Posted on 04/03/2015 7:22:40 PM PDT by kindred
It was after the crucifixion of the Messiah of Israel that Satan and godless Israelites rejoiced in their demonic triumph of unrighteousness. They thought that they had done away with “This Man”, this Miracle Worker, this Preacher of RIGHTEOUSNESS, this violator of the Sabbath, this One who claimed to be Almighty God the Son and it was exhilarating to their godless mind (Matt. 27, Luke 23). As the Sabbath day was about to begin these godless men made their preparation to finish “their” Feast of Passover and partake in “their” man made traditions (Matt. 15:7-11, 23, John 18:28). Satan the original architect of darkness (John 8:44) was making plans to further His darkened Kingdom and in the delusion of his mind, rejoicing at the murder of the Messiah at the very hand of unbelieving Israel. How perfect must have this thought been in this angelic madman’s reprobate mind? The very chosen nation of Almighty God (Deut. 4:13, 7:6, Rom. 9:4-5), the Apple of His eye (Deut. 32:10, Ps. 17:8, Zech. 2:8), the beholder of all the covenants and promises for the world (Rom. 9:4-5), and nation which was to bring forth the Seed (Messiah) of Abraham (Gen. 22:18, Acts 3:25, Gal. 3:16, Rev. 12:1-5) had been Satan’s chief vessel (Acts 2:22-23, 7:51-54) in the death, violent murder, eradication and violent crucifixion of Almighty God the Son, who abided in human flesh (Isa. 9:6-7, Micah 5:2, John 1:14, 1 Tim 3:16). As these haters of reality - in the physical and spiritual world - went about their delusional godless existence after this barbaric slaying; unknown to them in the abode of the dead something else was taking place.
When the Lord Jesus willingly gave up His ghost on the cross in the ninth hour, His Spirit departed into the nether regions of the earth called Sheol or Hades, the abode of the dead.
When the Lord Jesus willingly gave up His ghost on the cross in the ninth hour, His Spirit departed into the nether regions of the earth called Sheol or Hades, the abode of the dead (Matt 12:40, Luke 16:22-31, Eph. 4:8-10, 1 Peter 3:19). This abode is where the spirits of just and unjust men awaited (some excitedly, while the majority horrifically). The Just for the first resurrection (Isa. 26:19, Dan. 12:2, Rev. 20:4-6), while the others in EXPONENTIAL fear for the Day of ETERNAL Judgment that would come at the end of time (Matt. 25:41, Rev. 20:11-15).
Sheol, the abode of the dead, which is in the center of the earth (Matt. 12:40, 1 Peter 3:19) is made up of two compartments. One called Sheol Hell, the other Sheol Paradise (Luke 16:22-31). Between these two realms is a great fixed gulf which neither side can cross (Luke 16:26). These two realms are FOREVER separated by the cross of Jesus Christ (John 3:36). Sheol Hell is where the unredeemed and unregenerate spirits of man from Cain unto the last unsaved individual of time awaits for their ETERNAL sentence in the Lake of Fire coming up at the end of time (Rev. 20:11-15). Sheol Paradise is where the redeemed from Adam to the thief on the cross await for the completion of Christ’s redemptive and atoning work on the cross (Eph. 4:8-10, 1 Peter 3:19, 4:6).
Between these two realms is a great fixed gulf which neither side can cross. These two realms are FOREVER separated by the cross of Jesus Christ.
When Jesus entered into the realm of the dead both groups saw His glorious entrance as He entered into Sheol Paradise. Oh beloved, what rejoicing to the redeemed prisoners of Death’s undeliverable hand (Heb. 2:14-15)! The very One in whom these individuals from Adam to the thief on the cross had put their trust in in times past, God’s propitiation and redeemer for their sinful souls had descended down into their presence to let them know that ETERNAL salvation and deliverance was a mere 3 days away (Eph. 4:8-10, 1 Peter 3:19, 4:6)! As Jesus Christ abode in Sheol with the redeemed, the once dwellers of time and earth who had now been subject to the nether realms of Paradise rejoiced and fellowshipped with their Savior! These who had placed their trust in Almighty God's Lamb did not esteem the world's pleasures and godless appetites but looked for a city and Maker who was Almighty God and who hungered and thirsted for RIGHTEOUSNESS more than decadence (Heb.11:13). As the third day came Jesus told those in Sheol Paradise that He would now rise because of His perfect and sinless life and ETERNAL redemption for these was now FULLY complete (Matt. 12:40, 1 Cor. 15:55, Phil 2:1-11, Rev. 1:18)!
