Realm of the Dead

When a believer and an unbeliever die, where do they go? Is there a "holding place" where people go to await final judgement? If there is such a "holding place" are the believers and unbelievers separated? The Bible uses words like "Sheol", "Hades", and "Gehenna" when speaking of Hell, but instead would they be better translated as a "realm of the dead"? Christians use the word "Hell" rather loosely concerning the place that the lost will go at final judgement. The different terms that are used for Hell can be very confusing and has been subject for debate. Some biblical scholars suggest that when Christians die, we go to a specific location for the dead, which there is a separation from the lost called "Abraham's Bosom". The lost are referred to being in "Sheol", and "Hades", which is interpreted as Hell.....Not to be confused with the final judgement location called the Lake of Fire. The Bible actually describes this "realm of the dead" in Luke 16:22-23 as being in two sections separating the saved from the lost. The most common translated word for "Hell" in the Old Testament is Sheol, which means the grave or place of the dead. In the New Testament we find Hades is commonly translated for it. Also, Jesus liked to use Gehenna, which is translated as, "the valley of Hinnom" located in Jerusalem. This area was a dumping ground to burn garbage and was always on fire and never stopped smoking.

Deuteronomy 32:22 "For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell...." This passage is where "Hell" is first mentioned in the Bible and is translated "Sheol". It is not referring to a place of eternal punishment, the final judgement.

2 Samuel 22:5-6 "When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; The sorrows of hell compassed me about; The snares of death prevented me." In this passage, the translation of Hell is "Sheol", which is the holding place for the dead. The "sorrows" of the lost cry out here.

Psalm 9:17 "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." The wicked in this passage, are not taken to a place of ETERNAL torment. This verse is stating that the wicked and all their unrighteousness will be cut short by God. Man must be "turned" or return to the ground from which he was taken and to dust from which he was made. **A closer parallel can be found in Job 30:23, "unto death wilt thou make me return."

The Great Gulf When people die they are sent to a location which seems to have something that separates the saved from the lost. The Bible calls this a "great gulf", in Luke 16:26.

Luke 23:43 Jesus says to the thief on the cross, "verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in Paradise." In this passage, "Paradise" is used by Jesus for the place where the saved will await the day of judgement. It is often associated as a place of loveliness and joy.

Luke 16:23 "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torment, and sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom." Jesus tells the story of the rich man and Lazarus. The translation for "Hell" is Hades and is not to be understood as the final judgement. **It doesn't appear that the saved can see the ones being tormented while in this state awaiting judgement day. This passage only tells of the rich man acknowledging Lazarus across this "gulf".

Matthew 10:28 "but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Hell in this verse is translated "Gehenna", and is referring to the final place of judgement for those who haven't accepted Christ.

Mark 9:45 "And if thou foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt(lame) into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched." Jesus is talking about the final destination of the lost and uses the word "Gehenna."

Matthew 12:40 "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whales belly; so shall the son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." This passage of scripture could be giving us a glimpse as to where this "realm of the dead" could be located, which could be in the inner most part of the earth or the lower parts of the earth.

Revelation 20:10-15 The "hell" mentioned here is the location of the final judgement. The translation used for "Hell" is Hades. Those who have rejected Christ, will receive this "second death", being thrown into the lake of fire. Notice that not only were the lost thrown into the lake of fire, but also "Hell" or Hades in its entirety were cast into it as well!

Reflecting on what has been translated to describe Hell, we have "Sheol", which is used in the Old Testament describing "the grave" or this spiritual realm where the dead are placed. Sheol is not used to describe the place of eternal punishment. In the New Testament, we have "Hades" most often used to describe the spiritual realm of the dead, depending on the context of scripture. Here is the biblical truth: Those who have rejected Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will receive two deaths. The first death, they will be placed in a "spiritual realm" for ALL of the dead, which separates the saved from the lost. The second death will be on Judgement Day when Satan, his followers, the lost, and Hades will all be cast into the Lake of Fire.

