The Facts about Hell
Many of us, at times have inherited our beliefs from our parents or been given them by our religious leaders. And
those beliefs go unchallenged for many reasons. One of the most predominant reasons is that we have not been
given the facts. The pure and simple facts. You, as a concerned Christian, should have a great concern about the
fate of our lost loved ones and friends. Simply put, you should be informed about the facts concerning hell. Well
here are the facts. Feel free to confirm everything I tell you today. It would take any Christian with a Bible,
concordance, dictionary and encyclopedia about 1 hour to confirm what I am going to tell you in this short article.
Fact # 1: There is 1 Hebrew word and 3 Greek words that are translated hell in our Bible. The Hebrew word is
Sheol, and the 3 Greek words are Hades, Geenna, and Tartaroo.
Fact # 2: Sheol is translated as follows:
Grave 31 times: Gen_37:35, Gen_42:38, Gen_44:29, Gen_44:31, 1Ki_2:6 (2), 1Ki_2:9, Job_7:9, Job_21:13
(3), Job_24:19, Psa_6:5, Psa_30:3, Psa_31:17, Psa_49:14-15 (3), Psa_88:3, Psa_89:48, Psa 141:7,
Pro_1:12, Pro_30:16, Ecc_9:10, Son_8:6, Isa_14:11, Isa_38:10, Isa_38:18, Eze_31:15, Hos_13:14 (2)
Hell 31 times: Deu_32:22, 2Sa_22:6, Job_11:8, Job_26:6, Psa_9:17, Psa_16:10, Psa_18:5, Psa_55:15,
Psa_86:13, Psa_116:3, Psa_139:8, Pro_5:5, Pro_7:27, Pro_9:18, Pro_15:11, Pro_15:24, Pro_23:14,
Pro_27:20, Isa_5:14, Isa_14:9, Isa_28:15 (2), Isa_28:18, Isa_57:9, Eze_31:16-17 (2), Eze_32:21,
Eze_32:27, Jon_2:2 (2), Hab_2:5
Pit 3 times: Num_16:30, Num_16:33, Job_17:16
Fact #3: The first time the English word “hell” appears in our Bible is in Deut 32:22. This means that, as
far as we can prove from the Bible, Adam and Eve was not warned of hell, Cain was not warned of hell,
Noah did not warn people of hell before the flood, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were not warned of
hell. In fact, as far as we can prove from the Bible, not a single person was warned of hell before Deut
32:22.
Fact#4: Shoel and the Greek word Hades are interchangeable. We know this because when Psa 16:10 was
quoted by Peter in Act 2:27 he used the word Hades in place of Shoel
(Psa 16:10) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (Shoel); neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy
One to see corruption.
(Act 2:27) Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (hades), neither wilt thou suffer thine
Holy One to see corruption.
Fact#5: Jesus never said the English word hell. He said the Greek words Geenna and Hades.
Fact #6: As we learned in fact # 4 the Hebrew word Shoel and the Greek word Hades are
interchangeable. Hades appears in the Bible only 11 times and is translated as follows:
hell, 10 times: Mat_11:23, Mat_16:18, Luk_10:15, Luk_16:23, Act_2:27, Act_2:31,
Rev_1:18, Rev_6:8, Rev_20:13-14 (2)
grave, 1 time: 1Co_15:55
Fact#7: Hades is a compound word and simply means: Un-seen, see the below Strong’s definition:
Hades G86: From G1 (as a negative particle) and G1492; properly unseen, that is, “Hades” or the place
(state) of departed souls:
Since Shoel and Hades are interchangeable see the Strong‟s definition of Shoel below.
H7585 Shoel:
From H7592; hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its
accessories and inmates
Shoel and Hades simply mean the place of departed souls, the unseen or world of the dead.
Fact# 8: Out of the 54 times that “hell” appears in the Bible 41 of which was translated from
Shoel (31) or Hades (10). And simply means “the unseen, world of the dead or place of departed
souls. That‟s 79.9% of all the occurrences of the word “hell.”
Fact #9: The word “hell” appears in 2 Peter only 1 time and is translated from another Greek
word “tartaroo” and means G5020(the deepest abyss of Hades); to incarcerate in eternal
torment.
(2Pe 2:4) For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell (tartaroo),
and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
Notice that these were “angels” not people and that they are in chains of darkness not fire and
reserved there unto judgment (not eternally).
So far we have covered the Hebrew word Shoel and the Greek words Hades and Tartaroo.
Fact #10: Geenna / Gehenna: is translated by the English word “hell” 12 times as listed below:
Mat_5:22, Mat_5:29-30 (2), Mat_10:28, Mat_18:9, Mat_23:15, Mat_23:33, Mar_9:43,
Mar_9:45, Mar_9:47, Jam_3:5-6 (2)
Fact# 10: Geenna is referred to in the Old Testament by the following names:
1. Valley of the sons / children of Hinnom in the below verses:
Jos_15:8 (2), Jos_18:16 (2), 2Ki_23:10, 2Ch_28:3, 2Ch_33:6, Jer_7:30-32 (3),
Jer_19:2, Jer_19:6, Jer_32:35, Neh 11:30.
