Places one can go to after death

March 22, 2024

Places one can go to after death

Summary:

It is written in Hebrews about "eternal judgment" (Hebrews 6:2).

One understanding of it can be that it refers to an eternal verdict of judgment that can happen after someone dies, as such person would end up standing before the throne in heaven. There, the person would need to give an account for the works that they did on earth, whether good or evil, and receive rewards as a result. Depending on the result of the judgment, one could then end up in a certain place: the righteous ones could end up in the kingdom of the heavens to go into eternal life, and the unrighteous ones could end up in eternal fire to go into eternal punishment.

You can find below evidences for that.

Someone can end up in a certain place after death after a judgment:

It is written in Hebrews about "eternal judgment" (Hebrews 6:2).

For more information:

Eternal judgment (what can it be?)
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Places one can go after judgment:

It is written in Hebrews about "ETERNAL judgment" (Hebrews 6:2).

As a result of an ETERNAL verdict of judgement, one would go to a place depending on their verdict.

The only explicit example of an "ETERNAL" verdict of judgment in the entire New Testament (following a trial) can be found in Matthew 25:31-46 in which:

1) Jesus is saying to the righteous ones: "INHERIT THE KINGDOM having-been-prepared (for) you from (the) foundation (of the) world" (Matthew 25:34) and so "the righteous (ones will go) to ETERNAL life" (Matthew 25:46).

2) Jesus is saying to the unrighteous ones: "Depart from Me, the (ones) having-been-cursed, INTO THE ETERNAL FIRE having-been-prepared (for) the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41) and so these "these will-go into ETERNAL punishment" (Matthew 25:46).

1) The heavenly kingdom:

Jesus is saying to the righteous ones: "INHERIT THE KINGDOM" (Matthew 25:34).

The "KINGDOM" (Matthew 25:34) can be called "the KINGDOM (of) THE HEAVENS" (Matthew 25:1). Paul even called it the "HEAVENLY KINGDOM" (2 Timothy 4:18).

1) A) After death: In the kingdom of the heavens:

Matthew 8:

Jesus said: "many will-come from east and west, and will-lie-back (to be) with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob IN THE KINGDOM (OF) THE HEAVENS" (Matthew 8:11).

Jesus mentioned here that people will be specifically "with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob" (Matthew 8:11) WHO HAD ALREADY PASSED AWAY for centuries when He said that, suggesting that when people will be with them "IN THE KINGDOM (OF) THE HEAVENS" (Matthew 8:11), it will be AFTER THEY ALSO PASS AWAY.

2 Timothy 4:

Paul wrote before his death: "The Lord [...] WILL-SAVE (ME) INTO HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM" (2 Timothy 4:18).

Paul wrote just before his death that in the future tense the Lord WILL save him into the heavenly kingdom, which may infer that Paul would go into the heavenly kingdom AFTER PASSING AWAY.

1) B) Dwelling places in heaven:

Some time before ascending into HEAVEN, Jesus said: "There-are many PLACES-TO-STAY in the house (of) My Father — otherwise, I-would-have-told you. I-am-going to-prepare (a) PLACE (for) you. And if I-go and prepare (a) PLACE (for) you, I-am-coming again. And I-will-take you to Myself — in-order-that WHERE I AM, YOU ALSO MAY-BE" (John 14:2-3). Jesus then later ascended into HEAVEN, at the right hand of the Father.

Jesus also mentioned eternal dwellings that people welcome others into: "make friends (for) yourselves by means of wealth (of) unrighteousness, so-that when it-fails they-will-welcome you INTO THE ETERNAL DWELLINGS" (Luke 16:9).

1) C) Dwelling places in heaven in an earlier ancient Jewish writing:

In Jude, it is written: "Enoch, (the) seventh from Adam, prophesied (with regard to) these (ones), saying, “Behold — (the) Lord came with His holy myriads to-execute judgment against all" (Jude 1:14-15). A similar quote may be found in an ancient Jewish writing called "1 Enoch" dating before Christ, in which it reads: "Behold, he will arrive with ten million of the holy ones in order to execute judgment upon all" (1 Enoch 1:9).

