Hell Now – What it is Like

The Greek word (G86) hades is translated as ‘hell’ in the New Testament and occurs just 11 times. The word hades literally means ‘unseen’. The following are the usages of this word in the New Testament:

Capernaum

And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

(Mat 11:23-24)

And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

(Luk 10:15)

The context of these passages is a rebuke to the city of Capernaum for not being receptive to the Gospel. In this instance, we find that the entire city would be brought down to hell.

Gates of Hell will not Prevail against the Church

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

(Mat 16:18)

This is an important teaching concerning the fact that hell (hades) will not prevail against the church. In this context, the church would be understood as all the true Christians. The gates of hell refer to the entry or exit into hell. All true Christians have been crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20, Ro 6:6), buried with Him into His death by baptism (Ro 6:4, Col 2:12) and raised with Him (Ro 6:4-6, Col 2:13). We will find out below (Acts 2:27-32) that Jesus’ soul went to hades after His death and He was resurrected from the dead. Therefore, the gates of hell will never prevail upon Christ’s church, the true body of Christ (Eph 2:16, 4:14-16, etc.) which has been raised with Christ from the dead.

The Keys of Hell and Death

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

(Rev 1:18)

The ‘He’ in this verse is Jesus Christ, who was dead and is now alive forevermore. Jesus Christ has the keys (i.e., authority) over both death and hell. The combination of ‘death’ and ‘hell’ clearly establishes that one must die (physically) to enter into hades (hell).

The Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

(Rev 6:8)

Once again, we find the combination of ‘death’ and ‘hell’ that establishes that physical death results in movement into hell (for the unsaved).

Hades – Where is your Victory?

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

(1Co 15:54-55)

In 1 Cor 15:55, the word translated as ‘grave’ is the Greek word hades. In this context, we find that at Judgment Day that even death and hell are destroyed in the everlasting hell of final judgment:

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

(Rev 20:13-15)

The Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man

See Chapter 10 for discussion on this Parable

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And 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. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

(Luk 16:19-31)

Jesus Christ Entered into Hades upon His Death

The occurrence of the Greek word hades in Acts 2:27 and Acts 2:31 is an important linkage to the Old Testament. It can be seen from Scripture that the Greek word hades, when quoted in the Old Testament corresponds to the Hebrew word sheol (see Acts 2:27, 31 with Ps 16:10). Very notably in Acts 2:27, 31 and Ps 16:10, we find that hell (hades / sheol) was where Jesus soul went temporarily at his death:

Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

(Act 2:27-32)

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

(Psa 16:10)

Sheol (Old Testament)

The equivalent Hebrew word (H7585) to the New Testament word ‘hell’ (hades) is the word sheol. Sheol occurs 65 times in the Old Testament. The word is used in referring to the world of the death, which can include the physical grave as well.

Deliverance from the Grave

As we saw in the Acts 2:27,31, Ps 16:10, Jesus’ soul was in hell, but was removed when he was resurrected and re-joined with his body and spirit. All true Christians have been crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20, Ro 6:6), buried with Him into His death by baptism (Ro 6:4, Col 2:12) and raised with Him (Ro 6:4-6, Col 2:13). Additionally, there are several verses in the Old Testament that refer to sheol being the location where souls must be saved or delivered from. These references refer to man’s need for salvation in Christ. These verses should not be interpreted to mean that when a Christian dies, their soul goes to hell. Christians are already seated in heavenly places in Christ (Eph 2:6).

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

(Psa 16:10)

My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake. For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

(Psa 6:3-5)

O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

(Psa 30:3)

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

(Psa 49:15)

For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

(Psa 86:13)

For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.

(Psa 88:3)

What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

(Psa 89:48)

The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

(Pro 15:24)

Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

(Pro 23:14)

I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

(Hos 13:14)

I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

(Psa 116:1-9)

Hezekiah’s deliverance from the Grave

The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness: I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years. I said, I shall not see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world. Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd’s tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me. I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me. Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me. What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul. O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live. Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth. The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.

(Isa 38:9-20, grave in verses 10 and 18 is sheol)

Job’s Reflection on the Grave (Job 14)

Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day. For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity. And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place. The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man. Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them. But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.

