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The Fullness of the Gentiles:
The misinterpreted meaning of the fullness of the Gentiles has come in?
Most Christians believe one day, the fullness (a divine percentage) of the Gentiles, living in the world, will be complete, then God will deliver the nation of Israel. This belief stems from Romans 11:25-27
Romans 11:25-27
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. [26] And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; [27] For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”Here is an widely accepted explanation of Romans 11:25-27 I found on the Internet.
What does Romans 11:25 mean?
Paul continues to talk to the Gentile Christians with a cautioning tone. He doesn’t want them to reach the wrong conclusion about the truth by being wise in their own sight. He wants them to understand one of the central mysteries of God’s relationship with Israel and humanity at large.
God has brought upon Israel a “partial hardening.” In other words, most Israelites have been hardened to faith in Christ by God, keeping them from receiving God’s righteousness. Why has God done this? As Paul has made clear, it was to make room for the non-Jewish people of the world to come into relationship with God through faith in Christ.
However, Paul now states outright that this is a temporary season. Israel’s hardening will end when the “fullness” of the Gentiles has come to God through faith in Christ. Does this mean that God is waiting for all Gentiles to believe in Jesus? That’s not likely, nor does it fit the words used here. The “fullness of the Gentiles” means “as many as will believe,” or “the complete number.” When that mysterious point has been reached, the Jewish people will no longer be hardened in their unbelief in Christ. This does not mean, necessarily, that every Israelite will come to faith in Christ, but perhaps that a representative proportion of living Israelites will do so. Nor does it mean that no Jewish person, prior to then, can come to faith—but most will not.
This is simply not the mystery Paul is referring to.
Several verses are misinterpreted from Romans 11-25-27.
The misinterpretion stems mainly from two passages.
1) In the Fullness of the Gentiles.
2) All of Israel will be saved.
The Fullness of the Gentiles means the time is fulfilled and the Gentiles would be included in salvation.
Strong’s g4138. Fullness:
- Lexical: πλήρωμα
- Transliteration: pléróma
- Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
- Phonetic Spelling: play’-ro-mah
- Definition: (a) a fill, fullness; full complement; supply, patch, supplement, (b) fullness, filling, fulfillment, completion.
- Origin: From pleroo; repletion or completion, i.e. (subjectively) what fills (as contents, supplement, copiousness, multitude), or (objectively) what is filled (as container, performance, period).
- Usage: which is put in to fill up, piece that filled up, fulfilling, full, fulness.
A fulfillment:
Mark 1:14-15 NKJV – Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
The time is fulfilled or fullness of time. A completion. It is finished. A new era begins. Gentiles are included.
Isaiah 59:20-21. And, or, moreover, the Redeemer shall come to Zion — To Jerusalem, or to his church, often signified by Zion, namely, Christ shall come, of whom the apostle expounds it, Romans 11:26; the prophets usually concluding their promises of temporal deliverances with the promises of spiritual, especially such, of which the temporal were evident types. And unto them that turn from transgression, &c. — As he will come in the flesh, and tabernacle among his people; so he will come, by his Spirit, to those of them who turn from their sins unto God, (see John 14:15-23,) and will dwell in their hearts, (Ephesians 3:17,) so that they shall have Christ in them, the hope of glory, Colossians 1:27; Christ living in them, Galatians 2:20. This is my covenant with them — What I have promised to them that turn from their iniquities. My Spirit that is upon thee — Namely, upon Christ: see Isaiah 11:1-3. The Spirit promised to the church was first upon him, and from him, the head, that precious ointment descends to the skirts of his garments.
As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord,…. Which shall be manifested and made good to them that repent of their sins, and, believe in Christ; and to whom the particular blessing of it shall be applied, the forgiveness of their sins; see Romans 11:27, my Spirit which is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth; the Spirit of God, with his gifts and graces, which were upon Christ the Redeemer without measure; and the doctrines he received from his divine Father to teach others, and which he gave to his apostles; the same Spirit which in measure was put upon them, and the same truths which were delivered to them:
Isaiah 11:10 NKJV
“And in that day (fullness of time) there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.”Ephesians 1:10 NKJV
that in the dispensation of (the fullness of the times) He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth-in Him.The fulness of times; the time appointed of the Father for the appearance of Christ in the flesh, (according to former promises), the spreading of the gospel, and thereby the gathering together in one all things in Christ.
Galatians 4:4 NKJV
But when (the fullness of the time) had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,The fulness of time is the time of the gentiles, when Jesus would preach to them and after His resurrection, the Apostles.
2) All of Israel will be saved.
Israel saved as a whole is not meant when Paul writes, “All of Israel will be saved”.
Paul writes, “All of Israel will be saved” but adds, “As it is written”
Paul is now linking an old testament prophecy that was fulfilled by Jesus. This is not a future event to be fulfilled at a later date.
Isaiah 59:20-21
“The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” Says the LORD. [21] “As for Me,” says the LORD, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the LORD, “from this time and forevermore.”This was fulfilled or as it is written as
Jesus Christ came to Jerusalem (Zion) as the Messiah (Annointed with the Holy Spirit) and came to save the world (all flesh) from their sins.The following verses show that the nation of Israel was saved or delivered from sin through Jesus’s death.
John 11:49-52 NKJV
And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, [50] nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” [51] Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, [52] and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.That Jesus should die for that nation; these words, with what follows in the next verse, are the words of the evangelist, interpreting the prophecy of Caiaphas, according to the sense of the Holy Spirit that Jesus should die, which was contrary to a notion the Jews had understood, concerning the Messiah; see John 12:34. But Jesus the true Messiah must die; this was determined in the counsel of God, agreed to by Christ in the covenant of grace, foretold by the prophets from the beginning of the world, typified by sacrifices and other things, under the former dispensation, predicted by Christ himself, and accordingly came to pass; and upon the above accounts was necessary, as well as for the salvation of his people, who otherwise must have perished; and yet was free and voluntary in him, and a strong expression, and a demonstrative proof of his love to them: and not only this prophecy declared, that Jesus should die, but that he should die for that nation, for the nation of the Jews; not for every individual in it, for all of them were not saved by him; some received him not; they rejected him as the Messiah, Saviour, and Redeemer, and died in their sins; but for all the elect of God among them, the sheep of the house of Israel, to whom he was sent, and whom he came to seek and save; and whom he blessed, by turning them away from their iniquities, and by taking away their iniquities from them: and moreover, this prophecy suggests, that Jesus was to die, not merely as a martyr, to confirm with his blood the doctrine he preached, nor only as an example of courage, meekness, patience, and love, but for, or in the room and stead of his people, as their surety; giving his life a ransom and himself a sacrifice to the justice of God, for them; there by fulfilling the law and satisfying it, and appeasing the wrath of God on their account.
Paul was saved as were many Jews on the day of Pentacost. Why? Through belief.
Consider these verses from Romans 11 about the Jews that fell (through non belief) and those who would be saved through faith.
Romans 11:22-23
Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. [23] And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.The Jews fell from grace because of their non belief in Jesus. In verse 23 Paul writes they (Israel) will be grafted in again if they do not continue in non belief.
There is no set time in the future when Israel (as a whole) will suddenly believe in Jesus as the Messiah. That is simply not the case. The fullness of the Gentiles is simply the time of the gospel dispensation in which God would call both Jews and Gentiles.
A dispensation of the gospel is a period of time in which the Lord has at least one authorized servant on the earth who bears the holy priesthood and the keys, and who has a divine commission to dispense the gospel to the inhabitants of the earth.
This Servant is Christ Jesus. Jesus came to the Jews first.
Acts 3:13,26 NKJV
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. [26] To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”The Gentiles would be included in God’s plan for salvation.
Most Jews were shocked to hear about God including the Gentiles in salvation.
Acts 11:17-18 NKJV
If therefore God gave them (Gentiles) the same gift (Holy Spirit) as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?” [18] When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”So God loved “The World”.
John 10:14,16 NKJV
I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. [16] And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.The Gentiles are the other sheep.
Acts 15:7-9 NKJV
And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. [8] So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, [9] and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.Galatians 3:26-29 NKJV
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. [27] For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.Romans 11:25-27
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. [26] And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; [27] For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!John 1:31
I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel.The mystery of Christ Jesus that was in the old testament in types, figures, shadows and patterns. Jesus came to Israel “as it was written” in Isaiah 59:20-21 and fulfilled as He delivered Israel and the Gentiles from sin and death by dying on the cross.
The mystery of the Gospel:
Colossians 1:26 NKJV
The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.The Gospel, called “the mystery”, as it often is; because it contains things, which, though revealed, are mysteries to a natural man; and even to enlightened persons, who have the clearest view of them, the “modus” of them is not to be accounted for; such as the doctrines of the Trinity, of the union of the two natures in Christ, the incarnation of the Son of God, the union and communion of the church with Christ, the resurrection of the dead, &c. And though perhaps great and special regard may be here had to the calling of the Gentiles, which, though revealed in the prophecies of the Old Testament, was in a great measure hid in them, and not so clearly known in ages and generations past as now, yet the whole may be applied to the Gospel mystery in general; which was first hid in the heart of God, in his thoughts and purposes, in his counsel and covenant, and in his Son, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; and then in the ceremonies and shadows of the law, which but few had any insight into, and discerning of; and, during that dispensation, was wholly hid from the Gentiles; and but in part known by the Jews, and but by a few, and comparatively by them very darkly.