In 1 Enoch, there may be a description of the "many PLACES-TO-STAY in the house (of) My Father" (John 14:2) that Jesus may have been referring to, indicating that they would be in the heavens, as it is written: "In those days, whirlwinds carried me OFF FROM THE EARTH, and set me down into the ultimate ends of THE HEAVENS. THERE I SAW other DWELLING PLACES of the holy ones and their resting places too. So there my eyes saw their DWELLING PLACES WITH THE HOLY ANGELS, and their resting places with the holy ones" (1 Enoch 39:3-5).

2) A place of fire:

It is written in Hebrews about "ETERNAL judgment" (Hebrews 6:2).

As a result of an ETERNAL verdict of judgement, one would go to a place depending on their verdict.

The only explicit example of an "ETERNAL" verdict of judgment in the entire New Testament (following a trial) can be found in Matthew 25:31-46 in which:

Jesus is saying to the unrighteous ones: "Depart from Me, the (ones) having-been-cursed, INTO THE ETERNAL FIRE having-been-prepared (for) the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41) and so these "these will-go INTO ETERNAL punishment" (Matthew 25:46). These are going "INTO THE ETERNAL FIRE" (Matthew 25:41), which may indicate a "FIRE" (Matthew 25:41) that people may be able to depart "INTO" (Matthew 25:41), implying that it may be a place one could go INTO.

2) A) Terms that can be related to the place of fire:

Jesus is saying to the unrighteous ones: "Depart from Me, the (ones) having-been-cursed, INTO THE ETERNAL FIRE having-been-prepared (for) the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).

Several terms could be related to the place of fire where people could go after death:

"THE ETERNAL FIRE" (Matthew 25:41).

"THE GEHENNA (of) FIRE" (Matthew 18:9).

"THE LAKE (OF) FIRE" (Revelation 20:10).

"THE FURNACE (of) FIRE" (Matthew 13:42).

These terms may be interchangeable. You can find below the evidence for that:

2) B) Terms: "The eternal fire" interchangeable with "the Gehenna of fire":

The expression "TO-BE-THROWN INTO THE ETERNAL FIRE" (Matthew 18:8) may be used interchangeably with the expression "TO-BE-THROWN INTO THE GEHENNA (of) FIRE" (Matthew 18:9).

Jesus said: "if your hand or your foot is-causing you to-fall, cut it off and throw (it) from you. It-is better (for) you to-enter into life crippled or lame than TO-BE-THROWN INTO THE ETERNAL FIRE having two hands or two feet. And if your eye is-causing you to-fall, tear it out and throw (it) from you. It-is better (for) you to-enter into life one-eyed than TO-BE-THROWN INTO THE GEHENNA (of) FIRE having two eyes" (Matthew 18:8-9).

2) C) Terms: "The eternal fire" interchangeable with "the lake of fire":

The term for "THE ETERNAL FIRE" (Matthew 25:41) may be used interchangeably with the term "THE LAKE (OF) FIRE" (Revelation 20:10).

Jesus indicated that the unrighteous ones can depart "INTO THE ETERNAL FIRE having-been-prepared (for) THE DEVIL" (Matthew 25:41).

In Revelation 20, it is written about "THE DEVIL, the (one) deceiving them, was-thrown INTO THE LAKE (OF) FIRE" (Revelation 20:10).

This is the same place that those who DIE and are not found in the book of life can be thrown into, as it is written: "Hades gave THE DEAD (ONES) in them, and they-were-judged" (Revelation 20:13) "And if anyone was not found having-been-written in the book (of) life, he-was-thrown INTO THE LAKE (OF) FIRE" (Revelation 20:15).

