What Is The Difference Between Sheol Hades Hell Gehenna
“What is the difference between Sheol, Hades, Hell, the lake of fire, Paradise, and Abraham's bosom?”The different terms used in the Bible for heaven and hell-sheol, hades, gehenna, the lake of fire, paradise, and Abraham's bosom (see study on Abraham's bosom)-are the subject of much debate and can be confusing. The word "paradise" is used as a synonym for heaven 2 Corinthians 12:44 that I was caught up (Greek But I know such a man, ) to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.Revelation 2:777 "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God. When Jesus was dying on the cross and one of the thieves being crucified with Him asked Him for mercy, Jesus replied:"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise"Jesus knew that His death was imminent and that He would soon be in heaven with His Father. Therefore, Jesus used paradise as a synonym for heaven, and the word has come to be associated with any place of ideal loveliness and delight. Abraham's bosom is referred to only once in the Bible-in the story of Lazarus and the rich manLuke 16:19-31Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus19 Jesus said, "There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man's table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.22 "Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. (Greek into Abraham's bosom. )The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and his soul went to the place of the dead. (Greek to Hades.) There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.24 "The rich man shouted, ÔÇÿFather Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.'25 "But Abraham said to him, ÔÇÿSon, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.'27 "Then the rich man said, ÔÇÿPlease, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father's home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don't end up in this place of torment.'29 "But Abraham said, ÔÇÿMoses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.'30 "The rich man replied, ÔÇÿNo, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.'31 "But Abraham said, ÔÇÿIf they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead.'"
It was used in the Talmud as a synonym for heaven. The image in the story is of Lazarus reclining at a table leaning on Abraham's breast-as John leaned on Jesus’ breast at the Last Supper-at the heavenly banquet. There are differences of opinion about what exactly Abraham's bosom represents.
Those who believe the setting of the story is a period after the Messiah's death and resurrection see Abraham's bosom as synonymous with heaven. Those who believe the setting to be prior to the crucifixion see Abraham's bosom as another term for paradise. The setting is really irrelevant to the point of the story, which is that wicked men will see the righteous in happiness, and themselves in torment, and that a "great gulf" exists between them which will never be spanned.Luke 16:2626 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.'In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word used to describe the realm of the dead is sheol.It simply means "the place of the dead" or "the place of departed souls/spirits." The New Testament Greek equivalent to sheolis hades, which is also a general reference to "the place of the dead." The Greek word gehenna is used in the New Testament for "hell" and is derived from the Hebrew word hinnom.(see study on gehenna)Other Scriptures in the New Testament indicated that sheol/hades is a temporary place where souls are kept as they await the final resurrection. The souls of the righteous, at death, go directly into the presence of God-the part of sheol called "heaven," "paradise," or "Abraham's bosom" Luke 23:4343 And Jesus replied, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise."2 Corinthians 5:88 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.Philippians 1:2323 I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.The lake of fire, is mentioned in Revelation and this is the final hell, (Greekgehenna) Revelation 19:2020 And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast-miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.Revelation 20:10, 14-1510 Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.………14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
This is the final hell, theplace of eternal punishment for all unrepentant rebels, both angelic and human Matthew 25:4141 "Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ÔÇÿAway with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.(Greek his angels.)It is described as a place of burning sulfur, and those in it experience eternal, unspeakable agony of an unrelenting natureLuke 16:2424 "The rich man shouted, ÔÇÿFather Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.'Mark 9:45-4645 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It's better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet.(Some manuscripts add verse 46, ÔÇÿwhere the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.')
Those who have rejected Christ and are in the temporary abode of the dead in hades/sheol have the lake of fire as their final destination.But those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life (see study on The Book of Life) should have no fear of this terrible fate. By faith in Christ and His blood shed on the cross for our sins, we are destined to live eternally in the presence of God.