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Hell Know
Do you really know what hell
represents?Well then, Hell Know!
I understand talking and thinking about hell is unpleasant to say the least. Most of us would rather just avoid it and often we do just that. C.S. Lewis said once “There is no doctrine which I would more willingly remove from Christianity than this {hell}, if it lay in my power.” Hell in the Bible is tough to talk about. It’s caused many to question God and others to leave Christianity all together.
Before I could even read the bible for myself; I was taught that hell was a place for bad people. Good people went to heaven, bad people went to hell. Most people probably have been taught the same way. Predictably 8 out of 10 Christians believe in an eternal hell.
I believe hell is completely misunderstood and has been used in a threatening manner to behave ethically in life to avoid eternal punishment.
Over the years the threat of hell has been used in many situations by church leaders.
Here are just a few ways.
In the early days of Roman Catholic rule, people were told by the Church that if a failure to pay tithes occurred, it would lead to their souls going to Hell after they had died.I’m sure it’s safe to say that many people were also threatened of going to hell if they didn’t or did (fill in the example here from below).
Common examples are church attendance, resting on the seventh day, divorce, marital adultery, sex outside of marriage, noncompliance with any of the ten commandments and of course, not converting to Christianity.
Recently in October 2016, pastor Kenneth Copeland warned Christian voters, “you’re going to be seriously, seriously held to account by God if you don’t vote … you’re going to be guilty of murder. You’re going to be guilty of an abomination of God. You’re going to be guilty of every baby that’s aborted from this election forward.”
That’s really twisted. We are not held liable for another person’s actions.
In the contemporary world, the notion of hell has been used to scare or threaten people into becoming Christians. Christians often preach, “Repent, believe in Jesus or burn in hell!
Is that the gospel message of good news?
Hell is commonly thought to be a place of eternal torture for non-Christians and those who do not obey Jesus Christ after physical death.
Hell has characteristics of bondage, (outer) darkness, thirst, undying worms, torment and flaming fire.
Here is a common description of hell I found on a popular Christian website.
Hell is a scary place. Jesus described it as a place of darkness and weeping and the gnashing of teeth, a place of consuming worms and undying fire and a place of “eternal fire”.
The scariest part of hell is the misinformation about it.
Jesus spoke about hell in Matthew, Mark and Luke through parables. No parables or any mention of hell in John.
Jesus taught in parables, symbolisms, metaphors and allegories. He used these devices to communicate a broader spiritual point.
A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn’t literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison.
Jesus used parables to convey a spiritual story using real life and common things around us. These include sheep, goats, trees, clouds, rain, vines, stones, wheat, weeds, coins etc…
Only through biblical discernment given by the Holy Spirit can one find the true hidden meaning behind these parables.
The main question is, are these descriptions within the parable to be taken literally or figuratively.
Looking at one of the most famous verses in the bible.
John 3:16 NKJV
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.Is this verse to be taken figuratively or literally? Maybe both?
Knowing that all believers in Jesus will perish in our lifetime is a certainty. Therefore, the question then becomes what exactly does perish mean in John 3:16?
This verse is very straightforward and literal in every aspect. Jesus is straight to the point.
Believers will live with God for eternity (not perish) and non believers simply will perish or die (forever)
I believe hell has been mischaracterized to mean something it’s not. The parables in which Jesus taught about hell have simply been misinterpreted. The figurative language used within these parables have been taken literally.
All those seemingly terrible descriptions of hell are metaphorical figures of speech for those who do not believe in Jesus as the Son of God.
It’s not about our afterlife, it’s concerning our current life.
These hellish metaphors have a symbolic meaning, which include bondage, darkness, flaming fire, thirst, undying worms and torment.
Taking these figurative descriptions of hell literally is at the root of the misunderstanding of hell.
How can hell be dark and have flames of fire? Why are worms in hell? Are worms punished too? Is hell outside?
Starting from the beginning.
What does the word hell mean?
The origin of the English word “hell” comes from the Germanic language. Originally, “hel” meant “to cover.”
In Christianity, the word “hell”—in Latin, infernus, infernum, inferi; in Greek, ᾍδης (Hades); in Hebrew, שאול (Sheol)—is used in scripture to refer to the abode of the dead
It simply means the dead and or those who are in the graves.
Hell Know!
In the simplest terms:
Hell is not a destination where non-believers go after they die. Hell is a designation of where people stand in relationship with God. Hell is a separation from God.
This designation is right now, while we live and breathe, before we die physically.
It’s that simple. It’s not complicated at all.
I know this may seem contrary to what we were all taught from our youth. Clear your mind of what you previously heard and let scriptures be your guide.
I will attempt to share what I discovered from a new perspective by reading and studying God’s word and of course, with much guidance and discernment from the Holy Spirit.
Looking back, what separates us from God?
Sin.
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.
Sin and hell are synonymous with separation from God.
We are all sinners on our very best day in respect to a perfect and holy God.
Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”?
Romans 3:12 There is none who does good, no, not one.”
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
O.K., who can unite us with God?
Jesus Christ. He’s our go between. He’s, our mediator.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.
God desires to reconcile our broken relationship because of sin through His only begotten Son, Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
So, what is the ministry of reconciliation?
The ministry of reconciliation is the ministry of reconciling people to God by proclaiming the good news that Jesus has paid the penalty for sin. God is not holding people’s sins against them and right standing with God can be experienced by faith in Jesus.
Sin separates us from God and Jesus brings us back together.
Why did Jesus (as a man in the flesh) come into our world?
1 John 3:5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins.
Hebrews 10:5 Therefore, when He (Jesus) came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.
Jesus’ sacrifice is the means by which God delivers, or saves, humankind from sin and death.
Jesus’s name means, “The Lord Saves”
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Jesus is the only way to reconcile our broken relationship with God through sin.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Two Paths. Two ways. Innocent or guilty? We stand or fall.
1) Grace through faith (In Jesus) Sins covered and forgotten. No condemnation or guilty charge from God for our sins. Peace with God and our relationship restored. Stand in grace.
Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, [2] through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
2) No faith (in Jesus) No grace. Sins are not covered and not forgotten. Non-believers are in a state of condemnation and held guilty because of sin. The wrath of God is upon all who reject Jesus as the Son of God. Peace with God is not restored. Fallen from grace.
John 3:36 He who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Condemnation is defined as a guilty verdict from a Judge.
Hell is a condemnation (guilty) of sin.
Now the verses that explain in detail.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now (no condemnation) to those who are in (believe in) Christ Jesus.John 3:18 “He who believes in Him (Jesus) is (not condemned); but he who does not believe is (condemned already), because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Let’s really focus on these two verses.
To believe in Jesus equals no condemnation. No guilty verdict. Their sins are covered by the blood of the cross.
Non-believers of Jesus are condemned (ALREADY) as they live and breathe in their flesh. Guilty verdict. Their sins are not covered.
Just a quick note about non-believers of Jesus. Anyone has up until their last breath to repent and turn to God through belief in Jesus. There is always hope.Remember this, those who do not currently believe in Jesus are in a state of condemnation (right now!)
Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized (Holy Spirit) will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
John 3:18 “He who believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned; but he who does not believe is (condemned already), because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Jesus is simply stating that if we believe in Him, we are not in a state of condemnation of (hell).
John 8:24 Therefore I (Jesus) said to you that you (Pharisees) will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
Let’s be very clear about the dying Jesus is referring to. All believers will die a mortal death. Our mortal death is inevitable. The death Jesus is referring to is our afterlife. The second death. The promise of eternal life with God is not going to happen.
Eternal life is promised to those who believe and obey Jesus Christ. Those who do not believe or obey will die after their mortal death. Hundreds of verses make this point.Here are but a few.
John 10:28 And I (Jesus) give them (His followers) eternal life, and they shall never perish.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him (Jesus) should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:15 That whoever believes in Him (Jesus) should not perish but have eternal life.
2 Corinthians 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
There are many other verses that explain about death, dying, perishing and destruction.
We must get it out of our minds that hell is a place where people are tortured for ever and ever.
People don’t die, perish or are eternally destroyed in hell. This dying or perishing infers to our spiritual afterlife.
Hell is a state of spiritual death, simply put. This pertains to the hope of eternal life after we die in our bodies.
We are born in our mortal bodies (flesh) and have a soul. This soul is not eternal as some Greek philosophers have claimed. They believed that man’s soul or spirit cannot die ever. They believed in the immortality of the human soul. This belief is at the very root of the misunderstanding of hell.
