Before we start on the topic of Hell, I want to share what Pope Francis said in 2018. He said "Hell did not exist." Pope Francis said there is no hell for non-believers and sinners - only nothingness. Source bottom of page.
The Did the people in the Old Testament days believe there was a Hell? Can anyone prove from the Old Testament (Tanakh) that there is a place called Hell? The answer may surprise you. Even in the New Testament, Christ never taught on Hell, because there is no biblical concept of Hell. The only reason people believe there is a Hell is, they were taught that way. My plan here, is to prove that the wicked do not burn in hell for eternity. That the wicked just cease to exist at death. Before we look at the Tanakh, let's look at the most famous verse in all of the bible, John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Those who trust in Christ don't perish (die) Those that don't trust in Christ will die. If you're dead your dead. How can you be anywhere else? So that means the one that doesn't trust in Christ does not have everlasting life anywhere else like some make up to be hell. If Jesus wanted us to know that sinners went to hell, don't you think it would say so right here. Another point, the Greek word "perish" is used literally of death.
I'm trying to get to the Old Testament but I have
to mention this first.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Death is dead not eternal punishing and torment in some place called "Hell." The
context is Adam would result in "the death," and those faithful in Christ have
eternal life. This is about death and eternal life, not eternal torture.
Let's look at Psalms 9:17 from different versions of the bible.
Psalm 9:17 (KJV)
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
How can one be turned into hell? That's like saying one can be turned into a
tree.
Psalm 9:17 (NASB)
The wicked will return to Sheol, Even all the nations who forget God.
Doesn't this make more sense? It's saying the wicked will return to dust
(the grave). Notice the word "return" is from the Hebrew word shub which
means, "to turn back, return. The wicked will return to the grave.
Let's look at a couple more.
Psalm 9:17 (ESV)
The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.
Psalm 9:17 (NIV)
The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God.
Notice instead of return and Sheol the NIV uses "go down" and the
realm of the dead" It clearly means Sheol a place of the dead.
This is why we use other translations of the bible. No wonder why we all thought there must be a Hell. The KJV translators use Sheol as Hell. It's their interpretation not actual translation. Other versions of the bible have corrected this error! Just to name a couple, the NASB or ESV do not use the word "Hell" in the Old Testament. In that day, people had no idea of a place called "Hell"
Sheol is the Hebrew word for the place of the dead. Nowhere do we see Sheol as fire or a place of torment. You will never get a view of hell from the Tanakh. It just isn't there.
Psalm 73:27 (NKJV)
For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all
those who are unfaithful to You.
Those that are far away from God will die be put to death. Once and for
all and no more. It's saying their dead they will not live. Their
are deceased. They will not rise. They have no more memory..
I'm not making this up read the next verse.
Isaiah 26:14 (NKJV)
They are dead, they will not live; They are deceased, they will not rise.
Therefore You have punished and destroyed them, And made all their memory to
perish.
I could go on with over 50 more verses that show what the wicked will be like and every one will show they are dead, that they ceased to exist no more. Now, my question to you is "Do any of the verses in the Old Testament show that the wicked are to be eternally tortured in fire?
So, if Hell didn't come about in the Old Testament then why were we taught that the sinner goes to Hell? Did it come from the New Testament?
In the New Testament, the word "Hades," is the Greek word used for Sheol (the place of the dead). It is translated 12 times from "Gehenna." So, what is "Gehenna"? Gehenna is a literal place. in Jeremiah were told it's the valley of Hinnom. It was a place where people burned their own sons and daughters as human sacrifices. This was for their fire god, Molech. See Jeremiah 7:30-33 and 2 Kings 23:10
Gehenna was a place were the fires kept burning all the time, night and day. Jesus referred to this place where the fires are not quenched and the worms have not died. The Valley of Hinnom became known in people's minds, as an accursed place where evil things were destroyed. Christ used it to describe a place of suffering and torment.
Let's look at scriptures of the New Testement.
