ASH WEDNESDAY MEDITATION 2014

Photo by The ORDER of The GOOD SHEPHERD+

Azaleas Hidden in The Woods

Ash Wednesday Meditation

the first day

of the Pre-Passover Preparations 

for the sacrifice of the Passover LAMB+

commonly known as "Lent"

The Collect from 

The Book of Common Prayer... 

Almighty and everlasting GOD, 

Who hatest nothing that THOU hast made, 

and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; 

Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, 

that we, 

worthily lamenting our sins 

and acknowledging our wretchedness, 

may obtain of THEE, The GOD of all mercy, 

perfect remission and forgiveness; 

through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. 

Amen.

Old Testament Lesson: Leviticus 17:11

For the Life of the flesh is in the BLOOD, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an ATONEMENT for your souls; for it is the BLOOD that maketh an atonement for the soul. 

QUIETUDE: A time to Reflect about the BLOOD+

RESPONSE: 

Worthy is The LAMB+. 

Worthy is The LAMB+. 

WORTHY is The LAMB+ that was slain,

to receive power and riches and wisdom 

and strength and honor and glory 

and blessing! 

Amen. 

Lesson from the Epistles: 2 Corinthians 5:9,10

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent to be well pleasing to HIM+.  

For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of CHRIST, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 

QUIETUDE: A time to repent.

RESPONSE:  

LORD, have mercy upon us. 

CHRIST, have mercy upon us. 

LORD, have mercy upon us. 

And let not the enemy exact upon us, 

for our trust is in THEE+. 

AMEN.

The GOSPEL Lesson: Mark 9:43- 44  ~ ~ ~ 

The Words of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST ~ ~ ~ 

"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 into Hell, 

... into the fire that never shall be quenched, 

... where their worm dieth not 

and the fire is not quenched."

The WORD of The LORD.  

THANKS BE TO GOD !

Meditation ~ ~ ~

Just how AWFUL is sin ... to you ? Your sin is worse than others' sins, you know.  Do you hate sin in your life so badly that you are willing to cut off your own hand rather than to keep sinning ? 

Few of us are willing to do this. 

Yet, the Promise of Life to those who hate their own sin rightfully is this: your hand will be RESTORED WHOLE again when you Enter the Kingdom of Life Eternal with JESUS ! You will lose nothing that you have discarded in fighting your own sinful flesh when you pass into the Heavenlies. You will be rewarded for every stand you have taken against your own sin. 

As a matter of fact, you WIN ! 

Let us pray: 

O Gracious Heavenly FATHER, in the Name of Thy HOLY SON+ JESUS CHRIST,  WHO+ for the joy that was set before HIM+ endured the Cross, I come to THEE, afraid of the consequences of my own sin in my own life.  

I have not loved THEE+ as I ought.

   

I have not forsaken all.

  

I have harbored things in my heart 

that I KNOW are unworthy of a follower of THEE+.

   

I have lifted up my "know-it-all" spirit 

and done presumptuous sin.

I acknowledge myself to be in need of Thy+ cleansing 

and reformation power.

O, LORD, I am in desperate need of Thy+ cleansing. Change me, O LORD. Have mercy upon me. Extend Thy+ mercy with Thy+ Cleansing BLOOD unto me, a sinner.

This I pray in The Sight of The FATHER, The SON+, and The HOLY SPIRIT. 

Amen.      

FEARING The LORD... With All Due Respect . . .

But I will forewarn you

Whom ye shall fear:

Fear HIM,

which after HE hath killed

hath power to cast into hell;

yea, I say unto you,

Fear HIM.

.

The Word of The LORD JESUS CHRIST to His+ Disciples,

Recorded in Luke 12:5

.

Bless GOD, we attend a Christian assembly which does not hallow war among men. The members of this assembly LIVE differently.

.

