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SignUp Now!Hell/hades is not the Lake of fire. It's temporary place.. that will eventually (as you have noted) be thrown into the lake of Fire.
Perhaps.. not "as" hot.
Luke 16:23 "In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luke 16:24 "And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.'
Mark 9:43 "If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire,
Mistranslation of the KJV. It is NOT hell!
Not a parable
A parable is a short, symbolic narrative used in Scripture—especially by Jesus—to communicate spiritual, moral, or theological truths through familiar, everyday imagery. While parables may describe events that could plausibly occur in real life, their primary function is not to recount history but to reveal deeper realities about the Kingdom of God, human nature, and divine judgment.
- Ordinary Imagery
Parables always draw from common, material experiences—farming, family life, business, hospitality, etc.—never from supernatural or heavenly realms. They...
- B-A-C
- Replies: 4
- Forum: Bible Study
What is the Valley of Hinnom?
Geographically, it's a real valley located just south of Jerusalem.
Historically, it was associated with idolatrous practices, including child sacrifices to Molech (see Jeremiah 7:31, 2 Kings 23:10).
Because of these horrific acts, it became a symbol of judgment and defilement.
From Gehenna to Hell
In the New Testament, the Greek word "Gehenna" is used 12 times, mostly by Jesus (e.g., Matthew 5:22, Mark 9:43). Gehenna is a transliteration of the Hebrew Ge Hinnom.
By Jesus’ time, Gehenna had become a metaphor for final judgment and eternal punishment.
Rabbinic literature also used Gehenna as a symbolic place of postmortem punishment.
Why Translated as "Hell"?
Most English translations render Gehenna as "hell" because:
Contextual Meaning: Jesus used it to describe a place of fiery judgment, not just a physical location.
Theological Equivalence: Translators often equated Gehenna with the lake of fire or eternal damnation described in Revelation.
Simplification: "Hell" is a familiar term to English readers, even though it can conflate different concepts like:
Sheol (Hebrew: the grave or abode of the dead)
Hades (Greek: the underworld)
Gehenna (place of judgment)
Tartarus (used once in 2 Peter 2:4 for fallen angels)
Should It Be Translated That Way?
Many scholars argue that translating Gehenna as "hell" can be misleading, because:
It blurs distinctions between different biblical concepts of the afterlife.
It imports medieval imagery (like Dante’s Inferno) that may not reflect the original Jewish or early Christian understanding.
Some modern translations (like the Complete Jewish Bible or Young’s Literal Translation) preserve the word Gehenna to maintain clarity.