Immortality is defined as the quality of being able to live or last forever.
Now, let’s look at what the bible says about immortality and who has it and who doesn’t have it.
Paul, writes about Jesus,
1 Timothy 6:16 (Jesus) who alone has immortality.Can this verse be clearer about our supposed human immortality?
We are born in the flesh and are not immortal.
What happens to those who do not believe in Jesus after they die?
They perish and die forever. Their mortal life was all there is. Eternal death. No eternal reward.
Hell is not a place where people are punished forever but designate where people stand in relationship with God. Hell is a designation of separation from God.
I guess the real eternal punishment is the fact that non-believers will never spend eternity with the God of the entire universe. Talk about missing out big time. Wow.
This is why we need to be born again.
To be born again is to believe in Jesus as the Son of God.
Jesus unites us again with God through the Holy Spirit.
We are born again or created through His Spirit.
Psalm 104:30 NKJV
You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the earth.God promises us immortality or eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:38 NKJV
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.The Holy Spirit is our reward or gift from God.
Why is hell associated with death?
What is the definition of hell in the bible?
Strong’s h7585. Hell:
– Lexical: שְׁאוֹל
– Transliteration: sheol
– Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
– Phonetic Spelling: sheh-ole’
– Definition: underworld (place to which people descend at death).
– Origin: Or shol {sheh-ole’}; from sha’al; Hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates.Hell is also commonly known as Hades and Sheol.
Its usage would indicate hell is synonymous with the dead and graves.
Now let’s see how the dead and graves are linked to hell.
Look how Jesus responded to a disciple who said he would follow Him. But first he wanted to go home to bury his father.
Luke 9:60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”
Dead people cannot bury dead people.
Not dead physically but dead spiritually.Jesus is emphatically stating that those who do not wish to follow Him are dead.
Dead in sins. Separation from God.
Hell is defined by graves and the dead.
The walking dead.
Jesus called the Pharisees and scribes graves, tombs and sons of hell.
Just a quick note about the Pharisees and scribes. These people were very strict observers of the law. They followed the law to the letter.
Luke 11:44 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are (like graves) which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.”
Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are (like whitewashed tombs) which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of (dead) men’s bones and all uncleanness.
Matthew 23:15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte (a new convert to Judaism) and when he is won, you make him twice as much (a son of hell) as yourselves.
A son of hell like yourself.
Graves and tombs symbolize dead people.
When someone is in the hospital and is close to death, a common term doctors use to describe their serious nature is, “grave condition”
Those who don’t believe or follow Jesus are also considered in “grave condition”
John 5:28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His Voice.
To hear Jesus is through the word of God.
Romans 10:17 So, then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
If anyone hears Jesus’s words and believes in the Father will not be in a state of judgment. Has passed from death into a born-again life.
John 5:25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and (now is) when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
Jesus announced the hour was coming and now is.
John 5:28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice (Jesus)
Those who are in their graves in a spiritual sense here. No one can hear God in their real grave. That’s why Jesus likened those who had rejected Him as graves and tombs.
Could this not be clearer?
They were in hell. They were in a state of condemnation. Their sins would remain because of nonbelief.
Jesus asked the Pharisees and scribes the following:
Matthew 23:33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?
Jesus asked and answered the question about how to get out (escape) of hell?
Here is the answer He gave several verses later in Matthew 23:39
Matthew 23:39 For I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ ”
Romans 10:11,13 NKJV
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” [13] For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”That’s how to get out of hell (condemnation)
When someone believes in Jesus.
We do not see Jesus physically.
We see Jesus by belief through faith.
John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Peter writes about faith in Jesus Christ by not seeing but believing.
1 Peter 1:7-8 Jesus Christ, [8] whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy.
1 John 3:6 Whoever abides in (Jesus) Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him (faith) nor known Him.
Sinners yes, but sins forgiven.
That’s the key to understanding this verse.
Remembering Jesus is the only way to have sins washed away and forgiven by God.
Seeing Jesus is through faith.
Not seeing Jesus is having no faith.
Faith in Jesus equals sins covered.
No faith in Jesus equals sins remain.Here is an interaction with the Pharisees with Jesus about sins.
John 9:39-41 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” [40] Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” [41] Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore, your sin remains.
The key to understanding this interaction is that sins are removed by Jesus through seeing Him (By faith) The Pharisees did not see Him (as the Son of God) and therefore their sins remain.
Why is hell associated with darkness and or outer darkness?
John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”
John 12:46 I (Jesus) have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
The deeds that are evil pertains to works of self-righteousness through the law. The self-righteous Pharisees did not see Jesus as the Son of God.
John 1:5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
When it is said that “the light shines in darkness,” it is meant that the Lord Jesus (The Light) came to teach an ignorant, dark and wicked world.
Luke 1:79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
God’s elect among the Jews, who were not only in a state of unregeneracy, which is a state of darkness, ignorance, and unbelief; but in the darkness of the legal dispensation, and at this time under more than ordinary darkness and ignorance; having lost the knowledge of the righteousness of God, and of the spirituality of his law, the true sense of the Scriptures, and right notions of the Messiah; being led by blind guides, the Scribes and Pharisees.
Where there is no spiritual light, there is no spiritual life, and such are in danger of the second eternal death.
Outer darkness is simply outside the body of Christ, the church.
Outside of Christ, I am only a sinner, but in Christ, I am saved. Outside of Christ, I am empty; in Christ, I am full. Outside of Christ, I am weak; in Christ, I am strong. Outside of Christ, I cannot; in Christ, I am more than able. Outside of Christ, I have been defeated; in Christ, I am already victorious. How meaningful are the words, “in Christ.”
Why is hell associated with flames of fire?
The “flames of fire” symbolizes the wrath of God from sin that is experienced by unbelievers.
God is a consuming fire and is everlasting. A jealous God.
Revelation 2:18 NKJV
“‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire.Those who do not trust or believe in His word which Jesus spoke during His ministry will face God’s wrath.
The wrath of God is the fire (judgment) that is never quenched.
John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
How is hell associated with worms that never die?
Isaiah 66:24 For (their) worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched.
The key in this verse from Isaiah is (their worm) does not die.
Not worms that never die. Their worm does not die.Jesus used this verse from Isaiah in Mark chapter 9 concerning hands, feet and eyes that sin, worms that don’t die, hell and fire.
Putting it all together for clarity.
Mark 9:42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.
Mark 9:44-8 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched- [44] where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’ [45] And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched- [46] where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.’ [47] And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire- [48] where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’
Let’s break it down verse by verse.
Matthew 18:3 Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Converted by the Holy Spirit as newborn children of God.
Jesus is speaking to those who cause His believers (little ones) to stumble.Mark 9:42 But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble.
How can anyone stumble that believe in Jesus?
By confusing believers (little ones) about earning grace through works and adherence to laws.
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise, grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise, work is no longer work.
Looking at hands, feet and eyes that cause sin.
We sin with our minds and our hearts.
Hands and feet cannot sin by themselves. Eyes by themselves cannot sin. We cannot cut off our hands and feet or
These are symbolically used to show sin without a Savior.
We are all sinners saved by grace through faith. Period.
There is only one way to have our sins forgiven and that is through the Lamb of God. Period.
How then, can our hands, feet and eyes cause us to sin?
Hands:
The Kingdom of God is at hand. We must be hand in hand with our Lord Jesus Christ through marriage.
Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become (dead to the law) through the body of Christ, that you may be (married to another-to Him) who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
Feet:
Our feet walk united with Christ, the Savior of the body, the church.
Colossians 2:6-7 NKJV
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, [7] rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.1 John 1:7 NKJV
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.Eyes:
Hebrews 12:1-2 Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (looking unto Jesus) the author and finisher of our faith.
Psalm 25:15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD, For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.
Jesus came into the world to take our sins away.
1 John 3:5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.
1 John 3:6 Whoever abides (through faith) in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him (blind) nor known Him.
Dwells in him by faith and stands fast in him, being rooted and grounded in him, and abides by him, his truths and ordinances, takes up his rest, and places his security in him, and perseveres through him.
Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Looking back by not practicing righteousness. Righteousness can only come through faith, not by works, that no one should boast.
What boast do we have?
Psalm 34:2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
The Apostle Paul, whose name means, “humble”, writes about righteousness:
Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, our hands, feet and eyes are constantly reaching out, walking with and looking towards the Lord through faith in which we abide and in which we stand through faith.
What about (their) worm that never dies?
Jesus uses worms symbolically to describe sinful mankind.
Worms have characteristics that are intertwined with non-believers.
Worms are blind.
Worms are earthly.
Worms prefer darkness.
Worms retreat from the light.
Worms get their subsidence from the dust/dirt of the ground.Ironically, the serpent was to eat from the dust of the earth all its life.
God uses worms symbolically to describe the Israelites and mankind in the next two verses.