As the tormented and lost looked across the great fixed gulf and saw Christ arising up into the realms of the physical world three days later and they fully comprehended that their doom was FOREVER sure.
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As the tormented and lost looked across the great fixed gulf and saw Christ arising up into the realms of the physical world three days later and they fully comprehended that their doom was FOREVER sure. Horrified and filled with fright their hearts surged to EXPONENTIAL levels of fear. For these godless and lawless transgressors of time knew then that FOREVER their fate was sealed and they would FOREVER give a full account for their deeds in the flesh when they once walked on the earth. For the Savior of the world had paid the price and now would be Judge of ALL (Rev. 20:11-15) As Satan saw His Creator arise from the abode of dead, his prison hold for all of Adam's fallen race, he also was filled with absolute EXPONENTIAL dread and knew that his doom was indeed sealed (Gen. 3:14-15, John 12:31). What is absolutely amazing is that Satan is still relentless in seeking to destroy the work of God in light of the horrific dread that is as a battleship chain around his neck (John 8:44).
As Jesus arose, He made himself known to his disciples and 40 days later when He ascended into Heaven, He took with Him the spirits of the redeemed to be in His and His Father’s presence in Heaven.
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As Jesus arose, He made himself known to his disciples (Matt. 28, John 21) and 40 days later when He ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:9), He took with Him the spirits of the redeemed to be in His and His Father’s presence in Heaven, to await the first resurrection from the dead in which these redeemed will receive a resurrected body of righteousness, which they will be given to perfectly serve and worship the Triune God for EVERMORE (Dan. 12:2, Eph. 4:8-10, Rev. 20:5-6, 21, 22:1-5)! This first resurrection will take place some 2000 years later at Christ glorious return to planet earth at the Battle of Armageddon when He is to reign for a 1000 years (Rev. 19:11-21, 20:4-6).
When Jesus rose from the dead and then was then seated at the Right hand of the Father forty days later (Psalm 110:1, Luke 22:69, Acts 2:34, 7:55, Heb. 12:1-2), He then ten days later on the Feast of Pentecost established His called out assembly (i.e., the church - Acts 2:1-4) made up of Jews and gentile (1 Cor. 2:13, Gal. 3:28) believers to be an exceedingly wondrous chosen vessel for His glory while Israel is set aside for a season (Rom. 9-11). This “called out assembly" (i.e., the church) would be -each member - individually given the Holy Spirit of Almighty God (John 14:16), have the risen Messiah’s and Father’s Personal indwelling ( ), be seated spiritually at the very Right-hand of Almighty God , and blessed with ALL spiritual glory, praise and lauded as sons of the ETERNAL Father! They also would be given diverse gifts to be used for the glory and outworking of Almighty God until the Rapture. My beloved, who can even begin to comprehend the EXCEEDINGLY EXPONENTIAL wonders that the risen Messiah, the ETERNAL Son of Almighty God has done for the redeemed and for those who love Him (1 Cor. 2:9, Rev. 21, 22:1-5). My beloved, it will take all of ETERNITY to even begin to just taste the WONDERS AND ETERNAL LOVE of the Father.
My beloved, who can even begin to comprehend the EXCEEDINGLY EXPONENTIAL wonders that the risen Messiah, the ETERNAL Son of Almighty God has done for the redeemed and for those who love Him.
As Jesus ascended into the lower regions of earth and then ascended, He took captive the very captor of the redeemed - DEATH and Sheol - and set the redeemed of Adam's race free FOREVER (Rom. 5:12-21, Eph 4:8-10).
So....exactly what is it that folks will be doing for eternity.....once they go to Hell? Just.....sit around...or what?
Actually.....Passover (the 14th) is the preparation for the Sabbath of Unleavened Bread (the 15th).
[Leviticus 23:5-6]
Not sure of the calendar back then. Of course it all gets shifted around to coincide with a lunar calendar.
