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Monday, February 25, 2013

The Mysteries of Hell


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.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Righteousness and Justification; Discerning Good and Evil



“You Sit on a Throne of Lies” said Buddy the Elf to the imposter Santa. That line from the movie “Elf” makes me laugh.  This should be our accusation to the devil.  The devil sits on a throne of lies; and yet we hardly ever talk about him or accuse him in the Church.  It’s almost as if we think if we forget about him he will forget about us.  Or maybe we are superstitious and think if we speak about him we’ll come under attack bringing evil spirits into our lives.  Actually we may have completely talked ourselves out of this enemy in the church and by doing so the world then blames God the Creator for all bad things.  What a clever plan. Then the devil can do whatever he wants without being stopped by us.

The mature believers exercise themselves in the knowledge of good and evil, they understand the difference and live a godly life.  Righteousness makes it available to live godly in Christ on earth.  The Bible seems to contrast between righteousness and evil.  If we fail to point out evil, the devil can go unnoticed in the lives of others. Jesus’ death brought the ability for us to live righteous and justified; we couldn’t have done it on our own.  After we receive Him as Lord, we are then encouraged by the Holy Spirit to live better than we were. Let’s look at some ideas about righteousness and sin.

1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.KJV

People are to resist sin and the devil so that we are not taken captive.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.KJV
2 Tim 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.KJV
Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.KJV
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.KJV

Soon satan will be bruised under our feet, but for now we are not to be ignorant.

Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.KJV
2 Cor 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.KJV
2 Cor 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.KJV
2 Cor 11:3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.KJV

Let’s keep that last phrase in mind, “your minds corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ”, as we will come back to that concept.  Jesus will destroy satan, and those who choose to work with satan, rather than change kingdoms to Jesus’ kingdom.  This is why we should be pointing fingers at the devil when disasters happen, or when men inspired by evil, commit terrorist acts.  Pointing a finger publicly at the devil may cause some to scoff, but really those who hear the truth may then investigate salvation.

2 Thes 2:8-10 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness[93] in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.KJV

Since the devil inspires people to do things that are unrighteous, we should explore what that is.

NT:93 adikia (ad-ee-kee'-ah); from NT:94; (legal) injustice (properly, the quality, by implication, the act); morally, wrongfulness (of character, life or act):KJV - iniquity, unjust, unrighteousness, wrong.(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.)
NT:94 adikos (ad'-ee-kos); from NT:1 (as a negative particle) and NT:1349; unjust; by extension wicked; by implication, treacherous; specially, heathen:KJV - unjust, unrighteous.(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.)

2 Thess 2:10-12 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness[93] in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness[93].KJV

Sometimes people choose to enjoy unrighteousness, they then are given over to it, and no matter how much truth they hear, they are under the delusion that they should be “allowed” to continue in their unrighteous ways.  These people in turn start a campaign to recruit others to their way of thinking.  The Christians should be praying and binding the move of the enemy and the evil being promoted. The leaders of evil won’t be able to hear the truth because they are under strong delusion, but by warring prayer, they won’t be able to sway more people to their unrighteousness. 

2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust [94]unto the day of judgment to be punished: KJV

If you are tempted by an evil campaign, spurred on by deluded people, take hope in Christ who overcame the evil one

1 Cor 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous [94]shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.KJV

This is why we loudly proclaim there is a devil, and that sin keeps one from the kingdom of God. If unrighteousness is excluded from the presence of God, we should look at the opposite of unrighteousness, righteousness and justification to see what Christ did for us.  Let’s start backward, close to the end of this age, where we see the Bride of Christ adorned in righteousness.

Rev 19:7-8 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness [1345] of saints.KJV

Jesus, Faithful and True, judges the world in righteousness. Righteousness is rewarded with a fine white garment to the Bride. As we will see, the simplicity of Christ is always made complicated by people who have a hard time accepting simplicity.

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness [1343] he doth judge and make war.KJV

As we looked at 1 John 3:8 in regard to sin and being from the devil, let’s look at it in context. The contrast of sin and righteousness is important.

