What the Bible Really Says About Hell and Final Judgment (Part 1)

What If we were taught wrong

Like many children, I grew up hearing that the moment someone dies, they immediately go either to Heaven to be with God or straight to Hell, where Satan is waiting with his fiery torture pit. And whichever place you end up, that’s it. You’ll be there for eternity with no hope of escape.

I don’t know about you, but that scared me to death as a child. And once the image gets planted in your mind, it doesn’t go away easily. Did you grow up hearing the same thing? Maybe you’ve never admitted it out loud, but deep down you’ve always wondered: If God really loved us, how could He do that? Is that truly what the Bible teaches?

The problem was, questioning your pastor felt like questioning God Himself. You were told not to doubt, not to challenge, and definitely not to ask too many questions. Because the wrong question might be the very thing that lands you in the place you feared most: hell.

So, like a lot of us, you pushed the questions out of your mind and tried not to think about it. But they never really went away, did they?

Here’s what I want you to think about: what if those questions are allowed? In fact, what if they’re actually your Heavenly Father nudging you to dig deeper into His Word and discover the truth for yourself?

The Bereans didn’t just accept whatever Paul told them. They searched the Scriptures daily to see if it was so (Acts 17:11). We need to follow their example and do the same. Why is this important?

Because Jesus warned that the traditions of men can make the Word of God of no effect (Mark 7:13). In this verse, Jesus was calling out the religious leaders for teaching human rules as if they were God’s commands. By doing so, they twisted truth and led people away from what God actually said.

Unfortunately, this still happens today. When traditions are passed down long enough, you stop asking whether they’re biblical and just assume they must be.

That’s why, in this study, we’re going straight back to the original languages. We’re not relying on what your pastor, teacher, family, or anyone else (including myself) has said. We’re only going to look at what God’s Word actually says, because in the end that’s all that matters.

The Four Words Translated as Hell

The first thing to understand is that when you read the word hell in the Bible, it isn’t translated from just one word in the manuscripts. It comes from three Greek words and one Hebrew word. Let’s start with the Hebrew:

As you can see, the Hebrew word is sheol, and it means the grave or pit. So, when you’re reading the Old Testament and you come across the word hell, that’s usually how you should interpret it. But there are also some verses where it’s used more broadly to represent “the place of the dead in the unseen world” (Smith’s Bible Dictionary). That’s it. Nothing about fire or eternal torture.

Now let’s look at the three Greek words used in the New Testament:

Hades is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word sheol, and again it means the grave or the “unseen” place or state of the dead. No fire, no screaming, and no demons with pitchforks.

As shown, the Greek word Geenna is made up of two Hebrew words:

• Gay (H1516) means valley
• Hinnom (H2012) is the name of a man.
• Together, they make up the phrase ‘valley of the son of Hinnom’ (H2011)

Let’s talk about this valley for a moment so we can understand why it was transliterated as hell in the Bible. Its history is evil because of what went on there, and God made it crystal clear how He felt about it.

1. Gehenna (Geenna) is a real place, a valley just south of Jerusalem. Note on Spelling: You may see this word written as either Gehenna or Geenna (G1067). They refer to the same place. Geenna is the Greek spelling used in the New Testament, while Gehenna is the English form based on the Hebrew Gei Hinnom (Valley of Hinnom).
2. Many believe this valley once held a fire that never fully went out. Jerusalem and nearby towns would dump and burn trash, dead animals (including those used for sacrifices), and all kinds of other garbage. It’s said the valley would smolder 24/7 and flare up when something was thrown in. That may be true, but there’s no solid archaeological or historical evidence to support that claim.
3. What we do know from God’s Word is that people went to this valley to worship false gods and even sacrificed their children there. God was furious and called this filthy practice an abomination (2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 7:31; 19:5-6). He didn’t just rebuke the people; He pronounced judgment on the valley itself, renaming it the Valley of Slaughter and declaring it would become a symbol of horror and destruction (Jeremiah 7:32-33; 19:6).
4. Because of this, the Valley of Hinnom became symbolic of judgment and defilement, a cursed place that represented rebellion against God and the consequences that followed.
5. By the time of Christ, the valley was no longer used for sacrifices, but its past was not forgotten. Everyone knew its history. The name Gehenna had become a powerful symbol of judgment, physical destruction, and spiritual consequences.

When Jesus said, “Gehenna,” everyone knew the exact picture He was painting: total, final destruction under God’s judgment, not eternal torment. Look at how Jesus used it in Matthew:

The word destroy comes from the Greek word apollymi, which means to fully destroy, cut off, or perish. Jesus didn’t say “torment forever.” He chose the word destroy, a complete and irreversible loss of life, not endless suffering.

Tartaroō is used only once in the Bible, and it doesn’t apply to human souls. In the original Greek, tartaroō is a verb. It means to cast down to Tartarus, which was known in Greek thought as a deep abyss used to imprison rebellious beings. In the Bible, it refers to a specific event involving fallen angels, not humans.

