Which Hell Is Eternal?Sample
Duration of Torment
Unbelievers are not consumed or annihilated in the lake of fire. This fact is seen by comparing Revelation 19:20 with 20:10. Before the 1000-year rule of Christ two persons known as the "beast” and “false prophet" will be cast into the lake of fire: “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone" (19:20).
Then, after the 1000-year rule of Christ, Satan will also be cast into the lake of fire, and the beast and false prophet will still be there: "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” (20:10).
Thus geenna, or the lake of fire, refers to the eternal hell, not tartaros or hades.
To summarize, of the three Greek words translated "hell" in the New Testament, tartaros occurs only once and refers to the present abode of fallen angels. Hades occurs ten times and refers to the present abode of the unbeliever after death. Geenna occurs 12 times and is the final destiny of unbelievers. Those in hades will be cast into geen na after the Great White Throne Judgment.
Scripture
About this Plan
Much confusion about hell has resulted from translating three different Greek words as the same English word in the King James Version. The three Greek words are tartaros, hades and geenna, which are all translated as the one word "hell.
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