(Job 14:1-22, Job 14:13 – ‘grave’ = ‘sheol’)

Jonah’s Deliverance from Hell – Type of Christ

(Jon 2:1-2)

But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

(Mat 12:39-40)

Jacob’s Desire to Go to Grave for His Sons, Joseph and Benjamin (type of Christ)

And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

(Gen 37:35)

And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

(Gen 42:38)

And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad’s life; It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.

(Gen 44:29-31)

Those Who Rebel from God

Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.

(Job 24:19)

Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

(Job 21:7-15)

But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

(Num 16:30-33, ‘pit’ is the word sheol)

Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die. Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men? A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

(Pro 15:10-12)

For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

(Psa 55:12-16)

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

(Psa 18:4-5, see also 2 Sam 22:5-6)

The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

(Psa 9:17)

Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.

(Job 26:6)

For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

(Deu 32:22)

Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

(Pro 27:20)

If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

(Pro 1:11-12)

Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

(Isa 28:15-18)

And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.

(Isa 57:9)

Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands. Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled: But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.

(Isa 5:11-16)

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

(Hab 2:4-5)

Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.

(1Ki 2:5-6)

And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword. Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

(1Ki 2:8-9)

Pharaoh of Egypt

To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit. Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him. I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth. They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen. To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.

(Eze 31:14-18, refers to the Pharaoh of Egypt)

The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword. Asshur is there and all her company: his graves are about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword: Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round about her grave: all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror in the land of the living. There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit. They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain. There is Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of the living. And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living. Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt lie with them that are slain with the sword.

(Eze 32:21-28)

King of Babylon

Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

(Isa 14:9-13 – King of Babylon, type of Satan)

Those who follow the foolish adulteress

A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, To call passengers who go right on their ways: Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

(Pro 9:13-18)

Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

(Pro 7:25-27)

My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

(Pro 5:1-7)

The Rich and Honorable who are not Saved, but Christians will be redeemed from the power of the grave

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: Both low and high, rich and poor, together. My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp. Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about? They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption. For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah. Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

(Psa 49:1-20)

The Lord has Access to Hell

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

(Psa 139:7-8)

Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

(Job 11:7-8)

The Bottomless Pit and Tartaroo

The Bottomless Pit in the New Testament

The Greek word for ‘bottomless’ (G12) is abussos where we get our English word ‘abyss’ from. It occurs 7 times in the New Testament in the following passages:

And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

(Luk 8:31)

Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

(Rom 10:7)

And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

(Rev 9:1-2)

And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

(Rev 9:11)

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

(Rev 11:7)

The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

(Rev 17:8)

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

(Rev 20:1)

And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

(Rev 20:3)

The other Greek word (G5421) for pit is phreaer which literally means a ‘pit’. This word occurs 7 times in the New Testament in these 3 passages:

And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

(Luk 14:4-5)

The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

(Joh 4:11-12)

(Rev 9:1-2)

By analyzing the above passages we find that with regard to being a place of punishment / banishment, the pit is a location that exists prior to Judgment Day:

Where Satan resides – Rev 20:1,3, Rev 17:8, Rev 9:11
Where Jesus’ soul went when he died – Ro 10:7 (equivalent to Hades – see Acts 2:27, 2:31)
Where the locusts are released from during the Great Tribulation period – Rev 9:1-2
Where the Beast comes from during the Great Tribulation – Rev 11:7
A place symbolic of where Christians need to be rescued from – Lk 14:4-5
Where demons do not want to go – Lk 8:31

‘Tartaroo’ in the New Testament

The Greek word Tartaroo occurs only one time in the New Testament:

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment…

(2Pe 2:4)

We find in this passage that the angels who sinned (i.e., Satan’s demons) were cast down to ‘hell’. We find that they are chained (controlled) in darkness and reserved for their final judgment. This passage is similar to Rev 20:1-3, where we find that Satan is also chained during the church age in the ‘bottomless pit’ (see above).

For if God spared not the angels that sinned – Fallen angels are put forth as an example of those who bring heresy (see also Jude 6). Angels simply refer to messengers of the Gospel, whether human or spirit. Therefore, an angel (i.e. messenger) refers to anybody who brings forth a spiritual message. The angels who fell sinned. These are those fallen angels who with Satan are bound for 1000 years (spiritually). The angels that were created sinless fell with Satan when he rebelled (Rev 12:4, 2 Pet 2:4).