2) D) Terms: "The eternal fire" interchangeable with "the furnace of fire":

The term for "THE ETERNAL FIRE" (Matthew 25:41) may be used interchangeably with the term "THE FURNACE (of) FIRE" (Matthew 13:42).

In Matthew 18 Jesus said that it is possible for people "TO-BE-THROWN INTO THE ETERNAL FIRE" (Matthew 18:8).

In Matthew 25, Jesus contrasted the ones who are thrown "INTO THE ETERNAL FIRE" (Matthew 25:41) with the ones who "inherit THE KINGDOM" (Matthew 25:34).

Similarly earlier in Matthew 13, Jesus contrasted the ones who are THROWN INTO THE FURNACE OF FIRE with the ones IN THE KINGDOM, as He said: "THEY-WILL-THROW them INTO THE FURNACE (OF) FIRE. In-that-place, there will-be the weeping and the grinding (of) teeth. Then the righteous (ones) will-shine-forth like the sun IN THE KINGDOM (of) their Father" (Matthew 13:42-43).

2) E) Terms: "The lake of fire" interchangeable with "the furnace of fire":

The terms for "THE LAKE (OF) FIRE" (Revelation 20:10) may be interchangeable with the term "THE FURNACE (of) FIRE" (Matthew 13:42).

It is written in Revelation 21 that "FAITHLESS (ones), and (ones) having-been-abominable, and murderers, and sexually-immoral (ones), and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all the false — their PART (will be) IN THE LAKE burning (with) FIRE" (Revelation 21:8).

In Luke 12, Jesus said about someone that the "lord (of) that slave will-come on (a) day which he-does not expect, and at (an) hour which he-does not know. And he-will-cut him in-two, and assign (him) his PART with the FAITHLESS (ones)" (Luke 12:46).

In a similar account to Luke 12 found in Matthew 24, Jesus added that "IN-THAT-PLACE, there-will-be the WEEPING and the GRINDING (of) TEETH", saying: "the lord (of) that slave will-come on (a) day which he-does not expect, and at (an) hour which he-does not know. And he-will-cut him in-two, and assign (him) his PART with the hypocrites. IN-THAT-PLACE, there-will-be the WEEPING and the GRINDING (of) TEETH" (Matthew 24:50-51).

Jesus described in Matthew that in "THE FURNACE (of) FIRE" (Matthew 13:42) there will be "the WEEPING and the GRINDING (of) TEETH", as He said: "they-will-throw them into THE FURNACE (of) FIRE. IN-THAT-PLACE, there will-be the WEEPING and the GRINDING (of) TEETH" (Matthew 13:42).

2) F) Terms: "The eternal fire" interchangeable with "the Gehenna of fire" & "the lake of fire" in an early Christian writing:

An early Christian used the terms for "THE LAKE (OF) FIRE" (Revelation 20:10), "GEHENNA" (Matthew 18:9) and "ETERNAL FIRE" (Matthew 25:41) interchangeably.

Around the 2nd century AD, a Christian author named Irenaeus wrote in "Against Heresies":

(5.35.2): "the lake of fire, the second death.” Now this is what is called Gehenna, which the Lord called “eternal fire".

2) G) Terms: "Hell" can refer to different things:

The earliest manuscripts of the Bible do not use the specific term "hell".

Some translations of the Bible use the term "hell" instead of using several different Greek words (that the earliest manuscripts of the Bible use) such as:

1) "Hades" [hadés 86 in Greek, noun] (Acts 2:31).

2) "To-cast-into-Tartarus" [tartaroó 5020 in Greek, verb] (2 Peter 2:4).

3) "Gehenna" [geenna 1067 in Greek, noun] (Matthew 5:29).

1) "Hades" = the realm of the dead. It can be the tomb where dead people are buried, representing also a place in the spiritual realm where both the righteous and the unrighteous were described as going after dying, awaiting judgment.

2) "Tartarus" = a place in the spiritual realm down the abyss where angels that sinned were in chains awaiting judgment.

