Bible Question: The Bible mentions a place called Hades. Is Hades Hell? |
Bible Answer: Hades is the underworld of Greek mythology. The term presumably found its way into the Greek New Testament because the hellenistic writers of the NT needed a word for the state of being (or non-being) which ensues after the death of an unbeliever. I believe it is simply one of the terms used by scripture to refer to the fate of an unbeliever after their death: eternal separation from God, exclusion from the presence of God. The term implies posthumous, anguished awareness of this state of separation. But there is nothing in Scripture which clearly teaches that this state is eternal. I believe that "Hades" gives way to "Gehenna" ie. the lake of fire, and destruction. The "experience" of Hell is not eternal, but the reality of separation from God is eternal. The "soul" of the unbeliever is not immortal. The believer is immortal by virtue of his or her identification which Christ, the Son of God. |