Isaiah 41:14 “Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,” says the LORD And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Job 25:4-6 How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman? [5] If even the moon does not shine, And the stars are not pure in His sight, [6] How much less man, who is a maggot, And a son of man, who is a worm?”
The least we can say from these passages is that one meaning the term “worm” has when applied to man is that he is unclean, unrighteous, unacceptable to God.
The symbolic image is used probably because worms are dirty not only on the outside, but they are filled with dirt on the inside.
Isaiah 66:24 For their worm does not die.
How does this apply here?
Think about the Pharisees and scribes.
Their inner (dirty) self was righteous (in their own eyes) and did not need to repent.
Baptism represents a turning away from our unclean sinful (dirty) flesh.
Why would the Pharisees and scribes need a baptism, since they felt clean of sin
Luke 5:31-32 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. [32] I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Luke 7:30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him (John the Baptist)
The Pharisees and scribes would not die to their self-righteousness (their dirty inner worm)
Mark 8:34 Jesus told His disciples, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Baptism is an outward sign of denying our own self goodness.
Isaiah 66:24 For (their) worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched.
The Pharisees would not die to their inner self-righteousness, or their worm doesn’t die.
Of course, Gods wrath or anger, likened to fire is never quenched.
Why is hell associated with bondage?
John 8:34-36 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave (bondage) of sin. [35] And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. [36] Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
John contends that Jesus Christ came to set believers free from a burdensome, legalistic existence as slaves to the law. Therefore, Christians must ensure that they stay free and not get bound up again under a yoke of bondage to the law.
Most obviously, it means to be under the law’s penalty because we have sinned. Jesus died so that we can be freed from that penalty.See Galatians 4:21-31 for a symbolic example of bondage and freedom by Paul.
Why is hell associated with torment?
Torment actually means a touchstone. A stone to test the quality of metals.
Strong’s g931. Torment:
– Lexical: βάσανος
– Transliteration: basanos
– Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
– Phonetic Spelling: bas’-an-os
– Definition: a touchstone (a dark stone used in testing metals), examination by torture, torture.
– Origin: Perhaps remotely from the same as basis (through the notion of going to the bottom); a touch-stone.A ‘touchstone’ is a stone used to test the quality of gold alloys: the word is used for a standard against which other things are compared.
Until Jesus, the Old Testament law was the only standard, and religious leaders assessed people’s righteousness by how well they obeyed it. But it could only condemn those who fell short: the law could never make sinful people righteous and the sacrifices could never take away sin.
Mark 12:10 Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘The stone (Jesus) which the builders (Pharisees) rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
Jesus, symbolically, is the true touchstone.
Our faith is tested by fire.
1 Peter 1:7-8 The genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, [8] whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.Why is hell associated with thirst?
John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
What is this thirst?
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
Filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:52 NKJV
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.The Holy Spirit brings us righteousness through the knowledge of Jesus Christ, Who cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 5:17
All unrighteousness is sin.1 John 1:7
The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.To recap, Hell is not an eternal place of torture but a current state of condemnation. A separation from God and His Holy Spirit.
The descriptions of hell, which include bondage, darkness, flaming fire, thirst, undying worms and torment are metaphorical and are not to be taken literally.
Those who do not currently believe in Jesus are in outer darkness of knowledge of Christ, in bondage through the law, in torment from the flame of God, in thirst for righteousness and have not died of their inner man (their worm)
That truly is the definition of hell
Those who believe Jesus is the Son of God are not in the condemnation of hell.
Those who reject Him as the Son of God are in a state of condemnation.
Eternal life for believers through the Holy Spirit (Born again)
Eternal separation from God for non-believers. No presence of the Holy Spirit and no new birth.
Sin and separation from God are synonymous with the definition of hell. Dead in sins and dead spiritually.
Those who believe in Jesus are joined to Him through the Holy Spirit and are alive spirituality.
1 Corinthians 6:17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
Ecclesiastes 9:4 But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
The humble living dog vs. the proud dead lion.
Those who do not believe in Jesus are dead spiritually. In the grave. Not born again. The definition of the dead and graves is hell.
2 Timothy 2:11 NKJV
This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him.2 Timothy 2 CGIL – with Christ, as all his people are, by virtue of union to him; they are dead with him, he and they being one, in a legal sense; when he died, they died with him; being crucified with him, as their head and representative, their old man, their sins, were also crucified with him, being imputed to him, and laid upon him; and through the efficacy of his death, they became dead to sin, both to its damning and governing power, and so are planted together in the likeness of his death; so that as he died unto sin once, and lives again to die no more, they die unto sin, and are alive to God, and shall live for ever.
To be in hell is to be apart from God’s light (1 John 1:5), peace (Ephesians 2:14), mercy (Lamentations 3:23–24), joy (Matthew 25:23), and love (1 John 4:8). To be apart from God is to be separated from all that is good because He is the source of all that is good (James 1:17).
Galatians 2:18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
Those who attempt to be justified through “the works of the law” are “cursed” (3:10). If anyone attempts to reassert the “works of the law” as having any part in justification before God, the law itself convicts that person of being a transgressor.Galatians 2:19-20 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. [20] I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Paul was dead to sin only by the righteousness through faith in Christ.
The just (Justified) shall (Live) by faith.
I cannot imagine speaking to someone about losing a loved one (non-believer) and stating that their loved one will be tortured forever and ever in hell and then what?
Don’t forget to have a nice day. Seriously?
Can you really comprehend a God, Who is defined by love, casting people into a torturous place to be punished for eternity?
Forever? Can you really grasp the horrible situation that would be for billions of people?
Seems implausible doesn’t it?
Because it is.
People do not die forever, but are dead forever.
At least, hopefully, you can begin to see a new perspective of what hell really is all about.
Hell is still a bad situation for many people but at least we can talk about it in a non-threatening way.
God draws us by love, not by threats.
The antidote to the condemnation of hell and the separation from God is simply believing in Jesus. Who loved us so much, He gave up His life for us.
Now isn’t that good news.
Sent from my Galaxy
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Hell is not what you think it is.
The old testament is a testimony of Jesus Christ.
John 5:39 NKJV
You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.The scriptures they searched is the old testament.
The following messianic prophecies in Zechariah chapter 13 were fulfilled in the early first century.
Zechariah 13:7 NKJV
“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion,” Says the LORD of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.The Shepherd was Jesus, who, while in the days of His flesh, (the Son of man)
1 Timothy 2:5 NKJV
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, (the Man) Christ Jesus.The sheep were Jesus’s disciples, who scattered after His arrest.
Mark 14:27 NKJV
Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered.Jesus is confirming that the messianic prophecy written in Zechariah chapter 13 was fulfilled.
The little ones are those who have been converted through a new birth by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said in Mark 9:42 the (little ones) refer to those who believe in Me.
Matthew 18:3 NKJV
and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.Converted by the Holy Spirit, bringing a new birth of God’s children. Little ones are humble and dependent on their Father (In Heaven).
The following verse below is a continuing of a messianic prophecy from Zechariah 13:7 after Jesus’s resurrection and exaltation. I believe it speaks of a spiritual nature.
Zechariah 13:8 NKJV
And it shall come to pass in (all the land) Says the LORD, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one -third shall be left in it:Come to pass refers to after Jesus’s resurrection and exaltation and in all the land includes Jews and Gentiles (the whole world)
Cut off from the Lord and will die in their sins.Currently nearly one-third or 31.2% of the world’s population is considered to be Christian.
One third of the world currently believes in Jesus as the Son of God. These percentages may not have always equaled 33% throughout history but it sure is relevant today. Perhaps the broader meaning is that one out of three people will believe in Jesus overall.
The Apostle Paul speaks about getting cut off from the Lord in the following verses.
Romans 11:20-22 NKJV
Because of unbelief they (Jews) were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. [21] For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. [22] Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be (cut off).Those who do not believe in Jesus are cut off from His free offer of grace. Therefore they are held guilty and will die in their sins.
No faith equals no grace. No grace equals a guilty verdict. Cut off!
John 8:24 NKJV
Therefore I (Jesus) said to you (Pharisees) that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”The dying Jesus is speaking about is not our mortal life, but eternal life.
God has promised eternal life to those who believe in Jesus Christ.
Those who do not believe in Jesus will perish for all of eternity after a natural mortal death.
Non believers are not punished forever, but are punished from God’s presence for eternity. To not live with the God of the universe for eternity is everlasting punishment. Wow, they’re missing out.
Think about it this way. Jesus told us that we need to be born again to see the kingdom of God.
To be born again is to have the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Look at one of the most famous verses in the bible.
John 3:16 NKJV
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him (should not perish) but have everlasting life.Those who believe in Jesus will not perish. Believers of course will perish in their mortal bodies.
This verse clearly speaks about life and (perishing or death) after we die mortally.
John 11:25-26 NKJV
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. [26] And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.A couple verses from John about eternal life and eternal death.
1 John 5:16-17 NKJV
If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin (not leading to death). There is sin (leading to death). I do not say that he should pray about that. [17] All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin (not leading to death).These verses again pertain about eternal life and eternal death.
