Sheol, literally the underworld, it is the Hebrew equivalent of Hades. David says that God is there and Job longs to hide there from Gods wrath. It is equal to the grave, hell and the pit. It is used 65 times, it was also rendered hell 31 times and pit 3 times.

Hades literally unseen place of the dead where Jesus went. He has the keys to both death and hell. It is equal to the grave and hell. It is used 11 times.

Tartarus In Greek mythology it is a place to restrain sinning gods. It is equal to hell.

Gehenna literally Valley of Hinnom- Jerusalem garbage dump (KJV). It is equal to hell, fire; it is used 12 times in the New Testament. This is the only place which indicates fire and it bears no indication of eternity. Gehenna was a place outside of Jerusalem where garbage was burned daily. In other words it was a dump heap. When Jesus was there the latest use was a garbage dump and it was still in operation. He spoke of the place of unquenchable fire where the worm dieth not. Yet that fire has not burn for 2000 years. Many believe it is still burning even now. The truth is the fire is out and the worm is dead! Talk to anyone who has visited Jerusalem and ask them if they saw the Valley of Hinnom on fire and hear their reply. Only the dull of hearing and stifffnecked will go there to see for themselves.

Christendom has taught the doctrine of hell which has caused many to serve God out of fear rather than love. This doctrine has maligned the nature and character of a loving God. The doctrine of hell is selfish and without love and does not portray good news to creation. How can one minister to another the love of God and in the same breath tells them they will be cast into hell if they don't believe? That is not the gospel or the good news of the kingdom. God is the Savior of all men, and condemner of none. The teaching of hell is a gospel for those who don't want to forgive and love unconditionally, since it makes it easier to burn them than to save them. Fathers' plan is bigger than burning a few. We will say with Paul, O hell/grave where is your victory? The teaching concerning the lake of fire does not appear anywhere in the scriptures except in the book of revelation five times (Rev.14:10-11, 19:20, 20:10, 20:13-15 & 2:18). It is the last passage that has brought much confusion and fear to the Body of Christ. "But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

The lake of fire is fire burning with brimstone. The Greek word Theion for brimstone is translated today as sulphur. Theion is the same word which means divine. The scripture also declare that there are a people who can stand the fire of God (Isa.33:14). These scripture and especially these three words (burn with fire) that show such dreadful warning have drawn those who serve the father out of fear of punishment rather than love. The word burn means to consume. Consume does not mean to annihilate, for there is no such thing as annihilation in the absolute sense. For e.g. when fire consumes a piece of wood, it does not destroy any of the elements

within the wood, it simply changes it form.

Sulphur was used by the Greeks, it was burned as incense in their homes to cleanse and purify it. The verb from Theion is Theioo which means to hallow or make divine. To any Greek or someone trained in the Greek language a lake of fire would simply mean a lake of divine purification. The lake of fire is a purifying lake, it releases humanity from the bondage of corruption, and therefore it is not an eternal process. Jeremiah warned the inhabitants of Jerusalem that God would kindle an unquenchable fire at Jerusalem gates which would devour her palaces (Jer.17:27). This prophecy was fulfilled (Jer.52:13), the city rebuilt and the fire has been quenched, because there was nothing left to burn. Unquenchable fire is not eternal fire, it is a fire that cannot be out until it has consumed everything and until everything has changed its form, then it goes out, for there is nothing more to burn. Isaiah 9:19 states, that the people shall be the fuel for the fire.

Our God is a consuming fire (Heb.12:29).The word fire is from the Greek word Pur. The verses that read fire, hell, unquenchable fire, ministers a flame of fire, God is a consuming fire, lake of fire and brimstone, pure, purify, purity etc. are from the same word Pur. Therefore it is the same fire in all these places. When Peter warmed himself by the fire the Greek word here is different. The purpose of the divine fire of God is to cleanse, purify and change us until we are conformed (change) into his image. The lake of fire is second death into which death and hell are cast into. This tells us that Hell and the lake of fire can not be the same. The fire of God is corrective and not punitive. Paul said the fire of God will try every mans work of what sort it is (1 Cor.3:13). The fire of God is never sent to destroy men lives but to purge and purify until all that is left is a higher form the life of God.

1 Cor.3:15 says, If any mans work shall be burned he shall suffer loss: but he himself SHALL be SAVED yet so as by FIRE. Everyone passes through the fire. How is this cleansing taking place? Jer.23:2 say, Is not my word like a fire saith the Lord: and like a hammer that breaketh in pieces. The book of Revelation says that one third of the earth shall be destroyed by fire. A word of fire is beginning and has appeared even now, it is a word of purity that is changing lives, refining and purifying everyone who can receive it. As the fire of the Lord, the sons shall purify everyone the father brings into their path. We are told to buy of him gold tried in the fire, a life that has conformed to his and reveals only him. Wow! 1 Tim.2:4 God will have ALL men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Truly this is glad tidings of good news to all people. No more condemnation and fear.

I trust this message of life brings peace to those whose heart is searching for him.

Namaste,