#eternal hell

i was by a previously pentecostal "fire and brimstone" (now conserv. baptist) father, and a conserv. baptist mother. a lot of my family (the ones who are christian, anyway) are very end-times/rapture/hell/fire and brimstone-based. it's honestly terrifying- i grew up having nightmares about it all when i was young. i'm now deconstructing my faith, but that aspect always feels like a scary looming figure at the back of it.

i read somewhere once that jews don't believe in an eternal hell? i'm not sure if that's true or not, but that's what i was reminded of when i saw your post. is it like that?

basically, i'm asking: why do you believe that way? what supports it (not that you need anything to support it, just that if there is, i'd like to see it)? would you be willing to share?

thank you very much- i'm sorry this got a bit vent-y, but i just wanted you to understand my background, and where i'm coming from when asking. :D

On Hell

First of all I want to apologise for taking one million years to respond to this. Time is a slippery character with few morals.

The first thing that I want to establish is the difference between what I understand hell to be and what others do. Growing up I was taught that hell is a pit of fire and flames that people reside in for the rest of their soul's eternity, as punishment for not believing in the Christian understanding of God. I do not believe in this.

I do not believe this to be a biblical notion either. I encourage you to read the following and click the link to read the full text as they articulate it better than what I possibly could ever. Here is an excerpt from it.

"There Are The 4 Words Translated As “Hell”

Most of the confusion around Hell starts with translation error. There are four separate Hebrew and Greek words which are translated into the single English word “Hell”, despite having drastically different meanings.

Sheol (Hebrew)

Hades (Greek)

Tartarus (Greek)

Gehenna (Greek)

The English language is often very limited when trying to express certain concepts. A perfect Biblical example of this is the multiple Greek words translated to the single English word “Love”. Agape is a special version of love that speaks about God’s love toward humanity. Phileo speaks about brotherly love and Eros refers to sexual love or desire.

And just like “love”, the English word “hell” is unilaterally translated from the Greek and Hebrew words Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, and Tartarus, each of which have different meanings.

1. Sheol (H7585)

שׁאל שׁאול she’ôl she’ôl sheh-ole’, sheh-ole’ From H7592; hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranian retreat), including its accessories and inmates: — grave, hell, pit.

2. Hades (G86)

ᾅδης hadēs hah’-dace From G1 (as a negative particle) and G1492; properly unseen, that is, “Hades” or the place (state) of departed souls: — grave, hell.

3. Gehenna (G1067)

γέεννα geenna gheh’-en-nah Of Hebrew origin ([H1516] and [H2011]); valley of (the son of) Hinnom; gehenna (or Ge-Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem

4. Tartarus (G5020)

ταρταρόω tartaroō tar-tar-o’-o From Τάρταρος Tartaros̄ (the deepest abyss of Hades); to incarcerate in eternal torment: — cast down to hell.

Below, I’ve listed the full 13 times “Hell” is used in the NASB translation of the Bible. Sheol and Hades are always correctly translated as “the grave” in the NASB and other more accurate translations, which is why you don’t see any references below. I’ve included those words in our discussion simply because they will come up incorrectly as “Hell” in the KJV.

You’ll notice that NONE of the above 4 words actually translate to Hell. The closest is Hades, which is derived from Greek mythology and is never actually translated to “Hell” in academically accepted translations. Sheol and Hades are both always translated as “death” or “the grave” in the NASB and other more accurate translations. And as we are about to see, neither Tartarus nor Gehenna can be correctly translated as “Hell” either.

In other words, “Hell” is NOT actually in the Bible."

I believe in "hell" in the sense that when my soul feels hurt and tormented, that is a bad place for my heart and mind to be. When I think of Jesus and His loving teachings I am filled with peace and helps bring me out of that place.

While I don't believe in ETERNAL hell, I do believe in divine punishment. Those who do not follow the teachings Jesus preached (being loving, kind, empathetic, caring about social justice) will experience some sort of punishment. If it is not in this lifetime, I believe it will be in the next.

Do I believe they'll all be put in flames? No not really. I believe God will provide them with a consequence that will assist them in changing their perspective and changing for the better.

I don't believe people who don't worship the Christian understanding of God, yet follow what Jesus preached will be punished eternally. I don't think God will mind if we get the theology wrong but what we did get right was the act of loving our neighbour.

I've likely not explained this very well at all and I'm still growing and learning in my faith. If you have new perspectives you want to add onto this and more resources to provide to me, I am more that happy for you to share them!

