THE DOCTRINE OF HELL

                                                                        (Introduction)

                                                                         Luke 12:4-5

  Introduction:

       A.  The subject of hell isn't a beautiful and a pleasant study.

       B.  Be certain.  Hell is real. Luke 12:4-5

  I.   Background information on certain terms that apply to the afterlife.

       A.  Sheol is a Hebrew word in the O.T. meaning a  pit or world of the dead.  It is an                                  intermediate state for the souls of the dead.

            1.  Genesis 37:35

            2.  Psalm 16:5, 9-11

            3.  Isaiah 14:9-11

            4.  Psalm 73:24-27

            5.  Psalm 55:15,23

        The souls of the righteous dead go to a region where they are in the presence of God. 

        The souls of the unrighteous dead go to a region where they are in punishment and                        separated from God.(see handout of diagram of Sheol)

        B.  Hades is a Greek word meaning from idein, not to be seen.... the nether world, the realm               of the dead.....the common receptacle of the disembodied spirits. 

             Thayer Sheol written in Hebrew and Hades written in Greek are one in the same place.

             1.  Matthew 16:18.  Comments about word hell in KJV

             2.  Luke 16:23

             3.  Acts 2:27-28,31; Psalm 16:10-11; John 20:17

             4.  Luke 23:42-43

             5.  Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4,9-10

             6.  Luke 16:22-23

        The souls of the righteous dead go to Abraham' Bosom, Paradise into the presence of                  God (Psalm 139:8)  the souls of the unrighteous dead go to Tartarus where there is                         torment and punishment. (see handout of diagram of Hades)

  Closing:

         A.  This material is vital to our study of hell.  Stay tuned!