1 John 3:7-10 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness [1343] is righteous[1342], even as he is righteous [1342].8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness [1343] is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.KJV

Let’s look at some definitions for righteousness and justification so that we can make sense of what John wrote both in Revelation and in 1 John. Sometimes we think we know the meaning of a word but our culture may have changed or skewed our understanding.  Therefore, looking at a definition helps to bring better understanding from the writers’ point of view.

NT:1342 dikaios (dik'-ah-yos); from NT:1349; equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively):KJV - just, meet, right (-eous).
NT:1342 dikaios, dikaia, dikaion  righteous, observing divine and human laws; one who is such as he ought to be 1. in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God  a. universally: Matt 1:19  b. the negative idea predominating: innocent, faultless, guiltless,  c. preeminently, of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God, and who therefore needs no rectification in heart or life Acts 7:52  d. contextually, approved God, acceptable to God, Rom 5:19  2. In a narrower sense, rendering to each his due; and that in a judicial sense, passing just judgment on others, Titus 1:8

NT:1343 dikaiosune (dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay); from NT:1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification:KJV - righteousness.
NT:1343 dikaiosunee, dikaiosunees, hee  the virtue or quality or state of one who is dikaios;  1. in the broad sense, the state of him who is such as he ought to be, righteousness  a. universally: the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain to a state approved of God, Heb 5:13  b. integrity, virtue, purity of life, uprightness, correctness in thinking, feeling, and acting: Matt 3:15  c. in the writings of Paul hee dikaiosunee has a peculiar meaning, opposed to the views of the Jews and Judaizing Christians.2. in a closer sense, justice, or the virtue which gives each one his due 2 Peter 1:1(from Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

NT:1344 dikaioo (dik-ah-yo'-o); from NT:1342; to render (i.e. show or regard as) just or innocent: KJV - free, justify (-ier), be righteous.

NT:1345 dikaioma (dik-ah'-yo-mah); from NT:1344; an equitable deed; by implication, a statute or decision:KJV - judgment, justification, ordinance, righteousness.

NT:1346 dikaios (dik-ah'-yoce); adverb from NT:1342; equitably:KJV - justly, (to) righteously (-ness).(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.)

NT:1347 dikaiosis (dik-ah'-yo-sis); from NT:1344; aquittal (for Christ's sake):KJV - justification.(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.)
NT:1347 dikaioosis, dikaiooseoos, hee the act of God's declaring men free from guilt and acceptable to him Rom 4:25(from Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

There are a few Greek words that relate to righteousness and justification.  As we read the definitions, we can see how closely these ideas are to one another.  Overall we see righteousness/justification contrasted to evil. It is black and white.

Heb 5:13-14 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness [1343]: for he is a babe.14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.KJV

If we are young believers in Jesus, we may be unskillful in the word of righteousness. The Amplified gives us a little better understanding of being unskilled in the logos of righteousness.  It implies conformity to the will of God.

Heb 5:13 For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]! AMP

If we are infants in Christ, we are not yet changing into God’s will for our lives.  But when we are mature, we are allowing God’s will to change us into being better and living better. The Holy Spirit in us helps us grow up in our thoughts and actions. We learn to discern good and evil. The word of righteousness is speaking about right living. When we first come to Jesus we have our old man ways and have to work at right living, even though God loves us just as we are. As we mature, right living becomes easier, and we gain insights and knowledge as we continue in the words of righteousness.

2 Tim 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness [1343]:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.KJV

The Bible is for instruction in righteousness, so that we can be perfect, through and through.  That seems simple enough.

Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously[1346], and godly, in this present world; KJV

Here is the contrast; this is how the Bride gets clothed in righteousness, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts.

Matt 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness [1343]: for they shall be filled.KJV

Jesus mentions that those who live for becoming righteous are going to be filled.  If we desire it, we will be able to live it.  That is a very important key. 

Matt 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' [1343]sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.KJV

Also, we are persecuted for living righteousness, and yet that is something that makes us eligible for the kingdom of heaven, but there is no turning back.

2 Peter 2:20-22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness [1343], than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.KJV

There would seem to be simplicity to righteousness, the mature speak it, and desire it.  The Bible gives instructions regarding it so that we can live it, and we will be persecuted for living it.  As we mature, we learn the difference between good and evil. There is a crown given for loving His appearing.