3) "Gehenna" = an earthly valley near Jerusalem, representing also a place of fire in the spiritual realm where the unrighteous are thrown into after dying after the judgment.

When most people use the term "hell" they usually refer to the place of fire in the spiritual realm represented by the term "Gehenna" where the unrighteous are thrown into after their the judgment.

2) H) Gehenna can refer to both a valley on the earth and a place in the spiritual realm:

In the 1st century, the same word could refer to different places at the same time (through analogies): a place on the earth and also a place in the spiritual realm.

For example, the word "HEAVEN" can refer to the SKY where the birds of the heavens/sky are... and ALSO A PLACE IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM above the earth where God dwells as a spirit.

Similarly, the word "GEHENNA" can refer to a VALLEY near Jerusalem on the earth... and ALSO A PLACE IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM below the earth where spirits may dwell.

The 1st-century term "Gehenna" was derived from the "Valley of the Son of Hinnom" (Gai Ben-Hinnom, גֵּיא בֶן־הִנֹּם, or: Gai Hinnom... similar to Ge henna) in the Old Testament and was historically cursed.

In Joshua 15:8 & Joshua 18:16, it is defined strictly as a geographical border ON THE EARTH between the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

However we start to notice already in 2 Chronicles 28:3 & 2 Chronicles 33:6 that the kings Ahaz and Manasseh were practicing child sacrifice via fire. The prophet Jeremiah links such activity in that valley... TO THE GOD MOLECH THERE. It reads: "They built high places for Baal IN THE VALLEY OF BEN HINNOM to sacrifice their sons and daughters TO MOLECH" (Jeremiah 32:35). This may already have been a hint that in their beliefs, they thought to have access to that god when meeting in that specific valley.

The reason for that would have been that in ancient Near Eastern thought MOUNTAINS and VALLEYS (like this valley) for example were seen as gates to access specific places in the spiritual realm (heaven if on a mountain, under the earth if on a valley). Moses for example was meeting God... on a mountain (and received heavenly plans there).

The accursed valley of Gehenna existing in the spiritual realm in an ancient Jewish text:

There is evidence that the accursed valley of Gehenna would have been understood also as a place IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM already BEFORE THE 1ST CENTURY in an ancient JEWISH text called "1 Enoch".

It is written that Enoch was taken in the spiritual realm, "And from there I WENT INTO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH and saw [...] A DEEP AND NARROW VALLEY" (1 Enoch 26:1-3), "Then, Uriel, one of the holy angels, who was with me answered me and said to me, "THIS ACCURSED VALLEY is FOR THOSE ACCURSED FOREVER; here will gather together all (those) accursed ones those who speak with their mouth unbecoming words against the Lord and utter hard words concerning his glory. Here shall they be gathered together, and here shall be THEIR JUDGMENT IN THE LAST DAYS" (1 Enoch 27:1-2).

2) I) After death: Into Gehenna:

Jesus said in Luke "fear the (One) having (the) authority to-throw INTO GEHENNA AFTER the killing" (Luke 12:5).

So one can be thrown INTO GEHENNA after the killing. God would be the One having this authority. Jesus would set this in contrast with humans who may kill the body but would not be able to kill the soul, saying: "do not be-fearing (anything) from the (ones) killing the body BUT NOT being-able to-kill the soul" (Matthew 10:28).

2) J) After death: Into the outer darkness:

Jesus said: "many will-come from east and west, and will-lie-back (to be) with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob IN THE KINGDOM (OF) THE HEAVENS. But the sons (of) the kingdom will-be-thrown-out INTO THE OUTER DARKNESS. IN-THAT-PLACE, there will-be the weeping and the grinding (of) teeth" (Matthew 8:11-12).