If you are going to get upset with me in the comments for what I believe and tell me again and again that ETERNAL FIRE AND HELL is real, I am unfortunately not interested in that. I was taught that for many years of my life and it never brought me peace. It only made me feel further away from God because I didn't understand how He could be so hateful. Please don't come to my comment section and tell me my God is hateful. I deconstructed that notion long ago.

Let me know if you want me to explain anything better or provide more resources!

Sign the contract, sign the deal Your consent will spin the wheel. Make a wish, it shall be done C'mon bub your owed some fun.

What's a soul? Its just a thing, A small price for power's wings. Drink the Kool-Aid, let's go play We'll burn eternal another day.

----

NOT MICHAEL X MALLORY!!!!!! 

Summary: Mallory has served her time as Supreme and as once sentence ends another begins as she finally arrives in hell. But things aren’t how she expected, there’s an old enemy waiting for her.

Warning: Swearing! 

A/N: I was blessed with this idea a while back, thank you to whoever requested this I love it! I repeat this is not a drabble shipping them! It’s an exploration of two rivals meeting for one final time, the Michael and Mallory moment we never really got. 

I don’t remember dying, but when I wake I know for a fact that I am dead. I only visited hell twice in my life and that was when I brought John-Henry back and when I died from that poisoned apple, but I remember the feeling of my skin constantly pricking and the voice just behind my ear that used to whisper that I didn’t belong there. 

There’s no voice anymore.

I’m sitting in a room covered from floor to ceiling with black tiles, there’s an administration desk to the right also black, which seats a figure I’ve heard of, but never had a reason to call upon during my reign as Supreme. 

Papa Legba nods his head in greeting, ‘So the great Supreme is finally dead.’ 

He rises to greet me, even offering me his hand. I take it, ‘Hello Papa, I assume this is hell?’

‘The gateway to it, yes.’ He reveals, ‘You are lucky to be here. Most souls have no knowledge they are in hell, but you have always been different have you not?’

That is true, my differences have always made me the Ugly Duckling, ‘I know why I’m here.’ I’m not going to show any weakness in front of a Loba, Cordelia taught me better than that. ‘I know all witches go to hell.’

‘You are here because of the choices and decisions you made throughout your life.’ Papa reveals, ‘You did some nasty things as Supreme, Mallory.’

‘Heavy is the head that wears the crown.’ I quote and Papa Legba’s golden teeth shine. 

‘This way.’

I’m lead down a corridor still of black tile but there are braziers sunk into the walls. It’s all very hellish to me, the fired tamed and flickering, casting nightmarish shadows everywhere like a promise of what’s to come. ‘Why all this set up?’ I ask, unable to contain myself any longer. ‘Madison said when she died she was stuck in her own version of hell right away. There was none of this…’ I can’t describe what it is that’s going on, ‘This procedure.’

A bark of laughter escapes Papa, ‘You are here because he wishes to speak with you before you are sent off.’

I haven’t felt fear in a long time. Being the Supreme gave me a kind of resilience to the idea of death because it was eventful and my life had dangled on a string for so long, but the idea of coming face to face with Satan himself after what I had done was terrifying. I swallow down my nerves as we enter a throne room. This is grandiose and all for show. Fire pits sizzle from the doorway leading right up to the throne, a plush red carpet with intricate black and gold designs cushion my feet as I walk. I can’t make out who is seated in the throne, but there is someone there, their aura of sheer darkness calling to me. It beckons me with a taste of something so familiar, a rotting scent I’ve only ever smelled on one person before.

‘Well, well, well.’ His voice is smooth and just as beautiful as the rest of him, ‘I have waited a very long time to see you again, Mallory.’

I was afraid, now I’m completely immobile. Papa Legba’s hand rests on the small of my back, he pushes me forwards and presents me before his boss, ‘As you requested, sir.’

‘You may leave.’ Michael Langdon commands, tossing his golden hair over a shoulder, his hand flexing elegantly on the armrest of his throne. He’s hiding his anxiety well, casting what appears to be a bored eye over me. Langdon slouches in his throne, as if it’s such a tough life, residing over Hell. But I can see how tightly strung he is, how he’s waited for this day ever since I killed him.

This is Michael’s vengeance.

‘Finally had the life sucked out of you.’ He observes, ‘I hope it was painful.’

‘I died surrounded by my sisters.’ I reply, knowing it’s going to piss him off even further. ‘I died in the arms of those who loved me.’

Michael’s hand twitches, the rings on his fingers glinting darkly. He doesn’t say anything, leaning forwards to get a better look at me, ‘How idyllic.’ 

