What Is the Lake of Fire? Is It the Same as Hell or Gehenna? -

Identical to Gehenna, the Valley of Hinnom

Gehenna  (Greek  ge'en-na) is mentioned 12 times in the Bible. Like the lake of fire, it is a symbol of eternal destruction. Although some translations render this word as "hell," Gehenna is different from hell.(HEBREW she'ol' Greek hai'des).

The word "Gehenna" literally means "Valley of Hinnom," referring to a valley just outside Jerusalem.  In Bible times, the city residents used this valley as a garbage dump.  They kept a fire constantly burning there to destroy refuse; maggots consumed anything that the fire did not reach.

Jesus used Gehenna as a symbol of everlasting destruction.  (Matthew 23:33)  He said that in Gehenna "the maggot does not die and the fire is not put out." (Mark 9:47, 48)  He thus alluded to the conditions in the Valley of Hinnom  and also to the prophecy at (Isaiah 66:24, which says: "They will go out and look on the carcasses of the men who rebelled against me; for the worms  on them will not die, and their fire will not be extinguished."  Jesus' illustration describes, not torture, but complete annihilation. The worms and fire consume carcasses, or dead bodies, not living people. 

The Bible gives no indication of any return from Gehenna.  "The lake of fire" and "the fiery Gehenna" both represent permanent, everlasting destruction. - REVELATION 20:14, 15; 21:8.

Next time: What Is the Lake of Fire? Is It the Same as Hell or Gehenna? - How "Tormented Day and Night Forever and Ever"?

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