Any visitor can quietly discern that because there is no national icon waving behind this pulpit, neither do they make a distinction in prayer about which nationality of soldiers to pray for: they pray that ALL may be saved and ALL the swords of every nation will be beaten into plowshares and pruning hooks.

.

They know that ALL men are dead men... unless they know The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

.

Furthermore, political statements are NEVER heard from this pulpit because they know something: they know that Christians are living in The Kingdom of GOD and thus, serve another KING, an Infallible ONE+ Who+ doesn't need votes or guns or lies to stay in power.

.

Thus, on this day set up to honor the slain of an earthly warring kingdom and to crow about its military prowess, let us keep in mind The ONE Whom we should truly fear for HIS might and power.

.

...For, HE+ cometh...

for HE+ cometh

to judge* the earth;

.

HE+ shall judge* the world

with righteousness,

and the people with HIS Truth.

.

Psalm 96:13

*This verb "to judge" means

to pronounce an unescapable sentence of execution

upon someone... or some "thing."

.

+ + +

RESURRECTION SEASON ~ ~ ~ Day 28 --- Of Gates and Keys

Resurrection Season ~ Day 28 ~

Of Gates and Keys

For the Year of Our LORD, 4.19.2008

Speaking of Gates and Keys, look at the gates in Psalm 24, the gates that lead into the Heavenly Realm. Our LORD has entered into them, IN HIS+ TRIUMPHANT, GLORIFIED BODY ! Keep in mind these gates are NOT OPENED to everybody... or every spiritual entity. The Rebellious ones who were involved in the great insurrection against GOD eons ago would like nothing better than to usurp HIS Authority... if they could.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates:

and be ye lift up,

ye Everlasting Doors;

And the King of Glory shall come in.

Who is this King of Glory?

The LORD strong and mighty,

the LORD mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates:

even lift them up,

ye Everlasting Doors;

and the King of Glory shall come in.

Who is this King of Glory?

The LORD of Hosts,

HE+ is the King of Glory.

Psalm 24: 7-10

+ + +

[...Just a note about the hosts in this verse. Heavenly Hosts refer to the large amount of Heavenly Ones, angelic beings, Heavenly warriors, who are on the LORD'S side. HOSTS do not refer to the "stars" of the sky. There is a different Hebrew word which refers to the natural stars in the sky. In English, we know the word as sabbaoth. That means Heavenly beings or warriors, if it is talking about The LORD. Otherwise, sabbaoth means an army . .. but never the stars in the sky. Some hymns have erroneously confused this concept also.]

+ + +


The Resurrection of JESUS CHRIST… the most life-changing event in human history!

+ + +

RESURRECTION SEASON ~ ~ DAY 14 ~~ Part 4, In the Heart of the Earth

Resurrection Season ~ ~ ~ Day 14
… In the Heart of the Earth, Part 4
for the Year of Our LORD, 4.5.2008

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell;
neither wilt thou suffer
thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psalm 16:10

From Scripture, we now see that Our LORD descended into hell [Hades Gk./Sheol Heb.] to preach the GOSPEL of His+ Salvation to the departed spirits.

For to this end also the GOSPEL WAS PREACHED TO THE DEAD ONES, that they might truly be judged according to men in the flesh, but might live according to GOD in the Spirit. (I Peter 4:6, Gk)

Our LORD preached to several groups in the stronghold or prison of the departed spirits, according to ancient Christian writings. (See yesterday’s blog). One group indicated in Scripture would include those righteous ones who died under the Patriarchal Covenant. Another group would have been those who died righteously under the Mosaic Covenant.

+ + +

I Peter 3 tells us plainly that those who died during the time of Noah… who were formerly unrighteous / disobedient… were also presented the GOSPEL. We surmise that the departed souls and spirits of people in that unrighteous group would have NOT had the opportunity to enter the Patriarchal Covenant before they died.

+ + +

We know, from Scriptures, that His+ preaching brought joy !