While Strong’s includes the phrase “to incarcerate in eternal torment,” that phrase reflects theological interpretation, not the plain meaning of the word in context:

This verse describes a temporary place of confinement. The (fallen) angels are being held in chains, waiting for future judgment. There is no mention of fire, torment, brimstone, or human souls.

So, there you have it. Not one of the four original words is defined as a place where human souls are tortured by fire for eternity. Then where did this heinous concept of hell come from? Like many other teachings, it’s from church tradition and pagan philosophy. It’s not from our Heavenly Father. Nowhere in God’s Word does He say He will burn souls alive forever. All through His Word, He teaches the opposite.

Parables and Why Jesus Used Them

God’s Word is full of symbolism, metaphors, and strong visual language. Jesus often taught using parables so that not everyone would understand. Only those who sincerely sought God would be given “eyes to see and ears to hear” the deeper truth (Mark 4:11-12; Luke 8:10).

Our Heavenly Father wants more from us than a quick reading of the Bible here and there. He expects us to study, to rightly divide His Word (2 Timothy 2:15). He tells us to seek wisdom, knowledge, and understanding by praying and asking Him for it (Proverbs 2:3–6; Psalm 119:18; James 1:5).

Jesus also said the Holy Spirit would teach us all things and help us understand spiritual truth (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:10–14). He even said that if we didn’t understand one particular Parable (the parable of the sower), we wouldn’t be able to understand any of the other ones. At the end of that parable, the tares (Satan’s children) are gathered up and burned. But that doesn’t happen until the final judgment.

Burned: God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29), and that fire doesn’t torment evil for eternity, it destroys it. The wicked are instantly burned up and turned to ashes, never to exist again (Malachi 4:1–3). But if you love God and follow Him, you have nothing to worry about. The same fire that eliminates the enemy will comfort and protect you.

A Misunderstood Parable: Lazarus and the Rich Man

This parable tells the story of two very different men. The rich man was wealthy, with all the money and worldly possessions he could ever want. The other was a beggar named Lazarus, who had nothing, not even his health.
Jesus is using this parable to teach what happens after death. Both men find themselves in paradise, but they’re separated by a gulf. This all takes place before the millennium and before the lake of fire (final judgment). Let’s study it and see what we can learn from our Father:

This man seemingly had it all. He’s dressed in purple, a color historically tied to royalty and wealth. He lives in luxury, enjoying every comfort. But here’s an important question: did he have time for God, or even think about Him?

Lazarus (not the same one who Christ raised from the dead), is a poor beggar, starving and covered in sores. He was cast aside and left outside the rich man’s gate with no money, no home, and no food. There was nothing comfortable about his life, but as we’ll see later, he had what mattered most: he was a righteous man who had faith in God.

Lazarus wasn’t asking for much; just the crumbs from the rich man’s food, but he didn’t even get that. What does this tell us about the rich man? He was more than able to help Lazarus, but he didn’t. The only compassion the poor man received came from the dogs licking his sores.

In time, both men died, and it no longer mattered how rich or poor they were. What you take with you after death isn’t your wealth or status, it’s your works. Your righteous acts make up the clothing you wear in Heaven (Revelation 14:13, 19:8).

After death, both men go to Heaven, (some call it Paradise), but they end up on two very different sides. The beggar is carried by angels to the side of peace, comfort, and rest. The rich man finds himself on the opposite side, in Hades–a place of despair, shame, regret, and sorrow.

As we learned earlier, Hades simply means the unseen realm of the dead. It’s not a fiery torture-pit. It’s a temporary holding place where the unrighteous wait for final judgment, separated from God.

Why are they both in Heaven? Because Heaven is wherever God is, and all souls return to Him after death:

This verse confuses a lot of people, so let’s take a closer look at the word tormented using the Strong’s Concordance:

The word torment describes emotional anguish, not physical pain. The flame isn’t literal fire, it’s a metaphor for the burning shame, sorrow, and regret of realizing too late what truly mattered. The rich man now knows he is separated from God and will stand before Him at the Great White Throne Judgment. At that time he will answer for rejecting Christ and for the unrighteous way he lived (Revelation 20:11–15).

In rightly dividing the Word, does a literal interpretation of this verse make sense?

• The rich man is speaking. If he were actually engulfed in flames, he wouldn’t be carrying on a conversation.
• We each have one soul and two bodies: physical and spiritual. Our spiritual body doesn’t experience physical pain (1 Corinthians 15:44, Revelation 21:4)
• A single drop of water wouldn’t ease the torment of literal flames.

On a deeper level, think of the water as Christ, the Living Water. The rich man had the chance to drink from that well and rejected it. Now, he’s completely cut off from it (John 4:14).

The tables have turned. The rich man who once had everything ignored the suffering of others, now he has nothing. He remembers his life and the choices he made. He sees that Lazarus is loved, accepted, and comforted by our Heavenly Father. Part of his torment is being fully aware of the peace and joy that could’ve been his for eternity.

