I would like to share a few common yet often misunderstood words that you may have heard frequently.

• Heaven: The dwelling place of God (1 Kgs 8:30) and the future home for those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior (2 Cor 5:1-10).
  
  
• Paradise: Paradise has been described as a garden like Eden, located in Hades, separated by a vast chasm from the torment received by the damned (Lk 16:22-23). It was a place of rest for the faithful of the Old Testament while they awaited the Messiah.
  
  
• Hell: Not to be confused with Hades, which was the place for all the dead while awaiting judgment. Hell is the place of eternal punishment for the unrepentant lost (Mt 13:42, 25:41).
  
  
• Lake of fire: This is the final and eternal home for Satan, the demons, and those who reject Christ. It is a graphic depiction of Hell found in Revelation (Rev 19:20, 20:10, 14, 15, 21:8).
  
  
• Death: The Bible refers to death in two ways. First is the physical death, which is the end of our earthly life when we return to the dust we came from (Eccl 12:7). The New Testament emphasizes, however, spiritual death, or a separation from God, even while still physically alive (Mt 8:22).
  
  
• Eternal State: This is the belief that our souls exist beyond this life in a permanent state. Believers will forever be in communion with God, while non-believers will forever be separated from God (1 Th 4:14-17).  We only have this one life to accept Christ. Where our soul goes is determined immediately upon physical death.