2 Tim 4:7-8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness [1343], which the Lord, the righteous [1342] judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.KJV

Fighting, finishing, keeping the faith, and loving His appearing, gives one a crown of righteousness. It is not only something we will wear on our heads, but something we wear now on our torso.

Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness [1343];KJV

We are to put on righteousness as well as the new man.

Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness [1343]and true holiness.KJV

The New Man is created in righteousness and holiness. We put it on by putting off ungodliness and worldly lusts. When the Holy Spirit comes, he will do some work in the world regarding sin, righteousness, and judgment. 

John 16:8-11 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness[1343], and of judgment:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.KJV

Jesus made righteousness available by going to the Father. He made it available to live, and to succeed at living Godly.
 
Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification [1347].KJV

Jesus’ resurrection was for our justification, freeing us from guilt.

Rom 5:16-18 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification [1347].17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness[1342] shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness[1345] of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification [1347]of life.KJV

The free gift, given to everyone, is the open door of righteousness for us to walk through.   It is the ability to live Godly in an ungodly world.  Jesus bought back what Adam lost, the ability to live rightly. The more rightly we live the more rewarded we are, with a crown of righteousness and fine linen which is the righteousness of the saints.  Let’s look at some definitions of righteousness/justification.  In Easton’s, when one looks up the word righteousness, it refers us to Justification.  Because the words are the same in the Greek, yet translated as either/or, we have to remember that the words have the same meaning.

JUSTIFICATION
Justification — a forensic term, opposed to condemnation. As regards its nature, it is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon (q.v.) of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; and so the person justified is declared to be entitled to all the advantages and rewards arising from perfect obedience to the law (Rom 5:1-10).
It proceeds on the imputing or crediting to the believer by God himself of the perfect righteousness, active and passive, of his Representative and Surety, Jesus Christ (Rom 10:3-9). Justification is not the forgiveness of a man without righteousness, but a declaration that he possesses a righteousness which perfectly and forever satisfies the law, namely, Christ's righteousness (2 Cor 5:21; Rom 4:6-8).
The sole condition on which this righteousness is imputed or credited to the believer is faith in or on the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is called a "condition," not because it possesses any merit, but only because it is the instrument, the only instrument by which the soul appropriates or apprehends Christ and his righteousness (Rom 1:17; 3:25,26; 4:20,22; Phil 3:8-11; Gal 2:16).
The act of faith which thus secures our justification secures also at the same time our sanctification (q.v.); and thus the doctrine of justification by faith does not lead to licentiousness (Rom 6:2-7). Good works, while not the ground, are the certain consequence of justification (6:14; 7:6). (See GALATIANS, EPISTLE TO THE.)
(from Easton's Bible Dictionary, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

JUSTIFICATION
The process by which sinful human beings are made acceptable to a holy God.
Justification by Grace. Christianity is unique because of its teaching of justification by grace (Rom 3:24). Justification is God's declaration that the demands of His Law have been fulfilled in the righteousness of His Son. The basis for this justification is the death of Christ. Paul tells us that "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them" (2 Cor 5:19). This reconciliation covers all sin: "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified" (Heb 10:14). Justification, then, is based on the work of Christ, accomplished through His blood (Rom 5:9) and brought to His people through His resurrection (Rom 4:25).
When God justifies, He charges the sin of man to Christ and credits the righteousness of Christ to the believer (2 Cor 5:21). Thus, "through one Man's righteous act, the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life" (Rom 5:18). Because this righteousness is "the righteousness of God" which is "apart from the law" (Rom 3:21), it is thorough; a believer is "justified from all things" (Acts 13:39). God is "just" because His holy standard of perfect righteousness has been fulfilled in Christ, and He is the "justifier," because this righteousness is freely given to the believer (Rom 3:26; 5:16).
Justification by Faith. Although the Lord Jesus has paid the price for our justification, it is through our faith that He is received and His righteousness is experienced and enjoyed (Rom 3:25-30). Faith is considered righteousness (Rom 4:3,9), not as the work of man (Rom 4:5), but as the gift and work of God (John 6:28-29; Phil 1:29).
The New Testament sometimes seems to speak of justification by works. For example, Jesus spoke of justification (and condemnation) "by your words" (Matt 12:37). Paul said, "the doers of the law will be justified" (Rom 2:13). And James concluded that "a man is justified by works, and not by faith only" (James 2:24).
These statements seem to conflict with Paul's many warnings that "by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight" (Rom 3:20), and that the attempt to be justified through law is equivalent to being "estranged from Christ" and "fallen from grace" (Gal 5:4).
The solution to this problem lies in the distinction between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:16-25). Not only is Christ's righteousness legally accounted to the believer, but Christ also dwells in the believer through the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:10), creating works of faith (Eph 2:10). Certainly God's works may be declared righteous (Isa 26:12). If this is true, then the order of events in justification is grace, faith, and works; or, in other words, by grace, through faith, resulting in works (Eph 2:8-10).
The Results of Justification. The negative result of justification is what we are saved from: "Having now been justified...we shall be saved from wrath" (Rom 5:9). The positive result is what we are saved to: "Whom He justified, these He also glorified" (Rom 8:30).
Paul also notes "peace with God" (Rom 5:1) and access to God's grace (Rom 5:2) as positive benefits. The believer in Christ may look forward to the redemption of his body (Rom 8:23) and an eternal inheritance (Rom 8:17; 1 Peter 1:4).
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

