Heaven and Hades
All About Eden
Hades (from Greek Άδης, Haidēs, originally Άιδης, Haidēs or Άΐδης, Aidēs, probably from Indo-European *n̥-wid- 'unseen'[1]) refers to both the ancient Greek underworld and the god of the dead. The word originally (as in Homer) referred to just the god; Άδού, Haidou its genitive, was an elision of "the house of Hades". Eventually, the nominative, too, came to designate the abode of the dead.
Hades and his brothers Zeus and Poseidon defeated the Titans and claimed rulership over the universe, ruling the underworld, sky, and sea, respectively. Hades is depicted as a grim figure.
Hades was also known as Pluto (from Greek Ploutōn), and was known by this name, as "the unseen one", or "the rich one", as well as Dis Pater and Orcus, in Roman mythology; the corresponding Etruscan god was Aita. The symbols associated with him are sceptre and cornucopia.
The term hades has sometimes been used in Christianity to mean the abode of the dead, where the dead would await Judgment Day either at peace or in torment. See Hades in Christianity.
Like other first-century Jews literate in Greek, early Christians used the Greek word Hades to translate the Hebrew word Sheol. Thus, in Acts 2:27, the Hebrew phrase in Psalm 16:10 appears in the form: "you will not abandon my soul to Hades." Death and Hades are repeatedly associated in the Book of Revelation.[4] The word "Hades" appears in Jesus' promise to Peter: "And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it",[5] and in the warning to Capernaum: "And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt go down unto Hades."[6] The word also appears in Luke's story of Lazarus and the rich man, which shows that Sheol/Hades, which had originally been seen as dark and gloomy, with little if any relation to afterlife rewards or punishments, had come to be understood as a place of comfort for the righteous ("in the bosom of Abraham") and of torment for the wicked ("in anguish in this flame").[7].
The Greek word "Hades" was translated into Latin as "infernus" and passed into English as "hell", as in the King James Version of the above-cited New Testament passages. The word continued to be used to refer generically to the abode or situation of the dead, whether just or unjust, as in the Apostles' Creed, where "he descended into hell" is said of Christ.. But, except in Greek, this generic usage of the word "Hades", "infernus", "hell" has become archaic and unusual. In Greek, the word κόλασις (literally, "punishment"; cf. Mathew 25:14, which speaks of "everlasting kolasis") is used to refer to what nowadays is usually meant by "hell" in English.
Hades has often been pictured as a place within the earth, rather than just a state of the soul. Tertullian, speaking of those who did not believe in the resurrection of the body, wrote: "You must suppose Hades to be a subterranean region, and keep at arm's length those who are too proud to believe that the souls of the faithful deserve a place in the lower regions" [8].
For souls in the situation of Hades, understood as that of the dead in general, early Christians believed that it is possible, not only for those who died before the coming of Christ,[9] but also for those who died later "to be translated to a state of happiness" when prayed for, even if they were not baptized.[10]
The ancient Christian Churches[11] hold that a final universal judgement will be pronounced on all human beings when soul and body are reunited in the resurrection of the dead. They also believe that, even while awaiting resurrection, the fate of souls differs: "The souls of the righteous are in light and rest, with a foretaste of eternal happiness; but the souls of the wicked are in a state the reverse of this."[12] Meanwhile, the saints among the dead can intercede for the living, and the living can help "such souls as have departed with faith, but without having had time to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance … towards the attainment of a blessed resurrection by prayers offered in their behalf, especially such as are offered in union with the oblation of the bloodless sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ, and by works of mercy done in faith for their memory."[13]
In Protestantism, it is believed that a person's fate is definitively sealed at death, and that the dead can neither assist the living nor be assisted by them.
Some, such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, hold that, until the resurrection, the dead simply cease to exist or, if they exist at all, do so in a state of unconsciousness