In a similar account in Luke 13, Jesus even ADDS that those who are going into the outer darkness will SEE Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets (WHO ALL ALREADY HAD PASSED AWAY AT THAT TIME) in the kingdom of God when they are being thrown outside, as Jesus said: "And he-will-speak, saying (to) you, ‘I-do not know you, where you-are from. Depart from me, all (you) workers (of) unrighteousness’. IN-THAT-PLACE, there-will-be the weeping and the grinding (of) teeth WHEN YOU-SHALL-SEE Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets IN THE KINGDOM (OF) GOD, BUT YOU BEING-THROWN OUTSIDE. And they-will-come from east and west, and from north and south, and lie-back (to be) in the kingdom (of) God" (Luke 13:27-29).

It is likely to suggest that if someone will SEE all the prophets WHO ALREADY HAD PASSED AWAY AT THAT TIME in the kingdom of God when they are being thrown outside at that time, then they themselves MAY PROBABLY ALSO HAVE PASSED AWAY in order to see that.

Such pattern in Luke 13 (of the righteous HAVING PASSED AWAY and then someone unrighteous ALSO HAVING PASSED AWAY and then SEEING the righteous with ABRAHAM) would actually have been described 3 chapters later in Luke 16, where it is written that "it-came-about (that) the poor (man) DIED and he-was-carried-away by the messengers to the bosom (of) ABRAHAM. And the rich (man) ALSO DIED and was-buried. And having-lifted-up his eyes in Hades (while) being in torments, HE-SEES ABRAHAM from a-distance, AND LAZARUS in his bosom" (Luke 16:22-23).

2) K) After death: The lake of fire in earlier ancient Egyptian writings:

It is written that the "(ones) having-been-abominable, and murderers, and sexually-immoral (ones), and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all the false — their part (will be) IN THE LAKE BURNING (WITH) FIRE and sulphur, WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH" (Revelation 21:8).

The image for a "LAKE OF FIRE" and the term "SECOND DEATH" may have been both borrowed from earlier ancient Egyptian writings in the Book of the Dead and in the Book of Two Ways (in the Coffin Text). These terms did not seem to appear in any other texts than those before the time Revelation would have been written.

The Egyptian religion was prevalent in Asia Minor in the 1st century AD, which would be when and where Revelation would have been written, "on the island of Patmos" (Revelation 1:9). Revelation would have been addressed to "seven churches in Asia" (Revelation 1:4), specifically in Asia Minor: "Ephesus" (Revelation 2:1), "Smyrna" (Revelation 2:8), "Pergamum" (Revelation 2:12), "Thyatira" (Revelation 2:18), "Sardis" (Revelation 3:1), "Philadelphia" (Revelation 3:7), "Laodicea" (Revelation 3:14).

Here is a map of all these locations in Asia Minor (click to expand):

Revelation also mentioned EGYPT to denote how a city could be spiritually called: "the great city which spiritually is-called Sodom and EGYPT — where also their Lord was-crucified" (Revelation 11:8).

It is in that context that the terms "LAKE (of) FIRE" (Revelation 20:15) and "THE SECOND DEATH" (Revelation 21:8) were used.

Chapter 126 of the Egyptian Book of the Dead is associated with the following vignette and the text is addressed to the "four baboons who sit in the prow of the Barque of Re". A Barque could be found on a lake. That lake is depicted in red, which may signify fire. This vignette may suggest that a lake of fire could be depicted (click to expand):

In Egypt’s Book of the Dead, the first death is the death of the body. The second death is the death of the soul. This may be similar to what Jesus said: "do not be-fearing (anything) from the (ones) killing the body BUT NOT being-able to-kill the soul" (Matthew 10:28). This can also be consistent with how the term is used in Revelation, as for example it is written: "Be faithful unto DEATH, and I-will-give you the crown (of) life. Let the (one) having (an) ear hear what the Spirit is-saying (to) the churches. The (one) overcoming will never be-harmed by THE SECOND DEATH" (Revelation 2:10-11). So here one could be "faithful unto DEATH" (Revelation 2:10) and thus "never be-harmed by THE SECOND DEATH" (Revelation 2:11), or one may not be "faithful" (Revelation 2:10) unto DEATH and after dying "be-harmed by THE SECOND DEATH" (Revelation 2:11).

