The two words in the New Testament describing the place of eternal punishment for people who are opposed to God are “hades” and “gehenna”. Hades is used ten times and Gehenna is used nine times. Jesus used Gehenna eight times, three times in the Sermon on the Mount, and he speaks of it with such warning that he certainly means that it is a literal place of torment.
A review of the article covering “Gehenna” in the Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible written by T.H. Gaster indicates that the Valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, was a place where pagan idol worshippers sacrificed children to their false god of fire. Because of this the adapted name “Gehenna” became associated with the place of fire and torment, and in the New Testament as the place of punishment for people who reject Christ.
The purpose of this song is to communicate this reality, but more importantly to affirm that faith in Jesus is the way of escape from this punishment, and he is the way of receiving eternal life.
Comments 1
Great job on this! Makes me think a movie should be playing too!