Matthew 5:29-30 (NASB)
29 If your right eye makes you [a]stumble, tear it out and throw it from you;
for it is better for you [b]to lose one of the parts of your body, [c]than for
your whole body to be thrown into [d]hell. 30 If your right hand makes you [e]stumble,
cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you [f]to lose one of the
parts of your body, [g]than for your whole body to go into [h]hell.
Notice the word hell down in the Footnotes is
translated as Gehenna. Jesus was speaking to Israelites, to Jewish people.
They knew that Gehanna was an actual place. in their time. The word "hell"
should not have been used in these verses. And Truthfully, it should not
be used anywhere in the bible. The word "Hell" was not in the original
translation. It's by interpretation, not as fact.
Footnotes:
Matthew 5:29 I.e. sin
Matthew 5:29 Lit that one...be lost
Matthew 5:29 Lit not your whole body
Matthew 5:29 Gr Gehenna
Matthew 5:30 I.e. sin
Matthew 5:30 Lit that one...be lost
Matthew 5:30 Lit not your whole body
Matthew 5:30 Gr Gehenna
Let's look at a translation that is correct. There may be others that have been corrected but this is the only one I know of. It's called Young's Literal Translation.
Matthew 5:29-30 (YLT)
But, if thy right eye doth cause thee to stumble, pluck it out and cast from
thee, for it is good to thee that one of thy members may perish, and not thy
whole body be cast to gehenna. And, if thy right hand doth cause thee to
stumble, cut it off, and cast from thee, for it is good to thee that one of thy
members may perish, and not thy whole body be cast to gehenna.
Let's make it clear right now, in Matthew 5 when Jesus talks about "your whole body be thrown into Hell" He is saying, Those Jews who did not trust in Christ as their Messiah were going to end up with their bodies "thrown into Gehenna" at the destruction of Jerusalem. Everyone knew the nearby location. Gehenna is a literal place and the only people ever threatened with Gehenna were the Judean Jews of Jesus' generation. Not the 21st century.
I took the time to find another translation with
a correct interpretation. One we all have refereed to in our study at one point.
Before we read it. I have heard that Gehenna was refereed to as a "garbage
dump". In this verse, it does sound like a garbage dump. The point I'm making is
IT'S NOT HELL!
Matthew 5:29-30 The Message (MSG)
29-30 "Let's not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to live a
morally pure life, here's what you have to do: You have to blind your right eye
the moment you catch it in a lustful leer. You have to choose to live one-eyed
or else be dumped on a moral trash pile. And you have to chop off your right
hand the moment you notice it raised threateningly. Better a bloody stump than
your entire being discarded for good in the dump.
Let's look at a similar verse. I chose this version with footnotes that identifies Hell as Gehenna.
Mark 9:43 (NKJV)
43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter
into life [a]maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to [b]hell, into the
fire that shall never be quenched.
Footnotes:
Mark 9:43 crippled
Mark 9:43 Gr. Gehenna
We can see that "hell" is meant to be Gehenna but what about a "fire that shall never be quenched" Other versions use the word "unquenchable" it comes from the Greek word asbestos. Meaning "unstoppable" It's fiery destruction that God brought about. God promised an unquenchable fire as a national judgment on Judah.
Ezekiel 20:47-48 (NKJV)
and say to the forest of the South, 'Hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the
Lord God: "Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green
tree and every dry tree in you; the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all
faces from the south to the north shall be scorched by it. All flesh shall see
that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched." This was
fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. The fire was not quenched.
The destruction was unstoppable, How could Jerusalem keep burning when they
built the second temple which soon will be destroyed with the same terminology,
"unquenchable fire" does this sound like hell?. It does to me.
When God spoke of "unquenchable fire", He used language that the Jewish listeners would associate with. The national judgments God brought about was on nations in the Old Covenant. It's "unquenchable fire" It is not Hell. They never heard of such language.
I hear the person out there saying "What about
the worm that does not die and the fire is not quenched. Isn't this describing
"Hell" I used to use this line to show life never ended in Hell. Yes I once
believed this because, it's what I was taught. Let's see what the Bible says.
Mark 9:47-48 New King James Version (NKJV)
47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to
enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast
into [a]hell fire- 48 where 'Their worm does not die And the fire is not
quenched.'