There are hundreds more like these throughout the bible.
This brings us to the real meaning of hell.
Hell is not a destination where non believers go after they die. Hell is a designation of where people currently are in relationship with God.
What exactly is taught about hell?
I was taught about hell before I could read the Bible for myself. I was told good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell after we die.
Hell is commonly thought to represent a place where non believers of Jesus go after a mortal death to be punished for eternity.
Here is a common description of hell I found on a popular Christian website:
Hell is a scary place. Jesus described it as a place of darkness and weeping and the gnashing of teeth, a place of consuming worms and undying fire and a place of “eternal fire”.
All of these descriptions are but metaphorically terms for those who do not believe in Jesus as the Son of God. I will address each one of these mischaracterations of hell later.
It makes me wonder the scariest part of hell is the misinformation about it. Many people have turned away from religion because of the terrible characteristics of hell.
Just a quick thought here about hell. God is love. Could a God, Who is defined by love send non believers to a place where they are tortured and tormented forever and ever?
I know man could.
I believe man has misinterpreted the many verses about hell to bring fear and torment to people in a reactionary way.
Here are but just a few ways.
In the early days of Roman Catholic rule people were told by the Church that if a failure to pay tithes occurred, it would lead to their souls going to Hell after they had died.
I’m sure it’s safe to say that many people were also threatened of going to hell if they didn’t or did (fill in the blank here).
Recently in October 2016, pastor Kenneth Copeland warned Christian voters, “you’re going to be seriously, seriously held to account by God if you don’t vote … you’re going to be guilty of murder. You’re going to be guilty of an abomination of God. You’re going to be guilty for every baby that’s aborted from this election forward.”
That’s really twisted. We are not held liable for another person’s actions.
In the contemporary world, the notion of hell is used to scare or threaten people into becoming Christians.
The worst torturous devices were invented by the early church. Wow.
Christians often preach, “Repent, Believe in Jesus or burn in hell!
Is that the gospel message of good news?
I will state emphatically right now, hell is not good.
Looking at the definition of hell from the bible.
Strong’s h7585. Hell:
- Lexical: שְׁאוֹל
- Transliteration: sheol
- Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
- Phonetic Spelling: sheh-ole’
- Definition: underworld (place to which people descend at death).
- Origin: Or shol {sheh-ole’}; from sha’al; Hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates.
- Usage: grave, hell, pit.
Hell is also commonly known as Hades and Sheol.
All three have the same meaning, the grave or the dead.
Now look at what Jesus called the Pharisees and Scribes (these people had rejected Him as the Son of God and were very self righteous in their own eyes)
Luke 11:44 NKJV
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are (like graves) which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.”Matthew 23:27 NKJV
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are (like whitewashed tombs) which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of (dead) men’s bones and all uncleanness.Matthew 23:15 NKJV
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte (a new convert to Judaism) and when he is won, you make him twice as much (a son of hell) as yourselves.A son of hell like yourself.
Graves and tombs symbolize dead people.
When someone is in the hospital and is close to death, a common term doctors use to describe their serious nature is, “grave condition”
Those who don’t believe or follow Jesus are also considered in “grave condition”
Matthew 8:21-22 NKJV
Then another of Jesus’s disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” [22] But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”The word “dead” is used first in a figurative, secondly, in a literal sense. In a figurative sense by the “dead” are intended those who are outside the kingdom, who are spiritually dead to the free gift of grace.
The living dead are in hell literally.
Why is hell often compared to fire and darkness?
That’s a paradox actually.
Fire produces light. How can hell be dark and also have light?
Looking at each individually will produce the answers.
First the fire. God is a consuming fire. Jesus’s eyes are likened to flames of fire. Remembering God is a jealous God because of Idolatry. He will not tolerate any who do not believe in His Son. God was often seen in fire throughout the old testament. God’s judgments were often seen by fire.
Here are a few examples of God and fire.
Exodus 24:15 – God looked like a raging fire.
Exodus 3:1 – The angel of GOD appeared to him in flames of fire blazing out of the middle of a bush.
Nahum 1:6 TLB
Who can stand before an angry God? His fury is like fire.Catch that verse? His anger is likened to fire.
Song of Solomon 8:6 NKJV
For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame.God and fire are synonymous.
Fire speaks symbolically of God’s presence and His power.
Isaiah 33:14 NKJV
The sinners in Zion are afraid; Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall
dwell with everlasting burnings?”The next verse answers this question:
Isaiah 33:15 NKJV
He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly.Now picture the story of Daniel’s three friends who wouldn’t worship (Idolatry) Nebuchadnezzar. All three were thrown into a blazing hot furnace of fire. All three should have died immediately right? Nope, not even their hair were singed. Who protected them from this fire?
Nebuchadnezzar himself tells us,
Daniel 3:25 NKJV
“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”Daniel 3:28 NKJV
Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him.Those who are with the Son of God, Jesus, will be saved through the fire.
With Christ we are saved by the fire (the wrath of God)
Inside Christ our sins, past, present and future, are forgiven. Those outside of Christ, their sins remain.
Zechariah 13:9 NKJV
I will bring the one -third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”God tests our faith by fire.
1 Peter 1:7 NKJV
That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.Going backwards a bit. Two thirds of the world are cut off from the Lord because of unbelief and one third will be brought through the fire. This fire which is often described as the Holy Spirit and will test our faith as we go through the wilderness of life. Will we love God above all, will we love one another, will we trust God and not ourselves and in many other ways we’re tested. The point is that there are people who claim to know Jesus but will He know them in the end. Only Jesus can answer that.
The good news is that the two thirds that don’t believe in Jesus will have until their last breath to repent. There is always hope for the non believer.
Those who do not believe Jesus is the Son of God (Who takes away sins) are already in a state of condemnation as Jesus explained in John 3:18.
John 3:18 NKJV
“He who believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned; but he who does not believe is (condemned already), because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.Jesus is simply stating that if we believe in Him, we are not in a state of condemnation of (hell).
Hell is not a destination but a designation of the condemnation of sin.
Condemnation is simply a guilty verdict.
Sin separates us from a Holy God.
Those who are in Christ, through belief have a mediator (Jesus) who unites us with God.
Those who do not believe in Jesus will die in their sins.
John 8:24 NKJV
Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”Jesus asks the Pharisees and scribes this following question:
Matthew 23:33 NKJV
Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?How can they escape the condemnation of hell?
Jesus gives that answer several verses later
Matthew 23:39 NKJV
For I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ “Seeing Jesus is through faith, not by sight. When a non believer sees Jesus (through faith) is the answer to that burning question. (pun intended)
Romans 8:1 NKJV
There is therefore now no condemnation (of hell) to those who are in Christ Jesus.To be in Christ Jesus is to believe in Him. Not by sight but through faith.
Condemnation and hell are inexplicably linked together.
Psalm 34:22 NKJV
The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.John 3:19 NKJV
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.Jesus is the light of the world. Those who do not see Him or believe in Him are in outer darkness.
Hell is often compared to outer darkness.
Again the connection between those who do not see Jesus through faith are in outer darkness.
In a scientific sense we say, without a source of light, there is a natural darkness. Darkness is the absence of light. Since Jesus is the light of the world, those who do not see or believe in Him are in darkness.
1 Peter 2:9 NKJV
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who (called you out of darkness) into His marvelous light.John 12:46 NKJV
I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.Darkness is the absence of the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
John 5:28 NKJV
Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His Voice.To hear Jesus is through the word of God.
Romans 10:17 NKJV
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.John 5:24 NKJV
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.If anyone hears Jesus’s words and believes in the Father will not be in a state of judgment. Has passed from death into a born again life.
John 5:25 NKJV
Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and (now is) when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.Jesus announced the hour was coming and now is.
John 5:28 NKJV
Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice (Jesus)Those who are in their graves in a spiritual sense here. No one can hear God in their real grave. That’s why Jesus likened those who had rejected Him as graves and tombs.
Zechariah 13:9 NKJV
I will bring the one -third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”Jeremiah 17:10 NKJV
I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind.1 Peter 1:6-7 NKJV
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, [7] that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.The revelation (Apocalypse is a Greek word which means to uncover or reveal) of Jesus Christ and is not by sight but through faith.
1 Peter 1:8 NKJV
Whom (Jesus) having not seen you love. Though now you (do not see Him) yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.Seeing Jesus is through faith, not by sight.
John 20:29 NKJV
Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”We must look at what the definition of resurrection is:
Strong’s g386. Resurrection:
- Lexical: ἀνάστασις
- Transliteration: anastasis
- Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
- Phonetic Spelling: an-as’-tas-is
- Definition: a standing up, a resurrection, a raising up, rising.
- Origin: From anistemi; a standing up again, i.e. (literally) a resurrection from death (individual, genitive case or by implication, (its author)), or (figuratively) a (moral) recovery (of spiritual truth).
