Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

HADES

(Gk. hádēs)

Originally the name of the Greek god of the underworld, but later the name of the underworld itself. Found in Homer, numerous Greek papyri, the LXX, Philo, and Josephus, as well as the NT, it is translated “hell” in most English versions of the Bible. In the LXX Hades is the name used for Sheol.

In Greek religion Hades was the place where the dead went, located in the belly of the earth. It was entered through gates which were kept fast by locks which only a limited number of beings could open. In Matt. 16 Peter is given the keys to the gates of hell; in Rev. 1 Jesus controls the keys of hell.

Hades became in Hellenistic thought a place of torment. It is this understanding of hell as the torture chamber of eternity which influenced the NT writers.

Jim West






Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)

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Prayer Tents is a Christian mission organization that serves Christians around the world and their local bodies to make disciples ("evangelize") more effectively in their communities. Prayer Tents provides resources to enable Christians to form discipleship-focused small groups and make their gatherings known so that other "interested" people may participate and experience Christ in their midst. Our Vision is to make disciples in all nations through the local churches so that anyone seeking God can come to know Him through relationships with other Christians near them.

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