Thier forst death is tbier body they can die in sin like this and not go with him

“Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:22-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

if we die in sin we’re going into the curse of sin and death this requires the different places wicked men go to Sheol the place of torment awaiting the final resurrection which raises them up again from the first death and leads to the resurrection of the dead and second death according to their works

we will all die once our body must apart from the last generatation of believers who will change over without death

but all man is bound tonthe first death of our body we can reject Jesus and die in our sins or we can believe his word and pass from the second death now through belief and baptism

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

They all still doed in thoer flesh the first death is upon all but we can accept the judgement now and pass from the second death judgement for those who died in sin

The flesh must die once

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the judgement is the second death the gospel is the judgement they will be raised up and judged by if they have rejected his word

“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”
‭‭John‬ ‭12:48-50‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God has sent his final judgement of man into the world beforehand so believers can have thier sins remitted and repent and believe and escape the second death after the first

one death is our body all are appointed to this first death but the second can be avoided if we accept and believe now

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

….Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:24, 28-29‬ ‭

That is this jidgement who Christians have passed from already the spiritual death ahead

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 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.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭20:12-15‬ ‭

through repentance we can send our sins ahead to be forgiven or rejecting we can have our sins trail behind us at judgement and remain in death but life is offered now rather than death later

John 11:25-26

The Hebrew word Shoel and the Greek word Hades are exactly the same meaning Many bibles translate the word grave for for Shoel which are not the same as a queber (grave) Hades translated Hell in many bibles are also a misnomer.

You are correct in saying it is a temporary abode for the dead, but both righteous and unrighteous. A place of torment and Paradise, comparing the story of Abraham's bosom where righteous and unrighteous were seperated by a void.

Take Jacob who said I shall go down to Shoel mourning for my son (Joseph). Some bible versions say I shall go to the grave mourning for my son Which is incorrect translation. Reason being Jacob had no expectation to be buried with his son Joseph because he was told Joseph was torn to pieces.

Now the tricky part is in 1 Thess 4 where it says:" God will bring with him those who fell asleep". Greek scholars tell me in this scripture they have no idea what it says. So, we all assume we all go to heaven above when we die. Now, all english bibles agree with the same terminology. It could say what is printed in our bibles, but it could also say: ( God will bring up). Which to me means a resurrection So you decide which is correct.

The scriptures say Jesus descended not ascended when he was crucified and he also told the women do not touch me for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Food for thought

yes but you shouldn’t stop there just a few days later after he said he was ascending he returned inviting Thomas to touch him

“Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”
‭‭John‬ ‭20:27-28‬ ‭KJV‬‬

which becomes the first time any disciple said Jesus was his God it’s because Mary met him before he ascended the morning of his resurrection d he had to go there untouched by unclean flesh in order to keep the sacrifice holy

it would be like spitting on the sin sacrifice before they slaughtered the spotless goat , he ascended after he spoke to Mary and returned as he told her over a period of fourty days he invited the touch when he returned

I’m not sure I wuote understand what your saying about Lazarus then beggar and the rich man

I believe that’s what happened until Christ died and rose now it’s different and here’s proof

“And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:52-53‬ ‭KJV‬‬

after death in the ot there was the grave when the spirit slept with the body like Samuel Rest In Peace is what the fathers received to wait in the dust until Christ came being the resurrection himself .

others we’re shut up in Sheols prisons to wait for that same time of Jesus coming

“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.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭24:22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Which happened after he died but before he rose

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:18-20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

everyone didn’t go to hell , some rested in thier grave with thier bones even after it turned to dust they remained at rest , o hers like in Noah’s day were shut up in Sheila prisons , others went into torments where thier worm dieth not and thier is weeping and gnashing of teeth

that place still exists until the resurrection the difference is now the door is open for this place at death

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


That’s new . It’s a result of who Jesus is and why he came

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
‭‭John‬ ‭11:25-26‬ ‭KJV‬‬



After death changed when he came giving life through remission dying in sin was everyone before now believers die having sin remitted so they just shed the flesh and go home for judgement and reward

they don’t wait and suffer in death whther Sheol , hell of the dust of the grave like Samuel had been doing in the ot

Christ has illuminated life in the shadow of death It’s the reason he became a man he did it to go into death for mankind and overcome it and take its power away over us

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2:14-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I’m the end sheik and he’ll become part of the eternal flames but all will be delivered into the jidgement from hell or the grave or the sea and that then becomes the second death many have suffered for thier sins in hades or hell or whatever word we use it’s a terrible place of punishment but in the end they are resurrected to face the great judgement of all
Men