Rev. 20, What do ya’ know: Everybody Has a Future (1)

Doctrinal Statement: We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting, conscious, punishment of the lost.

In this post we will give brief descriptions of the “nether” world as well as heaven. 

·       Hell: Also called “the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:10-15).  The Greek term “Gehenna” was the name given to the trash dump in the “Valley of Hinnom” on the southern edge of Jerusalem.  It was constantly burning and thus was a perfect illustration, so used by Christ (Mt. 10:28; 25:41; Mk. 9:43-48).

·       The Abyss: Translated “the deep” in Lk. 8:31, it is also the “bottomless pit” in Rev. 17:8.  It is the same as the Greek “Tartarus” (translated “hell” in the KJV, in 2 Pt. 2:4).  It was the abode of certain fallen angels reserved in chains for future punishment and for use during the tribulation period by the Lord to punish the earth (Rev. 9:1-11).  Satan will be bound here during Christ’s thousand year earthly reign (Rev. 20:1-3).

·       Hades: In the Old Testament this was the abode of all the dead souls of men.  If had two compartments: Abraham’s Bosom (the abode of the saints) and the abode of the wicked (referred to then and now as Hades).  See Luke 16:19-31.  A great gulf separated the two sides.  When Christ died, He descended into this place, preached the news of His defeat of Satan (by His death and resurrection), and took all the saints with Him into heaven (Acts 2:27,31; Mt. 27:52-53; Eph. 4:8; 1 Pt. 3:18-20).  So now Hades is the abode of punishment for the souls of the wicked.  It will someday be emptied and those within judged and cast into hell (Rev. 20:11-15).

·       The Grave: Wherever bodies are placed: six feet under, in a cave, in a temple, a pyramid, in the sea, in a man made tomb, in a sarcophagus or mausoleum and so forth.  In the Old Testament “sheol” is used to designate both the grave and Hades. 

·       Heaven: Paul said he met with Christ in the “third heaven,” which he also called Paradise (2 Cor. 12:2,4).  The Bible used “heaven” or “heavens” to speak of where the birds fly (first), where the stars and planets are (second) and where God has His abode.  His throne room is described in Rev. 4 and in other places.

·       The New Heaven and Earth: This is the future eternal abode of the righteous.  Read Rev. 21:1-22:5; 2 Pet. 3:13; Isa. 65:17; 66:22.

With this background we will seek to answer the question, “where do the dead go when they die?”