DEATH, THE INTERMEDIATE STATE, THE RESURRECTION AND THE FINAL DESTINY — page 17

The Difference Between Imprisonment in Hades and Hell

“Hades” is a temporary condition of spirits and souls outside the body; while “hell” (gehenna) is an eternal place for the lost – where the whole person is cast, including their body. One is a condition and the other is a place. “Hades” affects only the spirit and the soul, while “hell” affects the whole person – spirit, soul and body. The Lord said: “... that your whole body be cast into hell” (Matt. 5:29). The body does not go to “hades”, but goes to “hell”. See also Matthew 18:9.

An illustration was used to show the difference between the temporary condition of the lost in “hades” and the final condition of the lost in “hell” (the lake of fire). Suppose a person is found breaking the law and, upon being arrested, is placed in the city jail, which is a temporary place of confinement. They remain there until the date of the hearing, when they are brought before a judge in court and sentenced for their transgression. Being condemned, they are then transferred to the state penitentiary, where they will serve their sentence. The city jail can represent “hades” and the state penitentiary, “hell”. Obviously, in the case of “hell”, a person never finishes serving their sentence.