Does the Bible actually say you are going to Hell?

Question

I'm a deist so I don't accept the idea of hell. But I was looking at something and this is what I put in a previous answer because I found it extremely interesting:

The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) makes no reference to "eternal torment" in "hell." In the Hebrew Bible, the words "sheol" and "hades" simply refer to "the grave" or "death." In fact, no theory of "life after death" is found in the Hebrew Bible. The psalmist prayed, "For I am thy passing guest, a sojourner, like all my fathers. Look away from me, that I may know gladness before I depart and be no more (Psalms 39:12-13).

The idea of hell being a place of everlasting torment comes primarily from the book of Revelation in the New Testament. This book was written during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian (81 AD - 96 AD) who claimed to be divine and insisted on being worshipped. The Christians who refused emperor worship were subject to persecution and execution.

The writer of the book of Revelation wrote his book to encourage Christians to remain firm in the face of persecution, and the writer envisioned a time when God would punish the Roman emperor (called the "beast") and the "false prophet" (who promoted emperor worship), along with the "devil" or "Satan."

In the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), the word "hades" (translated "hell") is described only one time as a place of everlasting torture (Luke 16:19-31). In this instance, the writer of Luke tells a story about a "rich man" suffering eternal torment in "hell" because he neglected the needs of a poor man named "Lazareth." However, the purpose of the story was not to describe "hell" but to express the writer's anger at Jews for refusing to accept the Christian claim that Jesus had risen from the dead (verse 31). This story of the "rich man and Lazareth" obviously did not come from Jesus whose alleged "resurrection" had not yet occurred in the story of Jesus' life. Of course, when "Luke" wrote his gospel, he knew of the "resurrection" and used it to condemn the Jews for their unbelief.

The writer of Revelation uses the Greek word "hades" (the grave) to describe where the dead must await a judgment day on which "the Lord" decides whether a person receives eternal life or is "thrown into the lake of fire" (called the "second death") to be "tormented day and night for ever and ever."

The New Testament book called "Second Peter," written by an unknown writer in the second Christian century, uses the Greek word "tartarus" (which is translated "hell") to refer to "pits of nether gloom" where the God would "keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment" (Second Peter 2:4-10). The New Testament book called "Jude," also written by an unknown writer, claims that persons who "acted immorally and indulged in unnatural lust" would be kept in "eternal chains in the nether gloom until the judgment of the great day" (Jude 1:6-7). Both "Second Peter" and "Jude" refer to the story of the angels (Genesis 6) whose lust for human females led to the angels being cast

into "nether gloom" to await judgment.

yeah it was a pretty interesting essay on hell that I thought I'd share lol...so those few are just like...hardly nothing compared to the actual length of the essay. Read it yourself:

http://www.onr.com/user/bejo/hell.htm

did some of you even take the time to READ what all I quoted and linked? peesh. If you can't take my question seriously, rather than just assume you know it's in there without even considering what I've got here....well I just don't want to even hear your answer.

Get SERIOUS with me. Give me the consideration, treat me like an adult and not some wayward child.

Answer 1

It says you will perish in a lake of fire. As to the validity of this statement, please look up "Gehenna" and be prepared to have your eyes opened up a bit. The real "Hell" as a metaphysical place doesn't exist, but there are some forms of psychological hell.

Answer 2

It depends on the translation of the bible i.e. NIV, NKJ, KJ, etc. some acually say the word hell others just give a reference. As far as your concept of hell I cannot help. I have been a christian all my life and still cannot understand the concept. Of course I cannot understand eternity eather. If you truly think about it How long is eternity you'll find you cant grasp the concept. You understand what it is but you cant fathom the acual timeframe, because there is none. Our mind are finite and some theological issues we cant understand that is why we must acccept them on faith. Trust that hell is real and if you want a good description of hell then read below Imagion your worst fear, combine it with no hope and no love and multiply it by a hundred and that is what you will live with for the rest of eternity.

Answer 3

WHAT image does the word "hell" conjure up in your mind? Do you see hell as a literal place of fire and brimstone, of unending torment and anguish? Or is hell perhaps a symbolic description of a condition, a state?
For centuries, a fiery hell of excruciating torments has been envisioned by religious leaders of Christendom as the certain destiny for sinners. This idea is still popular among many other religious groups. "Christianity may have made hell a household word," says U.S.News & World Report, "but it doesn't hold a monopoly on the doctrine. The threat of painful retribution in the afterlife has counterparts in nearly every major world religion and in some minor ones as well." Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Jains, and Taoists believe in a hell of one sort or another.
Hell, though, has acquired another image in modern thinking. "While the traditional infernal imagery still attracts a following," states the aforementioned magazine, "modern visions of eternal perdition as a particularly unpleasant solitary confinement are beginning to emerge, suggesting that hell may not be so hot after all."

