Heaven and hell
Hades | Sheol | Abraham's bosom | Paradise | Father's House | Gehenna | Hell | Lake of fire | Purgatory
Heaven and paradise
The word paradise is used as a synonym for heaven (2 Corinthians 12:3–4; Revelation 2:7). When Jesus was dying on the cross and one of the thieves being crucified with Him asked Him for mercy, Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
Jesus spoke about my Father's House, in two different meanings
1) The temple on earth
2) The mansions in heaven
The word paradise is used as a synonym for heaven (2 Corinthians 12:3–4; Revelation 2:7). When Jesus was dying on the cross and one of the thieves being crucified with Him asked Him for mercy, Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
Jesus spoke about my Father's House, in two different meanings
1) The temple on earth
2) The mansions in heaven
Abraham’s bosom is referred to only once in the Bible—in the story of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19–31). Abraham’s lap was used in the Talmud as a synonym for heaven (Seder Nashim, Kiddushin 72b). The image in Jesus’ story is of Lazarus reclining at a table leaning on Abraham’s breast at the heavenly banquet—as John leaned on Jesus’ breast at the Last Supper.
Sheol and Hades
Sheol is a container name for the location of the souls/spirits of deceased unbelievers (Gehenna/Hades) or of deceased believers (paradase). In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word used to denote the realm of the dead is Sheol. It simply means “the place of the dead” or “the place of departed souls/spirits.” The New Testament Greek equivalent to Sheol is Hades, which is also a general reference to “the place of the dead.”
Sheol is a container name for the location of the souls/spirits of deceased unbelievers (Gehenna/Hades) or of deceased believers (paradase). In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word used to denote the realm of the dead is Sheol. It simply means “the place of the dead” or “the place of departed souls/spirits.” The New Testament Greek equivalent to Sheol is Hades, which is also a general reference to “the place of the dead.”
Gehenna and Hell
The Greek word Gehenna is used in the New Testament for hell (see Matthew 5:29; 23:33). The word is derived from the Hebrew word Ge-hinnom, which designated a valley south of Jerusalem—a cursed place that had been the site of human sacrifice (2 Chronicles 28:3; 33:6). Jesus referenced Gehenna as a symbol of the place of judgment after death, alluding to prophecies in Jeremiah 19:6 and Isaiah 30:33.
The Greek word Gehenna is used in the New Testament for hell (see Matthew 5:29; 23:33). The word is derived from the Hebrew word Ge-hinnom, which designated a valley south of Jerusalem—a cursed place that had been the site of human sacrifice (2 Chronicles 28:3; 33:6). Jesus referenced Gehenna as a symbol of the place of judgment after death, alluding to prophecies in Jeremiah 19:6 and Isaiah 30:33.
Lake of fire
The lake of fire, mentioned only in Revelation 19:20 and 20:10, 14-15, is the final hell, the place of eternal punishment for all unrepentant rebels, both angelic and human (Matthew 25:41). It is described as a place of burning sulfur, and those in it experience eternal, unspeakable agony of an unrelenting nature (Luke 16:24; Mark 9:45-46). Those in Hades/Sheol who have rejected Christ will have the lake of fire as their final destination.
The lake of fire, mentioned only in Revelation 19:20 and 20:10, 14-15, is the final hell, the place of eternal punishment for all unrepentant rebels, both angelic and human (Matthew 25:41). It is described as a place of burning sulfur, and those in it experience eternal, unspeakable agony of an unrelenting nature (Luke 16:24; Mark 9:45-46). Those in Hades/Sheol who have rejected Christ will have the lake of fire as their final destination.
Purgatory (Dutch: vagevuur)
There is a non-biblical faulty doctrine in the Roman Catholic Church, that our souls after death would go to a place called purgatory. This man-made dogma should be rejected.
There is a non-biblical faulty doctrine in the Roman Catholic Church, that our souls after death would go to a place called purgatory. This man-made dogma should be rejected.