Most
every people group and culture throughout the history of the world has stories
of a place of torment and sorrow at death.
This place was to be avoided as stories and legends warn the
readers. We call this place hell, yet
today in our modern world some have been trying to erase the notion of a bad
place after death. This movement, part
of the post modern Bible culture today, may be overly optimistic in doing away
with hell as we shall see. As with many
Hebrew and Greek words, there are several words used to speak of hell. There is Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, Tartarus, the
Deep, as well as different translated
English words for each, such as grave, pit, hell, place of fire, just to name a
few. There are also ideas such as the
chambers of the dead that we should look into.
What are these places and who is in them?
Jude
6-7 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own
habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the
judgment of the great day.7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about
them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after
strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal
fire.KJV
Physically,
Sodom and Gomorrah were still on fire, burning at the time Jude wrote this. The
Dead Sea area was still burning until sometime after 300 AD as historians have
written. If Sodom and Gomorrah are to be
an example, and the angels who fell are in chains in darkness awaiting the Day
of Judgment, what are we to learn from this? We are to understand that there is
a place of punishment and we should make every effort not to go there. But
here’s the catch, we can’t change anything once we die, we can only do
something to affect the outcome while we are alive.
In
the book 2 Ezra, we find some interesting concepts to study. 2 Ezra was left out of the Jewish canon but
included in the Vulgate. The reason is
clear after reading 2 Ezra as Israel is lamented as apostate and is spoken of as
the Israelites are scattered all over the world. We can see that the insight and concepts of 2
Ezra agree with the Bible, and it is worth a good look. Because earlier copies were destroyed, we now
only have this work in Latin. This
presents a small problem in researching words as we cannot go back to the
Hebrew or Aramaic for exactness. We can assume, as with Ezra’s other writings,
his words would be consistent, but we simply cannot trace them. Yet the concepts are consistent with the rest
of the Bible, and sometimes when we read something in a different way we can
understand the other usages better. The
context where we are picking up the story starts with Ezra fasting and having
visions, he is speaking with Uriel the archangel. In the book of Enoch, Uriel is the one sent to
speak to Noah about the flood. Uriel is also over the world and over Tartarus.
2
Esd 4:1-2 And the angel that was sent unto me, whose name was Uriel, gave me an
answer,2 And said, Thy heart hath gone to far in this world, and thinkest thou
to comprehend the way of the most High? KJV
Ezra
did want to comprehend the ways of the Most High, which is why he was praying
and fasting. Yet he says he wants to
understand daily life and what is going on with Israel.
2
Esd 4:22-30 Then answered I and said, I beseech thee, O Lord, let me have
understanding:23 For it was not my mind to be curious of the high things, but
of such as pass by us daily, namely, wherefore Israel is given up as a reproach
to the heathen, and for what cause the people whom thou hast loved is given
over unto ungodly nations, and why the law of our forefathers is brought to
nought, and the written covenants come to none effect,24 And we pass away out
of the world as grasshoppers, and our life is astonishment and fear, and we are
not worthy to obtain mercy.25 What will he then do unto his name whereby we are
called? of these things have I asked.
Ezra
asks a lot of questions, just as we might today. People seem to come and go like bugs, and it
seems like there is no mercy. Uriel’s first announcement is that the world has
to pass away first, because it is full of unrighteousness. Remember, we looked at those words last
week. The Millennial reign of Christ is
when all things will be restored. A bit
further in context, which we are not reading, Uriel points out that the times
and seasons are like Jacob and Esau.
This is Esau’s time, but the millennial years will be Jacob’s time, and
from scripture that is what we see, the apostles will reign over the 12 tribes,
on earth, while the redeemed will have new bodies and reign with Christ.
26
Then answered he me, and said, The more thou searchest, the more thou shalt
marvel; for the world hasteth fast to pass away,27 And cannot comprehend the
things that are promised to the righteous in time to come: for this world is
full of unrighteousness and infirmities.28 But as concerning the things whereof
thou askest me, I will tell thee; for the evil is sown, but the destruction
thereof is not yet come.29 If therefore that which is sown be not turned upside
down, and if the place where the evil is sown pass not away, then cannot it
come that is sown with good.30 For the grain of evil seed hath been sown in the
heart of Adam from the beginning, and how much ungodliness hath it brought up
unto this time? and how much shall it yet bring forth until the time of
threshing come? KJV
The
tribulation is the time of threshing, weeding out. The soil has to be overturned to get the evil
seed out that has been in the hearts of men since the time of Adam. Jesus told us of the wheat and tares; that
the enemy planted those bad seeds among the wheat. First, both the wheat and
tares are to grow together until harvest and then they are to separate the
tares and throw them into the fire.
Uriel points out how much wickedness there is.
2
Esd 4:31-43 Ponder now by thyself, how great fruit of wickedness the grain of
evil seed hath brought forth.32 And when the ears shall be cut down, which are
without number, how great a floor shall they fill?33 Then I answered and said,
How, and when shall these things come to pass? wherefore are our years few and
evil?34 And he answered me, saying, Do not thou hasten above the most Highest:
for thy haste is in vain to be above him, for thou hast much exceeded.35 Did
not the souls also of the righteous ask question of these things in their
chambers, saying, How long shall I hope on this fashion? when cometh the fruit
of the floor of our reward?
Ezra
is pointing out humans live a few years and that those years are filled with
evil. One can gather Ezra’s tone from
the next sentence as Uriel warns that it is vain to hate evil in the world more
than God and to try to figure out when all of this will end. When the righteous died and are in the
chambers of the grave, they ask the question “How long shall I hope for
redemption? When is the reward of our good fruit?”. Uriel is speaking to the redeemed in the grave
before Christ came and witnessed to the imprisoned spirits, and set the
captives free. Uriel says that there is
a number of seeds that has to be filled. Once the wheat and tares are harvested,
they are separated. The floor of the
good fruit is the wheat; the floor of the tares will be burned.