- Usage: raised to life again, resurrection, rise from the dead, that should rise, rising again.
Look at these descriptions of a resurrection:
A standing up, a rising up, raised to life again, a resurrection from the dead and lastly and lastly, a recovery of spiritual truth.
These descriptions all pertain to a person who sees Jesus as the Son of God.
Paul writes about a new born again experience as he uses these very descriptions of a resurrection.
Colossians 3:1 NKJV
If then you were (raised) with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.1 Thessalonians 3:8 NKJV
For now we (live) if you (stand fast) in the Lord.Romans 5:1-2 NKJV
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, [2] through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which (we stand), and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.Ephesians 1:13 NKJV
In Him you also trusted, after you heard (the word of truth), the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.John 14:6 NKJV
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.This resurrection is a born again experience right now in our frail and mortal bodies.
Isaiah 11:3-4 NKJV
His (Jesus) delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; [4] But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He (Jesus) shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.Isaiah 66:15-16 NKJV
For behold, the LORD will come with fire And with His chariots, like a whirlwind, To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire. [16] For by fire and by His sword The LORD will judge all flesh; And the slain of the LORD shall be many.Jesus’s rebuke was a burning fire of jealousy and His fire is never quenched. The Pharisees, scribes, lawyers were rejecting Him as their King and savior.
How is hell associated with worms that never die?
Isaiah 66:24 NKJV
For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched.Jesus used this verse from Isaiah in Mark chapter 9 concerning hands, feet and eyes that sin, worms that don’t die, hell and fire.
Mark 9:42 NKJV
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.Mark 9:43-48 NKJV
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched- [44] where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’ [45] And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched- [46] where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.’ [47] And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire- [48] where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’This story is well known and is at the root of the misunderstanding of hell.
It is quite simple when you break it down.
Jesus is speaking to those who cause His believers (little ones) to stumble.
Mark 9:42 NKJV – But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble.
How can anyone stumble that believe in Jesus?
By confusing believers about earning grace through works and adherence to laws.
Romans 11:6 NKJV
And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.Looking at hands, feet and eyes that cause sin.
We sin with our minds and our hearts.
My hands and feet cannot sin by themselves. My eyes by themselves cannot sin. These are symbolically used to show sin without a Savior.
We are all sinners saved by grace through faith. Period.
There is only one way to have our sins forgiven and that is through the Lamb of God. Period.
How can our hands, feet and eyes cause us to sin?
The Kingdom of God is at hand. We must be hand in hand with our Lord Jesus Christ through marriage.
Romans 7:4 NKJV
Therefore, my brethren, you also have become (dead to the law) through the body of Christ, that you may be (married to another-to Him) who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.Our feet walk united with Christ, the Savior of the body, the church.
Ephesians 5:23 NKJV
For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.Romans 6:5 NKJV
For if we have been (united together) in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV – Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² (looking unto Jesus) the author and finisher of our faith.
Psalm 25:15 NKJV
My eyes are ever toward the LORD, For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.Jesus came into the world to take our sins away.
1 John 3:5 NKJV
And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.1 John 3:6 NKJV
Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him (blind) nor known Him.Dwells in him by faith and stands fast in him, being rooted and grounded in him, and abides by him, his truths and ordinances, takes up his rest, and places his security in him, and perseveres through him.
Luke 9:62 NKJV
But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”Looking back by not practicing righteousness. Righteousness can only come through faith, not by works, that no one should boast.
What boast do we have?
Psalm 34:2 NKJV
My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.The Apostle Paul, whose name means, “humble”, writes about righteousness:
Galatians 6:14 NKJV
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.So our hands, feet and eyes are constantly reaching out, walking with and looking towards the Lord through faith in which we abide and in which we stand.
What about worms that never die?
Jesus uses worms symbolically to describe mankind.
Worms have characteristics that are intertwined with non believers.
Worms are blind.
Worms are earthly.
Worms prefer darkness
Worms are afraid of the light.
Worms eat from the dust of the ground.
Worms will die from exposure to the sun.They find all the nutrition they need in the ground.
Worms live in the ground.
Isaiah 41:14 NKJV
“Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,” says the LORD And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.Job 25:4-6 NKJV
How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman? [5] If even the moon does not shine, And the stars are not pure in His sight, [6] How much less man, who is a maggot, And a son of man, who is a worm?”The least we can say from these passages is that one meaning the term “worm” has when applied to man is that he is unclean, unrighteous, unacceptable to God. The image is used probably because worms are dirty not only on the outside, but they are filled with dirt on the inside.
Isaiah 66:24 NKJV – For their worm does not die.
How does this apply here?
Think about the Pharisees and scribes.
Their inner (dirty) self was righteous (in their own eyes) and did not need to repent.
Baptism represents a turning away from our unclean sinful flesh.
Why would the Pharisees and scribes need a baptism?
Luke 5:31-32 NKJV
Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. [32] I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”Luke 7:30 NKJV
But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him (John the Baptist)The Pharisees and scribes would not die to their self righteousness (inner worm)
The wrath of God is the fire (judgment) that is never quenched.
Hell is a current state of spirituality. Those who believe in Jesus as the Son of God are not in the condemnation of hell. Those who reject Him as the Son of God are in a state of condemnation.
That’s hell.
Eternal life for believers.
Eternal separation from God for non believers.
Those who believe in Jesus are joined to Him through the Holy Spirit and are alive spirituality.
Those who do not believe in Jesus are dead spiritually. In the grave (hell)
1 Corinthians 6:17 NKJV
But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.Ecclesiastes 9:4 NKJV
But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.Galatians 2:17 NKJV
“But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!Galatians 2:18 NKJV
For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.Those who attempt to be justified through “the works of the law” are “cursed” (3:10). If anyone attempts to reassert the “works of the law” as having any part in justification before God, the law itself convicts that person of being a transgressor.
Galatians 2:19-20 NKJV
For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. [20] I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.Paul was dead to sin only by the righteousness through faith in Christ.
The just (Justified) shall (Live) by faith.
Hell is not a eternal place of torment but a current state of condemnation.
I cannot image speaking to someone about losing a loved one (non believer) and stating that their loved one will be tortured forever and ever in hell.
At least, hopefully, you can see a new perspective to what hell really is.
The antidote to the condemnation of hell is simply believing in Jesus. Now isn’t that good news.
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Sinners saved by Grace
Are we the Pharisees of today?
The Pharisees caught a woman in the very act of adultery and brought her to Jesus for judgment and His response was,
John 8:7
“He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”
They of course did not throw any stones at her but left one by one. Then Jesus turned His attention to the woman and said,
John 8:10-11
“Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” [11] She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you.
John 3:17
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Do we not have a tendency to judge people based on what we see. The Pharisees saw sinners with disgust. Consequently, Jesus openly accepted sinners to sit with Him.
Matthew 9:11-12
And when the Pharisees saw that, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” [12] When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Repentance means turning to God for help, acknowledging that we are sick and sinful and that we need a Physician to heal us. The Apostle Paul spoke about his need for a Physician as he repented and turned to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 1:15
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
Jesus’s name means, The LORD will save.
Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Seeing Him as the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world is seeing by believing. Not by sight, but through faith.
We are all sinners saved by grace. Let us stop judging others by what they do or don’t do. Good people don’t go to Heaven, forgiven people do.
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The Clouds of Heaven:
The Clouds of heaven:
Revelation 1:7 NKJV
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him.This verse is widely thought by most to be a prophecy in the future. Reading the verse verbatim, Jesus will be seen with clouds. Every person will see Jesus even those who pierced Him.
I believe Revelation 1:7 is simply misinterpreted and I will present my thoughts based on scripture as I let scripture interpret scripture.
In short, I believe I can show through various verses that the clouds in Revelation 1:7 refer to those who have been raised to new life through the Holy Spirit. They are born again and metaphorically raised as a cloud is lifted up from its state of water. He will be in the clouds, with the clouds and on the clouds. The all eyes seeing Him refers to Jews and Gentiles. Seeing Him through faith, not by sight. Those who pierced Him were the Romans.
Jesus spoke about this coming event in Matthew, Mark and Luke. He said, in short, He, as the Son of Man, would be seen sitting at the right hand of the power and coming in, on and with the clouds of heaven.
He added that some of those who were listening would not see death or die until that happened.
He also stated in Matthew, Mark and John that this generation would not pass away until He returned.
He even added that His disciples would not have time to go through the cities of Israel as they ministered before He came. Remembering that they were instructed by Him to wait in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit and then He commanding them to go through Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the world.
Before continuing on, these two prophecies from Jesus must be carefully observed and refected on. Was this a exaggeration or a fact?
I believe it’s a fact. But most believe it must be an exaggeration since He has not been seen for over 2000 years.
Most believe He was speaking about another generation in the future.
Looking further at more statements from Jesus about His coming.
