Sheol (upper & lower), Hell, Tartarus, Prison for Fallen  

Create Date: 18-Feb-2015

Angels and Stinging Locus, the Lake of Fire. Bottomless Pit, and

Last updated: 10-May-2023

Is there Annihilation mentioned in the Bible?  
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Sections

1 The Places in the Center of the Earth and Lake of Fire 2 Upper, Lower Sheol and Other Compartments
3 Preface on the Word "Hell" 4 Using Hell as a Synonym for the Lake of Fire
5 Some Fallen Angels Held in Sheol / Tartarus / Abyss 6 Gehenna is not Hell
7 Sheol (Hebrew), Hades (Greek), Abussos (Greek) 8 Enoch, Elijah, Moses, Samuel and Apostle Paul
9 More Scriptural References on Sheol and Eternal Fire 10 Annihilation? No
11 Twelve Areas of Suffering in the Eternal Lake of Fire 12 Can Lucifer and Fallen Angels enter and exit from Sheol?
13 Who is the First to be cast into the Lake of Fire 14 Location of the Lake of Fire
15 Angels, Humans and Eternality 16 Our God's Awareness in Eternity of the Lake of Fire
17 Do you have Salvation?    

This topic is about the identification:
 
  Area Summary and Short Description
1 Upper and Lower Sheol difference Upper was a temporary paradise and Lower is still in use as a prison
2 Hell is the same as Lower Sheol? Hell is modern-day name for Lower Sheol
3 Abyss, Tartarus, Hades and the Abussos Bottomless pit.  Center of the Earth as all directions are up which is Lower Sheol
4 Prison for Fallen Angels Is the Abyss in Lower Sheol
5 Prison for Stinging Locusts Is the Abyss in Lower Sheol
6 Annihilation There is no annihilation.  Separation from God is permanent and endless.
7 Lake of Fire is never ending Final location for Fallen Angels, Demons and Humans without Salvation.

Preface

In order for there to be righteous judgment leading to perfect justice / punishment where the penalty and consequences for sins in eternity are:
  1. Excruciating physical pain,
  2. Emotional torment beyond earthly comparison, and
  3. Torture that is not describable,

then the recipient must be able to understand the consequences of receiving the perfect punishment, which only:

  • God is able to administrate.
  • God will make the recipient understand the perfect punishment.

Perfect punishment, (consequences), exists:

The perfect punishment is one of many reasons why we should never seek revenge as God will administrate perfect consequences:

  • For correction / repentance of the Christian, and
  • For those who do not know there is the God of the Bible. 

God is not mocked (Galatians 6:7), where we don't necessarily see the consequences in everyone's life for sins, but we will understand at the Judgment Seat of Christ and Great White Thrown of Judgment.   All Christians, who are victims of suffering when alive on Earth, have Rewards in Heaven and on Earth.

  1. Jesus Christ's childhood had suffering and his adult life had suffering (Isaiah 53), followed by the torture unto the death at the cross which was the Restitution Payment which God the Father required for giving perfect judgment against all of us human beings. 
  2. Jesus Christ, who was perfect and without sin, took our place in receiving the perfect judgment, the Restitution Payment against us, so that we can claim Him in our defense to be made righteous by asking for Jesus Christ as our Savior which God sees as the total sin payment, of an individual, has been paid.

We need to understand that God has suffered by loss of recognition, appreciation, desired fellowship (worship), the pain Jesus Christ endured as our Savior, and also pain that everyone feels when anyone sins against themselves and others (Matthew 25:40).

If you haven't asked Jesus Christ to be your Savior do it now!
 

The Places in the Center of the Earth and the Lake of Fire

Some introductory points to consider regarding the places in the center of the Earth and the Lake of Fire:

  1. Many people believe that Sheol, Hell and the Lake of Fire are the same place and they are not.
  2. Sheol consists of at least three compartments:
    a) Paradise (Upper Sheol) which is now empty after Jesus Christ took human-beings that were there after the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ as that was the payment for sins that they were waiting for to allow entrance into Heaven with God.
    b) Torment (Lower Sheol) which still has human-beings without Salvation that are awaiting the Great White Thrown of Judgment.
    c) An area that is part of Lower Sheol that is a prison holding area for the Fallen Angels who were sent there for participating in creation of the Nephilim as read in 2 Peter 2:4-5.
    d) An area that is part of Lower Sheol that contains the Stinging Locusts that part of the Tribulation Period Judgments.
  3. Hell and Hades is generically and liberally attributed to both the place of torment in Lower Sheol.  
  4. No human-being, Demon or Fallen Angel has been condemned yet to the Lake of Fire.
  5. It appears that Fallen Angels can enter the torment area of Lower Sheol and leave it unless they are put into chains.  (More on this below)
  6. The additional compartment area of Lower Sheol is attributed to the Abussos and Tartarus in 2 Peter 2:4.  
  7. The Bottomless Pit, that is read in some translations, is a synonym for Lower Sheol.  The exponential consistency in the scriptures always has Pit meaning a prison holding place.  The center of the Earth is a place that is bottomless as all directions are up.