“Your father Abraham leaped for joy that he should see My+ day: and he saw and rejoiced,” The LORD said to the Pharisees and Jews. (Jay P. Green’s Interlinear Greek New Testament, recorded in John 8:56.).

What could have made
Abraham, (Moses, Elijah, etc.)
so glad?

What happens when the GOSPEL is preached… and preached with great signs, wonders, and power?

The CHURCH IS FORMED!

The LORD JESUS CHRIST was the first-born from the dead (Col. 1:15, Rev. 1:5) and become the firstfruits of them that slept (I Cor. 15:20) .

It MUST have made their hearts rejoice to see The ONE+ Who+ was in the process of destroying the power of death. Likely, they were glad to hear the Voice of The LORD … and that, victoriously. They were most likely glad to hear the GOSPEL of His+ salvation being offered to them. And, most probably, they were very glad that HE+ Who+ had the power over death called them “My+ brethren !” (Heb. 2:11-15, Psalm 22:22)

Now, let us look at some Scriptures through the eyes of the departed spirits of men held captive in the heart of the earth.


· Psalm 74:12
For GOD is my King of old, working salvation in the midst [ inward parts, Heb.] of the earth.

· Psalm 49:15
But GOD will redeem (set free) my soul from the power of the grave, for HE shall receive me.

· Psalm 71:20

THOU, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken (make alive) me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.


Hosea 6:1-2

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for HE hath torn, and HE will heal us; HE hath smitten, and HE will bind us up. After two days will HE revive us: in the third day HE will raise us up, and we shall live in HIS sight.

+ + +

The familiar Messianic passage of Isaiah 61:1 says:

+

The Spirit of ADONAI JEHOVAH is upon ME; because JEHOVAH hath anointed ME to preach good tidings unto the meek; HE hath sent ME to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.

+

This Scripture refers to The LORD JESUS CHRIST because HE+ Himself told us it did, in Luke 4:18-21.

+

Now, let us read the Messianic passage of Isaiah 9:2-3 [and Luke 1:79] with our mind set upon The LORD JESUS' descent into hell (Hades, Sheol), preaching the GOSPEL of His+ Salvation unto the departed souls and spirits of mankind:

+

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they who dwell in the land of the shadow of death*** (i.e.... the phantoms, the spirits of the dead), light has shone on them. (*** See note at the end of the blog).

+ + +

When The LORD turns the captivity of Zion, the entire Psalm 126 speaks of great joy.

+ + +

Now then, there must have been a VERY, VERY GOOD reason for The LORD to descend into the heart of the earth to preach the GOSPEL to the spirits imprisoned in Sheol. An old 1902 article reprinted by the Sovereign Grace Advent Society in England several years ago said there was: it was to bring Old Covenant saints into one body in CHRIST, as per Phil. 2:10 ; I Cor. 12:13; and Eph. 4:4-8.

+

We recall Our LORD'S words in John 10:15-16 :

+

As The FATHER knoweth ME+, even so know I The FATHER; and I lay down MY+ life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring and they shall hear MY+ Voice; and there shall be one fold, and ONE SHEPHERD+.

+

Could these familiar words of CHRIST JESUS the LORD apply also to His+ work in forming the church in the heart of the earth, as well as to His+ work through The HOLY SPIRIT in forming the church upon the earth?

+

And, here is another note-worthy thought: If Our LORD opened to the disciples' understanding the Scriptures, as they walked on the road to Emmaus, could HE+ not also open the understanding of the captive souls and spirits of men in hell (Hades / Sheol) to the Living Word of GOD ?

(To be continued)

*** A note about The Shadow of Death:

This noteworthy phrase is usually understood in a poetic or metaphorical sense instead of being taken literally. However, there is GOOD EVIDENCE that the phrase could and should be understood more concretely. At the very least, the phrase should be considered to have a literal, concrete meaning which is EQUALLY as valid as the poetic.