In the last chapter written in Revelation Jesus says three times, He is coming quickly. So I thought I needed to see what quickly meant in the original Greek language. To me it means, like right now. When my mom asked me to clean my room and added quickly, it meant with no delay. If she said clean your room, then there could be quite a delay, at least on my part. If Jesus says He’s coming quickly, I assume He’s coming quickly.
Strong’s g5035. Quickly:
– Lexical: ταχύ
– Transliteration: tachu
– Part of Speech: Adverb
– Phonetic Spelling: takh-oo’
– Definition: quickly, speedily.
– Origin: Neuter singular of tachus (as adverb); shortly, i.e. Without delay, soon, or (by surprise) suddenly.The highlights of the word quickly are speedily, without delay, suddenly.
Something seems amiss here. It has been almost 2000 years since Jesus left in a cloud. Billions of people since, have lived their lives looking for Jesus to appear in, on or with clouds and have died without witnessing that event.
Could we have made a mistake in reading His return? Usually if people find errors within God’s word, it probably means were interpreting the meaning incorrectly.
Is Jesus at the right hand of God right now?
Yes He is and we know that through scripture.
In Acts Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of the Power.
Acts 7:55-56 NKJV
Stephen, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, [56] and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”We know therefore that Jesus’s prophecy about Him at the right hand of the power has taken place.
Where did He say this at?
Luke 22:69 NKJV
Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.”Acts 2:32-33 NKJV
This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. [33] Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.Sounds to me like He’s definitely at the right hand of God right now.
Matthew 26:64 NKJV
I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”Mark 13:26 NKJV
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.Luke 21:27 NKJV
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.Mark 14:62 NKJV
Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”But He also added that He was going to come in, on and with the clouds of heaven. Every eye would see it.
Why do we have to believe Jesus has to come back in a visible form? Many people will not believe in Jesus unless they see it with their very eyes. We either believe in Jesus through faith by not seeing or we have to see it to believe it first. I believe by seeing Him through faith. That’s frequently how God interacted throughout the old testament. He speaks and we either believe it or not. Usually there is a period after He speaks to observe our faith.
Continuing on with Revelation 1:7.
Breaking down this much misinterpreted verse is absolutely necessary.
Revelation 1:7 NKJV
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him.There are three prophecies within this verse.
But before we read the prophecies we see the word behold.
Strong’s g2400. Behold.
– Definition: See! Lo! Behold! Look!
Perhaps pay attention is another to add.
Three prophecies:
1) He (Christ) is coming, and with clouds.
2) Every eye will see Him (Christ).
3) even they (Gentiles) who pierced Him (Christ Jesus)
Let’s start with the third prophecy from above.
Even they who pierced Him.
First of all, who is the ‘they’, who pierced Him? (Jesus)
The Roman’s, who are considered Gentiles did.
When did they pierce Him?
While Jesus, who was presumed dead was still nailed to the cross.
Why did they pierce Him?
They checked to see if Jesus was really dead.
The Jews had asked Pontius Pilate to remove the bodies from the cross which is explained in the following from John chapter 19 starting with verse 31.
John 19:31 NKJV
Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.Preparation Day. This refers to Friday, the day before or “the preparation” day for the Sabbath and dead bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath. The normal Roman practice was to leave crucified men and women on the cross until they died (and this could take days) and then leave their rotting bodies hanging there to be devoured by vultures. This was against Mosaic law in Deuteronomy 21: 22-23. Such a person was under God’s curse, and to leave him exposed would be to desecrate the land in their minds. Their legs might be broken, in order to quicken death. Roman soldiers would smash the legs of the victim with an iron mallet. Not only did this action induce shock and additional loss of blood, but it prevented the victim from pushing with his legs to keep breathing and thus the victim died due to asphyxiation.
John 19:32 NKJV
Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him.The two thieves were still alive, but not for long.
John 19:33 NKJV
But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.This fulfilled three prophecies from the old testament about Jesus’s bones.
1) Exodus 12:46 NKJV Nor shall you break one of its bones.
This concerning the Passover Lamb. A type of Jesus.
2) Numbers 9:12 NKJV They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones.
Again, this concerning the Passover Lamb.
3) Psalm 34:20 NKJV He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.
This is literally true of Christ, in whom the type of the passover lamb had its accomplishment.
How do we know that these three prophecies were fulfilled concerning Jesus and His bones?
John places an emphasis on this with the following two verses.
John 19:35 NKJV
And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.John 19:36 NKJV
For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.”The three scriptures about His bones from the old testament were fulfilled. Period.
Now the next verse is concerning the piercing of Jesus by the Romans.
John 19:34 NKJV
But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.But, if Jesus was dead already, why would the soldier’s pierce him?
To know whether he was really dead; and which was so ordered by divine providence, that it might beyond all doubt appear that he really died, and was not taken down alive from the cross; so that there might be no room to call in question the truth of his resurrection, when he should appear alive to them. The Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Jesus.
Was this also a prophecy that was fulfilled from the old testament?
Below is the prophecy from Zechariah written centuries before Christ appeared.
Zechariah 12:10 NKJV
“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced.John below indicates that the prophecy of Zechariah 12:10 were fulfilled at the cross.
How can we be sure about that. By reading in context and in order by John himself as follows:
John 19:34-37 NKJV
But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. [35] And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. [36] For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” [37] And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”Again, there should be no debate when this prophecy was fulfilled as it is repeated again below.
Zechariah 12:10 NKJV
“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced.John 19:37 NKJV
“They shall look on Him (Jesus) whom they pierced.”Who looked upon him?
The Roman’s or the Gentiles did look upon Jesus as we can see from the following verses.
Matthew 27:54 NKJV
So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”Mark 15:39 NKJV
So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”They saw Jesus as the Son of God.
An interesting note must be addressed right now. The two verses from Matthew and Mark concerning the Centurion and others proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God. What miracle did Jesus perform while on the cross? The Centurion and those with him had witnessed nothing but a cruel death. Jesus did not jump down from the cross, nor had they yet seen His resurrection. Perhaps they had already seen or heard about the many miracles He had already performed.
In Luke chapter 7, Jesus is asked by a Centurion to heal a friend of his. At the end of the story is this verse about faith.
Back in Capernaum, a Roman centurion asked Jesus to heal one of his servants who was dying. However, he did not expect Jesus to come to his house. Being an army officer, he operated in a system of authority where he needed only to give a command and it was carried out. He believed that Jesus carried the authority of God, and he needed only to say the word and the servant would be healed.
Jesus saw that this Roman had more faith than the Jews. He used the incident to warn the Jews that many of them would be left out of God’s kingdom, but Gentiles from countries far and near would, because of their faith, be included
Luke 7:9 NKJV
When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”The Centurion and the others saw Jesus for Who He truly is, the Son of God.
All eyes and all flesh shall see Him for Who He is. The Son of God.
Below is a prophecy concerning the Gentiles.
Isaiah 52:15 NKJV
For what had not been told them they shall see, And what they had not heard they shall consider.To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see, and they that have not heard shall understand; for the Messiah was not spoken of to the Gentiles; they were strangers to the covenants of promise; the oracles of God were committed to the Jews; God gave his word and statutes to them, and not to any other nation: and yet, according to this prophecy, the Gentiles were to see him whom they had no account of; not in the flesh with their bodily eyes, in which sense only, or at least chiefly, the Jews saw him; but with the eyes of their understanding, by faith, as exhibited and evidently set forth before them as crucified, in the Gospel and the ordinances of it: and though they had heard nothing of him, having for many hundreds of years been left in ignorance, and suffered to walk in their own ways, until the apostles were sent among them; whose sound went into all the earth, and their words to the end of the world; yet when this would be the case, according to these words, they would understand the mind and will of God, the mysteries of his grace, the nature of the person and offices of Christ, the design of his coming into the world, and the way of salvation by him; all which was greatly brought about and accomplished, in the ministry of the Apostle Paul among them.
Romans 15:8 NKJV
Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers.Jesus sent his disciples to the lost sheep of Israel.
Matthew 10:5 NKJV
These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.A Gentile woman seeks Jesus and He tells the woman:
Matthew 15:24 NKJV
“I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”These verses fulfill prophecy of the old testament.
Jeremiah 50:6 NKJV
“My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray.Jeremiah 23:2-4 NKJV
Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the LORD. [3] “But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. [4] I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking,” says the LORD.Christ as a minister or preacher in the personal discharge of his prophetic office, was sent only to the Jews; among them he lived, and to them he only preached; nor did he allow his apostles to preach to any other till after his resurrection; and which is a manifest proof that he received the Jews, and took them under his care, and showed a particular regard unto them.
Paul confirms the many prophecies of the Gentiles receiving the grace of God in the Old testament.
Romans 15:9-12 NKJV
and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name.” [10] And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!” [11] And again: “Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!” [12] And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”Isaiah 40:5 NKJV
The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”Not the Jews only, but Gentiles also; not with their bodily eyes, but with the eyes of their understanding; even the salvation of the Lord, and his glory, as displayed in it, being set forth in the everlasting Gospel to the view of all.