Upper, Lower Sheol and Other Compartments

Note that the scriptures do not call the Paradise area as Upper Sheol or the Torment area as Lower Sheol, but this is a nomenclature often used by Biblical Scholars to distinguish the two specific major areas more easily.  In this topic, this author will use Upper Sheol to also indicate the Good Compartment of Sheol and Lower Sheol as the Prison Area of Sheol.

  1. Upper Sheol is called the bosom of Abraham in the Scriptures:
    (a) We learn about Upper Sheol in the parable of "The Rich Man and Lazarus" of Luke 16:19-31. 
    Luke 16:22-24 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried. 23 And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.
    Luke 16:26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
    (b) It is a Temporary Paradise which is where everyone that had Salvation went to await Jesus Christ to make the payment for sins of the world as explained in more details in the Dispensation Topic.  After the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, everyone in Upper Sheol were taken by Jesus Christ to Heaven, which is also where all people who have Salvation now go after death.  If you haven't asked Jesus Christ to be your Savior, do it now.  Upper Sheol is now empty.
     
  2. Lower Sheol is a prison and place of Torment even until this present day.  
    (a) This is the prison for human-beings who do not have Salvation..
    (b) It is still in use because the final destiny of Lower Sheol is the Lake of Fire, which is discussed later in this topic.
     
  3. Lower Sheol's has at least one additional prison compartment area.  It is called the "shaft of the Abyss" in Revelation 9:1.  This area has a lock which God has a key.  God in the Tribulation Period will give a key to one of God's Angels to give to the Fallen Angel Gog. This Abyss is where:
    (a) The Stinging Locusts are imprisoned until their release in Revelation 9:1 as part of the Tribulation Period.  This author believes in the possibility that the Stinging Locusts may actually be Fallen Angels that were condemned in 2 Peer 2:4-5 where part of their punishment is a change of their form.  One reason is the theory that God would not have created evil locusts.
    (b) The prison area for the Fallen Angels who participated in creating the Nephilim.  It these Fallen Angels that Jesus Christ proclaims His Victory to after the Crucifixion to in Ephesians 4:8-9.
    (c) Where Lucifer will be in chains after the Tribulation Period and then released after the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
    Note: Chains are required for Lucifer, which is discussed more later in this topic.
    Revelation 9:1-3 1 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2 And he opened the pit of the abyss; and there went up a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3 And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

    Note: The "star that had fallen" is a Fallen Angel
    2 Peter 2:4-5 4 For if God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus, and committed them to chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 and spared not the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;  
    Ephesians 4:8-9 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men. 9 Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?

    Note: He, in the scriptural passage, is Jesus Christ
    Revelation 20:1-2 1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;

Preface on the Word "Hell"

The word Hell is:

  1. A modern-day word that has been described as having its roots around 725AD and may have come out of paganistic terms.  
  2. Has been used in translations where it should not have been. 
  3. Has been incorrectly used as a replacement for Sheol and Gehenna in many Bible Translations. 
  4. Some Biblical commentaries attribute the word "Hell" to be the name attributed to the 2nd death that Jesus describes as prepared for the fallen Angels in Matthew 25:41 and other scriptures and that is not correct.

Using Hell as a Synonym for the Lake of Fire

It is the opinion of this author that if modern day theologians want to use the synonym of Hell or Hades for "The Lake of Fire", then that is not something to divide Believers.  The Lake of Fire is the final destiny of the condemned and Hell will cease to exist.  Through scriptural references it can be proven that no one yet has been condemned or sent to the "Second Death" which is the Lake of Fire.
 
Revelation 20:14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

When men and women die and their names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life, then their Spirit, that holds/contains the Soul, goes into Lower Sheol.  Believers in the Old Testament before Jesus Christ's death on the cross went to the good compartment of Upper Sheol.  The good compartment is described as the Bosom of Abraham in Luke 16.