+

For instance, Psalm 23 says: Yea, though I walk through the valley, gorge, plain of the phantom(s) or spirits of the dead, I will fear no evil for THOU are with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. [ Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+ translation.]

+

We found a very interesting root word for the entire phrase "shadow of death." In Strong's Concordance /Hebrew Dictionary, the word roots have these references: 6757 from 6738 from 6751, which from 6754. These numbers are closely related words.

+

The end result is this: shadow really means a shade or phantom or shadowy appearance. This brought us to the conclusion that the valley of the shadow of death was IN TRUTH the valley or gorge or plain of the phantoms(s) / shades of the dead, that is, Sheol.

+

This conclusion would make Psalm 23 a concrete reference to the departed spirits in Sheol (Hades / hell) , instead of only being a symbolic description of a believer going through very difficult times here on earth. This understanding could also be applied to Isaiah 9:2.

+ + +


Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell,
neither wilt thou suffer
thine Holy One to see corruption.
Acts 2: 22-27

The Resurrection of JESUS CHRIST
… the most life-changing event in human history.


+ + +

Resurrection Season - Day 13~ ~ Part 3, In the Heart of the Earth

Resurrection Season ~ ~ ~ Day 13
… In the Heart of the Earth, Part 3
for the Year of Our LORD, 4.4.2008

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell;
neither wilt thou suffer
thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psalm 16:10


The LORD JESUS CHRIST was quite busy during those 3 days and 3 nights HE+ was in the heart of the earth. Both Scriptures and the ancient Christian writings tell us HE+ preached while HE+ was down there. To whom did HE+ bring the glad tidings?


For to this end also
the GOSPEL WAS PREACHED
TO THE DEAD ONES,
that they might truly be judged
according to men in the flesh,
but might live according to GOD in the Spirit.
(I Peter 4:6, Gk)

TO WHOM DID HE+ PREACH THE GOSPEL?

Using the OGS Expanded Version from the Greek text, look at 1 Peter 3: 18, 19, and part of verse 20.

Because even CHRIST, one time, solely and uniquely, suffered concerning sins, the righteous on behalf of the unrighteous, that HE+ might bring us to GOD, having been put to death truly IN THE FLESH but having been made alive IN THE SPIRIT; by which also, going UNTO THE SPIRITS IN PRISON, HE+ proclaimed, heralded, announced, and PREACHED to the FORMERLY DISOBEYING ONES when one time, solely and uniquely, the long-suffering of GOD Himself was expectantly waiting in the days of Noah …

Scriptures tell us 1) The LORD JESUS in the spirit preached to the spirits in Hades/Sheol, the spirits of those who had died; 2) HE+ preached the GOSPEL; 3) HE+ preached to the disobedient ones who in the days of Noah died in the flood.

An Early Christian, Justin Martyr, found himself dialoguing with some Jewish men. He remonstrated with them as to why their rabbis had removed portions of the Prophetic Scriptures. Justin told them this was cut out from the writings of Jeremiah:

“The LORD GOD remembered His dead people of Israel who lay in the graves; and HE descended to preach to them His own salvation.” The serious group of Jewish men had no answer or excuse for Justin, as copies of the original Jeremiah were still available for anyone to read who cared to do so.

Another group to hear the GOSPEL would have been the Old Testament saints who died under the Patriarchal covenant (before Moses).

“Your father Abraham leaped for joy that he should see My+ day: and he saw and rejoiced,” The LORD said to the Pharisees and Jews. (Jay P. Green’s Interlinear Greek New Testament, recorded in John 8:56.).

The third group would have been all those who died righteously under the Mosaic Covenant. Included in this group would have been those in the Exodus and spoken of in the New Testament as “the church in the Wilderness,” Acts 7:38. Also included in this group would have been all the Old Testament saints during the time of the Judges and Kings of Israel and indeed, all the saints under the Old Covenant up through the death of the repentant thief on the cross.