But cast them down to hell – The idea that hell is downward is allegorical. The spiritual picture being painted with up and down is that God is high and lofty (referring to a spiritual excellent place) while those who are under the wrath of God are downward or made low. God is in the highest places (Mat 21:9, Mk 11:10, Lk 1:32,35,76, 2:14, 6:35, 19:38, Ps 18:13, 87:5) while man is in a lowly estate. The term hell (Gr: tartaros) is only used in 2 Peter. As we see throughout 2 Peter, there are many only occurrences of a certain term in the text. However, when 2 Peter is observed as a whole and the relatively large amount of terms that only fond their home in 2 Peter, one should conclude that the term tartaros is not intended to convey anything different than the standard terms used for hell (Gr: hades, Heb: sheol). While it is true that the Gehenna hell is often used to refer to the final abode of the wicked on Judgment Day and the term hades more refers to the state of the dead prior to Judgment Day, we should take tartaros as being a synonym with hades in that it is the locale of those under the wrath of God prior to Judgment Day.

Delivered them unto chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment – This is a very close parallel to Jude 6. The penalty for sin (and in particular the sin of deception and false teaching) is that of eternal judgment. The everlasting chain points to the fact that those who sin cannot free themselves from their condition of being under the wrath of God (John 3:36). Darkness reminds of us of the condition of those who teach deception. They are not under the light of Christ and the Gospel. The great day refers to Judgment Day. There is a day coming where God will recompense sin. The great Day is a day of wrath, a Day of the Lord, and the Last Day.

The term chain is also used to describe the state of Satan prior to Judgment Day (see appendix – bound). Satan was rendered powerless at the cross (Heb 2:14) and was spiritually bound (Rev 20, Mat 12:22-29). This does not mean that he cannot influence certain affairs of men (1 Pet 5:8). However, when it comes to salvation, the Gospel has exploded into all the world. In that sense, Satan is now bound in that the Gospel, starting on Pentecost when thousands heard and were saved, has now reached the ends of the world. 2 Pet 2:4 forms a parallel verse to the Rev 20 passage and is of good use in obtaining a proper understanding of the nature of the ‘millennium’.

Pit in the Old Testament

We find that the Hebrew word (H953) for ‘pit’ in the Old Testament is bor and occurs 69 times. Similar to the New Testament, it is usually translated as ‘pit’ but can also be used as a well, cistern, fountain or a dungeon (e.g., used with regard to Joseph and Jeremiah in Gen 40-41 and Jer 37-38). When translated as well, cistern or fountain it is used in a positive sense. When the word is translated as ‘pit’ it is usually used in a negative sense (about 40 occurrences).

The Hebrew word shachath (H7845) is also translated as ‘pit’ and occurs approximately 23 times in the Old Testament.

Pit (H953)

It is notable that the word is used of Joseph. Joseph was thrown in a pit by his brothers, which is a spiritual portrait of Jesus Christ suffering in Hades / Sheol (see Gen 37:20-29).

The ‘pit’ (H953, Hebrew bor) occurs in the following notable passages which indicate that the ‘pit’ is a synonym (or allegory) for sheol (i.e., hell):

Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. For the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

(Isa 38:17-18)

The above passage links the word ‘pit’ (H953) as well as ‘pit’ H7845) with sheol (hell).

O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

(Psa 30:3)

Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

(Pro 1:12)

Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

(Isa 14:15)

For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

(Isa 38:18)

I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.

(Eze 31:16)

Now that we find that the word ‘pit’ and ‘sheol’ refer to the same thing (i.e., the place of the dead before the return of Jesus Christ, let us review the passages that include H953:

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

(Isa 24:21-23)

The above passage mirrors the truth of hell elsewhere in the Bible in that those that are under the judgment of God will be held in a ‘pit’ until Judgment Day. This hold is like a prison, which they cannot escape from. Then, ‘after many days’ they will be visited with final judgment on Judgment Day.

Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.

(Isa 14:11-19)

Once again, a comparison of verses 11, 15 and 19 indicate that the pit is synonymous with the grave (sheol). This passage refers to Satan, which aligns with New Testament references to the ‘pit’.

The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days. A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him. Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

(Pro 28:16-18)

Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

(Pro 1:12)

I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

(Psa 143:6-7)

This passage is significant in that the pit is a place that God hides Hi face from those that reside there. In other words, there is no connection to God.

