Answered Scripture

There are many misconceptions about what happens when we die. With that comes the anxiety of not knowing. Does the Bible actually state what happens when we die? Yes, but it’s not what most people acknowledge today.

First, we need to start with where the term Hell came from. It’s a term that was first used in writing during the Old English period, roughly between the 7th and 9th centuries AD. The Old English word was “hel”, which referred to the underworld or the abode of the dead. The word’s root connects to the idea of concealment or being hidden, aligning with early beliefs that the realm of the dead was a hidden, subterranean place.

In early Germanic paganism, “Hel” was not necessarily a place of torment–it was a neutral or gloomy underworld where most of the dead resided, regardless of moral standing. The Norse goddess “Hel” ruled this realm. With the spread of Christianity into Anglo-Saxon and Germanic cultures, the existing concept of “Hel” was adapted to fit Christian theology, particularly as a place of punishment for the wicked, influenced by:

• Hebrew Gehenna (גיהנום) – a real valley associated with judgment and fire, metaphorically used in the New Testament.
• Greek Hades (ᾅδης) – the underworld, originally neutral, later associated with punishment.
• Latin Infernum / Inferus – meaning “lower” or “underworld.”

So, “hell” as we understand it today—a fiery, eternal place of punishment—is a fusion of pagan underworld concepts with Christian eschatology.

This word was used in Bible translations to replace certain words. In Hebrew, it replaces the word Sheol, which means the grave or pit. In Greek, it replaces the word Hades, which is equivalent to Sheol. Another word in Greek it replaced was Gehenna. This word refers to the Valley of Hinnom, a real place outside of Jerusalem where trash and dead bodies were burned. Though once, it also replaced the Greek word for Tartarus, which is found in 2 Peter 2:4, where the fallen angels are said to be cast into. This term is from Greek mythology, denoting a deep abyss for divine punishment, but that is a whole other subject.

Now that we know that “hell” is either the grave or an ever-burning trash heap, let’s move on to heaven. Did you know that there are 3 different types of heavens described in the Bible? The first is the sky (Atmosphere), the second is the area above the sky or, as we know it, outer space (Celestial Realm), and the third is God’s dwelling place (Paradise).

Most think of heaven as the 3rd one. A paradise where God lives and people go to when they die. Well, I’m sorry to say that is not the case. Over and over again we are told that when we die, we go to “sleep”. Yehoshua gives a great example when He was on His way to resurrect Lazarus. In John 11:11, He states, “…Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” This saying confused His apostles, so He had to fully explain that He was dead (John 11:14).

Yehoshua also stated that no one has ascended to heaven (John 3:13). What about all those righteous people of the Old Testament who were considered to be “friends” with God? So they didn’t go up to heaven either? No. David and Solomon had knowledge concerning this when they wrote in the Psalms and Ecclesiastes about what happens when we die. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 9:5, “For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.” He also wrote Ecclesiastes 9:10 (my personal favorite verse in the Bible), “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.”

David wrote in Psalm 6:5, “For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks?” If we go to heaven, wouldn’t we be praising God all the time? David describes death as sleep in Psalm 13:3, “Consider and hear me, O LORD my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death;”

So, now that we have that straight, let’s iron out some other details. First of all, when it comes to tormenting us eternally; this is not who God is. God is a love (1 John 4:8, 16). How can a loving God torment a human being forever who has never known Him during his lifetime? God states that He does not want to see ANYONE perish and that we would come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

Where has all this gone wrong? Well, there are several places we could point to, but this subject would go on forever. One place I will cover is the “kingdom of heaven/God”. The meaning behind this phrase is part of the reason for the belief in going to heaven. Just a couple quick statements and I’ll end this. One, the kingdom of heaven is a real place. Two, it was what Yehoshua preached when He was here on the earth. And three, it’s the future, not a place at this time. Yehoshua tells us to pray for it to come. In His model prayer that He gave to His disciples when teaching them how to pray, He states, “Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10; Luke 11:2).

There is so much one could write on this subject alone. The misconceptions have taken root, and all it does is scare people about dying, but it doesn’t bring them to do right. The truth is more eye-opening, and though it’s better in the end for most, it’s more likely to set people on the straight and narrow. When we die, it isn’t the end; it’s just the beginning of God’s wonderful plan of salvation. Yes, there is destruction, but that is another topic, also. Just know that when you die, you will sleep until that wonderful day when our Savior returns as King and Lord of all. How would you like to wake up to that?

For more on this subject…https://www.ucg.org/learn/bible-study-aids/heaven-and-hell-what-does-bible-really-teach