Some may think that the souls and spirits of the dead were given a SECOND chance, a second opportunity to partake of Eternal Life, when The LORD JESUS preached to the dead. However, we hesitate to agree with that theory. Personally, we believe that HE+ preached to those “disobedient ones” who NEVER had the opportunity to hear about The GOD of Israel or who never had the opportunity to enter into the Old Covenant with Israel before they died. They would have gotten their first chance perhaps? The text is very clear that HE+ preached to a large group of “unrighteous/disobedient ones.”



“Your father Abraham leaped for joy that he should see My+ day: and he saw and rejoiced,” The LORD said to the Pharisees and Jews. (Jay P. Green’s Interlinear Greek New Testament, recorded in John 8:56.).

Whoever they were who were included in the count, could it be that the Old Covenant saints agreed with Abraham’s words in John 8:56 and were also glad to see His+ day?

What could have made them so glad?

(To be continued)


References from the Early Christian writings regarding the groups being preached to in Sheol / Hades (KJV “hell”):

· Irenaeus, AnteNicene Fathers (ANF), Vol. 1, Book IV (4), chapter 22, sections 1 and 2, pages 493-494; and also chapter 27, section 2, page 499. This was the Second Printing edition, June 1995.

· Recognitions of Clement, ANF, Vol. 8, Book I, chapter LII (52), page 91, “The Saints Before Christ’s Coming.”

· Clement of Alexandria, ANF, Vol. 2, Book VI (6), chapter 6, pages 490-492, “Stromata.”

· Epistle of the Apostles, New Testament Apocrypha, by M.R. Banks, sections 27 and 28, pages 494-495.

· Justin Martyr, ANF, Vol. 1, “Dialogue with Trypho,” chapter LXXII (72), page 235.




Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell,
neither wilt thou suffer
thine Holy One to see corruption.
Acts 2: 22-27

The Resurrection of JESUS CHRIST
… the most life-changing event in human history.


+ + +

RESURRECTION SEASON ~ DAY 12 ~ Part 2, In the Heart of the Earth

Resurrection Season ~ ~ ~ Day 12
… In the Heart of the Earth, Part 2
for the Year of Our LORD, 4.3.2008

For as Jonas was
three days and three nights
in the whale’s belly;
so shall the Son of Man+ be
three days and three nights
in the heart of the earth.
The Words of The LORD JESUS CHRIST,
recorded in Matthew 12:40

What happened during those 3 days and 3 nights HE+ spent in the heart of the earth? Yes, it was in the heart of the earth HE+ went. We recall Ephesians 4:8-10 which states the fact that HE+ first descended into the lower parts of the earth before HE+ ascended to His+ FATHER and our FATHER.

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell;
neither wilt thou suffer
thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psalm 16:10

+ + +

Our discussion yesterday was about hell. In a nutshell, the KJV translators used one word (hell) to translate four different words used in the original Greek and Hebrew texts.

One term was Tartarus, the hell reserved for fallen angelic beings.

The second term was Gehenna. It refers to the Lake of Burning Fire into which Death and Hell itself will be thrown. This Lake is unpopulated right now. (See yesterday’s blog.)

Further explanation can be found in Enoch I, chapter 22. This book is quoted by the Apostle Jude in the currently accepted Canon of Scripture, although the Book of Enoch was accepted by the Ancient Church in earlier times.

Then, there are two terms which refer to the same place in the heart of the earth, the repose of the dead: Hades, in the Greek text, and Sheol in the Hebrew text. All human beings’ souls and spirits descended into this place.

To complicate things a little more, the “hell” which was referring to Hades or Sheol was divided into 2 parts. Between them, was a deep chasm fixed and no-one (soul and spirit) was able to pass from one place to another. A shaft existed in the nethermost part which was said to lead to the abyss… the bottomless deep. (See yesterday’s blog.)

The repose of the RIGHTEOUS souls and spirits was in the part of Hades/Sheol called Abraham’s Bosom, Luke 16. Our LORD referred to this place as paradise when HE+ was talking to the repentant thief on the cross.

