An Extract out of Josephus's Discourse to The Greeks Concerning Hades


by Flavius Josephus




Translated by William Whiston




1. Now as to Hades, wherein the souls of the of the good things
they see, and rejoice in the righteous and unrighteous are
detained, it is necessary to speak of it. Hades is a place in the
world not regularly finished; a subterraneous region, wherein the
light of this world does not shine; from which circumstance, that
in this region the light does not shine, it cannot be but there
must be in it perpetual darkness. This region is allotted as a
place of custody for souls, ill which angels are appointed as
guardians to them, who distribute to them temporary punishments,
agreeable to every one's behavior and manners.

2. In this region there is a certain place set apart, as a lake
of unquenchable fire, whereinto we suppose no one hath hitherto
been cast; but it is prepared for a day afore-determined by God,
in which one righteous sentence shall deservedly be passed upon
all men; when the unjust, and those that have been disobedient to
God, and have given honor to such idols as have been the vain