Footnotes:
Mark 9:47 Gr. Gehenna
I chose the New King James Version because of the footnote Gehenna. Were talking
about Gehenna not Hell! So what about the "worm"? Well, let's look at
truth about the worm that does not die How would Jesus' listeners know what this
meant? From the Tanakh it's in Isaiah 66:24
Isaiah 66:24 (NKJV) "And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."
This is talking about God's destruction of Jerusalem in the generation when Jesus was crucified. When Jesus spoke about "their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched," the disciples would have been familiar with these words as referring to a national judgment. The fire that is not quenched is not talking about an eternal fire, but a fire that can't be quenched or put out. It is used of judgment on Israel.
Amos 5:5-6 - no one to quench it.
In Jeremiah 21:10-14 - Israel did not listen to the warning, Jerusalem and the Temple were burned by Nebuchadnezzar See II Kings 25:8,9. Jerusalem did not continue burning forever by an unquenchable fire. This shows that an unquenchable fire does not burn forever. A fire that cannot be quenched burns until it's purpose is accomplished. Man cannot extinguish or quench God's fire, but it does go out when there is nothing left to burn.
Matthew 10:28 (NKJV)
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather
fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in [a]hell.
Footnotes:
Matthew 10:28 Gr. Gehenna
Notice the footnote that shows hell to be Gehenna. Another important
fact is nowhere in this verse does it say "unquenchable fire," "punishment,"
"torment," "eternal," "lake of fire" He's not talking about a
destruction to a nation. It's for the individual. And that's why He
used "destroy," which means: "to annihilate."
When Jesus was speaking to the Jews He made it clear many times that the judgment of God was soon to come upon them. And the unfaithful that rejected Him, would be destroyed. And the faithful in Christ would have eternal life. Jesus didn't say, fear him who after he has killed your body will punish your conscious soul forever.
Again, The New King James Version of Matthew 23:15 clearly shows were talking about Gehenna and not Hell. And in Matthew 23:36 - The judgment of Gehenna was to happen to the generation that Christ preached.
Jesus warned the Jews in Jerusalem that if they rejected Him they were headed for the Gehenna. They would suffer a national judgment against Jerusalem.
Let's make it clear, nowhere in the KJV where it uses the word "hell", does it refere to a fiery place of torment. Do you know that in the Young's Literal Translation, it does not use the word "hell" at all? And we see that the New King James Version is trying to remove "hell" The Bible does not say anything about Hell. The word "Hell" is not in the original translations of the Bible, therefore "hell" should not be in text for any bible.
I hear the person out there saying "what about the end of the wicked and eternal torment, or eternal punishment?" Well, let's look at it.
Matthew 25:46 (NKJV)
And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into
eternal life.
This is saying that the unrighteous will die forever and never be awaken. You're
done with, Your dead! People claim that the righteous get eternal life
then the wicked get eternal punishment. Let me ask you this, what does "eternal
punishment" mean? We just learned from Scriptures that punishment is death. So,
it means the wicked get eternal death. It is talking about the result of the
action and not the action itself. The punishment is death and that is eternal.
The destruction of the wicked in the lake of fire is permanent. It is a
punishment that cannot be reversed. The act of punishing will come to an end,
but the consequences will last for eternity.
The reward for the faithful is everlasting life, the punishment of the wicked is death, which is the opposite of life. There is no escaping death for the wicked, it is eternal punishment.
I think we have proven that "Hell" is something that we know as hearsay, Its what we were taught. If we go by what the Bible says, Hell should not even be a word.
Let's look at Jude 1:7
Jude 7 (NKJV)
as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these,
having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh,
are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Is this eternal conscience torment? This a reference to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. It's an example of the punishment of eternal fire. The cities are no longer burning. It's destruction is eternal, permanent, never ending. Humans will never forget it. Once history always history.
Let's look at Revelation 14:10-11 (NKJV)
he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out
full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire
and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the
Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no
rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the
mark of his name."