Passover is the 14th day of the first month (Nisan) which precedes the first full moon (the 15th) after the Vernal Equinox. There is no shifting..........
Where do you find this in scripture?
Notice that the word is "Punishment"......not "Punishing". Would eternal death.... caused by being thrown into a "Lake of Fire" be eternal punishment.....or eternal punishing?
Re: “So....exactly what is it that folks will be doing for eternity.....once they go to Hell? Just.....sit around...or what?”
As I said previously, I never said that Hell was eternal physical torture, but, that doesn’t mean that it for sure won’t be.
As I also mentioned in a prior post, I believe that the story of the rich man and Lazarus is a true account. The rich man was aware and fully conscious. He was in torment of some kind. He could see into Heaven or Paradise but couldn’t cross over into it. Nor, could anyone from Heaven come to him.
Now it is possible that the conversation between Abraham and the rich man was allegorical, but even in that, the point was the rich man wanted someone to warn his brothers to repent so that they wouldn’t come to where he was when they died. It apparently wasn’t nice - it wasn’t just annilalation where he just ceased to exist in death.
I believe this means that you will be consciously aware of your separation from God, from loved ones, possibly in torment of some kind - whether physical or mental/emotional or all of the above - consciously aware that you are eternally lost and forgotten by God and man, totally alone with your pain.
You and some others mentioned it yourself in several passages - that the punishment is “everlasting.” Now, you might try to say that simply means that your “death”, your annilalation or ceasing to exist is everlasting, but, it doesn’t exactly say that - it is the “punishment” that is everlasting. It seems redundant to say that your ceasing to exist, or your annilalation is everlasting. I guess you could say that means that you will never exist again, but that just doesn’t seem to be the point or the warning from Jesus as to why Hell is such a terrible place or thing to be avoided at all costs.
Jesus seemed pretty clear that Hell is not a place you want to go. Are you willing to gamble that His descriptions of it are merely symbolic of simple annilalation? I wouldn’t want to take that bet.
On the one hand, I hope your view is correct. But, as I said, I wouldn’t bet on it and I wouldn’t go around telling people that simple annilalation is a sure thing.
As I said previously, I never said that Hell was eternal physical torture, but, that doesn’t mean that it for sure won’t be.
Well.....what would be the point...then? Why doesn't an immediate death in the Lake of Fire make sense to you? Wouldn't that be "Eternal Separation from God"?
I believe this means that you will be consciously aware of your separation from God, from loved ones, possibly in torment of some kind - whether physical or mental/emotional or all of the above - consciously aware that you are eternally lost and forgotten by God and man, totally alone with your pain.
This isn't actually scripture. We are told the dead know nothing [Ecclesiastes 9:10] and we are told the Lake of Fire is the second death [Revelation 20:14]
As I also mentioned in a prior post, I believe that the story of the rich man and Lazarus is a true account. The rich man was aware and fully conscious. He was in torment of some kind. He could see into Heaven or Paradise but couldn’t cross over into it. Nor, could anyone from Heaven come to him
You better believe he was in torment. He could see the folks heading to the "Lake of Fire"....and he was in the same line.
Jesus seemed pretty clear that Hell is not a place you want to go. Are you willing to gamble that His descriptions of it are merely symbolic of simple annihilation? I wouldn’t want to take that bet
A merciful God would not torture (conscious separation for eternity would be torture) His children forever. A merciful God would end the suffering of His children by putting them out of their misery.....burning them up in a Lake of Fire.
No where in scripture does it say folks will burn forever in a Lake of Fire. Not only is this not scriptural....it is not physically possible.
As an aside....I knew kids who stole frequently (shoplifting candy bars and gum) from stores....knowing it was wrong to do so. I still know some of these folks and know them to not be Christian....and forgiven. I would say....there is a good likelihood they never will be!
Now.....these folks have sinned (8th commandment) and will probably never repent. Eternal separation for 32 quadrillion years is probably a little too much for gum and candy bars. Even a week or two (burning as some believe) would be unjust.....for gum and candy bars.
Don't you think God's method makes more sense? Repent of your sins and live? Or die in your sins in a Lake of Fire?
I hear "Three days" from many Christians. But it wasn't actually three whole days and nights, nor should it have been. "After three days I will rebuild the temple" in my mind is the same as "on the third day." Now, Lazarus was dead a full 72 hours..