Some Fallen Angels Held in Sheol / Tartarus / Abyss

As already discussed, there is additional compartment areas in Lower Sheol.  In the additional compartment, there are currently Fallen Angels that are held in chains which the scriptures give the name as Sheol or Tartarus.  These Fallen Angel prisoners are not free to travel on Earth like other Fallen Angels and Demons.  Note that Demons appear to be distinctly different than Fallen Angels.  It is the opinion of many Biblical Scholars, that this author agrees with, that Demons are the disembodied Nephilim

The Scriptures point to Sheol as a place that is in the center of the Earth which is synonymous with Tartarus.  Tartarus is mention in 2 Peter 2:4 and appears also be the same in meaning in the Greek as the place called the Abussos which is translated as the pit or left as the scriptural work usage of the Abyss. 

In Luke 8:31, we learn that the Demons begged not to be cast into the Abussos before their time.  In 2 Peter 2:4, we learn that there are Fallen Angels sent to Tartarus, in chains, for future judgment. In the ancient time of Noah's flood, there were some Angels that participated in specific forbidden actions.

2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but condemned them to the chains of Tartarus and handed them over to be kept for judgment;

Note that Tartarus is meant to be a special 'prison' which is also used in Greek Mythology as meaning as a "Dark abode of Woe" in the eternals of the Earth.   Peter used this name because his readers would know the meaning for the 'foreboding place' regarding the prison. 

Gehenna is not Hell

Gehenna was the Greek word for the garbage heap where trash, and even bodies, were buried or burned outside of Jerusalem but it was not perpetually burning.  As an example of correct usage of Hell is in Mathew 23:33.  In this passage, Jesus is confronting with a warning to the religious leaders that they would end up in Hell if they didn't repent.  The word Hell, instead of Gehenna, is used in many translations but Gehenna is used in other translations. 

Later in Matthew 24, Jesus is warning about the pending future destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.  This is also in Luke 21:20.  In these scriptures, it is most likely two warnings with the literal future consequences on earth of being dumped, buried or burned in Gehenna and also symbolic of the future Lake of Fire.

The origin of the word Gehenna is the place is the Hinnon Valley, which is a place of death where child sacrifice was done to pagan gods.  It was also prophesized as a funeral pyre.  Gehenna is the short synonymous name for describing the Hinnon Valley and the place were evil things occurred.

Jeremiah 7:31-32 31. They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind. 32. Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when it will no more be called Topheth, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter; for they will bury in Topheth, because there is no room elsewhere.
Isaiah 30:33 Topheth has been ready for the king for a long time now. His funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the Lord, like a torrent of brimstone, kindles it.
Matthew 23:33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to Hell?

Hell in this passage is really speaking about the final
Lake of Fire.

Sheol (Hebrew), Hades (Greek) or the Abussos (Greek)

Prior to Jesus Christ's payment for the world's sins, by the death on the cross, the scriptures teach that all of mankind that were "Justified by Faith" and died went to the good compartment of Sheol or Hades (scriptural references below).  No one could go to Heaven before the payment was made by Jesus Christ.

John 3:13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man. 

Note that Jesus is speaking here.

Sheol's location is described as located in a bottomless pit which many Biblical Scholars point out that at the center of the Earth, all directions are up and this is confirmed by Ephesians 4:9 and Psalm 68:18.  Also it is confirmed in Numbers 16:33, which speaks of Sheol being beneath the Earth when the families and those associated with Korah, Dathan and Abiram were swallowed by the Earth during the rebellion against God and Moses.

Numbers 16:33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.

When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He descended into Upper Sheol to take the Righteous who were there with saving Faith out who were captives, Ephesians 4:8 / Psalm 68:18 and also to proclaim His Victory on the Cross to the Fallen Angels which were in prison there as described in 1 Peter 3:19 that created the Nephilim.  The Fallen Angels, that are imprisoned in the bottomless pit, would not know about the victory on the Cross. 

After the Cross, we know from 2 Corinthians 5:8 "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."  This is also mentioned by Jesus to one of the thieves at the Cross in Luke 23:43.

Zechariah 9:11 As for thee also, because of the blood of thy covenant I have set free thy prisoners from the pit wherein is no water.

(The scripture in mentioning God's future action.)

1 Samuel 28:6-20 Read the verses and you will see that Samuel is "bringing up", "ascending out of the earth", "an old man cometh up".  The scriptures do not state that this was some sort of trick or hallucination.  Samuel gives an accurate message to King Saul.
Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from death: O death, where are thy plagues? O Sheol, where is thy destruction? repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
Ephesians 4:8-9

Psalm 68:18
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men. 9 Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
18 When you ascended on high, you took many captives; you received gifts from people, even from the rebellious—  that you, Lord God, might dwell there.
Acts 4:24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
1 Peter 3:18-20 18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which also he went and preached unto the angels in prison,

(Note: that spirits is a mistranslation that meant angels in times past but currently has taken on the meaning of the spirit of man where in verse 19, the phrase "spirits in prison" should be "angels in prison" also "preached" should be "proclaim the victory.")
Luke 16:19-31 Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.  See in verse 22-23

...the rich man also died, and was buried. 23 And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. ...  26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us.