The place of torment for the UNRIGHTEOUS dead was in a separate part of Hades/Sheol, the nethermost region. Let us keep in mind that the souls and spirits of the dead were still alive in BOTH Abraham’s Bosom (Paradise) AND the section of Hades or Sheol filled with torments.

Let us remember Our LORD’S answer to the Sadducees who were mocking the resurrection. HE+ told them straightly that they did greatly err. The spirits of the dead Patriarchs were still alive.

“For HE is not a GOD of the dead, but of the living; for all live [are alive] unto HIM+,” the LORD JESUS said in Luke 20:34-38. (See also Mark 12:24-27 and Matthew 22:29-32)

+ + +

Which part of hell did The living soul and spirit of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST descend into, leaving His+ tired though uncorrupted, sinless body in the tomb? Scripture does NOT say that CHRIST would be kept OUT of hell (Hades, Sheol) but rather that His+ soul should not be LEFT there… as were all the souls and spirits of the dead, up to that time.

Which part was HE+ in for 3 days and 3 nights… and why?

Our LORD would not have gone into Tartarus, the place reserved for the punishment of the fallen angelic beings who corrupted the human race in Genesis 6. That was not the repose of the souls and spirits of dead humans.

Our LORD would not have gone into Gehenna, the Lake of Burning Fire of Revelation 20: 10-15. That Lake of Fire comes at the end of His+ thousand year reign and is unpopulated now. That is the place where HE+ deals with the devil, the beast, and the false prophet. They are thrown into it, as well as all those who are not found written in the LAMB’S Book of Life. These were all CHRIST-rejectors during their life on planet earth.

Yes, HE+ would have descended into the repose of the dead (Hades/ Sheol) because --- as with His+ birth, His+ earth-bound life, His+ physical agony on the cross, and His+ intense despair of heart at feeling forsaken by The FATHER--- Our LORD followed the Adamic line. HE+ too had to leave His+ body. His+ soul and spirit also had to descend into Hades/Sheol just like all the other human beings on earth. But, let us keep in mind that all human souls and spirits were still alive down there, although their Adamic, fleshly bodies had died due to Adam’s curse.


It is NOT clear the extent of the areas of Hades/ Sheol where HE+ went. Romans 10:7 states a question: “Who will go down into the deep (Gk: abyss ) that is, to bring CHRIST up from the dead?” We do know that HE+ did descend into the heart of the earth, Hades or Sheol, where all the departed souls and spirits of the dead humans went.

What was HE+ doing down there
… all that time ?

Let’s look at 1 Peter 3: 18, 19, and part of 20, using the OGS Expanded Version from the Greek text as well as the KJV.

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins,
[Because even CHRIST, one time, solely and uniquely,

suffered concerning sins ]


the just for the unjust,
[ the righteous on behalf of the unrighteous ]


that he might bring us to God,
[that HE+ might bring us to GOD]


being put to death in the flesh,
[having been put to death truly IN THE FLESH]

but quickened by the Spirit:
[but having been made alive IN THE SPIRIT]

By which also he went and
preached unto the spirits in prison;
[by which also, going UNTO THE SPIRITS IN PRISON,
HE+ proclaimed, heralded, announced, and preached
to the formerly disobeying ones ,]

Which sometime were disobedient,
when once the longsuffering of
God waited in the days of Noah…
[when one time, solely and uniquely,
the long-suffering of GOD Himself
was expectantly waiting in the days of Noah…]

I Peter 3: 18, 19, 20a OGS Expanded Version

At least one purpose of HIS+ descent was to preach the Gospel! This is the picture we see: The LORD left His+ body on the cross awaiting its burial by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. His+ Soul and Spirit descended into hell (Hades or Sheol, not Tartarus nor Gehenna). This is one thing Scripture in the words of the Apostle Peter tells us that HE+ did down there:

For to this end also
the GOSPEL WAS PREACHED
TO THE DEAD ONES,
that they might truly be judged
according to men in the flesh,
but might live according to GOD in the Spirit.
(I Peter 4:6, Gk)

TO WHOM DID HE+ PREACH THE GOSPEL?