Isaiah 42:6 NKJV
“I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles.To all people, not only Jews, but Gentiles also, as it follows.
For a light of the Gentiles; to enlighten them with true and saving knowledge. The Gentiles would have light of the knowledge and see Jesus as the light of the world.
Revelation 1:7 NKJV
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him.Every eye will see Him is concerning the eyes of the Jews and Gentiles.
The prophecy from Joel 2:28 is about the Holy Spirit poured out on all flesh.
Joel 2:27-28 NKJV
Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. God’s Spirit Poured Out [28] “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh.The Holy Spirit was poured out on those who believed. Not on all people but those who believed through faith. Gentiles and Jews ( All Flesh )
But what about seeing Jesus coming with the clouds?
Clouds are a metaphorical expression for His Ministers who drop down the latter rain of the gospel message.
Proverbs 16:15 NKJV
In the light of the king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain.Zechariah 10:1 NKJV
Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.His witnesses.
Acts 1:8 NKJV
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”His witnesses were also in the old testament as prophets.
1 Peter 1:10-11 NKJV
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, [11] searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them.the Spirit of Christ (Who) was in them.
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.The phrase, “a cloud of witnesses,” means many witnesses. People, who have been given new life through the Holy Spirit. A raised state. Born again.
Colossians 3:1 NKJV
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.These clouds of witnesses are those who have been given this Spirit. They have been raised as an expression concerning clouds. Their not really clouds obviously.
Those witnesses were Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Issac, Jacob, Moses, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets.
The author of Hebrews refers to them as clouds. They had the Holy Spirit in them. They are referred as holy prophets.
Luke 1:69-70 NKJV
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, [70] As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began.Jesus leaves in a cloud and will come back in a cloud.
Acts 1:9 NKJV
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.Acts 1:11 NKJV
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”Jesus gave examples of His coming back as the exalted and risen Son of Man.
How would He return? In a cloud.
Christ In the clouds of heaven.
John 14:18 NKJV
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.Christ with the clouds of heaven.
Matthew 18:20 NKJV
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”Christ on the clouds of heaven.
Colossians 1:18 NKJV
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.Revelation 14:14 NKJV
Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown.Clouds are vapors of water which have risen.
Colossians 3:1 NKJV
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.Christ is at the right hand of God.
Numbers 21:8-9 NKJV
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” [9] So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.The lifting up of this serpent on a pole for such a purpose was a figure of the lifting up of Christ, either upon the cross, or in the ministry of the word, that whosoever looks unto him by faith may have healing.
John 3:14 NKJV
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,…. The history referred to is in Numbers 21:8. There is, in many things, an agreement between this serpent, and Jesus Christ: as in the matter of it, it was a brazen serpent; it was made not of gold, nor of silver, but of brass, the meaner metal, and was a very unlikely means, of itself, to heal the Israelites; and might be despised by many: this may denote the meanness of Christ in his human nature, in his birth and parentage, and place of education and converse; and especially in his crucifixion and death; and which, to an eye of carnal sense and reason, seemed a very improbable means of saving sinners; and therefore were to some a stumbling block, and to others foolishness: though on the other hand, as brass is a shining metal, and might be chose for the serpent in the wilderness to be made of, that by the lustre of it the eyes of the Israelites might be attracted and directed to it, who were at the greatest distance in the camp; so it may be expressive of the glory of Christ, as the only begotten of the Father, and who is the brightness of his Father’s glory; and which is the great attractive, motive, and inducement to engage souls to look unto him, and believe in him, Isaiah 45:22; and whereas brass is both a strong and durable metal, it may signify the strength of Christ, who is the mighty God, and mighty to save; and his duration, as a Saviour, being the same today, yesterday, and for ever: likewise, the comparison between the serpent Moses lifted up, and Christ, may be observed in the form of it. The brazen serpent had the form of a serpent, but not the poison and venomous nature of one; so Christ was sent, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and was found in fashion as a man, as a sinful man, but was without sin, and was perfectly holy; and yet being in this form, was made both sin and a curse, that he might redeem his people both from sin, and from the curse of the law, by dying a death which denominated him accursed, of which the serpent was, an emblem: besides, this serpent was a fiery one; at least it looked like one of the fiery serpents, being of brass, which shone as though it burned in a furnace; and may be an emblem both of Christ’s Father’s wrath, which was poured out like fire upon him, and of his love to his people, which was like burning fire, the coals whereof gave a most vehement flame.
Jesus said He would come back to us, not leaving us orphans. The Holy Spirit of Christ is meant. Seeing Him for Who He is by faith is meant here. Every eye will see Him (by faith). Those who pierced Him refers to the Roman’s or more specifically, the Gentiles.
So in conclusion, why are we still looking up to the sky to see Jesus return. His disciples were told that He would return just as He left. In a cloud.
Those who have had the gift of new life through the Holy Spirit have been transformed into the clouds of heaven. -
Jesus heals a blind man
Men Like Trees Walking:
Mark 8:22-25 NKJV
Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. [23] So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. [24] And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” [25] Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.I have always been baffled by this story. Men like trees walking? What is this story about? What’s up with trees like men and somehow walking no less? This is a mysterious parable no doubt. The parable is very short. It involves a blind man and Jesus who cures him.
Tree’s are represented in the bible from the first chapter in Genesis to the last chapter in Revelation. There’s the tree of life, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the parable of the trees in Judges, and many metaphorical references of trees as men, the barren fig tree parable, roots of tree’s, the mustard seed becoming a great tree, roots, branches, vines, leaves, green wood, dry wood, Jesus carrying a tree, hung on a tree and many many more.
I believe there is a powerful message in this story.
First off, the man was blind.
Jesus was asked to make him see.
Jesus always seemed to fulfill scripture from the old testament.
Luke 24:44 NKJV
Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”Psalm 146:8 NKJV
The LORD opens the eyes of the blind;Isaiah 42:16 NKJV
I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.Jesus took the blind man by His hand and led him out of town. Perhaps because Jesus rebuked the city of Bethsaida in Matthew 11:21.
Matthew 11:21 NKJV
Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.Or perhaps this is how Jesus cures His followers out of darkness or blindness as He leads us out of the world into His church by His hand.
Here is a Greek definition of the word Church.
Strong’s g1577. Church:
- Lexical: ἐκκλησία
- Transliteration: ekklésia
- Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
- Phonetic Spelling: ek-klay-see’-ah
- Definition: an assembly, congregation, church; the Church, the whole body of Christian believers.
- Origin: From a compound of ek and a derivative of kaleo; a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both).
Remember the church is not a building made with hands, well, human hands. It is the body of Christ and all who are joined to Him through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus took him away from those who were truly blind to Him.
He takes the blind man by the hand, which expresses his condescension, grace, and mercy, and becomes his guide and leader; and a better, and safer guide he cannot have; he brings him by a way he know not, and leads him in paths he had not known before; makes darkness light before him, and crooked things straight, and does not forsake him: he takes him apart, and separates him from the rest of the world; again, much like the church is called out from the world into the assembly of saints.
As the story goes after spitting on his eyes and placing His hands on him, Jesus asked if he saw anything?
The man replied, after looking up, he saw men like trees walking.
Jesus didn’t ask the blind man to look up but asked if he saw anything.
The blind man looked up towards heaven and saw men as tall as trees walking.
Obviously to Jesus he was still blind as He continued to treat his blindness.
A important observation must be made right here. Why does Jesus need two attempts to make this man see? There is a reason that Jesus needed two attempts and it isn’t because Jesus failed the first time. Seriously?
I believe the story is about mankind and how we gravitate in looking up to them.
So after hearing this, Jesus put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up.
Jesus made him look up towards heaven.
Psalm 39:7 NKJV
“And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.Psalm 5:3 NKJV
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.Stiffnecked people dont look up.
Jesus knew where to look for His help and it wasn’t in man.
John 2:25 NKJV
and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.That there is no good in man naturally, nothing but what comes from his Father, is imparted by himself, or implanted by his Spirit; he knows the wickedness there is in man, that his heart is deceitful and desperately wicked.
Jesus knew His help and dependence came from above.
Time and time again Jesus looked up to heaven.
Matthew 14:19 NKJV
Jesus, looking up to heaven,Mark 7:34 NKJV
Jesus, looking up to heaven,Jesus made the blind man look up to where help can be given, from God.
This time the blind man didn’t see men like trees walking.
This time the blind man saw everyone clearly.
To see Jesus over mankind is to see clearly and to be restored.
To be blind is to look up towards men.
There are many today who are blind as they look up and see men like trees walking.
To walk with God we must look up and see Christ through faith because He is the only way to get to the Father.
Seeing is believing.
John 20:25-29 NKJV
The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” [26] And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” [27] Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” [28] And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” [29] Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.An important verse follows:
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Not seeing is believing.
Not seeing and believing is called faith.
Hebrews 11:1 NKJV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.Don’t look up to men.
Look up and see Christ Jesus.
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Clouds of Heaven 