TERM – HELLFIRE
Used by religious leaders for many years. Some teach that at death the wicked are punished in a fiery hell.
Originally the popularizing of this idea can be traced to Greek Philosophy. However stories of an underworld are found all around the globe. The wicked are said to be punished in Hell while the good go to Heaven. Is this a Bible teaching? No.
Sadly some have sought to distort the message of the Bible.
The Bible uses the words SHEOL and HADES to describe the Grave. In fact most Bible translators translate the words accurately as Grave or Pit. Occasionally however they will translate this exact same word as Hell. This was used to try to convey the idea that there is actually a Hell where people go at death. Using this teaching and the fear of Hell, religious groups have influenced people and made significant financial gain.
Hellfire is a distortion of the Bible’s massage.
The following references show how different Bibles render the world SHEOL or Grave.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Plain English Translation.
“All that your hand finds to do, do with your very power, for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol, the place to which you are going.”
King James Bible
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”
Byingtons
“Everything that comes within your reach to do with your powers, do; because there is no action nor purpose nor knowledge nor wisdom in the world below, where you are going.”
The Bible is clear on what happens when we die.
Ecclesiastes 9:5 States “For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all”
That’s a simple truth. When we die we lose consciousness and it is effectively like being asleep. We wait for the resurrection.
John 11:11-13 Reads of Jesus ‘he said to them “Our friend Lazarus has gone to rest, but I am on my way to wake him up.” 12 So the disciples said to him “Sir, if he is getting rest he will recover.” 13 But Jesus had been speaking of his death; but they thought he was speaking of the rest of sleep.’
