The Shadow Zone!

The center of the earth is 4,000 miles deep. Contrary to common belief, no one knows what is at the earth's center. Even the deepest mine is only 2.5 miles deep! Most people assume, incorrectly, that the lava that flows out from the tops of volcanoes originated at the center of the earth. Eruptions are a near-surface crust activity. We really do not know what is at the center of the earth! We can't go there. We can't send a remote camera down there like we do for the deepest parts of the ocean. And though scientists try to "see" the center by using seismic waves, even the waves paint an inaccurate picture. Did you know that? Earthquake waves either refract severely or won't pass through the center of the earth! Picture source

Very little is actually known about the earth's interior. What is known of the deep earth has been generated from studying seismic waves. Scientists assume the earth has a solid inner core made of iron and nickel and a liquid outer core also of iron and nickel. When an earthquake occurs, waves of released energy reverberate around the epicenter of the quake, or the location in which the quake originated. The primary waves are called p-waves and the secondary waves are called s-waves. Think of waves moving through a rope. When p-waves get to the center of the earth, they bend around the earth's core. And s-waves do not pass through the earth's center at all. Since S-waves do not pass through this core layer at the earths' center, that's how scientists have inferred the core is a liquid, because s-waves don't pass through liquid. However, s-waves do not pass through a gas, either. Keep that in mind.

Scientists call this mysterious "liquid" part of the earth the "Shadow Zone." Aptly named, in my opinion, this is an area in the Earth where no direct seismic waves from a particular earthquake can be detected.

Scientists being scientists want to know why s-waves cannot pass through the Shadow Zone. So they made an if-then statement that goes something like this: Since s-waves do not pass through liquid, and since s-waves do not pass through the center of the earth, then the center of the earth must be liquid! But s-waves do not pass through gas, either. Keep that in mind.

The bible does not say where hell is. References are made to Jesus descending to the "lower parts of the earth" (Eph 4:9). Also a reference is made that Jesus cast the sinning angels "down to hell" (2 Peter 2:4). In Proverbs 9:18 we read that death's "guests are in the depths of hell." Matthew 11:23 says "you will descend to Hades." So hell is down, but not necessarily down in the earth. Down could mean a reference opposite to the heights of heaven. It has been only tradition that says hell is in the earth somewhere.

Since the bible does not explicitly say where hell is, then we cannot make a doctrine out of hell being inside the earth. However, I think it is interesting food for thought that the center of the earth has a Shadow Zone. I think that name is extremely interesting. I think it is interesting that seismic waves do not pass through or only bend around that center. I think it is interesting that s-waves do not pass through liquid but neither do they pass through gas. Remember, air is gas. So the center of the earth could be a gas-filled air pocket containing the souls of the damned awaiting judgment. Just a thought.