by Richard W. LaFountain

1. GEHENNA (Matthew 5:20, Mk 9:42-47; Mt 18:9, Mt 10:28; Lk 12:5; Mt 23:15,33)
In the New Testament it refers to the place of torment of the ungodly. Valley of Hinnom on the Southwest side of Jerusalem. A place where historically people sacrificed humans to ghe god Molech. Later it was the scene of a rubbish heap for burning refuse. Thus it became known as the place of final judgement of God against the ungodly. (See Isaiah 30:33, 66:240) There was a distinction in Jewish thought between Hades and Gehenna. Hades was the place of waiting between death and the resurrection and Gehenna was the place of eternal punishment. Jesus referred to it often in his preaching (Matthew 5:22,29-30; 10:28; 23:15,33; 28:9; Lk 12:5; Lk 16:28 (see James 3:6)

Gehenna - 1067 geenna gheh'-en-nah
of Hebrew origin Mnh-ayq, 01516 and 02011; TDNT-1:657,113; n f AV-hell 9, hell fire+3588 +4442 3; 12 1) Hell is the place of the future punishment call "Gehenna" or "Gehenna of fire". This was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned; a fit symbol of the wicked and their future destruction.

2. HADES - 86 hades hah'-dace
AV-hell 10, grave 1; 11 1) name Hades or Pluto, the god of the lower regions 2) Orcus, the nether world, the realm of the dead 3) later use of this word: the grave, death, hell

In Biblical Greek it is associated with Orcus, the infernal regions, a dark and dismal place in the very depths of the earth, the common receptacle of disembodied spirits. Usually Hades is just the abode of the wicked, #Lu 16:23; Re 20:13,14; a very uncomfortable place.

3. GOLGOTHA or CALVARY (Mt 27:33; Mk 15:22; Jn 19:17)
The word means "skull." Located near Jerusalem. Hebrews 13:12 indicates that it was "outside the gate." It was on a well-traveled road and was visible from a distance, thus many think of it as a hill. Two locations are suggested although Emperor Hadian destroyed most Christian holy sites with his own temples. Emperor Constintine commissioned Bishop Marcarious to find Calvary and the Tomb some 300 years after Christ. They excavated for the tomb and found what they claimed was a piece of the original cross which allegedly caused miracles. A second site was found in 1842 is known as Gordon's Calvary, a place that looks like a skull. The skull shape however is of recent making from mining, not natural formations and probably wouldn't have looked like a skull in Jesus time.

OTHER LOCATIONS
Jacob's Well
Gethsemane
Potters' field
Solomon's Porch
Siloam, Pool of
Syrophenician
Tombs
Temple, Herod's