I'm not sure if I understand correctly what you're saying here.....but Passover was the 14th [Leviticus 23:5] and you're correct.....the Last Supper was held on Passover night. This is the same day He was crucified (and died) about 18 hours later the next afternoon.....still the 14th. He was buried as the sun was going down and the Feast of Unleavened Bread then commenced on the 15th [Leviticus 23:6].
Why would the Holy Spirit inspire the words....3 days and 3 nights to be written if that wasn't the case [Matthew 12:40]?
The year of the crucifixion/resurrection was 30 A.D. and Passover fell on Nisan 14 (Tuesday night/Wednesday day) that particular year. The Sabbath of [John 19:31] was the High Sabbath of Unleavened (the 15th). The next day was a non Sabbath day (the 16th) and the women went out and purchased spices [Mark 15:42/16:1].
After preparing those spices they rested for another Sabbath....the weekly seventh day (the 17th) which began as the sun was going down on Friday [Luke 23:56].
I haven’t ever looked at that way at all. Some problems: was the rude into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday or the Sabbath? And your interesting and plausible take has him rising on the “fourth day”
You are also assuming AD 30 rather than 33—
There is no assumption. It can easily be shown by documented history.
Palm Sabbath....the 10th of Nisan, 30 A.D.
And your interesting and plausible take has him rising on the “fourth day”
It wasn't the 4th day. It was the third.
The trouble with documented history is that there are competing documents and good arguments on the other side. I doubt there would be a ride (really a procession or parade) into Jerusalem on a Sabbath, but it could have happened. The Passovers in both AD 30 and AD 33 are on Fridays. What can only be argued at this point is what makes more sense given the evidence, and there is more than one explanation that makes sense.
My reasons: Tiberius's fifteenth year of his reign was when John the Baptist's ministry started. That is AD 29? With your date of 30, Jesus's ministry would have only been one year long.
When the Sanhedrin went before Pilate, Passover was still to take place.
The only two times the Passover was on Friday was AD 30 and 33, so it must have been one of the two. Friday was the traditional day to prepare for the Sabbath, and the food was prepared on Good Friday for the Eucharist, forever.
I don't think these dates are of vital important to the Christian life, just a matter of interest and joy that there is so much evidence either way!
Well.....it's nice to know you think it's a possibility. Many folks seem to think the Jews were forbidden to do much of anything on the Sabbath..... except sit around and contemplate their bellybuttons. There is a strange rumor going around that they couldn't even start a fire (to warm their food or their lodgings) on the Sabbath...as well.
Have you ever been in the desert at night? Can you imagine small Israelite children not having the warmth of a fire in their crude huts on the Sabbath during the forty years in the Sinai? Silly!
The Passovers in both AD 30 and AD 33 are on Fridays. What can only be argued at this point is what makes more sense given the evidence, and there is more than one explanation that makes sense.
Nope. The Passover in 30 A.D. fell on Tuesday night/Wednesday day.
As you can see....Passover (the 14th) fell on Wednesday during 30 A.D. and it fell on Friday during 33 A.D.
Anyway......valid documented history will show 30 A.D. to be the year of the crucifixion/resurrection.
My reasons: Tiberius's fifteenth year of his reign was when John the Baptist's ministry started. That is AD 29? With your date of 30, Jesus's ministry would have only been one year long.
This has always been a stumbling point with many historians and is easily explained:
During the first Passover of His ministry the Jews stated that this temple had been 46 years in the building [John 2:20]. The first Passover would have been 27 A.D.
[Josephus, Antiquities, 15;11;1] says: And now Herod in his eighteenth year of his reign (18 in Jerusalem/ 21 from his coronation in Rome) undertook a very great work....to build of himself the Temple of God. The 18th year of Herod's reign was 20 B.C./19 B.C. which was the first year of the building of the temple. This means the 46th year [John 2:20] would have been 27 A.D.
Yeshua celebrated three Passovers in scripture [John 2:13; 6:4; 13:1] so it assumed that He had a three and one half year ministry....being born during the fall festivals and crucified on Passover. The year according to my reckoning would be 30 A.D. and as you can see the crucifixion on Nisan 14 (Passover Preparation) Wednesday [Leviticus 23:5] would then allow the time prophesied [Matthew 12:40] for a Sabbath morning resurrection on Nisan 17.