A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah. Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth. Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee. Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah. Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction? Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

(Psa 88:1-12)

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

(Psa 40:2)

O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

(Psa 30:3)

A Psalm of David. Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

(Psa 28:1)

As we saw with sheol, the pit is a place of silence.

He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

(Psa 7:15)

Pit (H7845)

We find in Is 38:17-18 that H7845 (Hebrew, shachath) closely corresponds to H953. H7845 points to the decaying aspects of the pit, while H953 emphasizes the doom of the pit.

(Isa 38:17-18)

Also, we find that H7845 is related to sheol in Ps 16:10:

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

(Psa 16:10)

These additional occurrences of H7845 also point to its similarity to ‘sheol’ (hell):

He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

(Psa 7:15)

Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

(Job 9:31)

Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

(Job 33:22)

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

(Psa 55:22-23)

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

(Psa 103:4)

Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

(Jon 2:1-7)

My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness. If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness. I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister. And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.

(Job 17:11-16)

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

(Psa 16:9-11)

(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

(Psa 49:8-9)

He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

(Job 33:18)

Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

(Job 33:24)

He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

(Job 33:28)

To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

(Job 33:30)

The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.

(Psa 9:15)

What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

(Psa 30:9)

For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

(Psa 35:7-9)

Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.

(Psa 94:12-14)

O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live. Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth. The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.

(Isa 38:16-20)

They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.

(Eze 28:8)

Other Old Testament Verses Regarding the Grave

The usual word in Hebrew to bury / grave (6912 and H6913) is qeber. Here are other notable passages concerning the conditions in the grave (wicked that are dead):

I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave. Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little, Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

(Job 10:19-22)

Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.

(Psa 88:5)

Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction? Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?

(Psa 88:11-14)

All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.

(Isa 14:18-20)

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

(Isa 53:8-9)

Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.

(Jer 20:17)

And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.

(Nah 1:14)

The Unsaved Activities in Hell Now

Isolation

Silence (no Fellowship)

Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

(Psa 31:17-18)

Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.

(Psalms 94:17)

A Psalm of David. Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

(Psa 28:1)

He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

(1 Samuel 2:9)

The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.

(Psalms 115:17-18)

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

(Ecclesiastes 9:5-6)

Darkness (no Gospel Truth)

(Job 17:11-16 – the words ‘grave’ and ‘pit’ are the Hebrew word sheol)

(Psalms 88:3-6)

Shall thy wonders be known in the dark and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? (Psalms 88:12)

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment…

(2Pe 2:4)

He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

(1 Samuel 2:9)

No Communication with Living

For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

(Psa 6:5)

As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him anymore.

(Job 7:9-10)

I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah. Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.

(Psalms 88:4-8)

Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.

(Ecclesiastes 9:6)

As Prisoners without Hope, Waiting for Judgment Day

(Isa 24:21-23)

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment…

(2Pe 2:4)

(Job 17:10-16 – the words ‘grave’ and ‘pit’ are the Hebrew word sheol)

(Psa 88:1-12)

(Psa 16:9-11 – refers to Jesus Christ, see Acts 2:27-31)

No Purpose / no Knowledge

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

(Ecc 9:10)

(Ecclesiastes 9:5-6)

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

(Son 8:6)

Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

(Psalms 146:3-4)

(Psalms 6:3-5)

Shall thy wonders be known in the dark and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? (Psalms 88:12)

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

(Revelation 20:5)

No Worship or Praise of God

The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.

(Psalms 115:17-18)

(Psalms 6:3-5)

The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.

(Psalms 118:16-18)

Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

(Psalms 145:2)

(Isa 38:16-20)

(Psa 143:6-7)

For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee. Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah. Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction? Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

(Psa 88:3-6, 9-12)

A Psalm of David. Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

(Psa 28:1)

Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.

(Jon 2:4-6)

He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

(Job 33:28)

To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

(Job 33:30)

(Eze 31:16)

Where Satan and his Angels Reside

(Rev 9:1-2)

And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

(Rev 9:11)

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

(Rev 20:1)

(Rev 20:3)

(Rev 9:1-2)

The Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man

Parable – See Discussion in Chapter 10

(Luk 16:19-31)