The old accounts** verify HE+ preached to several groups in prison. Now, we do know HE+ did NOT preach in any civilized, governmental prison on earth, so this prison, this stronghold of the souls and spirits of men, must have been located in the heart of the earth where HE+ went. This prison was only for human souls and spirits. They were kept captive. They could not leave. Perhaps this is referred to in Psalm 146:7, which is an obvious reference to The LORD JESUS CHRIST and His+ work.

(To be continued)
** These references will be listed in the next blog.




Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell,
neither wilt thou suffer
thine Holy One to see corruption.
Acts 2: 22-27

The Resurrection of JESUS CHRIST
… the most life-changing event in human history.


+ + +

RESURRECTION SEASON ~ ~ ~ DAY 11 ... In the Heart of The Earth

Resurrection Season ~ ~ ~ Day 11
… In the Heart of the Earth
for the Year of Our LORD, 4.2.2008

For as Jonas was
three days and three nights
in the whale’s belly;
so shall the Son of Man+ be
three days and three nights
in the heart of the earth.

The Words of The LORD JESUS CHRIST,

recorded in Matthew 12:40




What happened

during those 3 days and 3 nights
HE+ spent in the heart of the earth?


However, before we look at what happened, we must first understand what the situation was "in the heart of the earth."

In short, we must take a reasonable look at HELL.


For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell;
neither wilt thou suffer
thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psalm 16:10

To the common mind, hell is a very hot place to which very bad people descend when they die. The KJV translators used hell as an umbrella term to cover four --- (yes, 4!!)--- different words used in the Greek and Hebrew Scriptures.

The first two, briefly, we will define, but it is the last two that will hold our focus.

Hell: Tartarus. This is a Greek word used only in 2 Peter 2:4. It refers to the place where fallen angelic beings are put, reserved for eternal fire at the final judgement.

Hell: Gehenna. This is a Greek word. It is the lake of burning fire of Revelation 19 and 20. Gehenna (Valley of Hinnom) was an actual valley near Jerusalem, west and southwest of it. Some old maps have it marked. A perpetual fire burned there of all manner of trash and refuse, including “unclean” dead bodies of both man and animal. It was here that Jeremiah’s TOPHET was located. (See Jer. 7:31 and chapter 19). Tophet had an altar where apostate Israel burned their sons and daughters as human sacrifices, much to the abhorrence of the LORD.

The LORD used Gehenna 11 times for hell in the Gospels. James used it once. Gehenna, without ceasing, destroys both body and soul (Mt. 5:22,29,30) … and is where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched… ( Mark 9: 43-48), the LORD JESUS said. Into this lake of burning fire (Gehenna) are thrown Death and Hades at the end of the LORD’S 1,000-year-reign upon the earth (Rev. 20:14). Isaiah 66:24 also has a curious reference about this lake of burning fire, using the same words as found in Mark 9.

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell;
neither wilt thou suffer
thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psalm 16:10

However, the focus of our discussion here concerns the other two terms translated as hell. In the Old Testament it is Sheol (Heb.) and in the New Testament the word is Hades (Gk). Both of these terms --- Hades and Sheol­­­--- refer to the same place, the abode of the unseen, the dead, the departed human soul & spirit. They both refer to the HEART OF THE EARTH.

Some scholars say it is a hollow place in the heart of the earth. This is because of the reference to Abraham’s Bosom found in Luke 16:22-26. [ NOTE THIS: In ancient societies, people gathered their loose outer garments as a sack, if necessary, to carry measures of meal, grain, etc., pressed close to their chests. See Luke 6:38. Hence bosom was synonymous with a hollowed-out place, in the ancient world.]


