What is hadephobia?

Answer

The term hadephobia originates from two Greek words, Hades (“hell” or “the underworld”) and phobos (“fear”). Therefore, hadephobia is defined as “the fear of hell.”

In essence, hadephobia, also known as stygiophobia, is common and innate. Hell is a frightening place. Jesus depicted it as a realm of darkness, weeping, and the gnashing of teeth «And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. », (Matthew 25:30); a place of devouring worms and unquenchable fire «where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. », (Mark 9:48); and a place of “eternal fire” «Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: », (Matthew 25:41). The book of Revelation portrays the lake of fire as brimming with fire and brimstone, smoke, torment, and unrest (Revelation 14:10-11). The Bible issues a stern warning to sinners: “The cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death” «But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. », (Revelation 21:8). Therefore, if your name is not inscribed in the Lamb’s book of life, you have reason to fear hell «And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.», (Revelation 20:15).

The world tends to make a joke out of hell and speak flippantly of it. Hell becomes a mere cussword; people entertain notions that they will find a place to party with their friends amid the flames. Nothing could be further from the truth. Hell is a fearsome place (see Matthew 10:28). The great theologian and preacher Jonathan Edwards, in his famous sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” tapped into his audience’s natural hadephobia to good effect, and many were saved as a result.

However, hadephobia should not be part of a Christian’s life. It is true that hell is a real place where the unredeemed go, but you need not worry—if you have placed your trust in Jesus Christ, you are saved from that fate. Believers have this promise: “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them” «Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. », (Revelation 20:6). And this one: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death” «He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. », (Revelation 2:11).

The wages of sin is death «For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.», (Romans 6:23).23″>(Romans 6:23a), but Jesus took that punishment upon Himself. He died in your place. “Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” «Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. », (Romans 8:34). Because Jesus took your punishment and now intercedes on your behalf, you need not suffer from hadephobia. You need not fear ever being separated from God. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

God does not want His children to experience hadephobia. Over and over, He tells us to “fear not” see Luke 12:32. God wants you to “have confidence on the day of judgment” «Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. », (1 John 4:17). God’s love cannot coexist with hadephobia in your heart: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” «There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. », (1 John 4:18). In other words, the more you understand the Father’s love for you, the less you will fear His punishment. God did not appoint you to suffer wrath but “to receive salvation tThrough our Lord Jesus Christ, “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

There is a significant difference between Christianity and other belief systems that share similar ideas about hell. In Christianity, the driving force to serve the Lord is not fear but love (Romans 2:4; John 3:16). Moreover, once you embrace Christ, you belong to Him, and no one can take you away from His grasp, “and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand,” (John 10:28). God is greater than the one who is in the world (Romans 8:44).

If you are struggling with any form of fear, including hadephobia, here are some practical steps to consider:

1) Ensure your salvation. Only God’s children have no reason to fear hell. The saved individuals have the Holy Spirit—the Comforter—dwelling within them.

2) Eliminate anything that fosters frightening mental images, such as horror movies, occult practices, etc.

3) If your fear persists, seek professional assistance to rule out any clinical issues.

4) Immerse yourself in God’s Word, “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God,” (Matthew 4:4). The Word is likened to food for your spiritual nourishment.

You have no need to fear hell as it was designed for the devil and those he will deceive, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels,” (Matthew 25:41).www.bibliatodo.com/en/bible/king-james-version/matthew-25-41″>(Matthew 25:41). Neither should you give the devil too much credit. While he is real, the Bible states that he is defeated and already condemned «of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. », (John 16:11). You are more than a conqueror through Him who loves you «Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. », (Romans 8:37).

In John Bunyan’s classic book “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” the pilgrim at the beginning of the story suffers from hadephobia and an accompanying fear of death. With a great burden on his back, the pilgrim says, “I fear that this burden that is upon my back will sink me lower than the grave, and I shall fall into Tophet. And . . . if I am not fit to go to prison, I am not fit to go to judgment, and from there to execution; and the thoughts of these things make me cry.” How does Christian in “The Pilgrim’s Progress” overcome his hadephobia? He comes to the Place of Deliverance: “Just as Christian came up to the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble; and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulcher, where it fell in, and I saw it no more.” Perfect love casts out fear.