2. Also know as Tophet and Topheth: Jer_7:31-32 (3), Jer_19:6, Jer_19:11-14 (4)
2Ki_23:10
3. Valley of Slaughter: Jer 7:32, Jer 19:6
Fact #11: Geenna is a literal, physical location, a valley South West of Jerusalem. Jos_15:8;
Jos_18:16; 2Ki_23:10; Neh_11:30
Strongs definition: Of Hebrew origin ([H1516] and [H2011]); valley of (the son of) Hinnom;
gehenna (or Ge-Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem, used (figuratively) as a name for the place (or
state) of everlasting punishment.
Fact # 12: People thought that the “false” gods required that people / children be burnt in fire.
2Ch_28:3; 2Ch_33:6; Jer_7:31-32; Jer_19:2; Jer_19:4; Jer_19:6; Jer_32:35. Interestingly
enough that never even entered into the heart of the God of the Bible Jer 7:31-32 and Jer 32:35.
Fact#13- Today Geenna is a beautiful valley SW of Jerusalem. You can see pictures of Geenna
on the web. Just Google it.
Fact#14: The word “hell” is not found in the following books of the Bible. Gen, Ex, Lev, Num,
Joshua, Judges , Ruth, 1 Sam, 1&2 Kings, 1&2 Chron, Ezra, Neh, Ester, Eccl, Song of Solomon,
Jeremiah, Lamentations, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah,
Malachi, John, Romans, 1&2 Cor, Gal, Eph, Phil, Col, 1&2 Thess, 1&2 Tim, Titus, Philemon,
Hebrews, 1 Peter, 1,2&3 John, Jude.
Fact 15: The word hell only appears in: Deut, 2 Sam, Job, Psa, Prov, Isa, Ezk, Amos, Jonah,
Hab, Matt, Mark, Luke, Acts, James, 2 Peter, Rev.
Fact # 16: The person credited for writing the most of our Bible, Paul. Who under inspiration of
God proclaimed of himself, that he proclaimed whole counsel of God Acts 20:27. He never said
the word hell and as far as we can prove from the Bible never preached a message on hell or ever
warned anyone of hell.
So what are we to make of this the 15 facts that was in the first blog? Well, if you attend a church
like the ones I used to attend you probably hear something about hell every week. Maybe
several times, either in passing or complete sermons on the subject. However, I would bet that
those sermons did not include the facts. I don‟t know that and if I‟m wrong please chime in and
give your pastor a few kudos for being honest. But if I am correct in that your pastor has never
told you the truth, or at least the complete truth concerning hell. You need to ask yourself why.
Why didn‟t you know that there are 3 totally different places that are lumped into the single
English word hell? Why didn‟t you know that the warning in Matthew 18 to pluck out your eyes
and cut off your feet and hands was to keep from being thrown into Geenna and not some
eternal torture chamber? Why wasn‟t it pointed out to you that Paul never warned anyone of an
eternity in hell? Those are important questions and you should be concerned that the person
that you trust to tell you the whole truth…… hasn‟t. Well enough of that.
Since I believe in the salvation of all I have been asked many times if I even believed in hell and
the answer is an emphatic yes! I believe in all 3. I believe in Hades/Shoel which is the realm of
the dead. I believe in Geenna, a valley SW of Jerusalem which was the city garbage dump in the
days of Christ. A dump in which fires were kept burning at all times and what the fires did not
claim the worms did. That valley is now a beautiful valley that is still SW of Jerusalem. This
valley will once again, during the glorious reign of Christ in His kingdom, become the city dump
and fires and worms will once again begin their job of getting rid of waste and the carcasses of
those that transgress against our Lord (Is 66). The fire and the worms will continue to burn
until Christ is finished with them and they will go out just as they did many years ago. I also
believe that there are some angels being held in chains until judgment in Tartaroo.
Armed with this truth, let‟s say that some pastor tells you that your father, who died 3 months
ago, is in hell. This is a terrible lack of information. If you are a careful student of scripture, you
will know that there are 3 different places that have been translated hell. As fond as you are of
your father, you will want to know exactly where he is. No, this loosey-goosey hell talk will never
do, especially since this pastor tells you that your father will be there forever. In your most
respectful tone, you will want to ask the minister, “Pardon me, but which „hell‟ is my father in?
There are 3 different places that have been called „hell‟. So, please, is my father in Tartaroo,
Geenna, or Hades? At this time, the pastor will become very uncomfortable. The first thing he
will try to do is change the subject by asking you where you got that information. You, then, will
say, I do not see what difference it makes. Now will you please answer my question? You
should not think it rude to answer in this way. It‟s this pastor who was rude by telling you that
your father was in hell without explaining himself. If the pastor is lucky, he will remember
somewhere he has to be. If he is unlucky, he will not remember. If he does not remember, you
must now stare at the pastor. You must stare at him respectfully, yes, but stare nonetheless.
This is hard to do, I realize, but continue to stare in expectation of an answer. You shouldn‟t say
anything to the pastor at this time. This is also extremely hard to do. It will require great
restraint not to babble something- anything – to make the pastor feel better about struggling
with his pronouncement concerning your father. But please babble not. You will be doing him a
favor. If the pastor says that your father is in Geenna, you must say, as graciously as you can
and with utter earnestness, “Then let us take a plane to Jerusalem and look for him there.” If he
says that your father is in Tartaroo, remark that, while your father never claimed to be a saint
and did in fact sin, he was never a sinning angel in the days of Noah. If the pastor says that your
father is in hades / shoel, let a smile come to your face and rejoice aloud in front of the startled
man because Paul and insists that hades has no victory 1 Cor 15:55 and David stated that God
was in Shoel Ps 139:8.
And the truth shall make you free. God Bless!