Enoch, Elijah, Moses, Samuel and Apostle Paul

There are three men in the Old Testament that appear on first reading, to be allowed to go to Heaven permanently which is not possible, and a fourth man who confirms their location before the time of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  Many scholars state that these three men

  1. Enoch,
  2. Elijah, and
  3. Moses

may have been taken up meet or see things dealing with Heaven, without being in God's the Father's presence; but they still went to the paradise area of Upper Sheol to wait there until the time that Jesus Christ came to get them after the Cross.  

Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus Christ in Luke 9:28-36 and also Matthew 17:1-3.  It may be that Moses, Elijah and also Enoch were permitted by God to temporarily go to a place similar to Paul's visit in 2 Corinthians 12:1-11, which is entirely God's prerogative and discussed below.

Jesus Christ's death emptied the paradise section of Upper Sheol, Luke 16:19-31, because Jesus' death on the cross was the payment for sins which the Old Testament Believers in God were anxiously awaiting.  

Note that we know from Exodus 33:20 that no one can see the Face of God in the flesh and live.  In the Old Testament, we learn that the scriptures dealing with God speaking, are through a Theophany, Prophets, burning bush, a whirlwind and Angels and once even through a donkey, in Numbers 22:21-30 & 2 Peter 2:16.  This is relevant to understanding that the first two men mentioned here in this topic section, would not have been allowed to stay in their human bodies, at most likely the moment of the Rapture.  We know that Christians are transformed in a twinkling of an eye at the Rapture.

The first scriptural reference person is Enoch:

Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away

In the Hebrew, took him away is "LAQAH", which can mean:

It is the predominant theory by Biblical Scholars and this author that Enoch was Raptured, while still being alive, into the third Heaven but not into the direct presence of God as Jesus Christ had not paid the price for the world's sins

The second scriptural reference deals with Elijah who was taken up in a whirlwind, where he may also have been taken into the third Heaven for a period of time, just like EnochElijah was also Raptured according to the prevailing interpretation by Biblical Scholars.  Just like Enoch, the rapture event would have Elijah eventually having to wait in Upper Sheol as Jesus Christ had not paid the price for the world's sins

2 Kings 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

The third scriptural reference to consider is the mount of transfiguration where Jesus talks with Elijah and Moses.  The location of where Moses and Elijah come from is not revealed. Regardless of the place of origin, Moses and Elijah would have come from the good-compartment of Upper Sheol. because everyone destined to be heaven for eternity had to await the crucifixion for permanent access through Jesus Christ.  One Biblical Scholar, which this author agrees with, believe the meeting details were about Jesus Christ mission and most likely Elijah and Moses being the Two Witnesses before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ at the end of the Tribulation Period.

Matthew 17:1-3 1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

The fourth scriptural reference to consider is the incident that King Saul went to a Spiritual Medium at Endor to ostensibly have a Séance to speak to the Prophet Samuel, who had died.  The Prophet Samuel tells King Saul that he came from below, which has to be the good compartment of Sheol.

1 Samuel 28:15  (part of verse) Notice that the phrase "bring me up" which infers ascending and not descending.   

And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up

In the New Testament Scripture, we know that Apostle Paul wrote about a man (himself by most Biblical Scholar's belief) was caught up in a vision that allowed visiting the third Heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:1-11.  Notice he wasn't allowed to stay there and also was not allowed to discuss what he heard and saw. 

2 Corinthians 12:1-11 1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

Based on John 3:13, 1 Samuel 28:6-20 and other scriptures, the best conclusion is Enoch, Elijah, Moses and Samuel went to the Bosom of Abraham compartment of Upper Sheol before the payment on the Cross was made by Jesus Christ.

More Scriptural references on Sheol and Eternal Fire

Old Testament Scriptural Examples:

There are at least 31 references to Hell in the Old Testaments in many translations which is the Hebrew word Sheol.   Below are some examples scriptures, where Sheol correctly referenced instead of Hell. in some translations.  Sheol has an end at the final judgment where it is cast into the eternal Lake of Fire.  Revelation 20:14 "Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death."

 

Passage

Sheol

Lake Of Fire

No end?