36
And unto these things Uriel the archangel gave them answer, and said, Even when
the number of seeds is filled in you: for he hath weighed the world in the
balance.37 By measure hath he measured the times; and by number hath he
numbered the times; and he doth not move nor stir them, until the said measure
be fulfilled.
Just
like we are living in the times of the Gentiles, and we have a number to
fulfill, (Romans 11) there was also a number to fulfill until their release
from Sheol.
38
Then answered I and said, O Lord that bearest rule, even we all are full of
impiety.39 And for our sakes peradventure it is that the floors of the
righteous are not filled, because of the sins of them that dwell upon the
earth.
The
one floor had the wheat, so to speak, and the other floor had the tares, and
Ezra’s concern is that the floors of the righteous, the wheat, will not be
filled to the number specified because there is so much evil on the earth. Uriel gives a great example, that of a
pregnant woman almost ready to deliver her child.
40
So he answered me, and said, Go thy way to a woman with child, and ask of her
when she hath fulfilled her nine months, if her womb may keep the birth any
longer within her.41 Then said I, No, Lord, that can she not. And he said unto
me, In the grave the chambers of souls are like the womb of a woman:42 For like
as a woman that travaileth maketh haste to escape the necessity of the travail:
even so do these places haste to deliver those things that are committed unto
them.43 From the beginning, look, what thou desirest to see, it shall be shewed
thee.
When
the baby is due, it is going to come, and a womb cannot hold on to the baby any
longer. The chambers of the souls are going to birth out the dead when the time
is come. We must keep this analogy in mind
as we will explore it again in the context of what happened when Jesus went
into the grave. Ezra then asks for more
understanding of things to come, but Uriel says that for some of the things to
come he doesn’t know everything. This is substantiated by Jesus as he said no
man or angel knows the day or the hour; there are some things the angels do not
know. Uriel then goes on to say
something we should pay attention to.
Speaking in the future of our time, he says a great number of believers,
those who have faith, will be taken off the earth.
2
Esd 5:1-13 Nevertheless as coming the tokens, behold, the days shall come, that
they which dwell upon earth shall be taken in a great number, and the way of
truth shall be hidden, and the land shall be barren of faith.2 But iniquity
shall be increased above that which now thou seest, or that thou hast heard
long ago.3 And the land, that thou seest now to have root, shalt thou see
wasted suddenly.
Ezra
was asking if he would see some of these things, as he understood the day of
the Lord, and the millennial reign was coming.
Uriel gave him some hints as to what precedes this and says to Ezra, if
he lives to see it, etc. The harpazo,
the gathering of the redeemed, means the way of truth will be hidden on earth.
There will be no faith on the earth when the believers are caught up.
4
But if the most High grant thee to live, thou shalt see after the third trumpet
that the sun shall suddenly shine again in the night, and the moon thrice in
the day:5 And blood shall drop out of wood, and the stone shall give his voice,
and the people shall be troubled:6 And even he shall rule, whom they look not
for that dwell upon the earth, and the fowls shall take their flight away
together:7 And the Sodomitish sea shall cast out fish, and make a noise in the
night, which many have not known: but they shall all hear the voice thereof.8
There shall be a confusion also in many places, and the fire shall be oft sent
out again, and the wild beasts shall change their places, and menstruous women
shall bring forth monsters:9 And salt waters shall be found in the sweet, and
all friends shall destroy one another; then shall wit hide itself, and
understanding withdraw itself into his secret chamber,10 And shall be sought of
many, and yet not be found: then shall unrighteousness and incontinency be
multiplied upon earth.
Remember
our study of the book of Revelation, the seven seals are opened first with the
redeemed in heaven watching, then the trumpets sound. The third trumpet and fourth trumpet are
cosmic signs; the second and third trumpets are also the waters and sea being
struck. By the seventh trumpet, Jesus is announced as King of kings and Lord of
lords and he gives out rewards to the redeemed.
Revelation is very logical and orderly if we get rid of our own
preconceived ideas and read what it says.
Verse
8 says menstruous women shall bring forth monsters. During the first half of the tribulation, the
wrath of the Lamb, women of child bearing age will bring forth what? This is one of those head scratchers. Monsters are known in the Bible as sea
monsters, such as whales and dolphins.
Women will not give birth to whales and dolphins. Women may give birth to bad or evil people,
but that is not the usage of monsters.
Yet if the word monsters is
biblically used for whales and dolphins, we cannot assume women will be
birthing sea mammals. Something may not
be translated correctly here, but we cannot tell exactly what is wrong. Today, one might assume monsters to be
Nephilim or genetically modified humans, but we cannot assume that from the
rest of the Bible. That idea would be great for sensationalism but it is not
borne out by the rest of the Bible. While women did cohabitate with fallen
angels, bearing the Nephilim in the days of Noah, we don’t have anything to
suggest that that will happen in the future. Therefore, women of child bearing
age may be giving birth to birth defected humans that seem as sea mammals,
which would be about the closest we can get to understand that verse. I would suggest babies that may be birthed
early or look embryonic at full term, with webbed hands, feet, and a long tail,
such as we all look like up to 52 days gestation. Through the first month and a half, all human
babies look like sea mammals. Possibly either early births or birth defects
will abound in the tribulation.
People
from different countries will ask each other if there is any righteousness that
can save men to righteousness in their country.
In other words, people will be asking “is there is any salvation in your
country, if so we’ll move there”. People
will be looking for hope but not finding any, because the righteous are all
gone from the land.
11
One land also shall ask another, and say, Is righteousness that maketh a man
righteous gone through thee? And it shall say, No.12 At the same time shall men
hope, but nothing obtain: they shall labour, but their ways shall not
prosper.13 To shew thee such tokens I have leave; and if thou wilt pray again,
and weep as now, and fast even days, thou shalt hear yet greater things.KJV
We
can see why people would want to eliminate the book of 2 Ezra from the canon. Albeit, God may have simply wanted 2 Ezra
saved for such a time as this, where knowledge is increasing, as per
Daniel.
