A friend nudged me in Bible study the other day and pointed to her I-pad. She’d followed a rabbit trail and came up with a surprise.

In Matthew 10:28 it says, “And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

She looked up “hell” in this passage at BlueLetterBible.org and was surprised to find the original Greek word was “geenna” (G1067 in Strongs Concordance if you’re interested.) That word has its origins in two Hebrew words. The first is H1516, “gay.” When pronounced, it sounds exactly like gay. I don’t speak Hebrew, but BlueLetterBible.org does if you click on the little speaker. The second root word for “gay” in Hebrew is H1466 and is translated “pride.”

The second root word for geenna (H2011) in Hebrew is “Hinnom,” which means “lamentation.” According to the commentary on Hinnom, the Hinnom Valley was a deep narrow ravine with steep sides located on the southwest side of Jerusalem where they threw and burned trash. Hell is the place of the future punishment called “Gehenna” or “Gehenna of fire.” This was originally where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned; a fit symbol of the wicked and their future destruction.

God doesn’t desire anyone go to hell. 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (Repentance is a turning away from those things which displease God.)

Hell is the place He prepared for Satan and his angels. Matthew 25:41 says, “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;'”  But those who choose to reject His son Jesus, will spend their eternity there, separated from Him and His heaven.

For those on His right, he will say “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).

So we have a choice, accept Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins and walk away from them, or continue in sin and receive punishment in eternal fire.

I’ll leave this information with you. Do with it as you will. For me, I know God means what He says and His word is absolute Truth.

To see my books visit http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B007F5H0H4