16 July 2007
Last Updated on 02 September 2010
Hell is simply the grave, as taught in the Bible. Where do we go when we die? The Bible is very clear on this subject. Christ, the apostles and prophets taught that when a person dies they are asleep in a state of inactivity until the time of their resurrection. Some clergy explain that when someone dies, good people go to heaven and bad people go to "hell", being tortured by demons for all eternity. This false teaching has been passed on as an accepted belief for centuries.
Some clergy say the deceased are now "looking down from heaven, watching over you". Have you ever been to a funeral where the clergyman says, "This man didn't quite live up to the standard and is now screaming at us from below, being tortured by a fiery landscape of brimstone and dwelling among devils?" Probably not. To condemn an individual this way would be to judge him, and the Bible says it's not time for judgement" (Ecclesiastes 3:17, 12:14, 1 Corinthians 4:5). If they declare a person is in heaven, is not that making a judgment? Also reason this, the Bible teaches that we either live forever or die forever (Deuteronomy 30:19). If a person were being tortured for all eternity, wouldn't he still be alive? When a person dies, they are asleep in the grave until their time of resurrection. Daniel 12:2 says, "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt" (KJV).
Before going through this study, it would be helpful if you first went through the studies titled Soul and Spirit and Death and Resurrection.
The Grave
Ecclesiastes 3:18-20 When people die, they sleep in the grave until the time of judgment.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 When one is dead, they have no thoughts or actions.
Jonah 1:17, 2:1-2 Jonah cried to God from his would-be grave.
Acts 2:25-31 When Christ died he was put into his tomb, but was not left in hell (the grave). His Father brought him back to life after three days and nights. (See references below).
Revelation 20:13, 14 Death and the grave will be eliminated.
If you enjoyed this study, you may also be interested in the study topic titled: Death and Resurrection or, an article titled "The Truth About Death and Hell"
Additional References for further study:
1 Kings 2:10
Matthew 12:40
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Comments
I read 2 Corinthians 5:1-9 where this scripture is quoted (verse 8). Paul is talking about we would rather be present with the Lord in heaven but we are not for the time being.
We are in the body and have confidence through faith that at the coming of Christ his that are asleep and his that remain will meet with Christ. See also 1 Thessalonans 4:13-18.
I like Tom's assesment here of Hell and the Lake of Fire. The previous articles below deny that hell is a grave and that is wrong, scripturally wrong.
The scriptures do say that once being cast into the Lake of Fire that there is everlasting torment.
I believe that the eternal torment part of these scriptures refer to those who were cast into the lake fire with Satan that they will be talked about for eternity.
I still do not see Almighty God keeping all the wicked alive and having them suffer for eternity. It makes no reasoning sense. Although Almighty God and His Son have all rights to do with the wicked as they please, I tend to think that eternal torment is teaching all of those who live forever and their children what this world was like.
The Lake of Fire is everlasting destruction in which anyone cast into it will never return.
We can discuss this to no end. I guess the important thing is to obey Jesus and His Father and do our best to be accounted righteous. Then we will all find out what really happens.
In (Revelation 20:14), the name “second death” is actually a concept described also in (Revelation 21:8) as a lake of fire where according to (Revelation 20:10 & Matthew 25:41) there will be no rest, but torment day and night for the wicked.
Revelation 20:10 & Matthew 25:41 are not the only evidence the real description of the second death. Revelation 14:10 &11 also talks about how the wicked will be tormented in BURNING SULFUR, where there won’t be any rest for them DAY OR NIGHT, exactly like the devil.
One more evidence among many, Matthew 13:42 “They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Again, the same thing is said in verse 50. So, if they are in fact dead, then how come they’ll be weeping?
Jesus has warned about hell many times in the NT, because He knows how terrible it will be there. He even said in Matthew 5:29 & 30, that if your right eye or hand cause you to sin, to get rid of them because it’s better to lose one part of your body on this earth than for your whole body get thrown in hell.
God is a loving being. His Word is not here to confuse us. You need to open your mind to its real meaning instead of deciding it for yourself.
Remember Hebrew 6:8 states that it’s impossible for God to lie. His words prophesized (ex. Hell not a grave), whether we sinners like it or not, will in fact happen.
Actually Matthew 12:40 actually describe hell. It was making a comparison between Jonah in the whale’s belly which is situated in the ocean and Jesus in hell, which is assumed to be located in the center of the earth.
Now, I’m going to give all of the evidence of the second death being about actual torment in the fire. Open your mind to what the Bible clearly states instead of making a final decision on hell being a “grave.”
(Revelation 20:14) “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.” This verse clearly describes the lake of fire as the second death as you describe.
Now, let’s look another description for second death in (Revelation 21:8). “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
All of those people described above are the wicked. They are those who reject Christ to follow satan on this earth and will do so in death as a punishment.
Now what is satan’s fate? It’s already foretold in (Revelation 20:10) “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the LAKE OF FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOR EVER AND EVER.” In (Matthew 25:41), it clearly states how the wicked will also FOLLOW satan in his fate. “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into EVERLASTING FIRE, PREPARED for the devil and his angels."
READ THE NEXT TEXT
Only Jesus knows what He was doing there. But I can assure you that there Jesus; the holy Lord did not ascend to hell due to sins or anything like it.
Actually Matthew 12:40 actually describe hell. It was making a comparison between Jonah in the whale’s belly which is situated in the ocean and Jesus in hell, which is assumed to be located in the center of the earth.
Now, I’m going to give all of the evidence of the second death being about actual torment in the fire. Open your mind to what the Bible clearly states instead of making a final decision on hell being a “grave.”
(Revelation 20:14) “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.” This verse clearly describes the lake of fire as the second death as you describe.
Now, let’s look another description for second death in (Revelation 21:8). “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
All of those people described above are the wicked. They are those who reject Christ to follow satan on this earth and will do so in death as a punishment.
Now what is satan’s fate? It’s already foretold in (Revelation 20:10) “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the LAKE OF FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOR EVER AND EVER.” In (Matthew 25:41), it clearly states how the wicked will also FOLLOW satan in his fate. “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into EVERLASTING FIRE, PREPARED for the devil and his angels."
READ THE NEXT TEXT
If you think that hell is a burning tormenting place reserved for the devil and wicked then explain what Christ was doing there?
Acts 2:31-32
31He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Matthew 12:40
40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Hell is another word for grave. The Lake of Fire is final destruction (second death) in which hell (grave) is cast into. See Revelation 20.
Regards, Bible Research.
exactly-it is the second death which means you are gone permanently no longer in Jehovah's memory
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