There is a gulf that cannot be crossed, separating the righteous (saved) from the unrighteous (unsaved). When your flesh body dies, your soul instantly enters the spiritual body and goes to one side or the other to wait for either for the reward of eternal life or the punishment of complete destruction.

God wants all His children to choose life, but He leaves that decision to each of us. He will never force someone to love Him, because that’s not real love.

Luke 16:27–31 goes on to describe the rich man begging Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his family. But Abraham says no, they already have Moses and the prophets. If they won’t listen to that, they wouldn’t be convinced even if someone rose from the dead to warn them.

And we see how true that is, even today. Jesus rose from the dead, and how many people are convinced or even care? Like the rich man, they’re too busy with things of this world to think about the One who created it, and us.

Don’t allow that to happen in your own life. Make time for your Heavenly Father now. He loves you, and He always has time for you.

Hades and the Gulf: A Parallel in II Esdras

In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus shows us what happens after death. He makes it clear there’s a separation between those who followed God and those who rejected Him.

Interestingly, this same idea is written in II Esdras, part of the Apocrypha that was included in the original 1611 King James Bible. It was later removed by certain Bible societies.

While it’s not found in most modern Bibles today, and I do not endorse it as Scripture, some passages (like the ones below) align with what we see in God’s Word. That’s the only reason I’m including it in this study

Always compare everything you read or hear against Scripture and throw away anything that contradicts it.

Take a look at these verses. They’re from from the Revised Standard Version with Apocrypha (1957 expanded edition):

II Esdras 7:78–80

II Esdras 7:78
Now concerning death, the teaching is: When the decisive decree has gone forth from the Most High that a man shall die, as the spirit leaves the body to return again to him who gave it, first of all it adores the glory of the Most High.

II Esdras 7:79
And if it is one of those who have shown scorn and have not kept the way of the Most High, and who have despised his law, and who have hated those who fear God

II Esdras 7:80
such spirits shall not enter into habitations, but shall immediately wander about in torments, ever grieving and sad, in seven ways.

This directly ties to what Jesus described in the parable. When your soul leaves your flesh body, you return to God in your spiritual body, but not all souls go to the same place. The torment isn’t literal fire. It’s the agonizing sorrow of realizing the truth, but knowing it’s too late. The passage continues, describing the ways you will be in torment:

II Esdras 7:81–87

II Esdras 7:81
The first way, because they have scorned the law of the Most High.

II Esdras 7:82
The second way, because they cannot now make a good repentance that they may live.

II Esdras 7:83
The third way, they shall see the reward laid up for those who have trusted the covenants of the Most High.

II Esdras 7:84
The fourth way, they shall consider the torment laid up for themselves in the last days.

II Esdras 7:85
The fifth way, they shall see how the habitations of the others are guarded by angels in profound quiet.

II Esdras 7:86
The sixth way, they shall see how some of them will pass over into torments.

II Esdras 7:87
The seventh way, which is worse than all the ways that have been mentioned, because they shall utterly waste away in confusion and be consumed with shame, and shall wither with fear at seeing the glory of the Most High before whom they sinned while they were alive, and before whom they are to be judged in the last times.

This shows the same thing we just read in the parable, that to be tormented on the wrong side of the gulf is not being burned alive for eternity. It’s a metaphor that describes a place of separation from God where one is being consumed by the flame of deep regret, burning shame, and sorrow. Having full awareness of what was freely offered, and refused.

Beyond the Fear: What God Really Wants for His Children

Is everyone on the wrong side of the gulf going to be cast into the lake of fire and perish at the great white throne Judgment? Sadly, many will. But Scripture also reveals a thousand-year reign (the millennium) when those who never had a real opportunity to learn will be taught.

This isn’t a second chance. It’s the first real chance for people who were misled or never taught the truth in the first place. And those who cannot fully understand things now, won’t have those limitations in their spiritual bodies. God is always fair. He is not going to condemn anyone to perish in the lake of fire, unless they knowingly reject Him.

But For those who do know? The time for grace and salvation is now. Each of us must decide if we will serve God or Satan. And serving God is not hard because He doesn’t expect perfection. He doesn’t ask anything of us that He wasn’t willing to do Himself.

He lived in the flesh as Christ. and shed His blood on the cross so that we can be saved and have eternal life. Why? Because we are His children and He loves us. What He wants most from us is our Love. Everything else, stems from that love.

Our Heavenly Father is not a sadistic monster. He’s not going to torture anyone for eternity. What a horrific lie, one that has driven countless people away from Him. It’s not taught in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man or anywhere else in His Word.

In Part 2 of this series we will look at even more biblical evidence, including what happens at The Great White Throne and what the lake of fire is really all about. Hint: it’s not what most of us were told.

Keep asking questions and seeking the answers from God and His Word.