Hell is a word that originated from a Viking religion. The Teutonic Goddess of the Dead and the underworld was named
Hel, she was the daughter of Loki. Another “L” was added to her name, and for reasons unknown “Hell” came to be a word that would substitute several different ideas and places in the bible.
Hell should not be in the bible at all. Hell means whatever word the
translator put Hell in place of in the
manuscript they were rendering. Originally it substituted
Hades and
Sheol, which is fine because they both mean the same thing, (the grave) only in two different languages. But Hell came to take on meanings derived from Greek mythology and other pagan ideas. Hell began to substitute other places that were completely different than Sheol and Hades, like
Gehenna and
Tartarus. But the definition of the word hell in most cultures is “to cover” or “to conceal.” (Which goes along with Sheol and Hades.)
Hell and
Hellfire are deceptive words. When hell is used to indicate fire in the bible it is referring to Gehenna, a place of destruction, not a common grave of mankind, which Hades and Sheol both mean.
The Old English dialect spoke of “
helling” potatoes. This did not mean to roast them in fire, but meant to put them in the ground.
Hell cannot be Gehenna, “the
unquenchable fire” if it is also Hades, because “the Lake
of Fire” is the same place that Jesus described as Gehenna, and Hades is going to be thrown into “the lake
of fire” upon the second death. So most
bibles indicate that “the Lake of Fire” is going to be thrown into “the Lake of Fire!” Revelation 20:14 Destruction into destruction? That doesn’t make any sense. The point of that scripture is that death and all that is bad, even the place of the dead, are going to be destroyed. So you can see the common inaccuracy and inconsistencies of the usage of Hell in the bible.
How can you rightly substitute four different words that have different meanings with one word, unless you intend on misleading people to believe that these four different places are the same place?
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: (note: for “hell” - original literature read “
Gehenna”)
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (note: for "hell" original literature read "
Hades")
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
(note: for "hell" original literature read “
Tartarus”)
I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: (note: for "hell" – original literature read "
Sheol")