Num 16:31-33

31 And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. 32 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol,

X

 

 

Psalm 9:17

The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.

X

 

 

Isaiah 14:9-10

9 Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet you when you come; it rouses the shades to greet you, all who were leaders of the earth; it raises from their thrones all who were kings of the nations. 10 All of them will answer and say to you: ‘You too have become as weak as we! You have become like us!’

X

 

 

Isaiah 66:24

“And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

X

 

 

Daniel 12:1-2

Dust of the Earth reference to Sheol and everlasting is Lake of Fire

"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

X

 

 

 X

X

New Testament Scriptural Examples:

The New Testament is dealing with the soon death of the Messiah for the Salvation of all people, who had justifying Faith in God in the Old Testament and those believing in Jesus Christ in the Testament period going forward.  Salvation has always dealt with the Faith in God that awaited the Messiah as explained further in the topic on Dispensations of Salvation.  Therefore, the New Testament scriptural references dealing with what occurs after the death of our bodies is most dealing with the Lake Of Fire.

 

Passage

Lake of Fire 

No end?

 Jude 1:7

just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

X

X

2 Thes 1:9

They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

X

X

Mark 9:47-48

47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell (really Lake of Fire), 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.

X

X

Matt 13:50

Jesus Christ is giving the "A Dragnet" parable where the wicked will be "and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

X

X

Matt 25:41 &
25:45-46

"(41) Then he will say to those on his left, 'Get away from me, you who are accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!"

(45) Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ (46) And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

X

X

Matt 25:46

Jesus Christ is describing "The Judgment": "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

X

X

Rev 14:11

And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.

X

X

Rev 20:10

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

X

X

Rev 20:15

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

X

X

Rev 21:8

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.

X

X

Rev 22:15

Concerning entrance into the Heavenly New Jerusalem: "Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood."

X

X

Note there are Biblical Commentaries, including this author, that believe the Wedding Supper of the Lamb is dealing with believers who do not get to enjoy the prophesized rewards dinner called the Wedding Supper of the Lamb even though they will be in Heaven for eternity.  For information, see the topic on the Wedding Supper of the Lamb, which explains the event is not dealing with Sheol or the Lake of Fire.   

Annihilation? No

Christian Annihilation is the belief that those who are condemned to the second death are annihilated after some interim of punishment in the Lake of Fire.  In other words, they no longer exist as their consciousness is extinguished where there is no longer a spirit and soul.  The Christian Annihilationist argues the question is whether or not Jesus Christ saying the punishment is eternal in its length or the effect of conscious existence is ended. 

From the sections above with the numerous scriptures below, there does not show any support for punishment that is temporary or cessation of being.  Furthermore, if we read the scriptures below, it confirms there is no end.   Therefore, Annihilation is false.

 

Passage

Lake of Fire

No end?

Matt 10:28

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Really Lake of Fire)." 

The word “destroy”: avpo,llumi apollumi, in the Greek means “to be delivered up to eternal misery”  (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). Nowhere is wording ever used to mean “annihilate”

X

 X

Matt 25:46

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”   

In the Greek “eternal” is aivw,nioj aionios, everlasting, eternal.

X

X

Daniel 12:2

But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

X

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Rev 14:11

And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.

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Rev 20:10

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 

Note that the Beast and False Prophet were thrown into the lake of fire 1000 years earlier and they are still there.  The two were not annihilated.

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Twelve Areas of Suffering in the Eternal Lake of Fire

Not one person, of mankind, goes to the Eternal Lake of Fire for sins they have committed.  A person is condemned to the Eternal Lake of Fire because they didn't accept the way to avoid going there, which was Jesus Christ's payment on the Cross for the payment of one's sins and asking Jesus Christ to be their Savior!  Fire in the scriptures is always an idiom for judgment. 

The degree of punishment in the Eternal Lake of Fire is based on sins committed.  There are four important goals of the Great White Throne of Judgment, which is where the condemned will be judged.  At this judgment, everyone will understand why the twelve areas will be perfect in exile, judgment, punishment and so much more for those who are destined to the Eternal Lake of Fire.

In the opinion of this author that those, who are human, in the Eternal Lake of Fire will experience these items and not necessarily in this specific order.  Additionally, the Fallen Angels and the Demons will also experience the following twelve areas.