Dan
12:4 But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the Book until the time of
the end. [Then] many shall run to and fro and search anxiously [through the
Book], and {THE} knowledge [of God's purposes as revealed by His prophets]
shall be increased and become great. [Amos 8:12.] AMP
Remember
the word for knowledge is daath but it is preceeded by ha, the, making the word hadaath, “the knowledge”. This may, likewise, be the case of the
visions and prophecies of Ezra, sealed up until the time of the end. But as we
saw Uriel explain, there would be a time like labor, when the dead come out of
the grave. The righteous dead came out
when Jesus went down to hell, and we will explore that shortly, but we should
look at the word for hell or grave, Sheol, to understand it better.
HELL—
derived from the Saxon helan, to cover; hence the covered or the invisible
place. In Scripture there are three words so rendered:
(1.)
Sheol, occurring in the Old Testament sixty-five times. This word sheol is
derived from a root-word meaning "to ask," "demand;" hence
insatiableness (Prov 30:15,16). It is rendered "grave" thirty-one
times (Gen 37:35; 42:38; 44:29,31; 1 Sam 2:6, etc.). The Revisers have retained
this rendering in the historical books with the original word in the margin,
while in the poetical books they have reversed this rule.
In
thirty-one cases in the Authorized Version this word is rendered
"hell," the place of disembodied spirits. The inhabitants of sheol
are "the congregation of the dead" (Prov 21:16). It is (a) the abode
of the wicked (Num 16:33; Job 24:19; Ps 9:17; 31:17, etc.); (b) of the good (Ps
16:10; 30:3; 49:15; 86:13, etc.). Sheol is described as deep (Job 11:8), dark
(10:21,22), with bars (17:16). The dead "go down" to it (Num
16:30,33; Ezek 31:15,16,17).
(2.)
The Greek word hades of the New Testament has the same scope of signification
as Sheol of the Old Testament. It is a prison (1 Peter 3:19), with gates and
bars and locks (Matt 16:18; Rev 1:18), and it is downward (Matt 11:23; Luke
10:15).
The
righteous and the wicked are separated. The blessed dead are in that part of
hades called paradise (Luke 23:43). They are also said to be in Abraham's bosom
(Luke 16:22).
(3.)
Gehenna, in most of its occurrences in the Greek New Testament, designates the
place of the lost (Matt 23:33). The fearful nature of their condition there is
described in various figurative expressions (Matt 8:12; 13:42; 22:13; 25:30;
Luke 16:24, etc.). (See HINNOM.)(from Easton's Bible Dictionary, PC Study Bible
formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. All rights
reserved.)
Let’s
first look at chambers, there are several usages for chambers, some regarding
the temple, some regarding the hiding place of the redeemed, some regarding the
king, and some regarding privy chambers or bathroom.
Chambers OT:2315 cheder (kheh'-der); from OT:2314; an
apartment (usually literal):KJV - ([bed] inner) chamber, innermost (-ward)
part, parlour, south, within.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ©
1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
As
Ezra used the phrase In the grave, the
chambers of souls are like the womb of a woman. The innermost part of the grave is like a
womb that has souls in it. First the
womb grows and stretches to fit the baby, and then it goes into false labor, to
strength itself for the day of labor.
Next the womb starts to squeeze and expel its contents, the baby, at the
proper time. According to Uriel, there
are chambers, multiple chambers, as compared to one chamber. This is what Job also says.
Job
9:8-9 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the
sea.9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the
south.KJV
Job
gives us a location for the chambers.
The word south literally means if one were facing east, south would be
at his right hand. And Job is comparing the chambers of the south to the
constellations Arcturus, meaning He
cometh; Orion, meaning light breaking
forth in the Redeemer; and Pleiades, meaning the congregation of the judge. Some people attempt to compare the
chambers of the south to water, however in the previous verse Job compares the
heavens with the seas, and then compares the constellations with the chambers
of the south. What is the first
comparison, sky and water, he spreads the heavens and treads on the water. The second comparison is higher than the
heavens, and lower than the seas, and it makes even more sense if we understand
the meaning of those constellations. In
Job’s day, if one said Arcturus, everyone would know and think the coming redeemer. Today we simply
think constellation. But then if we look at the three definitions,
we see Job was speaking of the redeemed in some of the chambers awaiting their
redemption. If we read it as such, our
understanding goes deeper: God makes the one who cometh and breaks forth as
light, the redeemer, and the congregation of the judge and the hidden places in
the south. That is deep, the one who
made the future also made the present.
In time line fashion, Jesus has already come, He caused quite a
commotion when he went into hell and took out the redeemed, bringing them into
paradise, and in Revelation 11, when he is announced as King of kings and Lord
of lords, he will then judge the redeemed congregation, giving rewards to all
the redeemed. Job later announces to his
friends:
Job
19:25 For I know that my Redeemer and Vindicator lives, and at last He [the
Last One] will stand upon the earth. [Isa 44:6; 48:12.] AMP
Job
lived before the Torah, remembering from Jasher, that Job was a contemporary of
Balaam and Pharaoh, who consulted on what to do about Moses when Moses was a
baby. Job is the oldest book of the Bible,
and here is insight as to Job’s thoughts on waiting for the redeemer. This is quite spectacular as the importance
of our redeemer and the redeemed are a prevailing theme in the Bible. And as we have seen, the redeemed are
watching the seals being opened, which means at that point the dead in Christ,
the redeemed dead, have to rise first, and those who are alive and remain, the
redeemed of earth, are caught up to
enter the door of heaven, Revelation 4.
If the redeemed were taken out of hell when Jesus went into hell, and
taken to paradise, wherever paradise is, it has to be below earth in another
chamber, otherwise the dead would not rise first so that we can meet them in
the air, if they were already above the earth.
