In addressing the issue of hell, Jesus Christ made some very enlightening comments, saying “If your hand offends you (causes you to sin) cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched” (Mark 9:43). Notice that Jesus points out that it is the physical person that is in hell, not some disembodied spirit or “soul.” So, if you look in the coffin of a sinful Christ-rejecter and he is still lying there, he can’t be in hell. Hell is not a place, per se, but a future event.
And the phrase “the fire that never shall be quenched” is not the same as the phrase “the fire that never shall go out!” A fire that is never quenched is a fire that none can extinguish. Those cast into that fire can do nothing to extinguish the flames. They will continue to burn until nothing remains but the ashes of those consumed therein. “For, behold, the day comes that shall burn as an oven (future, folks, future), and all the proud, yes, and all that do wickedly shall be stubble, and the day that comes shall burn them up (yes, then, at that time), says the Lord of hosts that it shall leave them neither root nor branch….And you shall tread down the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, says the Lord of hosts” (See Malachi 4:1 and 3).
Notice that ALL the wicked are cast into hell fire simultaneously. None endure the flames of hell years, even centuries before others. Adolf Hitler is not in hell right now, neither is Al Capone or the wicked of ages past. They are all dead, awaiting a resurrection. Also, notice that scripture says they are left neither root nor branch. The analogy is that of a tree that is totally destroyed roots and all. Likewise the wicked shall be utterly and totally consumed, nothing remaining of them save their ashes.
Continuing with Mark 9, verse 44: “Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.” That word “worm” is a translation of the Greek word skolex (pronounced SKO’ – lakes), meaning “maggot.” Jesus again using terminology that emphasizes the utter, total destruction of the wicked in hell.
It should also be noted that the word “hell” in the Mark 9 passage is translated from the Greek word geena (pronounced GHEH’ – en – nah), literally meaning “valley of Hinnom.” Most commentators agree that this valley, which lay to the south of Jerusalem, was a refuse dump where fires perpetually burned, consuming the trash, garbage and cadavers cast therein, and where swarms of flies lay eggs that hatched into maggots that fed on the decaying corpses. Again, emphasizing the total and complete eventual annihilation of the wicked.
Jesus goes on to speak of one having two feet or two eyes to be cast into hell fire. Again, alluding to the fact that it is the physical body that is cast into the fire, not a disembodied spirit or soul. “And if your foot offends you (causes you to sin), cut it off. It is better for you to enter halt (crippled) into life than having two feet to be cast into hell…And if your eye offends you, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire” (See Mark 9:45 and 47). To be continued….
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley