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From: hutch@shark.UUCP (Stephen Hutchison)
Newsgroups: net.religion,net.flame
Subject: Re: "Hell" in the Old Testament
Message-ID: <656@shark.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 28-Mar-84 03:26:46 EST
Article-I.D.: shark.656
Posted: Wed Mar 28 03:26:46 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Mar-84 00:35:35 EST
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<sniff? Brimstone?  Sulphur?  Must be Pittsburg>

I have to take issue with Dave Norris.  Sorry, Dave.

The Hebrew word "Sheol" doesn't and didn't mean the same thing
as is currently understood as Hell.

It is unclear where the Essene sect got their picture of a Hell
which was a lake of fire and an eternal torment, but it is that
picture, which Jesus quoted, that is the basis for the modern
idea of Hell.

Sheol was described as a sort of limbo and was very unpleasant but
did not seem to be the place where the fallen angels and sinners were
consigned.

Note that there are very clear images in the early Christian doctrines
of a place ruled by the Fallen, which was a fortress which Jesus destroyed
in the hours He was dead.   I cannot trace this back to an earlier Jewish
tradition with the resources I have available at the moment.

Hutch