I think this is an area where fables have skewed our thinking. Paradise is the place of those who believe on
Jesus, and it is below the earth as the dead rise first, then whoever is alive
is caught up with them. In order, just
as the book of Revelation has a logical order, the redeemed dead start to come
up first and the redeemed earthlings meet them in the air. The Bible does not say the dead in Christ are
in heaven, then go down to earth, then up to meet the Lord in the air,
therefore Paradise is below the earth, somewhere, in a chamber in the
south.
Solomon
has another idea relating hell, to the chambers of death. The context here in Proverbs is the harlot
who seduces the young and simple. The words going
down literally translate downward in motion.
Prov
7:27 Her house is the way to hell [7585], going down to the chambers [2315]of
death.KJV
This
seductress’ house could be a dungeon or prison, but it is a place on the way to
the grave that goes downward to the chambers of the dead. Let’s look at the
word Sheol.
Sheol OT:7585 she'owl (sheh-ole'); or sheol (sheh-ole');
from OT:7592; Hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat),
including its accessories and inmates:KJV - grave, hell, pit. (Biblesoft's New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
OT:7585
she'owl or sheol —sheol, the underworld, grave, Hades, pit a) the underworld b) Sheol, the Old Testament designation for
the abode of the dead 1) the place of no
return 2) without the praise of God 3) wicked people sent there for
punishment 4) the righteous not
abandoned to it 5) used of the place of
exile (figurative) 6) used of extreme
degradation in sin(from The Online Bible Thayer's Greek Lexicon and Brown
Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Copyright © 1993, Woodside Bible
Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed from the Institute for Creation
Research.)
Jacob
grieved Joseph and said he would go down into the grave to Joseph, mourning.
Gen
37:34-35 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and
mourned for his son many days.35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up
to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down
into the grave [7585] unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.KJV
The
song of Moses, which Israel heard, points out a lower hell. This means there must be levels in hell.
Deut
32:19-22 And when the Lord saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking
of his sons, and of his daughters.20 And he said, I will hide my face from
them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward
generation, children in whom is no faith.21 They have moved me to jealousy with
that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and
I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke
them to anger with a foolish nation.22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and
shall burn unto the lowest hell [7585], and shall consume the earth with her
increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.KJV
The
word lowest means the lowermost, or
depths and is plural. It can mean pit or
womb as well. So again we have
established the grave to be like a womb, chambers that are down as compared to up,
and hell to be one of those chambers compared to paradise. We have also
established that this is the place for the soul, not the body.
Ps
16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell [7585]; neither wilt thou suffer
thine Holy One to see corruption.KJV
David
writes about the hope of those who are faithful in the Lord, and the Lord is
set before us. Our flesh can rest in the hope that we will not be left in hell,
as this was before Christ came. As we remember
from 1 Corinthians, when the Lord comes for His church, the corruptible puts on
incorruption, the mortal puts on immortality. But let’s look at this closer, thine Holy
One, would be Jesus, he will not be left to corruption. When Jesus came
he did not stay in hell and he did not corrupt, remember his new resurrected
body?
Ps
49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall
receive me. Selah.KJV
Ps
86:13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from
the lowest hell.KJV
Somehow,
the grave has power to hold souls, souls simply can’t leave and wander around,
there are gates in hell. Again David
writes of levels of hell. Isaiah says hell is a place that grew to accommodate
more people.
Isa
5:12-16 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in
their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the
operation of his hands.13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because
they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their
multitude dried up with thirst.14 Therefore hell [7585]hath enlarged herself,
and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and
their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.15 And the mean man
shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the
lofty shall be humbled:16 But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment,
and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.KJV
Hell
is a place where those who were proud and mighty are humbled, as well as those
who enjoyed a good party on earth.
Isa
7:10-12Moreover the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying,11 Ask thee a sign of
the Lord thy God; ask it [7585]either in the depth, or in the height
above.12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord.KJV
The
words ask it are Sheol, which makes
this an awkward translation. The
Amplified Bible smoothes it out.
Isa
7:10-12 Moreover, the Lord spoke again to King Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask for
yourself a sign (a token or proof) of the Lord your God [one that will convince
you that God has spoken and will keep His word]; ask it either in the depth
below or in the height above [let it be as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven].
12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord. AMP
In
this next passage about Lucifer, we see there is conciseness in the grave. The souls get stirred up to meet Lucifer,
which will be during the millennial reign of Christ when satan is bound for one
thousand years. The kings of the earth will taunt Lucifer. They will make fun
of his weakness, being bound in the grave. Wanting to put his throne on the
sides of the north in the mount of the assembly as we have previously studied,
is where the mount of the congregation meets for regularly scheduled meetings
with Jehovah, as in Job. Satan wanted to
be a judge like the Most High, judging the sons of God, which was not his
job. For some reason, his pride made him
think he should be a judge over the sons of God. This is not the throne room,
the heavenly temple, or the sanctuary of God, which are the fiery stones. This place is the judgment place of the
assembly. Lucifer had sanctuaries; therefore he was not looking for religious
worship here but a court of judging. He wanted to be a judge and thought he
could do it better than Jehovah.
Isa
14:9-17 Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead) below is stirred up to meet you at
your coming [O tyrant Babylonian rulers]; it stirs up the shades of the dead to
greet you — even all the chief ones of the earth; it raises from their thrones
[in astonishment at your humbled condition] all the kings of the nations. 10
All of them will [tauntingly] say to you, Have you also become weak as we are?