This may seem like Hell but the context of this is the destruction of Jerusalem. It describes events taking place in Jerusalem and disasters before or at Christ's return, not in Hell. This warning describes the punishment that will take place in the destruction Jerusalem.
I can hear it already, "What about the Lake of fire?"
Revelation 20:14-15 (NKJV)
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
This was about to take place on Jerusalem. It is a sign or symbol of Gehenna. It's a fiery judgment about to take place. There is no idea about "Hell" anywhere in the verse. One would have to know about Hell, prior to reading the bible. The original translation doesn't use the idea nor does it provide any evidence to support the existence of a place of eternal torment. "Sheol," "Hades," "Gehenna," and "Tartarus" does not mean "eternal punishment" nowhere in the bible does it refer to a place called Hell.
So, Let me ask again, is there a place called Hell, a place of eternal conscience torment according to the bible? No!
Before we continue I'd like to take the time to
explain some of my old beliefs. I believed that when we die, we go to
Hades. Then I kept asking God why do we go to Hades? Then I thought oh we
must go directly to heaven because Jesus took the people from Hades/Sheol to
heaven. I concluded that it was the people in the Old Testament that went
to Sheol. Now we go to heaven. Then I asked God why does He need to return
to resurrect us? Okay, you get the idea. I used life after death to
prove we go to heaven when we die. And while it is true, we go to heaven
when we die, it was not the case in the old covenant. When people died
they went to the grave and waited for Jesus' return. The Seventh Day
Adventist were right in that regard. But I became a Church of Christ
believer. I didn't want to believe in soul sleep. I thought why
would God wait for 2,000 years to wake us up. God doesn't wait He lives in
past, present and future. I thought for sure there was life after death. I
even used the Richman and Lazarus to prove my point. Now with God's help,
I'm going to disprove what many make it out to be. So, let's look at Luke
16:22-24 (NKJV)
So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's
bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he
lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. "Then 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 tormented in
this flame.'
Now, I'm telling you, this has nothing to do with life after death or Hell. The Old Testament (Tanakh) give us no idea that were tormented in Hades. Remember, we need to look at the Old Testament to figure the meaning in the New Testament.
We have to figure out, is this literal? Is there anything like it in the other epistles? Whether a parable or not, does sound logical? If we take this literal then people in heaven can see and talk to people in hell. Would you enjoy heaven if you hear loved ones scream in agony for eternity? If this were true then there would be billions of people screaming to heaven for relief. How could the rich man be suffering before the day of judgment? Didn't Jesus teach that the dead are in their graves until the judgment?
So, what does Jesus mean by this? Let's find scripture.
John 6:40 (NKJV)
And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and
believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last
day."
John 12:48 (NKJV)
He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him-the
word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
Judgment was to take place on the "last day" of the Old Covenant age.
John 5:28-29 (NKJV)
Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves
will hear His voice and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection
of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
There's no scripture anywhere in the bible that
confirms the story of the Richman and Lazarus to be literal. Let's look at
verses Luke 16:22-23 (NKJV)
So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's
bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he
lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
This is the only place in the Bible that the dead are depicted as suffering in "hades" Jesus taught, when they die, whether righteous or not, they go to the grave and remain there until the judgment. They do not retain consciousness. They do not go immediately to heaven or a place of torment.
The Seventh Day Adventist teach very well on this subject.
Psalm 6:5 (NKJV)
For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You
thanks?
This shows that in Sheol/Hades, which is death, there is no "remembrance" no conscious existence.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NKJV)
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or
device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
This is saying everyone is going to the grave.
This is one of the SDA's favorite verses Ecclesiastes 9:5-6. I left the SDA church after 13 years. I could not except the fact that God would make us sleep in the grave for 2,000 years. I prayed for God's truth and at times. I even begged for nothing but the truth.
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 (NKJV)
For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have
no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their
hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In
anything done under the sun.
I used to tell myself the body is dead in the grave so that's why they don't know anything. That's on earth under the sun but the spirit is in Heaven. Now I believe just what is says, the dead know nothing. Death is perishing, no pain, no consciousness.
