Question: What is the difference between Hades and Hell — do people go directly to hell at death?

Mike distinguishes three Greek terms relevant to the afterlife (not all English translations preserve the distinctions). Hades: an intermediate holding place. Hell (Gehenna): a permanent, final destination described in Revelation as coming after the millennium, Satan's release, and the final judgment. The rich man in Luke 16 (Lazarus and the rich man) goes to Hades, not hell; Abraham's bosom is also in Hades as the righteous compartment. He analogizes: Hades equals local jail (temporary, pre-sentencing); hell equals state prison (permanent, post-sentencing). He holds this view tentatively and is open to revision.