It is derived from the Valley of Hinnom. Hinnom was a depository of the dead bodies of animals and Gentiles or strangers that died within the borders of Israel. These bodies, both animal and human, were cast into this fire to be burned up. This Valley of Hinnom had a perpetual fire burning because of the dead bodies and its being used as a refuse dump. The fire burning these bodies was NEVER quenched - or extinguished by man. The fire was never put out, rather was refueled every time a new body or refuse was dumped into it. Today, we would call it a garbage dump only with fire. If no new bodies or refuse was dumped into the fire, it would naturally die out because of the lack of combustible materials. God is scientific. He created every law that exists. Man has just discovered their use. Everyone who has studied physics and chemistry knows fire goes out when there is no more combustible material to burn. The people of the community surrounding Hinnom never extinguished the fire. That is why it was never quenched! Light a fireplace and see how long it burns - UNTIL the wood is consumed!

Jesus stated: "But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him" (Luke 12:5). Once again the English word hell is from the Greek word Gehenna. He was referring to that perpetual fire burning outside of Jerusalem in the Valley of Hinnom that men did not extinguish. If someone's body were cast into this fire, it would burn until there was no more combustible material left to burn. Jesus is referencing the possibility of being burned up and NEVER returning - remaining dead for all time.

Hell As the Grave!

The English word "hell" was translated from yet another Greek word. Did you know that Jesus went to "hell?" "He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his SOUL was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption" (Acts 2:31). The English word "hell" was translated from the Greek word hades. It is the GRAVE, where all are buried except those cremated by fire. The Irish potato farmers used to say they put their potatoes in "hell" - the grave. They dug holes, put the potatoes in them, covered them with dirt. It was called the grave or hell. Jesus Christ was NOT to be left in the grave, rather be resurrected with a new glorified spirit composed body. It is because He was resurrected out of the grave [hell] that we also can look forward to the resurrection from the grave [hell].

Hell As a Place of Restraint

The English word "hell" is also translated from the Greek word tartaros. This makes three different Greek words translated as "hell" in English. "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell [tartaros], and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be RESERVED unto judgement;" (2 Pet. 2:4). One-third of the angels followed Lucifer in his rebellion against God (Rev. 12:3-4). God cast many of the most vicious into a spiritual prison called "tartaros" or hell. There is a prevalent teaching that people who sin "go to hell" when they die - meaning a fire but you never burn up. These angels sinned! Are they in such a place? No, it said they are being restrained now waiting for judgement. They are being RESERVED unto judgement. Tartaros, rendered "hell" by the King James translators, is a place of restraint.

The angels, before the flood of Noah's day, that invaded earth to establish a "false" kingdom of God were placed in tartaros. They taught man every principle of witchcraft known today (Gen. 6 and the Book of Jasher mentioned twice in the Old Testament).

Satan Obscures the Truth

Satan is the deceiver of the whole world (Rev. 12:9); therefore, he has had various ministers promulgate the doctrine that the Old Testament was nailed to the cross, thus done away. This teaching obscures all knowledge of God's law that determines sin, what man is, and what happens to man upon death. But thankfully, Jesus' life was "done away" with on the cross to cancel our death penalty. He even stated in Matthew 5:17-19 that His law that determines sin was never or ever will be done away. We can learn the make-up of man from the Old Testament. If you fall for Satan's lie, you will never read the Older Writings to learn the truth. Does man burn forever as is taught or not?

When man dies, does he go directly to an ever burning "hell-fire" if he was evil? "For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one [animal] dieth, so dieth the other [man]; yea, they have all one breath [oxygen]; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast; for all is vanity [temporary]. All go unto one place; ALL are of the dust, and all turn to dust again" (Eccl. 3:19-20). That statement is very scientific. When we quit breathing, we die and begin to decompose. Man was taken from the dust of the ground and upon death returns to the ground - NOT an ever burning hell-fire!

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