  1. The greatest pain will be the knowledge of a loss and desire for the Love of God that is forever gone.  Jesus Christ, on the Cross, experienced temporary separation from God the Father and God the Holy Spirit where it was unbearable in ways that we will never comprehend.  Matthew 27:46 "About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”"   Jesus' experience on the Cross was temporary. 
    (a) As we know, Jesus paid for the sins of the entire world through His Death and perfect life so that we could have a way to be reconciled before God.  It was necessary for Jesus Christ to be temporarily separated from His Place in the Triune God because Jesus Christ took upon the sins of the world which required Him being a substitute, to receive the full force of wrath of God, for those who would later accept Him as Savior. 
    (b) For those who do not have Jesus Christ as their Savior, will experience their portion of separation and penalty for the sins of life.
    (c) The separation also involves the sin of not accepting what God for them, which is an additional paramount sin.
  2. The second greatest pain will be disdain for oneself for the evil thoughts and deeds towards God.
  3. The third greatest pain will be knowledge that God is Perfect Love.  In God's Perfect Love, He did not want to condemn oneself to the Eternal Lake of Fire which makes oneself feel the pain of knowing that it caused God to have pain for sending oneself to the Eternal Lake of Fire.
  4. The fourth greatest pain will be disdain for oneself for the evil thoughts and deeds toward those that are in Heaven.
  5. The fifth greatest pain will be the disdain for oneself for evil thoughts and deeds done towards others which contributed to them rejecting Jesus Christ's provision on the Cross that has condemned them to the Eternal Lake of Fire.  This includes the sin of never telling one's offspring of God which might have led to Salvation and therefore effected one's lineage.
  6. The sixth greatest pain will the complete loss of hope that anything will change.
  7. The seventh greatest pain is the culmination of inconceivable torture that will be received based on the sins done when on earth.  The torment's perfectly:
    (a) justified;
    (b) measured;
    (c) excruciating beyond any possible description, and
    (d) experiencing the pain inflicted on others multiplied by seven times.
  8. The eighth greatest pain will be the complete darkness (no light) with complete loneliness.   (Similarity is 2 Peter 2:4 which refers to Nephilim)
    (a) When there is no light, then it will intensify the torment.
    (b) When there is no light, then the conscious thought will only have the memories of sin, loss and no hope.
  9. The ninth greatest pain will be the knowledge that oneself deserves to be in the Lake of Fire because of not having Jesus Christ as a personal Savior.
  10. The tenth greatest pain will be a separation of the Soul from the Spirit, (see Hebrews 4:12), which is a form of bodiless ness that increases helplessness with no control on all aspects of the torment. The first earthly death is the separation of our earthly bodies from our Soul and Spirit and the separation of the Soul from the Spirit is part of the final death.  Note that this is an opinion from at least one Biblical Scholar which this author agrees.  The analogy and explanation for this author is:
    (a) we hear about people who have had some part of their body amputated and they sometimes will feel what is called "ghost pains" in the missing body part that are very real in their mind.  This should satisfy those who feel there must be some sort of body to feel torment.
    (b) the Spirit is part of God's creation and so by taking that part away from the condemned person, fallen angel and Nephilim then they have truly nothing left that is good from God so that they are absolutely completely removed from all good things from God. 
    Hebrews 4:12 Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
  11. The eleventh greatest pain is knowing that every moment in the Eternal Lake of Fire is also a continuous incrementing sin debt against God, that cannot be paid, because being there has caused God to have to create the Eternal Lake of Fire to handle rejection of God by oneself.  This also means, that anyone else who is in the Eternal Lake of Fire, by direct and indirect contributing factors to reject God caused by oneself, is continually adding on to one's debt that cannot be paid.  This aspect will give the knowledge that the Eternal Lake of Fire will never end because the debt is always growing and can never be paid.  (For a poor analogy purpose, prisons on Earth have a cost of creating and maintaining that are paid by others that are not in the prison.  Prisoners are not paying for their incarceration by just being there.)
  12. The twelfth and final greatest pain is knowing that no one in Heaven will remember anyone condemned to the Eternal Lake of Fire after the Great White Throne of Judgment.  A portion of the scriptural passage of Revelation 21:4's "wiping away of tears" for those in Heaven, will be God removing any pain off:
    (a) sympathy,
    (b) remorse,
    (c) fear, and
    (d) love
    for those condemned to the Eternal Lake of Fire.  This final twelfth's greatest pain, for those condemned, is the additional aspect of not feeling any hope of having someone still caring about them and remembering them that are located in Heaven.  This adds to the pain of being utterly alone without hope.  This is confirmed in Isaiah 65:17.  Another additional proof of this point is God speaks about removing the memory of transgressions in Psalm 103:12 and other scriptures, so this will be necessary for those in Heaven to not continually morn for those in the Eternal Lake of Fire.

