There is great confusion in Christianity regarding the ideas of Gehenna and the Lake of Fire. In each case, tradition has over-literalized their meaning. Both are symbolic and figurative descriptions of the wrath of God. Gehenna is a parabolic description of the wrath of God, and the Lake of Fire is an apocalyptic description of the wrath of God. In other words, they are semantically equivalent. A parabolic description uses everyday circumstances, events, and things to explain spiritual ideas. An apocalyptic description uses other-worldly images to explain spiritual ideas.
Gehenna was a valley south-southwest of Jerusalem. In the Old Testament, the valley was known for the idolatrous worship of Molech and Baal. Children were sacrificed there to demonic gods. During the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem, thousands of dead Jerusalemites were thrown into the Valley of Hinnom (geenna[1] a/k/a Gehenna). Later, the Valley of Gehenna was used as a trash dump, a place of rotting flesh and smoldering refuse. Gehenna is used 12 times in the New Testament. Both Christians and Jews have mistakenly thought of Gehenna as representative of a future final place of judgment. It is better understood as a generic, figurative depiction of the wrath of God, which can be experienced by the believer or unbeliever.
Similarly, most Christians have believed that the Lake of Fire is the literal place of final punishment. Like Gehenna, the Lake of Fire is better understood as simply a description of the wrath of God, which can be experienced by both the believer and unbeliever. The Lake of Fire is mentioned only five times, all of which are found in the Book of Revelation, an apocalyptic work. Therefore, the Lake of Fire is an apocalyptic description. When I was young, I heard that Lake Erie caught on fire because of pollution, but in my 62 years, I have never seen a lake of fire. Normally, water is used to extinguish fire. The Lake of Fire is a classic other-worldly description. Further, in the Bible, lakes and seas were often used as symbols of chaos. For example, the storms on Lake Galilee were used as symbols of cosmological chaos. When Jesus supernaturally quieted a ravaging storm on Lake Galilee, Jesus used the event to teach us that He has the power to still the chaos of this world with just a word from His lips. The wrath of God is inevitably directed at the chaos of this world. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life inevitably produce chaos.
As stated in my earlier blog posts, I contend that after we first believed Jesus is the Christ, we are permanently changed. We are sealed by God, the Holy Spirit. The Bible never describes a believer as being unsealed. Therefore, when we analyze every verse that mentions “Gehenna” or the “Lake of Fire,” we need to remember this important fact.
We first see Jesus mention “Gehenna” in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:22). A strong argument can be made that He was specifically teaching His disciples, meaning believers, who were His students. At one point, He called them the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt. 5:13-14). Then, He told them that if they called their brother “foolish,” “stupid,’ or “blockhead” (moros[2]), they were worthy of punishment in fiery hell (geenna or “Gehenna”) (Matt.5:22). Very few Christians, if any, believe that calling your brother “foolish” merits eternal punishment in a literal fiery Hell. In fact, if such is the standard, none us can be saved from such a fate. However, it is entirely conceivable that when we refer to our fellow believers, brothers, or neighbors as a “stupid blockhead,” we do merit the wrath of God. Particularly when we consider that we were all created in the image of God. Our continued arrogance does merit the wrath of God. If we do not repent (change our minds), we will inevitably experience the wrath of God.
At Matthew 5:27-29 (also a part of the Sermon on the Mount), Jesus warned his listeners about adultery. Speaking hyperbolically, Jesus warned that it is better to tear your eye out of its socket than “for your whole body to be thrown into hell [geenna][3]” (Matt. 5:29). Most Christians believe that our eternal destiny is decided by what we believe and God’s grace. Whether or not someone committed adultery does not determine their final destiny. However, our sins due subject us to the wrath of God, whether we are a believer or unbeliever. We reap what we sow.
At Matthew 10:28, Jesus said, “Do not fear those that kill the body but are unable to kill the soul, but rather fear Him who is able to destroy [apollymi[4]] both soul and body in hell (Gehenna).” In my view, this verse makes far more sense when we understand that “Gehenna” is a synonym for the wrath of God. There is no evidence in the Bible that our fleshly bodies make the trip to or are destroyed in Sheol. Our fleshly bodies are destroyed here on earth or in the grave. However, the wrath of God can destroy the body and soul. We can be psychologically and physically destroyed.
