What Is the Difference Between Hades and Hell?

There are those that believe there is no Hell. Some believe that there is a mental Hell, but not a real Hell. Others believe that Hell is real, and that the Devil himself is enjoying the blaze and sticking people with his pitchfork. Some people believe that Hades and Hell are synonymous and can be used interchangeably. Let's look at how God's Holy Bible answers this question.

 

Unbelievers Are Called "The Dead"

"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books."

Revelation 20:11-12

 

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Believers will not be at the Great White Throne judgment. Believers will be at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

 

The Judgment Seat of Christ

"For we [believers] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

2 Corinthians 5:10

 

The Judgment Seat of Christ will be like a rewards banquet. The word "bad" as used in the above passage really means "worthless" because the believers' sins were already washed away by the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Entry into heaven has already been sealed. There are no losers at the Judgment Seat of Christ, only winners. Each believer will be given rewards and/or crowns in accordance with the good deeds done while in the body.

 

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Hades Gave Up The Dead

"The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; and each person was judged according to what he had done."

Revelation 20:13

 

Hades is clearly a temporary residence for unbelievers. At the Great White Throne judgment, all unbelievers will be lifted from Hades and judged according to their deeds.

 

Death And Hades Thrown Into Hell

"Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire [Hell]. The lake of fire [Hell] is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire [Hell]."

Revelation 20:14-15

 

Hades has to be different than Hell in order for Hades to be "thrown into the lake of fire [Hell]." While Hades is the temporary storage for unbelievers, Hell is the final destination.

 

Hell Is A Real Place

"But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell."

Matthew 5:22

 

Hell Is Eternal

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'"

Matthew 25:41

 

Even some Christians have a hard time understanding how such a loving God could throw unbelievers into an eternal fire. The formula is very simplistic.

 

God Is Just

"Because judgment without mercy will be shown . . . ."

James 2:13

 

Man Is Sinful

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Romans 3:23

 

God Is Love And Gave His Only Son

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

 

Christ Died For Our Sins

"That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures . . . ."

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

 

God's plan is for us to repent and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. God restored the relationship with man by becoming a man (in Jesus) and being the perfect blood sacrifice for sin. It was the only way that the righteous God could save us and still be just. He created the fire of Hell for the devil and his angels. So you are either righteous (through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ) and belong to God, or you are still stained with your sin and belong to the devil. Sin is not allowed in heaven.

 

Hades is the temporary holding area for unbelievers that have died. All unbelievers will be called to judgment before the Great White Throne. Each unbeliever will have to account for his/her deeds to see if they are good enough for entry into heaven. Sadly, no one will achieve God's perfect standard for entry into heaven. Each unbeliever will be thrown into Hell.

 

Please repent and accept Jesus today. Your eternity will depend on whether you accept God's free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. He is the only way. Amen!

 

Jesus Is The Answer

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

John 14:6