Have you become like us? 11 Your pomp and magnificence are brought down to
Sheol (the underworld), along with the sound of your harps; the maggots [which
prey upon dead bodies] are spread out under you and worms cover you [O
Babylonian rulers]. 12 How have you fallen from heaven, O light-bringer and
daystar, son of the morning! How you have been cut down to the ground, you who
weakened and laid low the nations [O blasphemous, satanic king of Babylon!] 13
And you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God; I will sit upon the mount of assembly in the uttermost
north. 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself
like the Most High. 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol (Hades), to the
innermost recesses of the pit (the region of the dead). 16 Those who see you
will gaze at you and consider you, saying, Is this the man who made the earth
tremble, who shook kingdoms? — 17 Who
made the world like a wilderness and overthrew its cities, who would not permit
his prisoners to return home? AMP
This
passage goes onto say that Lucifer’s body won’t be buried in a sepulcher, but
his body (whatever type body he has) will be thrown into a pit or hole and
covered with rocks, and trampled over. Possibly like Azazael, the scapegoat, as
we studied previously. Azazael was the
fallen angel who taught humans how to make weapons. He was thrown in the desert and covered with
rocks, which is where the scapegoat was sent down the hill. Isaiah also says Lucifer destroyed his land
and killed his people, and his children will be slaughtered and will not be on
the earth any more.
For
some reason, even today, people try to make deals with hell. It seems silly to make deals with hell when
Jesus has the power over death and hell, but in desperation, people think they
can make deals with hell and God won’t know about it. People think that if they make a deal with
hell they will be protected from natural disasters, however that is not
possible.
Isa
28:15-18 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with
hell [7585] are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass
through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under
falsehood have we hid ourselves:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I
lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone,
a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.17 Judgment also will
I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep
away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.18 And
your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell [7585]shall
not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be
trodden down by it.KJV
There
is conciseness in the grave, and there are rulers of Sheol. It is possible that the ruler of the grave is
Beelzebub. Jesus makes a distinction
when speaking of Beelzebub from satan. Beelzebub, Jesus says, is the prince of
demons which is one of the places God sent the 90% of the disembodied spirits
of the Nephilim. The 10% were allowed to
roam the earth. I will close with the
next section, a few chapters from the Acts of Pontius Pilate. We see from
Matthew that when Jesus was crucified there was an earthquake and the graves
opened. People came out of the graves;
Charinus and Lenthius, sons of Simeon (Luke 2:25-ff) wrote what had happened
when the graves opened. People of that time period knew Simeon, and were at the
funerals of his sons, Charinus and Lenthius, so this account, recorded by
Pilate is interesting. It gives
understanding to the New Testament idea that Jesus went into hell. We will continue exploring hell and its
mysteries next week.
The Gospel of Nicodemus,
formerly called the Acts of Pontius Pilate
CHAP. XIII.
1 The narrative
of Charinus and Lenthius commences. 3 A great light in
hell. 7 Simeon arrives, and announces the coming of Christ.
O LORD Jesus and Father, who art God, also the resurrection and life of the
dead, give us leave to declare thy mysteries, which we saw after death,
belonging to thy cross; for we are sworn by thy name.2 For thou hast forbid thy
servants to declare the secret things, which were wrought by thy divine power
in hell.3 ¶ When we were placed with our fathers in the depth of hell, in the
blackness of darkness, on a sudden there appeared the colour of the sun like
gold, and a substantial purple-coloured light enlightening the place.4
Presently upon this, Adam, the father of all mankind, with all the patriarchs
and prophets, rejoiced and said, That light is the author of everlasting light,
who hath promised to translate us to everlasting light.5 Then Isaiah the
prophet cried out, and said, This is the light
of the Father, and the Son of God, according to my prophecy, when I was alive
upon earth.6 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim beyond Jordan, a
people who walked in darkness, saw a great light; and to them who dwelled in
the region of the shadow of death, light is arisen. And now he is come, and hath enlightened us who sat in death.7 And
while we were all rejoicing in the light which shone upon us, our father Simeon
came among us, and congratulating all the company, said, Glorify the Lord Jesus
Christ the Son of God.8 Whom I took up in my arms when an infant in the temple,
and being moved by the Holy Ghost, said to him, and acknowledged, That now mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast
prepared before the face of all people, a light to enlighten the Gentiles and
the glory of thy people Israel.9 All the saints who were in the depth of hell,
hearing this, rejoiced the more.10 Afterwards there came forth one like a
little hermit, and was asked by every one, Who art thou?11 To which he replied,
I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, John the Baptist, and the
prophet of the Most High, who went before his coming to prepare his way, to
give the knowledge of salvation to his people for the forgiveness of sins.12
And I John, when I saw Jesus coming to me, being moved by the Holy Ghost, I
said, Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the
world.13 And I baptized him in the river Jordan, and saw the Holy Ghost
descending upon him in the form of a dove, and heard a voice from heaven,
saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.14 And now while I
was going before him, I came down hither to acquaint you, that the Son of God
will next visit us, and, as the day-spring from on high, will come to us, who
are in darkness and the shadow of death.
CHAP. XIV.
1 Adam causes Seth to relate what he heard from Michael the archangel,
when he sent him to Paradise to entreat God to anoint his head in his sickness.
BUT when the first man our father Adam heard these things, that Jesus was
baptized in Jordan, he called out to his son, Seth, and said,2 Declare to
your sons, the patriarchs and prophets, all those things, which thou didst hear
from Michael, the archangel, when I sent thee to the gates of Paradise, to
entreat God that he would anoint my head when I was sick.3 Then Seth, coming
near to the patriarchs and prophets, said, I Seth, when I was praying to God at
the gates of Paradise, beheld the angel of the Lord, Michael appear unto me
saying, I am sent unto thee from the Lord; I am appointed to preside over human
bodies.4 I tell thee Seth, do not pray to God in tears, and entreat him for the
oil of the tree of mercy wherewith to anoint thy father Adam for his
head-ache;5 Because thou canst not by any means obtain it till the last day and
times, namely, till five thousand and five hundred years be past.6 Then will
Christ, the most merciful Son of God, come on earth to raise again the human
body of Adam, and at the same time to raise the bodies of the dead, and when he
cometh he will be baptized in Jordan:7 Then with the oil of his mercy he will
anoint all those who believe on him; and the oil of his mercy will continue to
future generations, for those who shall be born of the water and the Holy Ghost
unto eternal life.8 And when at that time the most merciful Son of God, Christ
Jesus, shall come down on earth, he will introduce our father Adam into
Paradise, to the tree of mercy.9 When all the patriarchs and prophets heard all
these things from Seth, they rejoiced more.