    Additionally, all of the Fallen Angels and Demons with their evil done to all of us will not be remembered, so the Fallen Angels, Demons and absolutely Lucifer will have zero satisfaction in having caused pain and suffering because no one in Eternity will remember anything they have done!

Note: We know from "1st Corinthians 6:2-3" that those who have Salvation will judge the Fallen Angels, which probably includes the spirits of the Nephilim.  The list of 12 items above, in this author's opinion, will include the thoughts of the Fallen Angels and Nephilim also.  In the end, God will have everyone worship Him, even from the location of Lake of Fire with the desire to be with God.

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”  *
Isaiah 65:17 For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.
Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Philippians 2:9-11 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; 10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

* See the topic on Wipe Away Tears for more information.

Can Lucifer and Fallen Angels (currently) enter and exit from Sheol?

There are two very technical scriptural question, that this author has never heard discussed by Biblical Scholars. 

  1. Can Lucifer and Fallen Angels enter and exit the bad compartment of Lower Sheol?  (Sheol is not the Lake Of Fire as already proven above.)
  2. Can those that are in Lower Sheol see one another?

The answer to the first question is yes, based on some scriptures unless the Fallen Angels and Lucifer are in chains (bound).  Unlike the Lake Of Fire, which occupants will be utterly alone, the second question's answer is also yes as those that are in Lower Sheol can see one another based on the Scriptures.

This table summarizes the categories concerning Lower Sheol and the Scriptural evidence concerning Lucifer and the Fallen Angels are listed afterwards as proof.

Category  Information and notes regarding the Category in Lower Sheol
Humans No human can leave on their own.
Those that are there like the "rich man" are still there awaiting the Great White Throne of Judgment
 
Nephilim The Nephilim have no Salvation, and Jesus Christ did not pay for their sins on the Cross.  They are free to roam the Earth unless they are sent to Lower Sheol where they cannot leave on their own.
(a) The Nephilim were a hybrid-cross between a human and a Fallen Angels
(b) Perhaps the human component of Nephilim stops them from exiting Sheol.
Fallen Angels Fallen Angels appear to be able to go there and can leave unless they are chained there.
(a) The Fallen Angels are distinctive from the Nephilim
(b) The Fallen Angels that participated and created the Nephilim were cast there and imprisoned there.
(c) There are Four Fallen Angels that are in chains at the river Euphrates until they are released in the Tribulation Period with the Kings of the East events.  Revelation 9:15.
(d) There is a Fallen Angel, Gog, who is given a key from one of God's Angels to open the prison to release the Stinging Locusts in Revelation 9.
Lucifer Lucifer can go there and leave unless he is chained there
In Job 1:6-12, Lucifer tells God: "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.

There are many scriptural references on Lucifer and the Fallen Angels able to go anywhere in the Earthly realm that includes Lower Sheol, but not into Upper Sheol.  An interesting one for this author is Isaiah 14:11 that informs us that Lucifer is no longer the beautiful Angel of God, as he covered in worms.

Job 1:7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”

Notice that Lucifer was also going up and down which conveys from the center (bottom) to the top.
Isaiah 14:9-12 9 "Sheol from beneath is excited over you to meet you when you come; It arouses for you the spirits of the dead, all the leaders of the earth; It raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones.  10 "They will all respond and say to you, 'Even you have been made weak as we, You have become like us. 11 Your pomp and the music of your harps Have been brought down to Sheol; Maggots are spread out as your bed beneath you And worms are your covering.'  12 "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations!

In Sheol there are human-beings who have passed away, but verse 9 is not dealing with humans.  Notice the "spirits of the dead", which many Biblical Scholars state this is Demons and Fallen Angels bound there such as 2 Peter 2:4 reference shown next. Also note that the spirits of the dead can see Lucifer where they knew who Lucifer was where human-beings would not, so this is why imprisoned Demons and Fallen Angels in chains ask the question "Even you have been made weak as we, You have become like us." 
2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but condemned them to the chains of Tartarus and handed them over to be kept for judgment; 
Revelation 9:13-16 13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 one saying to the sixth angel that had the trumpet, Loose the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates. 15 And the four angels were loosed, that had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, that they should kill the third part of men. 16 And the number of the armies of the horsemen was twice ten thousand times ten thousand: I heard the number of them.

