The unseen world

We veered slightly off track, (because of our home fellowship discussion on 01/29/10), and ended up discussing the various Biblical names for the unseen world.

1. Sheol, (Hebrew), Hades, (Greek). It's always downward and was/is a multi-compartmented place for the soul.
2. Abbadon, (Hebrew), Apollyon, (Greek), is the unbeliever's side of Sheol/Hades.
3. The Pit is synonymous with Abbadon.
4. The Abyss, (Greek), is not associated with humans, but always fallen angels, (except the Antichrist). The root signifies "netherworld" or "bottomless." It's that section of Sheol/Hades which is a temporary place of confinement for fallen angels.
5. Tartarus, (Greek), is somehow connected with the Sons of God in Genesis 6, (see 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 6, 7).
6. Hell comes from a Teutonic root which means to hide or to cover. This is the unrighteous side of Sheol/Hades.
7. Abraham's bosom is discussed in the Matthew account of the rich man and Lazarus. It was the righteous side of Sheol/Hades.
8. Gehenna, (Greek). It consists of 2 Hebrew words, "Gei" and "Hinnom" or the "valley of Hinnom. It's outside the walls of Jerusalem and in the Old Testament, it was a place where some of the wicked kings of Israel practiced human sacrifice by burning. It is the eternal abode of the lost, both angels and humans. Sheol/Hades' punishment is for the soul, but Gehenna, (Lake of Fire), is for both body and soul.
9. Lake of Fire is the same as "Gehenna" mentioned above.
10. Heaven is another term for the unseen world. The first heaven is the atmosphere where birds fly. The second heaven is the place where the sun, moon, and stars are located and the third heaven is where God dwells. It is where Abraham's bosom is now, (after Christ proclaimed His finished work in Sheol/Hades-see Ephesians 4:8-10).
11. The New Jerusalem-Galatians 4:26. This is God's abode with the elect angels and redeemed man. It will be on the new earth and is synonymous with Heaven. One can see that the common view of Heaven and Hell is not always Biblically accurate and hopefully this will clear up some of these terms. Scriptural verses were supplied, thanks to Dr. Fruchtenbaum's study of this interesting subject.

Be blessed,

Your Chrbrotherist,

George Haven