CHAP. XV.
1 Quarrel
between Satan and the prince of hell concerning the expected arrival of Christ
in hell. WHILE all the saints were rejoicing, behold Satan, the prince and
captain of death, said to the prince of hell, 2
Prepare to receive Jesus of Nazareth himself, who boasted that he was the Son
of God, and yet was a man afraid of death, and said, My
soul is sorrowful even to death.3 Besides he did many injuries to me and to
many others; for those whom I made blind and lame and those also whom I
tormented with several devils, he cured by his word; yea, and those whom I
brought dead to thee, he by force takes away from thee.4 To this the prince of
hell replied to Satan, Who is that so-powerful prince, and yet a man who is
afraid of death?5 For all the potentates of the earth are subject to my power,
whom thou broughtest to subjection by thy power.6 But if be be so powerful in
his human nature, I affirm to thee for truth, that he is almighty in his divine
nature, and no man can resist his power.7 When therefore he said be was afraid
of death, he designed to ensnare thee, and unhappy it will be to thee for
everlasting ages.8 Then Satan replying, said to the prince of hell, Why didst
thou express a doubt, and wast afraid to receive that Jesus of Nazareth, both
thy adversary and mine?9 As for me, I tempted him and stirred up my old people
the Jews with zeal and anger against him?10 I sharpened the spear for his
suffering; I mixed the gall and vinegar, and commanded that he should drink it;
I prepared the cross to crucify him, and the nails to pierce through his hands
and feet; and now his death is near at hand, I will bring him hither, subject
both to thee and me.11 Then the prince of hell answering, said, Thou saidst to
me just now, that he took away the dead from me by force.12 They who have been
kept here till they should live again upon earth, were taken away hence, not by
their own power, but by prayers made to God, and their almighty God took them
from me.13 Who then is that Jesus of Nazareth that by his word hath taken away
the dead from me without prayer to God?14 Perhaps it is the same who took away
from me Lazarus, after he had been four days dead, and did both stink and was
rotten, and of whom I had possession as a dead person, yet he brought him to
life again by his power.15 Satan answering, replied to the prince of hell, It
is the very same person, Jesus of Nazareth.16 Which when the prince of hell
heard, he said to him, I adjure thee by the powers which belong to thee and me,
that thou bring him not to me.17 For when I heard of the power of his word, I
trembled for fear, and all my impious company were at the same time
disturbed;18 And we were not able to detain Lazarus, but
he gave himself a shake, and with all the signs of malice, he immediately went
away from us; and the very earth, in which the dead body of Lazarus was lodged,
presently turned him out alive.19 And I know now that he is Almighty God who
could perform such things, who is mighty in his dominion, and mighty in his
human nature, who is the Saviour of mankind.20 Bring not therefore this person
hither, for he will set at liberty all those whom I hold in prison under
unbelief, and bound with the fetters of their sins, and will conduct them to
everlasting life.
CHAP. XVI.
1 Christ's
arrival at hell-gates; the confusion thereupon. 10 He descends
into hell. AND while Satan and the prince of hell were discoursing thus to
each other, on a sudden there was a voice as of thunder and the rushing of
winds, saying, Lift up your gates, O ye
princes; and be ye lift up, O everlasting gates, and the King of Glory shall
come in.2 When the prince of hell heard this, he said to Satan, Depart from me,
and begone out of my habitations; if thou art a powerful warrior, fight with
the King of Glory. But what hast thou to do with him?3 And he cast him forth
from his habitations.4 And the prince said to his impious officers, Shut the
brass gates of cruelty, and make them fast with iron bars, and fight
courageously, lest we be taken captives.5 But when all the company of the
saints heard this they spake with a loud voice of anger to the prince of hell:6
Open thy gates that the King of Glory may come in.7 And the divine prophet
David, cried out saying, Did not I when on
earth truly prophesy and say, O that men would praise the Lord for his
goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.8 For he hath
broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. He hath taken
them because of their iniquity, and because of their unrighteousness they are
afflicted.9 After this another prophet, namely,
holy Isaiah, spake in like manner to all the saints, did not rightly prophesy
to you when I was alive on earth?10 The dead men shall live, and they shall
rise again who are in their graves, and they shall rejoice who are in earth;
for the dew which is from the Lord shall bring deliverance to them.11 And I
said in another place, O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy
sting?12 When all the saints heard these things spoken by Isaiah, they said to
the prince of hell, Open now thy gates, and take
away thine iron bars; for thou wilt now be bound, and have no power.13 Then
there was a great voice, as of the sound of thunder saying, Lift up your gates,
O princes; and be ye lifted up, ye gates of hell, and the King of Glory will
enter in.14 The prince of hell perceiving the same voice repeated, cried out as
though he had been ignorant, Who is that King of Glory?15 David replied to the
prince of hell, and said, I understand the words of that voice, because I spake
them by his spirit. And now, as I have above said, I say unto thee, the Lord
strong and powerful, the Lord mighty in battle: he is the King of Glory, and he
is the Lord in heaven and in earth;16 He hath looked down to hear the groans of
the prisoners, and to set loose those that are appointed to death. 17 And now, thou filthy and stinking prince of hell, open thy
gates, that the King of Glory may enter in; for he is the Lord of heaven and
earth.18 While David was saying this, the mighty Lord appeared in the form of a
man, and enlightened those places which had ever before been in darkness,19 And
broke asunder the fetters which before could not be broken; and with his
invincible power visited those who sat in the deep darkness by iniquity, and
the shadow of death by sin.
CHAP. XVII.