2) L) Where? "The furnace of fire" may be located under the earth:

The Bible indicates that things can be found (by order of the highest to the lowest): "in the HEAVEN and on EARTH and UNDER-THE-EARTH" (Revelation 5:13).

Jesus talked about "THE FURNACE (of) FIRE" (Matthew 13:42).

In Revelation 9, it is written about "(the) SMOKE (of a) great FURNACE" (Revelation 9:2). Where there is SMOKE, there can be FIRE, thus the "FURNACE" (Revelation 9:2) there could be referring to "THE FURNACE (of) FIRE" (Matthew 13:42) that Jesus spoke about.

This FURNACE in Revelation 9 was located where THE ABYSS was located, as it is written: "he-opened the shaft (of) THE ABYSS. And smoke went-up from the shaft like (the) smoke (of a) great FURNACE" (Revelation 9:2).

Here there is the shaft of "THE ABYSS" (Revelation 9:2), and smoke from the "FURNACE" (Revelation 9:2) went up from it.

THE ABYSS could be found specifically UNDER THE EARTH, as it is written in Romans 10: "who WILL-GO-DOWN into THE ABYSS?" (Romans 10:7) in contrast also to "Who WILL-GO-UP into HEAVEN?" (Romans 10:6).

2) M) Where? "The Gehenna of fire" may be located into the center of the earth in an earlier ancient Jewish writing:

In 1 Enoch, there may be a description of GEHENNA, indicating that it could be found specifically "INTO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH", as it is written while Enoch would have been taken in the spirit: "And from there I WENT INTO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH and saw a blessed place, shaded with branches which live and bloom from a tree that was cut. And there I saw a holy mountain; underneath the mountain, in the direction of the east, there was a stream which was flowing in the direction of the north. And I saw in a second direction, (another) mountain which was higher than (the former). Between them was A DEEP AND NARROW VALLEY" (1 Enoch 26:1-3), "At that moment, I said, "For what purpose does this blessed land, entirely filled with trees, (have) in its midst THIS ACCURSED VALLEY? Then, Uriel, one of the holy angels, who was with me answered me and said to me, "THIS ACCURSED VALLEY is FOR THOSE ACCURSED FOREVER; here will gather together all (those) accursed ones those who speak with their mouth unbecoming words against the Lord and utter hard words concerning his glory. Here shall they be gathered together, and here shall be THEIR JUDGMENT IN THE LAST DAYS" (1 Enoch 27:1-2).

This would be a similar description to when Jesus is saying to the unrighteous ones: "Depart from Me, THE (ONES) HAVING-BEEN-CURSED, INTO THE ETERNAL fire" (Matthew 25:41).

2) N) Where? "The Gehenna of fire" is located under the earth in an early Christian writing:

An early Christian author wrote about how Gehenna was a place found in the center of the earth.

Around the 2nd century, a Christian author named Tertullian wrote in "Apology":

(Chapter 47): "If we threaten Gehenna, which is a reservoir of secret fire under the earth for purposes of punishment, we likewise have derision heaped upon us"

2) O) Where? Beings can be described as being present "under the earth" in the Bible:

The Bible can describe beings as being present under the earth in the Bible (and do or not do things).

For example: "EVERY KNEE MAY-BOW at the name (of) Jesus — (OF) heavenly (ones) and earthly (ones) and (ONES) UNDER-THE-EARTH" (Philippians 2:10).

Another example: "NO-ONE in heaven nor on earth nor UNDER THE EARTH WAS-ABLE TO-OPEN THE SCROLL, NOR TO-LOOK (AT) IT" (Revelation 5:3).

