Expert: Rev. Frank Ricketts - 10/26/2004

Question
Dear Rev. Ricketts   

   After recently conducting a study of the concept of hell, I have come to a preliminary belief that, contrary to what I have been taught as a Southern Baptist, the New Testament does NOT teach that "hell" is the flaming punishment that ungodly humans  go to immediately upon death, or for everlasting punishment.  
    Based on the translated words for "hell" in the new testament, "Hades" is simply the grave, "Gehenna" is that specific valley near Jerusalem intended for waste and rubbish and yes even condemed criminals (literally), and "tartoos" the "pit" for the angels reserved till judgement.(cf. 2 Pet.2:4).

  It seems we wait in the grave till the resurrection and judgement day, and until then, we "sleep" in an unconscious state.

Am I wrong?

Thank you for your time
Sincerelly, John  

Answer
       It is interesting that you have asked me this question. I recently had a young man ask me about a situation in the Bible about the cross and the thief on the cross. As with all questions that I am asked I asked the Holy Ghost to reveal the meaning of the following verse. I will be using the King James Version.

       Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

       The reason I was asked this question is because the young man wanted to know what paradise was. I believe this answer should help you in your question. Remember the standard rule for the Bible is the continuity of scripture. In other words, if the thought or idea is found in one place, then it should be found in other places.

       Paradise by the definition found in the dictionary is: akin to Avestan pairi-daEza- enclosure; akin to Greek peri around and to Greek teichos wall.

       Paradise by the definition in Strong's: from Greek paradeisos, literally, enclosed park.

  The first thing you will notice is the statement that Jesus said to the thief – ‘To day shalt'. Jesus did not state today but rather to day. If he had said today, this denoted on or for this day or at the present time. He used To and this is used as a function word to indicate direction, used as a function word to indicate contact or proximity. The direction is a day that is pointed to as a future reference.

  Paradise is not mentioned in the Bible before this verse.

  That is for good reason. Jesus when He died and was placed in the tomb had another mission or work to do. He had to die on the cross to offer His body for a sacrifice for sin. When He went to the grave, He did not have the keys to death and hell because He had never been there, therefore it makes sense that He did not have the keys.

  When Jesus Christ ‘journeyed' down to the grave, He received the keys to death and hell. How? It is very simple.
  
  Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

  After he had received the keys to the grave and hell, then He had the authority to place the thief in a place that Jesus had the authority over.
  
  But a question arises about what happened to the followers of God and Christ that were in the graves? If you remember, when Jesus died something happened.

  Matthew 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

       I submit that if Jesus Christ had not received the keys to death and hell, then the saints could not have arose from the graves.

       After Jesus Christ had turned the grave into paradise, then the saints that died after this could be resurrected.

      It seems we do wait in the grave till the resurrection and judgment day.

      Make sure and visit: http://daystartab.cjb.net

      Thanks for your question and remember we are praying for you!