If we go to heaven when we die there would be no reason for a resurrection. The bible tells us there will be a resurrection at Christ's Second Coming. So we cannot deny that fact
Daniel 12:2 (NKJV)
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to
everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
The Hebrew word for "contempt" is "darone." Those
who have "darone" ("contempt" or "disgust") are believers who look upon the dead
bodies (not living souls) of those who have been turned into ashes. We see this
in Isaiah 66:24
Contempt and abhorrence are the way others think about them. It does not say
they will forever be conscious or in torture, but that others will forever have
shame and contempt for them. It is the contempt that is said to be everlasting,
not persons. How does "everlasting contempt" become "everlasting torture"?.
Okay, let's get back to the Richman an Lazarus.
Who is Jesus talking to in the story of The
Richman and Lazarus? Jesus is talking to the Pharisees, who were lovers of money
Luke 16:14-1 Did you know that it was the Pharisees who chose the pagan view of
the afterlife, when you die, you go on living.
Let's look at history:
The First Century Jewish Historian, Josephus, describes the Pharisees as having
a belief in this place of pre-resurrection afterlife. He writes of the
Pharisees: "They hold the belief that an immortal strength belongs to souls, and
that there are beneath the earth punishments and rewards for those who in life
devoted themselves to virtue or vileness, and that eternal imprisonment is
appointed for the latter, but the possibility of returning to life for the
former." (Josephus Ant. 18.1.3)
The Pharisees thought that God was blessing them in this life and would do the same in the next. They thought Jesus was giving them advice that he wasnt giving to His disciples.
Did you know all of the parables Jesus taught in Luke 15-16 were to the Pharisees. Jesus wanted them to know He was speaking directly to them. Jesus wanted to show them their belielif system was wrong. The Pharisees thought they were the 99 safe sheep. They thought they were the coins already in possession. The Pharisees thought of themselves to be honest and rich. They saw themselves as the rich man and thought they would be comforted in the afterlife as they were in this one.
Jesus told the Pharisees "You are those who
justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts."
Jesus was tried to tell them they cannot take their money with them when they
die.
Jesus is telling the Pharisees, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you. Jesus used a story the Pharisees used themselves, but turned it against them. There fortunes were reversed in the afterlife. The poor man gets all the comfort and the Pharisees (The Richman) get torment in a fiery furnace which is none other than the Destruction of Jerusalem.
Jesus used their false ideas against them. He told them just because your descendants of Abraham doesn't mean they were going to inherit the kingdom. The Pharisees were leaders of Israel They were the rich man in The Richman and Lazarus. The rich man in the parable symbolizes Israel.
From Luke 16:19 Notice the rich man who was
clothed in purple and fine linen is the same as Revelation 18:16
Revelation 18:16 (NKJV)
that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned
with gold and precious stones and pearls! The rich man is Israel living off of
all that God has given them.
We see who the Rich man is, so who is Lazarus the poor man?
Luke 16:20-21 (NKJV)
But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his
gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table.
Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Matthew 15:21-28 (NKJV)
A Gentile Shows Her Faith
Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And
behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying,
"Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely
demon-possessed." But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and
urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us." But He answered
and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Then
she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."
And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall
from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great
is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from
that very hour.
Lazarus, the poor man is representing the Gentiles. They were poor when compared with the Jews. They had no knowledge of God, or of His law.
The Uncircumcised Gentiles were known as "gate proselytes" or "strangers inside the gate." They had rights and privileges under the Mosaic Law. But the Jews didn't let the Gentiles inside even though the law provided for foreigners inside. This sounds just like the rich man leaving Lazarus outside.
Luke 16:22-23 (NKJV)
So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's
bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he
lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
The Gentiles are now in "Abraham's bosom." Did you know that "Abraham's bosom"
is used only in this verse in all of the bible?
Jesus is using the Pharisees to teach a lesson. A picture of them and the
Gentiles. The idea of Abraham's bosom came from something they picked up while
in captivity in Babylon and is found in the Babylonian Talmud. Abraham's bosom
has reference to the Abraham promises made available to the Gentiles. They are
now the children of Abraham, heirs of promises made to him, through faith in
Christ.