Here is a very important point, we are not justified or found righteous by the works of the law.  The law cannot, does not, will not, nor ever will, make us righteous or justified.  Following the law can never achieve that point.

Gal 2:16-19 Knowing that a man is not justified[1344] by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified[1344] by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified[1344].17 But if, while we seek to be justified [1344]by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.KJV

Faith is the only way to receive righteousness and justification. While we have the ability to live righteous or justified, and we are to learn the difference between good and evil, we can only receive it, the initial gift, by faith, not works.  While we work to be better, and attain a crown and white linen, we only receive by faith. Once we receive righteousness by faith, we can discern good and evil, live godly and grow up in Him, yet we don’t follow the law anymore.  The Holy Spirit lives inside us, helping us to live rightly, while the law does not help us attain a crown or linen garment at all.

1 Cor 6:10 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified[1344] in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.KJV

Let’s look at the context in the Amplified.

1 Cor 6:9-11 Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality, 10 Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God. 11 And such some of you were [once]. But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God. AMP

If you try to do this on your own, following the law, you are not trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  We may have been among those who will not inherit the kingdom, but now by faith we are cleansed and made whole. The Father and Jesus do not hold anything against us as that was the purpose for Jesus’ death, to bring us to them. The devil may try to accuse us before God but if we are by faith growing in right living, nothing can separate us from the Father or the Son.

Rom 8:30-34 And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [1344](acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified [1344], He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]. 31 What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]  [Ps 118:6.] 32 He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect [when it is] God Who justifies[1344] [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?] 34 Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us? AMP

Sometimes people have a hard time receiving gifts, and in this case that would be a shame.  All along, the intent of God was to make us immortal beings, yet we have a choice.  We can get saved but never grow in right living, that is a milk drinker who does not have the word of righteousness.  Solomon makes it simple for us.

Wisdom 2:22-3:10 As for the mysteries of God, they knew them not: neither hoped they for the wages of righteousness, nor discerned a reward for blameless souls.23 For God created man to be immortal, and made him to be an image of his own eternity.24 Nevertheless through envy of the devil came death into the world: and they that do hold of his side do find it. 3:1 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them.2 In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery,3 And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace.4 For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality.5 And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself.6 As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering.7 And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble.8 They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.9 They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.10 But the ungodly shall be punished according to their own imaginations, which have neglected the righteous, and forsaken the Lord.KJV

Righteousness and justification are a very interesting study.  As we have seen, we have to receive the ability to live righteously by faith, not by works.  Then we have to continue to grow in it, discerning evil and good, and living our life led by the Holy Spirit.  This is how we can grow into having the word of righteousness.  When we first receive Jesus we are usually a mess, but slowly and steadily we journey with the Holy Spirit to get cleaned up.  We learn to put off bad living, not just physically but emotionally and mentally as well. The Bride then puts on the white linen garment, but those who never get cleaned up do not get to wear the white garment. So we see the Bride comes out of the redeemed. Next we will explore the mysteries of Hell.