Notice that these four angels are bound at the river Euphrates, where they will be set free (Revelation 9:14) from their bounds during the Tribulation Period's Bowl Judgments to be part of the Kings of the East prophecy of destruction.
Revelation 20:1-2 1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;

Notice it is the Abyss which is the Bottom less pit or Sheol in the Earth. Lucifer, the dragon, is bound which conveys it was a requirement versus just being brought there. Lucifer is brought there and had to be bound in chains for a reason which convey him being stopped from leaving in this author's opinion.  The Thousand years is the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ, where Lucifer is released at the end of the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ for one last time of deception and to lead the second Gog and Magog event.

Who is the First to be cast into the Lake of Fire?

From the Scriptures, the Anti-Christ and False Prophet are the first two humans to be cast in the future into the Lake of Fire after the Tribulation Period but before the 1000 Year / Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ  The rest of humanity, the Nephilim and the Fallen Angels, Lucifer are cast into the Lake Of Fire when Jesus Christ judges them at the Great White Throne of Judgment.

Revelation 20:20 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:

Location of the Lake Fire is outside of our Universe

In Revelation 21, we learn that the known Universe is going to be destroyed in intense heat.  In order for the known universe to be destroyed then God and those in Heaven and the Lake of Fire have to be in a different dimensional location that would not be affected.  The Kingdom of God, according to many Biblical Scholars is more than our known universe.

2 Peter 3:10 -13 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

Angels, Humans and Eternality

When we read the scriptures, we are confronted with the reality that God created Angels and human beings with the facet that is immortal and cannot be annihilated.  
 
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

When we are learning about the rejection by Lucifer and the Fallen Angels against God, we sometimes want to apply humanly ideals such as asking the question, why can't God simply arrest or "shoot a weapon" at the Fallen Angels?  This question is then followed by another question on why can't the Fallen Angels and even humans spend time in a jail then get released? 

The answers are detailed in the topic on the Sin of Mankind vs. Fallen Angels and this is a summary:

Additionally to the purpose of all history, there is a startling concept that can cause awe and amazement for many of us.  With extreme reverence, the question that we may have thought about and don't have an answer for is how can God be an Entity without a beginning or end? 

When considering this question on one of many amazing and all powerful aspects of God is He created Angels and Humans with the same design that while we had a beginning, we do not have an ending.  As discussed, and proven using the scriptures, there is no such thing as annihilation, where God is currently working His perfect plan for our Salvation that will end up with the necessity of the:

  1. Fallen Angels, which Lucifer is one of them,
  2. Nephilim, and
  3. Mankind without Salvation

to reside in the never-ending prison called the Lake of Fire because these three creatures are eternal where their actions of rebellion require exile and penalties.  The Lake of Fire is somewhat inadequately called the second death for mankind, but there is no death involved when there is eternal consciousness and suffering.

Our God's Awareness in Eternity of the Lake of Fire

As we mature more and more in our life as Christians, we realize the horrible consequences that Lucifer started, Fallen Angels perpetuated and many human-beings continued in which required:

The over looked consequence, that many of us may not have thought about, is God for eternity will have the Lake of Fire in His Awareness which has to be a perpetual irritation that we might think He possibly would like to annihilate but cannot because His Perfect Justice Nature. 

Psalm 139:8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

This author is sure that many of us have realized this thought and felt grief over the unfairness of God having to maintain this burden, BUT we can take comfort in our love of Got that God will not let this be the smallest of victories for Lucifer. 

It is this author's belief that while the Lake of Fire will be in God's awareness, it will somehow be completely not a concern for God.  Recall that God will remove the memory of anyone we cared about that has gone to the Lake of Fire as read from Revelation 21:4 and Isaiah 65:17, where God has the power to leave the "former things" in the past for Himself also which is a hope of this author.

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”  *
Isaiah 65:17 For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.

Do You have Salvation?

If you are reading this topic and have a fear because you are not a Christian, then that is a good sign that you recognize that you need a Savior.  Simply envision that you are kneeling before Jesus Christ in your mind and say this: "Dear Jesus, I recognize you as my God and my Savior.  I am a sinner and accept what you did on the Cross and forever want to be with You in eternity.  Please come into my life.  Amen.

Next, make friends with people you know are true Believers and find a good Church.  This is a great new start of your life!  There is much to learn so go forth in forgiveness and love along with being wise.  The Holy Spirit, who indwells you, once you made the prayer of Salvation, will help and guide you from this point forward.

Philippians 2:9-11 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

What to read next?

We have eternal lifeEvolution is not real.  What about the classical objection question?  When a Christian suffers is there benefits from it?  Rewards in heaven.  Do we Tithe?  What does the 3rd Commandment tell us?  What is Salvation?  What is Grace and Mercy?  Is there an Age of Accountability?  What is the Great White Thrown of Judgment and Judgment Seat of Christ?