Answer 4

There are several words for hell in the New Testament per the old Hebrew and Aramaic.
Gey Hinnon , Takh'ti, shoel, In the Old Testament the word was shol. Shoel - translates to Abode of the dead.
The Muslims believe in Hell, It is all through the Quran.
My concept of hell is a lower astral plane where negative energy manifest in it's own perverted manor. Like attracts like so if evil is what you are about, then you may enjoy the fruits of your tree. I understand that thought creates as well in other dimensions and we can manifest a dark void in space or a place of fire and brimstone. All I know is I don't want to be there and except the concept that I won't be because of my belief. So let the chips fall where they may. It's all possible! If you can think of it why can't it be so?
Rev. TomCat

Answer 5

In the Old Testament, although it is not stated as obviously as in the New Testament, the teaching of "life after death" is definitely there-one obvious example would be of Elijah being swept up to heaven (alive) by the chariot. Also there are Scriptures such as Isaiah 1:28,31(NIV) that says "But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the Lord will perish...The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark, both will burn together, with no one to quench the fire."

One of Jesus' teachings about this was to the Jewish group called the Sadducees who did not believe in a resurrection. Jesus said "But about the resurrection of the dead-have you not read what God said to you,' I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the LIVING."(Matthew 22:32)NIV

The Bible says a lot about heaven and hell in the gospels, not just in the book of Revelation. For example,"anyone who says 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell' (Matthew 5:22)NIV, "It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell"(Matthew 5:29)NIV, "be afraid of the One who can destroy both body and soul in hell"(Matthew 10:28)NIV and the Scripture in Luke you mentioned.

The Scripture about Lazarus is not about Jesus' resurrection. Verse 31 is an answer to the rich man's request to have someone go back from the dead to warn his brothers so that they would not end up in hell too.Jesus has said that they had the books of Moses and the prophets and that was enough.

Hell is not for everyone. "God is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6)NIV."they who seek the Lord will praise Him-may your hearts live FOREVER!(Psalm 22:26)NIV

Answer 6

lwaX Sh@'owl (sheh-ole');
Word Origin: Hebrew, Noun Feminine
from (07592)

sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit
the underworld
Sheol - the OT designation for the abode of the dead
place of no return
without praise of God
wicked sent there for punishment
righteous not abandoned to it
of the place of exile (fig)
of extreme degradation in sin

There is the definition of Sheol. One must assume that it is a place for something. An Abode for the Dead? Also, the book of Jude was written by Jude, Brother of James. Jude 1:1

Answer 7

So then the Old testament takes precedence over the New? All that you are regurgitating is just liberal scholarship and pretty much been disproved.
I'd stick with the words of Christ .He talked more about Hell than Heaven.Emperor Domitian had nothing to do with John's revelation from Christ.Hellwas created for Satan and his angels Jesus said and man goes ther only by rejecting Christ.

Answer 8

I like your desire to search for truth you don't just take someone else's word for something. I think however you did not pursue far enough. In the Bible hell is spoken of far more than heaven is, simply as a warning to the lost. At the Great White Throne Judgment those who have rejected Christ as their Lord and Saviour will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity. People today want to hear a message of love and peace and don't want to hear about hell or judgment, this is not reality. God warns us of the judgment for sin and we are told He is willing that none should perish but knows all will not accept Christ whom He sent to die for our sins.

Answer 9

We know there is a heaven, hell and a purgatory from Scriptures.

Here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:

1035 The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, "eternal fire." The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.

1037 God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end. In the Eucharistic liturgy and in the daily prayers of her faithful, the Church implores the mercy of God, who does not want "any to perish, but all to come to repentance":

Father, accept this offering
from your whole family.
Grant us your peace in this life,
save us from final damnation,
and count us among those you have chosen.

Answer 10

great question, and you are obviously extremely knowledgeable on this topic. I always like to quote a very smart Jesuit priest I know on the subject of hell: He says, "I can believe there is a Hell. I just don't have to believe anyone is in it."

As Kinky Friedman likes to say, "May the God of your choice bless you." ;-)