We studied Sheol/Hades and Gehenna earlier. The other word translated as hell – tartaroo – occurs only once in the Bible. What’s its meaning?
“God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.” (2 Peter 2:4)
– Here, the entire phrase ‘cast down to hell’ is translated from the one Greek word tartaroo.
It implies that some angels fell from dignity into dishonor and so God degraded them.
Some misuse this verse to support a netherworld where fallen angels and sinners are held forever, but:
- There are no humans here. Only angels.
- They are bound by chains of darkness. It’s dark! So no burning fires.
- The chains symbolize a restriction imposed on the fallen angels. These angels had taken human form during Noah’s times and deceived women. So God has restricted them from becoming visible.
- The condition is clearly temporary (reserved unto judgment), not eternal.
In the end, they are to be set free to choose God or Satan.
They will actually be tried and judged by the glorified Church (1Corinthians 6:3).