1 Death and the
devils in great horror at Christ's coming. 13 He tramples on
death, seizes the prince of hell, and takes Adam with him to heaven. IMPIOUS
Death and her cruel officers hearing these things, were seized with fear in
their several kingdoms, when they saw the clearness of the light,2 And Christ
himself on a sudden appearing in their habitations; they cried out therefore,
and said, We are bound by thee; thou seemest to intend our confusion before the
Lord.3 Who art thou, who hast no sign of corruption, but that bright appearance
which is a full proof of thy greatness, of which yet thou seemest to take no
notice?4 Who art thou, so powerful and so weak, so great and so little, a mean
and yet a soldier of the first rank, who can command in the form of a servant
as a common soldier?5 The King of Glory, dead and alive, though once slain upon
the cross?6 Who layest dead in the grave, and art come down alive to us, and in
thy death all the creatures trembled, and all the stars were moved, and now
hast thou thy liberty among the dead, and givest disturbance to our legions?7
Who art thou, who dost release the captives that were held in chains by
original sin, and bringest them into their former liberty8 Who art thou, who
dost spread so glorious and divine a light over those who were made blind by
the darkness of sin?9 In like manner all the legions of devils were seized with
the like horror, and with the most submissive fear cried out, and said,10
Whence comes it, O thou Jesus Christ, that thou art a man so powerful and
glorious in majesty, so bright as to have no spot, and so pure as to have no
crime? For that lower world of earth, which was ever till now subject to us,
and from whence we received tribute, never sent us such a dead man before,
never sent such presents as these to the princes of hell.11 Who therefore art
thou, who with such courage enterest among our abodes, and art not only not
afraid to threaten us with the greatest punishments, but also endeavourest to
rescue all others from the chains in which we hold them?12 Perhaps thou art
that Jesus, of whom Satan just now spoke to our prince, that by the death of
the cross thou wert about to receive the power of death.13 Then the King of
Glory trampling upon death, seized the prince of hell, deprived him of all his
power, and took our earthly father Adam with him to his glory.
CHAP. XVIII.
1 Beelzebub,
prince of hell, vehemently upbraids Satan for persecuting Christ and bringing
him to hell. 4. Christ gives Beelzebub dominion over Satan for
ever, as a recompense for taking away Adam and his sons. THEN the prince of
hell took Satan, and with great indication said to him, O thou prince of
destruction, author of Beelzebub's defeat and banishment, the scorn of God's
angels and loathed by all righteous persons! What inclined thee to act thus?2
Thou wouldst crucify the King of Glory, and by his destruction, hast made us
promises of very large advantages, but as a fool wert ignorant of what thou
wast about.3 For behold now that Jesus of Nazareth, with the brightness of his
glorious divinity, puts to flight all the horrid powers of darkness and death;4
He has broke down our prisons from top to bottom, dismissed all the captives,
released all who were bound, and all who were wont formerly to groan under the
weight of their torments have now insulted us, and we are like to be defeated
by their prayers.5 Our impious dominions are subdued, and no part of mankind is
now left in our subjection, but on the other hand, they all boldly defy us;6
Though, before, the dead never durst behave themselves insolently towards us,
nor, being prisoners, could ever on any occasion be merry.7 ¶ O Satan, thou
prince of all the wicked, father of the impious and abandoned, why wouldest
thou attempt this exploit, seeing our prisoners were hitherto always without
the least hopes of salvation and life?8 But now there is not one of them does
ever groan, nor is there the least appearance of a tear in any of their faces.9
O prince Satan, thou great keeper of the infernal regions, all thy advantages
which thou didst acquire by the forbidden tree, and the loss of Paradise, thou
hast now lost by the wood of the cross;10 And thy happiness all then expired,
when thou didst crucify Jesus Christ the King of Glory.11 Thou hast acted
against thine own interest and mine, as thou wilt presently perceive by those
large torments and infinite punishments which thou art about to suffer.12 O
Satan, prince of all evil, author of death, and source of all pride, thou
shouldest first have inquired into the evil crimes of Jesus of Nazareth, and
then thou wouldest have found that he was guilty of no fault worthy of death.13
Why didst thou venture, without either reason or justice, to crucify him, and
hast brought down to our regions a person innocent and righteous, and thereby
hast lost all the sinners, impious and unrighteous persons in the whole
world?14 While the prince of hell was thus speaking to Satan, the King of Glory
said to Beelzebub, the prince of hell, Satan, the prince shall be subject to
thy dominion for ever, in the room of Adam and his righteous sons, who are
mine.
CHAP. XIX.
1 Christ takes
Adam by the hand, the rest of the saints join hands, and they all ascend with
him to Paradise. THEN Jesus stretched forth his hand, and said, Come to me,
all ye my saints, who were created in my image, who were condemned by the tree
of forbidden fruit, and by the devil and death;2 Live now by the wood of my
cross; the devil, the prince of this world, is overcome, and death is
conquered.3 Then presently all the saints were joined together under the hand
of the most high God; and the Lord Jesus laid hold on Adam's hand and said to
him, Peace be to thee, and all thy righteous posterity, which is mine.4 Then
Adam, casting himself at the feet of Jesus, addressed himself to him, with
tears, in humble language, and a loud voice, saying, 5
I will extol thee, O Lord, for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my
foes to rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed
me.6 O Lord thou hast brought up my soul from the grave; thou hast kept me
alive, that I should not go down to the pit.7 Sing unto the Lord, all ye saints
of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his anger
endureth but for a moment; in his favour is life.8 In like manner all the
saints, prostrate at the feet of Jesus, said with one voice, Thou art come, O
Redeemer of the world, and hast actually accomplished all things, which thou
didst foretell by the law and thy holy prophets.9 Thou hast redeemed the living
by thy cross, and art come down to us, that by the death of the cross thou
mightest deliver us from hell, and by thy power from death.10 O, Lord, as thou
hast put the ensigns of thy glory in heaven, and hast set up the sign of thy
redemption, even thy cross on earth! so, Lord, set the sign of the victory of
thy cross in hell, that death may have dominion no longer.11 Then the Lord
stretching forth his hand, made the sign of the cross upon Adam, and upon all
his saints.12 And taking hold of Adam by his right hand, he ascended from hell,
and all the saints of God followed him.13 Then the royal prophet David boldly
cried, and said, O sing unto the Lord a new
song, for he hath done marvellous things; his right hand and his holy arm have
gotten him the victory.14 The Lord hath made known his salvation, his
righteousness hath he openly shewn in the sight of the heathen.15 And the whole
multitude of saints answered, saying, This
honour have all his saints, Amen, Praise ye the Lord.16 Afterwards, the prophet
Habakkuk cried out, and said, Thou wentest
forth for the salvation of thy people, even for the salvation of thy people.17
And all the saints said, Blessed is he who
cometh in the name of the Lord; for the Lord hath enlightened us. This is our
God for ever and ever; he shall reign over us to everlasting ages, Amen.18 In
like manner all the prophets spake the sacred things of his praise, and
followed the Lord.