2) P) Description of it? How the place of fire may be described in the Bible:

The Bible indicates that things can be found (by order of the highest to the lowest): "in the HEAVEN and on EARTH and UNDER-THE-EARTH" (Revelation 5:13).

A certain place called Hades would be located under the earth, as when someone would die, they would be "BROUGHT DOWN INTO HADES" (Psalms 31:17). The righteous Jacob thought that his righteous son Joseph died, "he was not willing to be being comforted, saying, “I WILL GO DOWN to my son mourning TO HADES”" (Genesis 37:35).

In Hades, after death, a place of fire can be described, as Jesus told a story of two men who died, as "the rich (man) also DIED AND WAS-BURIED. AND having-lifted-up his eyes IN HADES (WHILE) BEING IN TORMENTS, he-sees Abraham from a-distance, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he, having-called, said, ‘Father Abraham, have-mercy-on me and send Lazarus in-order-that he-may-dip the tip (of) his finger (in) WATER AND COOL-OFF MY TONGUE, because I-AM-SUFFERING-PAIN IN THIS FLAME’. But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you-received your good (things), and likewise Lazarus the bad (things). But now, here, he-is-being-comforted and YOU ARE-SUFFERING-PAIN" (Luke 16:22-25).

There are similarities between the place of fire after death in Hades described in Luke 16 and the place of fire one can go after death described elsewhere (the Gehenna of fire, the lake of fire...):

1) In a flame of fire:

In the place of fire in Hades it was described that Lazarus was suffering pain "IN THIS FLAME [phlox 5395 in Greek]" (Luke 16:24).

All the other instances in the New Testament of the Greek word for "FLAME [phlox 5395 in Greek]" (Luke 16:24) describe a "FLAME [phlox 5395 in Greek] (of) FIRE" (Acts 7:30, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, Hebrews 1:7, Revelation 1:14, Revelation 2:18, Revelation 19:12).

This can be similar to the place of fire into which someone can end up such as "The eternal FIRE" (Matthew 25:41), "The Gehenna (of) FIRE" (Matthew 18:9), "The lake (of) FIRE" (Revelation 20:10), "The furnace (of) FIRE" (Matthew 13:42).

2) The tongue on fire:

In the place of fire in Hades it was described that the man asked for "water and cool-off my TONGUE, because I-am-suffering-pain IN THIS FLAME" (Luke 16:24). The tongue of the man was being set on fire in that flame.

Similarly people's tongues can be described to end up being set on fire in Gehenna, as it is written: "the TONGUE (is a) fire! The tongue is-made the world (of) unrighteousness among our body-parts — the (thing) staining the whole body and setting-on-fire the course (of our) existence, and BEING-SET-ON-FIRE BY GEHENNA" (James 3:6).

3) In torments:

In the place of fire in Hades it was described that the man was "BEING IN TORMENTS" (Luke 16:23) in this "PLACE (of) TORMENT" (Luke 16:28).

Similarly it is possible to end up being in torments in the lake of fire, as it is written: "the devil, the (one) deceiving them, was-thrown INTO THE LAKE (OF) FIRE and sulphur — where both the beast and the false-prophet (are). And THEY-WILL-BE-TORMENTED (by) day and (by) night to the ages of the ages" (Revelation 20:10).

4) Not conforted anymore, but being in the fire:

In the place of fire in Hades it was described that the man man was a "RICH (man)" (Luke 16:22) in contrast to "(a) certain POOR (man), LAZARUS (by) name" (Luke 16:20), but after dying Abraham said to the rich man: "remember that during your life you-received your good (things), and likewise LAZARUS the bad (things). But now, here, HE-IS-BEING-CONFORTED and you are-suffering-pain" (Luke 16:25) as the man said earlier: "I-am-suffering-pain IN THIS FLAME" (Luke 16:24).

