corpses were discarded in the aftermath of war, where there were worms, fire and sulphur and stinky smell.

- In the Old Testament it is called Tophet and in the New Testament it is called Gehenna (Is 14:12-15; 30:33; Jer 7:31-32; 19:6-7, 11-14; 2 Kings 23:10).

- Jesus uses this term as an analogy to describe what judgement would look like. It is like a lake of fire. It is the place prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt 5:22' 25:41; Mark 9:43, 44). It is also described as the final place of eternal judgement for not just for demons but all the people who have not been redeemed (Rev 20:11-15).

e) Three Levels of Hell:

- So how do we define hell? Is hell present now or only for the future? And what is the bottomless pit in Revelation 9?

- Hell is referred to in all three sets of meanings the above scriptures. This shows that there are different aspects or degrees of hell. As a matter of fact, there are three levels of hell:

- LEVEL 1 is Sheol. This is the place were dead persons go. As illustrated from the scripture references above, Sheol is a hot holding place for dead human spirits. Satan and his demons are in this place as well and can torment the dead human spirits. While the human spirits cannot leave it, Satan and his demons can go and come. This first level of hell does not have the redeemed dead saints within it. They are in paradise (cf. Luke 16:19-31; 23:33-34). These passages speak of hell as being a place that somehow separates the righteous dead from the unrighteous dead.

- LEVEL 2 is the Abyss. This is where imprisoned spirits abide. They are awaiting the judgment for them to be released to punish the unregenerate people in the last days according to Revelation 9.

- LEVEL 3 is Tartarus. This is the place where very wicked spirits abide and may never leave this level of hell. The deeper the level (or higher the number) is correlated with the amount of wickedness of the spirit. It also correlates to the degree of suffering or punishment in hell.

f) Take home lessons on hell:

- POINT 1: The devil doesn't not rule hell--Sheol/Hades. God rules hell (Matt 8:29).

- POINT 2: But Devil and his demons can torment souls in hell--Sheol/Hades (Amos 5:18-19; Matt. 13:42; 18:34; 50; 24:51; Rev 9)

- POINT 3: Gehenna (lake of fire) is a place that will be created in the future. It does not exist as yet. This will be the place where all sinners and wicked spirits (demons) will be relocated to at the coming of the Lord. It is a place that will not only be punishing spirit beings but also resurrected sinners (Rev 20:13; Dan 12:2; John 5:28-29; cf. Matt 10:28; Mark 9:43-48; Acts 24:14-15).

- POINT 4: God will assign sinners and demons their rightful place in hell and appoint them their due punishment (Matt 10:28; 16:27; 24:50). The devil will suffer the worst punishment in hell--Gehenna. He will be at the deepest point.