At Luke 12:5, the word order and choice is a little different. It states, “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you fear Him! (Luke 12:5).” It is important to note that the NASB translated the Greek word meta as “after”[5]. Meta is far more often translated as “with”. In this context, the translation “with” makes more sense than “after.” In other words, in addition to the power to kill someone, God has the power to direct His wrath at said rebellious person. Everyone is going to die, but more than fearing dying, we should fear His wrath. Yes, God has the authority and power to kill you and make you the subject of His wrath, which can have ramifications in this life and the next.
At Matthew 23:15, Jesus accused the scribes and Pharisees of being sons of Gehenna. As long as they remained in their state of hostility against the Messiah and Son of God, they manifested the characteristics of someone in rebellion against God. At Matthew 23:33, Jesus asked how such scribes and Pharisees could escape the sentence of Gehenna (meaning judgment because of their hardness of heart).
The Epistle of James mentioned Gehenna in a most interesting way. James stated, “And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell [Gehenna]” (James 3:6). The tongue is a source of destruction. Gossip, maligning, and judgment are sins, which can destroy others. Sins of the tongue also bring judgment upon the one who judges his neighbor. Mental attitude sins (like hatred) lead us into a place of judgment and destruction, which often foments hateful words toward others. In this verse, the tongue is used figuratively as a source and cause of destruction to others and self. It is set on fire by human beings who live in a place of judgment because of mental attitude sins. The tongue is not literally a fire starter.
As stated above, the phrase, “Lake of Fire” was used in the Book of Revelation as an apocalyptic description of the wrath of God. It should not be interpreted literally. It has a broad meaning, which includes God’s judgment and punishment directed toward the disobedient, which happens in this life and the next. It also includes judgment in Sheol (a literal place, but sometimes used figuratively), which is still the literal destination of those who do not believe in this life. It should be noted that Sheol was described figuratively by Jesus at Luke 16:19-31. As discussed in my book, Eyes to See the Revelation, Revelation 19:20 refers to the promised judgment of Rome, Nero, the Herodian Dynasty, and Herod Agrippa II in the Lake of Fire (the wrath of God).
Revelation 20:10 refers to the promised judgment of Satan. God’s judgment of Satan will have everlasting consequences, but again, in my opinion, the Lake of Fire is not a literal lake of fire, with endless screaming.
Revelation 20:14-15 states, “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” The Book of Revelation was composed in the apocalyptic genre. The numbers and words used often have an important symbolic meaning. Here, “death” refers to the condition of spiritual death, and “Hades” refers to a place of judgment. The spiritually dead live in a place of judgment. When a person believes in Jesus Christ, he becomes spiritually alive. If the believer drifts away from his faith, he becomes like the dog who returns to his vomit or the pig who returns to wallow in the mud (2 Peter 2:22). The second death is a state where the believer returns to a state of insensitivity to God. In such a state, the believer lives like a mere beast. An animal is oriented to the earthly, not the heavenly. God created us to be oriented to Heaven. The second death has an affinity with the Lake of Fire. As discussed in an earlier blog post, the names of all believers are recorded in the Book of Life, but if the believer does not remain faithful, his or her name is erased or blotted out of the Book of Life, and ultimately, he or she is thrown into the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire is simply an apocalyptic description of the wrath of God, which has consequences in this life and the next. It is important for the reader to see the big idea. For example, every believer has ups and downs. Do not overthink apocalyptic language, imagining a revolving door of being written, then erased, then rewritten, ad nauseam. Just grasp the big idea. As another example, a heavenly creature literally covered with eye balls (seen at Rev. 4:8) would be grotesque. However, in the apocalyptic genre, instead, we see a heavenly creature of great wisdom. Do not over-literalize.
In summation, Gehenna and the Lake of Fire are semantically equivalent. They are used symbolically to represent the wrath of God. Gehenna is a parabolic symbol, and the Lake of Fire is an apocalyptic symbol. These symbols were never meant to be taken literally. Tradition, fear, and self-righteousness blind the hearts of the listeners.
[1] “G1067 – geenna – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NASB).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 15 May, 2020. <https://www.blueletterbible.org//lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1067&t=NASB>.
[2] “G3474 – mōros – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NASB).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 15 May, 2020. <https://www.blueletterbible.org//lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G3474&t=NASB>.
[3] “G1067 – geenna – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NASB).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 15 May, 2020. <https://www.blueletterbible.org//lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1067&t=NASB>.
[4] “G622 – apollymi – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NASB).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 15 May, 2020. <https://www.blueletterbible.org//lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G622&t=NASB>.
[5] “G3326 – meta – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NASB).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 15 May, 2020. <https://www.blueletterbible.org//lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G3326&t=NASB>.