CHAP. XX.
1 Christ
delivers Adam to Michael the archangel. 3. They meet Enoch and
Elijah in heaven, 5 and also the blessed thief, who relates
how he cares to Paradise. THEN the Lord holding Adam by the hand, delivered
him to Michael the archangel; and he led them into Paradise, filled with mercy
and glory;2 And two very ancient men met them, and were asked by the saints,
Who are ye, who have not yet been with us in hell, and have had your bodies
placed in Paradise?3 One of them answering, said, I am Enoch, who was
translated by the word of God: and this man who
is with me, is Elijah the Tishbite, who was translated in a fiery chariot. 4 Here we have hitherto been, and have not tasted death, but
are now about to return at the coming of Antichrist, being armed with divine
signs and miracles, to engage with him in battle, and to be slain by him at
Jerusalem, and to be taken up alive again into the clouds, after three days and
a half. 5 ¶ And while the holy Enoch and Elias were
relating this, behold there came another man in a miserable figure carrying the
sign of the cross upon his shoulders.6 And when all the saints saw him, they
said to him, Who art thou? For thy countenance is like a thief's; and why dost
thou carry a cross upon thy shoulders?7 To which he answering, said, Ye say
right, for I was a thief who committed all sorts of wickedness upon earth.8 And
the Jews crucified me with Jesus; and I observed the surprising things which
happened in the creation at the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus.9 And I believed
him to be the Creator of all things, and the Almighty King; and I prayed to
him, saying, Lord, remember me, when thou comest into thy kingdom.10 He
presently regarded my supplication, and said to me, Verily I say unto thee,
this day thou shalt be with me in Paradise. 11 And
he gave me this sign of the cross saying, Carry this, and go to Paradise; and
if the angel who is the guard of Paradise will not admit thee, shew him the
sign of the cross, and say unto him: Jesus Christ who is now crucified, hath
sent me hither to thee.12 When I did this, and told the angel who is the guard
of Paradise all these things, and he heard them, he presently opened the gates,
introduced me, and placed me on the right-hand in Paradise,13 Saying, Stay here
a little time, till Adam, the father of all mankind, shall enter in, with all
his sons, who are the holy and righteous servants of Jesus Christ, who was
crucified.14 When they heard all this account from the thief, all the
patriarchs said with one voice, Blessed be thou, O Almighty God, the Father of
everlasting goodness, and the Father of mercies, who hast shewn such favour to those
who were sinners against him, and hast brought them to the mercy of Paradise,
and hast placed them amidst thy large and spiritual provisions, in a spiritual
and holy life. Amen.
CHAP. XXI.
1 Charinus and
Lenthius being only allowed three days to remain on earth, 7 deliver
in their narratives, which miraculously correspond; they vanish, 13 and
Pilate records these transactions. THESE are the divine and sacred
mysteries which we saw and heard. I, Charinus and Lenthius are not allowed to
declare the other mysteries of God, as the archangel Michael ordered us,2
Saying, ye shall go with my brethren to Jerusalem, and shall continue in
prayers, declaring and glorifying the resurrection of Jesus Christ, seeing he
hath raised you from the dead at the same time with himself.3 And ye shall not
talk with any man, but sit as dumb persons till the time come when the Lord
will allow you to relate the mysteries of his divinity.4 The archangel Michael
farther commanded us to go beyond Jordan, to an excellent and fat country,
where there are many who rose from the dead along with us for the proof of the
resurrection of Christ.5 For we have only three days allowed us from the dead,
who arose to celebrate the passover of our Lord with our parents, and to bear
our testimony for Christ the Lord, and we have been baptized in the holy river
of Jordan. And now they are not seen by any one.6 This is as much as God
allowed us to relate to you; give ye therefore praise and honour to him, and
repent, and he will have mercy upon you. Peace be to you from the Lord God
Jesus Christ, and the Saviour of us all. Amen, Amen,
Amen.7 And after they had made an end of writing and had wrote in two distinct
pieces of paper, Charinus gave what he wrote into the hands of Annas, and
Caiaphas, and Gamaliel.8 Lenthius likewise gave what he wrote into the hands of
Nicodemus and Joseph; and immediately they were changed into exceeding white
forms and were seen no more.9 But what they had wrote was found perfectly to agree,
the one not containing one letter more or less than the other.10 When all the
assembly of the Jews heard all these surprising relations of Charinus and
Lenthius, they said to each other, Truly all these things were wrought by God,
and blessed be the Lord Jesus for ever and ever, Amen.11 And they went about
with great concern, and fear, and trembling, and smote upon their breasts and
went away every one to his home.12 But immediately all these things which were
related by the Jews in their synagogues concerning Jesus, were presently told
by Joseph and Nicodemus to the governor.13 And Pilate wrote down all these
transactions, and placed all these accounts in the public records of his hall.
