Hades

The word hades occurs ten times in the New Testament. It is used by three authors: Matthew, Luke and John. The word appears twice in Matthew (11:23; 16:18), twice in Luke (10:15; 16:23), twice in Acts (2:27,31), and four times in Revelation (1:18; 6:8; 20:13,14). 

Whereas a detailed study of the context of each of these verses provides interesting information about hades, perhaps the most detailed information in one passage is found in Luke 16:19-31: "There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day; and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell [hades] he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house for have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them, and he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the propheta, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." 

The rich man in hades retained his senses, for he was fully conscious of the torment which he was experiencing. Not only could he feel the torment of hades itself, he was also tormented by the thought that his five brothers might also come to this place. He thought he could prevent them from coming to hades if Abraham would just send Lazarus to talk to them. But Abraham reminded him that if his five brothers would not pay any attention to Moses and the prophets, they would not be per suaded even if one rose from the dead. 

It is obvious from Luke 16 that there is no such thing as "soul-sleep, the unconscious existence of the dead until the resurrection of the body. The rich man had all his faculties and was experiencing extreme torment. Though there is torment in hades, it is not the final abode of unbelievers. Revelation 20:13-15 makes this clear: "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell [hades] delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell [hades] were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” 

Thus, hades is not the final destiny of those who reject Christ, but it is a place of torment for them until they are resurrected to stand before the Great White Throne Judgment. Since hades is not the final destiny of the lost, neither is it the place we commonly refer to as "hell.”