Board index ‹ Heaven and Hell

[Mob & Co.]

I am so confused by the information out there. What’s the subtle but discriminate difference in meaning and spiritual energy behind the words such as: hell, Tartarus, Hades, lake of fire, outer darkness, Abaddon, abyss..?

[jimwalton]

Tartarus: Was considered to be the lowest hell by the old Greeks. In the Bible is the place of judgment on wicked angels. It seems to be identical to Gehenna (2 Pet. 2.4)

Hades: Practically speaking, this is the New Testament equivalent of Sheol—the place of the dead. In the Gospels (Lk. 16.22; 23.43), also referred to as Abraham's Bosom and Paradise. In the NT, it generally speaks of the destiny of the unsaved dead, and is never used of the eternal state of believers.

Lake of Fire: The final place of judgment for unbelievers, into which Hades will be thrown. Rev. 19.20; 20.10, 14-15; 21.8. It is a place of eternal, conscious suffering.

Outer Darkness: No explanation is given of this place except as a place of torment (Mt. 8.12; 22.13; 25.30). It just seems to be used as the antithesis of the table of feasting and the joy in the kingdom of heaven.

Abaddon: Used synonymously with Sheol. The place of the dead, in general. In Rev. 9.11, Abaddon is probably a personification of death.

Abyss: In Rev. 9, the antithesis of the heavenly court. Lk. 8.31 shows the abyss as the abode of demons, which is what it seems to refer in Rev. 9. Rom. 10.7 shows that the abyss is the general place of the dead, like Sheol and Hades.

In other words, sometimes there are no clear and discriminate distinctions in the terms. Gehenna and Tartarus were probably the same place. Sheol, Hades, and Abaddon are also probably synonymous.