All the unbelieving Jew including the Pharisees lost their credibility by rejecting the Gospel of Jesus the Christ. This happened in AD 70 when the physical kingdom, the Temple was taken away. God had chosen them, He came to His own and they rejected Him. (John 1:11) Now the Kingdom is spiritual in Christ who rules from heaven. It's not physical Jerusalem anymore. The unbelieving Jews rejected Christ and ended up as outsiders literally weeping and gnashing their teeth in the fires of Jerusalem.
Josephus writes, "While the Temple was ablaze,
the attackers plundered it, and countless people who were caught by them were
slaughtered. There was no pity for age and no regard was accorded rank; children
and old men, laymen and priests, alike were butchered; every class was pursued
and crushed in the grip of war, whether they cried out for mercy or offered
resistance.
Through the roar of the flames streaming far and wide, the groans of the falling
victims were heard; such was the height of the hill and the magnitude of the
blazing pile that the entire city seemed to be ablaze; and the noise-nothing
more deafening and frightening could be imagined.
There were the war cries of the Roman legions as they swept onwards en masse,
the yells of the rebels encircled by fire and sword, the panic of the people
who, cut off above, fled into the arms of the enemy, and their shrieks as they
met their fate. The cries on the hill blended with those of the multitudes in
the city below; and now many people who were exhausted and tongue-tied as a
result of hunger, when they beheld the Temple on fire, found strength once more
to lament and wail.
The Temple Mount, everywhere enveloped in flames, seemed to be boiling over from
its base; yet the blood seemed more abundant than the flames and the numbers of
the slain greater than those of the slayers. The soldiers climbed over heaps of
bodies as they chased the fugitives." (Josephus' account appears in: Cornfield,
Gaalya ed., Josephus, The Jewish War [1982]; Duruy, Victor, History of Rome vol.
V [1883].)
As we can see the The rich man and Lazarus story is a true story that actually happened. The rich man (Pharisees or unbelieving Jews) went through torment and Lazarus the gentile found himself in Abraham's lap.
Jesus pointed out the conceit among the unbelieving Jews He pointed out the torment they would face by rejecting Jesus and His teachings. He even showed them that the Gentiles (who had been beggars and poor in the eyes of the Jews) would be brought into covenant relationship with the promises and covenants made to Abraham.
Luke 16:29-31 New King James Version (NKJV)
29 Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'
30 And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they
will repent.' 31 But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the
prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.' "
Jesus really rubs this in their face. He says 'If they do not hear Moses and the
Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.
This was proven to be true. When Jesus did raise the real Lazarus from the dead.
They still would not believe. They were so mad because they saw it as I told you
so. So they wanted to kill Jesus. Then when Jesus was raised from the dead they
still did not believe. And because of unbelief, their Temple was destroyed and
they died as a nation.
The story of the rich man and Lazarus is not about life after death. It's about the coming judgment on Jerusalem in AD 70. It is about the end of Old Covenant. And There is nothing here about eternal conscience torment.
Well, since our study is on Hell, we better get back to it.
So, Sheol/Hades is not a place or realm. No matter how we look at it, it still means death and grave. The point here is when someone is in sheol, there dead, they cease to exist. There is good news. The hope of the resurrection that Jesus would raise them from death. The Bible teaches that all who were in Sheol would be resurrected at the Second Coming of Christ.
Daniel 12:2 (NKJV)
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to
everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting [a]contempt.
John 5:28-29 (NKJV)
Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves
will hear His voice and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection
of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
At the Second Coming all the dead are raised, the righteous go in the presence
of Jesus and the wicked are cast into the lake of fire.
Now that we know Sheol/Hades never carries the idea of a fiery place of torment,
put simply your dead forever and ever. You will never come to life again.
Remember "hell" is Gehenna. It is Not eternal torment in a after life. The wicked do not have after life. Get this out of your head. Gehenna or if you have to call it "Hell" is a national judgment. This came upon Jerusalem in the first century. The only people ever threatened with Gehenna were the Judean Jews of Jesus' generation.
Pope - https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/30/world/europe/pope-francis-hell-scalfari.html