Thursday, 26 March 2015

Isaiah’s Inferno





There was classically a debate between the Sadducee sect and the Pharisees regarding the existence of Heaven and Hell, and the fate of the body or soul after death.  Apparently (according to Josephus and the Talmud) the Sadducees said that this is our one chance in this world, beyond which we simply  disappear.



Indeed, I have argued that the Torah does not speak of a Hell, in the sense of the Judeo-Christian concept http://tanakhemet.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/torah-no-reincarnation-no-hell.html .



However, there is some support for the idea of an eternal damnation.  The very last line of Isaiah, Ch. 66 refers to some sort of eternal flame:



24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have rebelled against Me; for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.



This is an interesting point and should be viewed by both sides of the debate. This is not a place outside of this world, but inside. In other words, it is referring to Sheol, which is the underworld, where worms and fires abound.  That is where the rotting carcasses of the rebels will remain, according to Isaiah. On the other hand, there is also the possibility of a resurrection of the dead, for the righteous.  This will be the topic of further discussion…



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