The three days and three nights of [Matthew 12:40] does not refer to the time He spent in the tomb...........it refers to the time He would spend in the "Heart of the Earth".
The time of the year was during the fall festivals (Tabernacles) for a host of reasons we won't bother with now. King Herod is the key to the entire mystery and his period of reign is easily confirmed by secular history. Yeshua was born during the days of King Herod [Matthew 2:1] and we also know it was near the time of Herod's death [Matthew 2:13-15].
Herod went to Rome during the winter "And thus did this man receive the Kingdom, having obtained it on the 184th Olympiad when Caius Domitus Calvinius was consul the second time and Caius Asinius Pollio (the first time)" [Josephus, Antiquities 14;14;5]
Olympiads were four years and were figured from July to July. The 184th Olympiad was July 44 B.C. to July 40 B.C. and Calvinius and Pollio were consuls in the year 714 AUC, which would have been 40 B.C. (AUC means from the founding of Rome) [Hand book of Biblical Chronology].
The calendar years for consuls were reckoned from January to January and when you combine this data with the July to July length of the Olympiads you can then figure out exactly when this occurred....within 6 months margin of error. In addition we are told that Herod's reign in Jerusalem began when the rigor of winter was over....in his third year since he had been made King at Rome [Josephus, Antiquities, 14;15;14].
But Herod was unable to take the city of Jerusalem until the summer when Marcus Agrippa and Cannanius Gallus were consuls of Rome, on the 185th Olympiad....in the third month on the solemnity of the fast [Josephus, Antiquities, 14:16;2-4]. The 185th Olympiad was from July 40 B.C. to July 36 B.C. and Agrippa and Gallus were consuls in the year 717 AUC.....the year 37 B.C. The "Fast" of the third month would have been Sivan 23 and Herod completed the conquest of the city in the summer of 37 B.C.
When you put all these facts together this is what emerges: Herod crowned in Rome January/March 40 B.C. and began reigning in Jerusalem a little over three and 1/3rd years later (37 B.C.). Herod died having reigned since he had put Antigonus to death....34 years, but 37 years since he had been declared King by the Romans [Josephus, Antiquities, 17;8;1]. Josephus also tells us that Antigonus was killed shortly after Herod took Jerusalem; [Josephus, Antiquities 14;16;4]. Herod began his reign in 40 B.C., reigned 37 years....so including the first year of his reign he would have died in 4 B.C.
Yeshua was born in 5 B.C. and began His ministry (30 years of age) [Luke 3:23] during the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius [Luke 3:1]. This is confusing to some as they do not consider the fact that Tiberius co-reigned with Augustus for two years. The key to this dispute is the Battle of Actium which took place during the 187th Olympiad in the seventh year of the reign of King Herod [Josephus, Antiquities 15;5;1-2]. This Olympiad would have been from July 32 B.C. to July 28 B.C. and Herod's 7th year was 31 B.C. to 30 B.C.
Augustus ruled 44 years from the victory at Actium ....the last two....jointly with Tiberius. Thus, the co-rulership began in 12 A.D. and the 15th year of Tiberius would have been 26/27 A.D.
There is much confusion on this point....mainly because the Jews began calling the Passover and the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread.....Passover. Thus, most modern day Jews will call the entire eight day affair.....Passover. It's not! They started this silliness after the return from the Babylonian exile (520 B.C.)....so you will even see the confusion in the Gospel accounts.
Here is what the word of Yahweh says:
[Leviticus 23:5-8]. 5In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover. 6And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. 7In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 8But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
Passover is the preparation day for the Feast (the 15th). After the Sanhedrin have handed your Savior over to Pilate....scripture still says it is the 14th (the preparation):
[John 19:13-14]13When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
Yeshua was arrested in the garden, tried before the Sanhedrin, taken to Pilate, then to Herod, and back to Pilate to be condemned.....and then crucified and died at 3:00 P.M. the 14th of Nisan 30 A.D. He was then interred in the tomb at sunset as the Feast of Unleavened Bread was beginning throughout the Jerusalem community.
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