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).
Ephesians 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.
Ephesians 4:
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
“On the third day”…two nights. Three days and nights?
bump
Sheol means “grave” or pit. You mean what? “TARTAROO” Which was the living hell only for devils and Satan with his fallen angels? That is where Jesus went. Men don’t go there at all. They go to oblivion in the grave.
““On the third day”…two nights. Three days and nights?”
Was this a week of two Sabbaths, the first on Thursday? Thursday night, Friday, Friday night, Saturday, Saturday night, Sunday...rising the third day, the first day of the week.
First, when God created the heavens and the earth, He states that the evening and the morning were the first day, etc. beginning in Genesis 1:
The Creation of Light
Genesis 1
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
When we remember a day we often also mean a 24 hour period of night and day, and so it is. Even a partial day is considered a day in the life though the rememberance of an activity may be but a part of the day.
In Jewish culture any part of a day is a full day ...
1Corinthians 15: teaches us;(23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.)
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
The body dies and is buried, the spirit of a man goes to hell or to heaven as the Scriptures teach, there to await their part in the judgement day of God by Christ Jesus in the first or second resurrection of the dead. All are raised to one or the other. (27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:)
Hebrews 9:
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Amen. Thank the Lord Jesus for His sinless blood offering on the cross and for being the first to rise from the dead to everlasting life for us who follow after by grace through faith in His finished work of Calvary.
So I guess...since we already apparently have eternal life in the spirit....that Jesus was mistaken when this was said:
Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
Joh 3:15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
The choice is between perishing...which mean to be utterly destroyed...OR to have eternal life. Eternal life is ONLY possible through Jesus.
Yet under the theory you're espousing we ALREADY have eternal life (or at least a type of eternal lie) WITHOUT Jesus. We have eternal life in heaven or hell. But eternal life, in any form, is ONLY for believers.
Re: “The choice is between perishing...which mean to be utterly destroyed...OR to have eternal life. Eternal life is ONLY possible through Jesus.”
The spirit of man will live in eternity - either in Heaven or in Hell. Jesus says in Matthew 25:
“41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
46 “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Revelation 20:10 - “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where[a] the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Then in the same chapter a few verses later in vs 15:
“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Recall Jesus’ story of Lazrus and the rich man. The rich man was conscious after death and was experiencing conscious torment.
If “perish” merely means one will simply die if one rejects God’s salvation in Christ, I dare say that’s not much a compelling reason to flee a life of debauchery and sin. Nor does it explain the terrible torment and death that Jesus endured to accomplish our salvation.
Yes, if one dies without Christ, that one will be judged and “perish” (i.e.die, according to your view). They don’t get to experience eternal life with Christ, but from a pagan’s point of view they might say - “So what? I didn’t want God to begin with. Merely ceasing to exist is not a bad trade off for a life of doing what I want.” How is that justice? People could conceivably get away with committing the most heinous crimes and only simply die?
I understand that there can be room for variant meanings and interpretations, but I think the opposite of eternal life in Christ is eternal conscious separation from God in Hell (whatever that Hell may consist of, it won’t be good).
In Revelation the two men, the beast and the false prophet are thrown alive into the lake of fire where Satan, death, and Hades, joins them. ch 19-20 Then those whose names are not written in the book of life are thrown in, too.
How can Hades be a place thrown into the lake of fire? If death is an angel of death, is Hades an angel, too? I’ll do some research.
20:14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
As always, the Devil is in the Details.
I had read that was the case. The first night of Passover was considered a sabbath.
Not sure of the calendar back then. Of course it all gets shifted around to coincide with a lunar calendar.
Just a thought as we share with Passover again.
Not to belabor this point but it is important. What Jesus taught about the afterlife MUST match with the only scriptures he knew...the books of the old testament. So when Jesus said:
Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
Joh 3:15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
He meant it. Perish, in the greek, apollumi, means "to destroy, to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to, ruin, render useless, to kill, to declare that one must be put to death."
The only way it does not mean this is to change the meaning and turn it into a metaphor.
This though matches up with other scripture...such the book of malachi:
Mal 4:1 "For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the LORD of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch.
Mal 4:2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
Mal 4:3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this," Says the LORD of hosts.
Sounds a lot like being totally destroyed in the lake of fire.
And again ETERNAL LIFE is only through Christ. We are MORTAL without Christ. That means it's impossible for us be immortal in any way, shape or form. Otherwise it makes the death of Christ irrelevant.
Also consider this...only the most sickest of us would for one moment think that torturing someone for an extended amount of time is MORE merciful then a quick death. Yet we would believe that about God? Thank God scripture doesn't agree. For example:
2Co 1:9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,
2Co 1:10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,
Paul very clearly says we have death sentence...NOT a torture sentence.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY."
Paul knew he was mortal and that his end was death.
1Co 15:55 "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? O HADES, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?"
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The victory over death.
Jesus again:
Joh 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
Not passed from threat of torture. But from death to life. Eternal life is a reward for believers.
Joh 8:51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death."
Rom 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Now these are by no means the entirety of verses that support the argument i'm making. And it's certain I can show many more scriptures that plainly and clearly show that there are two alternatives in the afterlife: death for sinners and eternal life for believers in Christ. With that in mind the examples you gave can easily be put into the same context...which I will do if you wish. But this is pretty long already.
There's a valid alternative explanation that reconciles what Jesus said about how long he would be in the grave:
Mat 12:39 But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
Mat 12:40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Jesus said "three days and three nights." And he used the timespan of Jonah in the fish to compare.
Now ask this question: How long did the people Christ was talking to think that Jonah was in the fish? Why would Christ say "three days AND three nights" unless they knew exactly how long Jonah was in the fish. They knew how long because scripture told them:
Jon 1:17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
So three days AND three nights. Most who believe in a Friday death and Sunday resurrection will say that this is a "Jewish" saying that could mean any part of a day or night. Yet even using this there is no way to get three days and three nights. And if that were true then there would have been uncertainty about how long Jonah was in the fish. So when Jesus said like Jonah, three days and three nights, if they weren't certain of the exact number of days and nights they would have said "What do you mean? Nobody really knows how long Jonah was in the grave. Three days and three nights is just a jewish saying."
But what if it literally WAS three days and three nights? Three full days and three full nights? There is a way to make this work which involves the first day of unleavened bread (or what modern jews call the start of passover) starting on Wednesday night the year of the death of Christ.
BM
I never said the scriptures teach eternal torture - they teach conscious, eternal separation from God in Hell. Jesus clearly taught that it is better to enter “life” (Heaven) with one eye or one hand than to enter Hell. Hell is a place. I don’t know exactly what Hell is except from some descriptions/metaphors - but, I do it is not somewhere I want to go. Jesus took our punishment so that we wouldn’t have to.
I guess we are just ogling to disagree.
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