‘Better than being roadkill.’

He stands and the fire pits surge with his anger. I instinctively try to use my magic but I have none whatsoever, Michael recognises my stance however and a low chuckle echoes around the throne room, ‘Oh I remember our little spat back at the Outpost. I remember everything Mallory.’ 

‘You mean the Hawthorne Academy?’ I challenge, ‘Because the Outposts never happened. I killed you.’

There’s a dreadful silence where Michael just observes me. His finger runs over his lip and then he deposits himself neatly back in his throne, ‘Did you enjoy killing me? Did you find satisfaction in watching my body crack and break under that car?’ And just like that I feel like nothing has changed. I am once again answering Michael Langdon feeling lower than an ant he could smash at any moment, ‘You are lower than an ant.’ He says and my eyes jump to meet his. 

So he could read minds.

‘Only when I want to.’ Michael answers, ‘Usually people’s thoughts are disgusting. I learned at a young age not to go there too often.’ His eyes travel over my black ensemble, ‘They are so base, full of wanton desires, thirsting for what they can never have-’

I cut him off, ’If you are going to send me to my eternal hell then do so.’ 

‘You’ve aged horribly.’ 

It’s a low blow, but I find my fists clenching at his rudeness. ‘Always a child.’ I fire back, ‘It’s almost comforting to see that some things never change.’

‘You amuse me, Mallory.’ Michael says, ‘You’re as pathetic as your Coven and I am going to greatly enjoy watching you suffer for all time.’

‘Then why aren’t you?’ The spark of curiosity is evident in my voice and Michael’s eyes narrow. ‘You failed your father.’ I press, ‘You caused the apocalypse yes, but you also died before you could remake the world. Why aren’t you paying the price too?’

‘What makes you think I didn’t?’

It’s no the answer I was expecting. I catch the hurt lance across Michael’s eyes, just a faint glimmer before he seals it away. It’s betrayal and rejection mingled into a face of marble, as flawless as the lock he’s fashioned around himself. Michael may not be in his own hell, but he’s just as much a prisoner as the rest of us and the longer we just stare back at each other I realise that Michael Langdon was just a pawn, a power-move by Satan that didn’t work out. That’s all he was and so here he is, stuck in the middle with nowhere to go and no respite. He rules and condemns completely robbed of the chance to fulfil that innate humanity still bleating inside of him. 

‘You cannot save me.’ Michael spits, ‘You don’t want to either.’

I look away from him and into the fires, ‘If things had been different.’

‘We were born to be enemies.’ Michael descends the few steps that separate us, but he sweeps past me. His boots soften on the red carpet and I know I must follow him. His golden locks shine like a candle, guiding the way. When we step into the hallway it’s changed slightly, the black tiles remain but now there are thousands of doors lining each wall. 

We walk for about ten minutes in silence, the only sound our footsteps and the thin rustle of Michael’s velvet blazer. He stops outside of a door, just like any other, unremarkable and mine. ‘I’ve been looking forward to this.’ He opens the door with a flash of his white teeth, ‘The only fun I have is thinking up the various hells for everyone and even that can get so tedious.’ Michael rolls his eyes, ‘The amount of spider dens, betrayal and death is just so mundane. But I had to make everything just right for you.’

There isn’t a single atom in my body that wants to step inside, I already have an idea of what I’m going to see inside. My sisters, the ones who died before me and those who have succeeded me, all my loved ones. They’ll be dead, slaughtered by Michael’s hand no doubt and I’ll be powerless to stop him.

‘Do you think I’d be so obvious?’ Michael smirks, ‘I want you to revisit your lowest moment, forever.’ 

He pushes me through the door and slams it shut behind me. My heart clenches at the sickening surroundings and how I’m not dressed - Outpost 3 and once again I’m young and my powers lie dormant. 

I’m grey once more. 

She sits before me, all taffeta plumes of purple her hands out before me, her nails a sparkling red, ‘MALLORY.’ Coco shrieks, ‘You are so fucking irritating, always daydreaming. Wake up and grab some toilet roll.’

My mouth twists in disdain, ’You’re fucking kidding me, right?’ 

‘I just painted my nails. Come on, wipe me!’ 

“Not until gentle Jesus, meek and mild, are you told if you don’t make the right propitiations you can depart into everlasting fire.

One of the most wicked ideas ever preached and one that has ruined the lives and peace of mind of many, many children…preached to them by vicious, child-hating old men and women in the name of this ghasty cult.”