Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
General Christian
Relationships and Religion
Hell, Râshâ‛, And God’s People

Hell, Râshâ‛, And God’s People

Last updated on: January 28, 2024 at 9:57 am by Martin Thomas Johnson

Hell, Râshâ‛, And God’s People 2024-01-28T09:57:26-05:00 Martin Thomas Johnson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Global Warming

Image by Pixabay

So far this year, the United States has seen some pretty crazy weather. We have experienced extreme storms from the West Coast to the East Coast. Unusually high temperatures smothered the South this week.

An acquaintance told me he felt like it was hot as Hell. Most people reference hell in times of high temperatures because they understand the basics about the characteristics of Hell.

Extremely hot
Dark
Chaos

I understand it sounds a lot like the world we live in today. However, the truth is no one knows just how bad Hell will be. Unfortunately, most people have become desensitized to the severity of hell. Even if they understand it is the final resting place for everything wicked in this world (Ezekiel 31:16-17.).

Wicked

The Bible is clear that Hell is where the wicked spend eternity as punishment for their evil ways (Revelation 21:8.) However, Hell is prepared for Satan and the angels who believed his lies and followed him.

You Choose Hell

Image by Pixabay

Due to mankind’s disobedience in the garden, the creation became cursed and those who disobey God are also sentenced to Hell because of their wickedness.

Hell is a place of both physical and spiritual separation from God for the rest of eternity. The prophet Moses tells us that when God saw the wickedness of man, He regretted ever creating the human race (Genesis 6:5-7.)

God created man to be in community with Himself; however, the creation chose the wickedness of Satan over the greatness of God. The earth became so wicked God eventually decided to destroy it with the great flood (Genesis 6:17-9:17.)

Râshâ

In the Old Testament the prophets consistently talk about the evil in the world and warned God’s people to be different (Deuteronomy 32:8, Psalm 5:4, Isaiah 5:20.) The Hebrew word most often used in the Old Testament for wicked is Râshâ and it means, “Guilty, wicked, and condemned.

God’s people still kept turning from God and wanting earthly greatness. They eventually became desensitized to the harshness of Hell. In Judaism, there are seven levels of Hell allotted to people depending on the degree of their wickedness.

Sheol
Abaddon
Beer Shahat
Tit ha-Yawen
Sha’are Mawet
Sha’are Zalmawet
Gehenna

The New Testament writers all emphasize the need for God’s people live right and not practice the wickedness of the world (Romans 12:21, 1 Corinthians 15:33, Philippians 3:2, 2 Peter 2:3-4.)

Jesus is clear that those who are wicked will spend eternity in Hell (Matthew 13:24-30; 22:1-14.) The wicked want their heaven now instead of spending it in Heaven with God for the rest of eternity.

Heaven

Image by Pixabay

This is why the New Testament writers warned the church about the rise of wickedness in the last days (1 Corinthians 4:5, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, 1 John 2: 18, 2 Peter 3:3-4, Jude 1:7.) We already live in a wicked world, but in the last days God’s people will become even more corrupt.

Corruption

The first Adam’s desire for more led to his corruption in the garden and his wickedness separated the creation from God. Sin tainted the bloodline of humanity.

Ever since then, the world has become more and more corrupt. God’s commands to His people are meant to set them apart from the wicked ways of this cursed world, not make us great rulers of it.

After this corrupt world ends humanity will spend eternity in one of two places.

Gan Eden (Heaven)
Gehinnonm (Hell)

God’s people don’t get to choose between obeying God or following the wicked ways of the world. Recently there’s been lots of controversy over a popular evangelical who supports the wicked leader of the GOP.

Choices

Image by Pixabay

The day is coming when Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats. Sheep obey

their Shepherd, goats don’t, because they are râshâ!

Previous Post

January 24, 2024

God’s people, Shillumath and the ways of the World

Next Post

January 31, 2024 Sāḥaṯ, The World, And The People of God

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category #Faith Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which prophet predicted God would pour out His Spirit on all people?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Amos Joel Hosea Micah