S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The idea that there are different levels of punishment in hell derives primarily from The Divine Comedy, written by Dante Alighieri between 1308 and 1321. In the poem, the Roman poet Virgil guides ...

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July 01 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Steve Nearman Supporter A sinner saved by grace. Luther Oklahoma

Hell or Sheol (Hebrew scriptures) is the place of the dead, grave; by extension, realm of death or deepest depths.

Hell (Greek scriptures) is "Gehenna", the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, once celebrated for the horrid worship of Moloch, and afterwards polluted with every species of filth, as well as the carcasses of animals, and dead bodies of malefactors; to consume which, in order to avert the pestilence which such a mass of corruption would occasion, constant fires were kept burning; hence, hell, the fires of Tartarus, the place of punishment in Hades, Mt. 5:22, 29, 30; 10:28; 18:9. Slao translated from "tartaoo" meaning to cast or thrust down to Tartarus (from Greek mythology, a deep abyss that is used as a dungeon of torment and suffering for the wicked) or Gehenna, 2 Pet. 2:4.

That God, “after He hath killed, hath power to cast into hell,” is assigned as a reason why He should be feared with the fear that keeps from doing evil, Luke 12:5; the parallel passage to this in Matt. 10:28 declares, not the casting in, but the doom which follows, namely, the destruction (not the loss of being, but of wellbeing) of “both soul and body.”  

For terms descriptive of “hell,” read; Matt. 13:42; 25:46; Phil. 3:19; 2 Thess. 1:9; Heb. 10:39; 2Pet. 2:17; Jude 13; Rev. 2:11; 19:20; 20:6, 10, 14; 21:8.

"Hades" (the invisible abode or mansion of the dead; the place of punishment, hell; the lowest place or condition) in Luke 16:19-31 is divided from "Abraham’s bosom" by a "great gulf". Lazarus is "comforted" while the rich man is "tormented in this flame"

The "lake of fire" is a place that originally was reserved for Satan and his cohorts but will also be used to cast in the "beast", the "false prophet" and Christ rejectors (the "second death" of the "twice dead") that are taken from hell and judged guilty at the great white throne. It will be their final destination for eternity, "the blackness of darkness forever". 2 Pet. 2:9-21; Jude 5-13; Rev. 19:20; 20:10-15.

"Purgatory", a Roman Catholic doctrine, is not found in scripture. Nor it’s concept; a place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are expiating their sins before going to heaven. Jesus Christ paid, which his own blood, the penalty for everyone’s sin (the whole world), for all time by His one time sacrifice of Himself, once. John 1:29; Rom. 6:10; Heb. 9:26-28; 10:10; 1John 2:2; 1 Pet. 3:18;

There does not appear to be different levels of punishment in hell. All there suffer the same punishment regardless of the sin committed, however we do see different judgements in the scriptures for some sins, under the law, while here on earth.

October 30 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Mi Shad Ow Supporter Layman

The only way this could be possible is Ps 9:17 "shall be turned into hell". Hell is not only a place of physical pain but one of mental as well. Everyone there reflects on every chance he/she had to accept Christ and did not.

November 27 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College & Dallas Seminary graduate, Pentair

Are there degrees of punishment in hell? Jesus stated that servants who knew their master's will and didn't do it will be beaten with many blows, while those who did not know will receive fewer blows (Luke 12:47-48), one of my sister's favorite Bible verses. Michael mentioned this one, too.

No one mentioned this, though: Jesus warned that judgment for unrepentant cities like Chorazin and Bethsaida will be worse than for Tyre and Sidon (Matthew 11:20-24) because they witnessed His miracles and still rejected Him. 

Lastly, no one else said anything about these 2 verses but which the Gospel Coalition does:

“But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed” (Rom. 2:5).

“How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?” (Heb. 10:29).

1 day ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report