Jesus said earlier in Luke: "WOE (to) you RICH (ONES), because YOU-ARE-RECEIVING-IN-FULL YOUR CONFORT" (Luke 6:24) in contrast with "BLESSED (are) THE POOR (ONES), because THE KINGDOM (of) God is yours" (Luke 6:20).

Similarly Jesus contrasted "the (ones) having-been-CURSED, INTO THE ETERNAL FIRE" (Matthew 25:41) with "the (ones) having-been-BLESSED (of) My Father, inherit THE KINGDOM" (Matthew 25:34).

Hades as described in Luke 16 was already described before the 1st century:

The description given of Hades by Jesus in Luke 16 was already given BEFORE THE 1ST CENTURY in an ancient JEWISH text called "1 Enoch" in chapter 22.

1) Different places for the dead:

Instead of one big room for everyone, the dead are immediately sorted into specific places.

Luke 16:22-23: "the poor man DIED and he was carried-away by the angels TO THE BOSOM OF ABRAHAM. And the rich man also DIED and was buried. And having lifted-up his eyes IN HADES BEING IN TORMENTS"

1 Enoch 22:2-4: "[...] hollow PLACES in it [...] created for this very purpose, that the spirits of the souls of the DEAD should assemble therein"

2) An impassable barrier:

The different zones are close enough that the souls can see and talk to each other, but they are completely blocked from crossing over.

Luke 16:26: "BETWEEN US AND YOU A GREAT CHASM HAS BEEN FIXED, in order that those who would pass [...] may not be able"

1 Enoch 22:8-9: "'Why is one SEPARATED FROM THE OTHER?' [...] 'These [...] have been made so that the spirits of the dead might be SEPARATED'"

3) Water where the righteous are:

The place for the righteous features a refreshing water source.

Luke 16:24: "send LAZARUS to dip the end of his finger IN WATER and cool my tongue"

1 Enoch 22:9: "a division has been made for the spirits of the RIGHTEOUS, which includes the bright SPRING OF WATER."

4) Pain where the unrighteous are:

The unrighteous are described as experiencing anguish and pain.

Luke 16:25: "now he is comforted here, and you ARE IN ANGUISH."

1 Enoch 22:10-11: "for sinners when they die [...] their spirits shall be KEPT IN GREAT PAIN until the great day of judgement"

Hades and the place of fire after the judgment are distinct:

"Hades" as a place where the dead (both righteous and unrighteous) were described AWAITING JUDGMENT would be distinct from the place of fire ("Gehenna", "the lake of fire"...) where the unrighteous end up AFTER THE JUDGMENT.

Revelation 20 describes that Hades gives the dead in them followed by a judgement, as it is written: "death and HADES gave the dead in them, AND THEY WERE JUDGED" (Revelation 20:13). This is then followed by Hades being thrown into the lake of fire, making Hades and the lake of fire distinct, as it is written: "And death and HADES were THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE" (Revelation 20:14).

In an earlier text BEFORE THE 1ST CENTURY in an ancient JEWISH text called "1 Enoch", Hades would have been described in 1 Enoch 22 where they are "UNTIL the great day of JUDGMENT" (1 Enoch 22:4), while Gehenna would have been described in 1 Enoch 26 where "HERE SHALL BE THEIR JUDGMENT in the last days" (1 Enoch 27:1-2).

Evidence that people today can end up going in different places after death?:

There may be evidence that people today may be able to end up going in different places after death.

Many people around the world were declared clinically dead after their heart would have stopped beating. In the cases in which the heart has stopped beating, a resuscitation can be performed by a doctor in order to try to make the heart beat again. Many people have reported after being resuscitated that they would still have been conscious in some sense after the time in which they were declared clinically dead and before their resuscitation. Similar reports are given across cultures and across different generations of people. These people reported several things as a result.

For example, a number of people who were declared clinically dead and were resuscitated report having gone to a place of bliss, while a nunber of them also report having gone to a place in which there was some sort of fire in which people would appear to experience suffering there.

For more details:

What can happen after we die?

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