Before Our LORD’S death and resurrection, the hell actually known to the ancients as Hades/Sheol was divided into 2 parts, according to Luke 16. A great chasm (Gk) was fixed between the two parts. (Luke 16:22-26 KJV says “gulf”). Some scholars say the two parts were divided into an uppper and a lower region, based on Scriptures like Deuteronomy 32:22, Psalm 63:9, and Proverbs 7:27. The righteous dead went into the part of Hades/Sheol known as Abraham’s Bosom or Paradise (Luke 23:43). They were comforted there, in a pleasant place as was Lazarus.


The SECOND part of hell/Hades/ Sheol was for the UNrighteous dead. Again, Luke 16:22-26 indicates that this part of Hades had absolutely no comfort but rather torments of flame, thirst, and anguishing thoughts. Flames here are such that they afflict only the soul and spirit of man, NOT his physical body.Ezekiel 32:24 calls Hades/ Sheol “the nether parts of the earth.” In Proverbs 9:18, it is called “the depths of Sheol,” in reference to the unrighteous dead. (Keep in mind this is different from Tartarus and Gehenna. In Gehenna, the lake of burning fire, is the flame that afflicts without ceasing both body and soul. )

THE PITS

In this SECOND division of Hades/hell was located a shaft, like a well or mine shaft so to speak. The Greek word used is phrear which means shaft or dungeon; KJV translates that word as pit. This shaft (KJV pit) leads into the abyss… a place with no bottom. This is the same abyss (the deep) that the demons begged The LORD not to send them into before their time. (See Luke 8:31, Mt. 8:29.)

The Hebrew Old Testament word pit, however, is different. In Hebrew, pit seems to be synonymous in usage to grave, Sheol, or corruption. Thus, it is used in Psalms 28:1, 30:3, the Messianic Psalm 40:2, Psalm 88:4, Isaiah 14:15, and that wonderful chapter 9 of Zechariah which says:

“…Behold, you King comes to you.
HE is righteous and victorious;
lowly and riding on a donkey…
His dominion shall be from sea to sea,
and from The River
to the ends of the earth…
by the Blood of Your Covenant
I have freed Your prisoners
from the pit wherein is no water.”
(from verses 9,10, and 11, Green’s Hebrew Interlinear)



So…which part of hell did the living soul and spirit

of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST descend into,

leaving His+ tired, though uncorrupted,

sinless body in the tomb?

Which part was HE+ in for 3 days and 3 nights… and why?

What was HE+ doing down there?

(To be continued)



Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell,
neither wilt thou suffer
thine Holy One to see corruption.
Acts 2: 22-27

The Resurrection of JESUS CHRIST
… the most life-changing event
in human history.


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LENTEN MEDITATION 18~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The Second Death

LENTEN MEDITATION 18
for the Year of Our LORD, 2.23.2008

The SECOND Death

And I saw the dead, small an great, stand before GOD:

and the books were opened: and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,

according to their works.

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it;

and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them;

and they were judged every man according to their works.

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death. Rev. 20: 12,14

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the SPIRIT saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Rev. 2:11

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone;

which is the second death. Rev. 21:8

The second death is a topic avoided by most preachers and brethren alike.

The second death brings to us the true, horrible, and frightening aspect of spending eternity in the Lake of Fire where the adversary satan will be placed. This likely will be, at the very least, that one will experience the amount of pain and suffering one has done to others during his life on earth... but possibly more, since The LORD takes those offenses as done unto HIMSELF.

Then, there is the accountability of who did one serve: The LORD .... satan.... oneself ?

JESUS HIMSELF spoke of this SECOND death in Mark 9: 42-48. Listen to His Words:

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off; it is better for thee to enter into Life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell,

into the fire that never shall be quenched:

where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.

And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into Life, than having two feet to be cast into hell,

into the fire that never shall be quenched:

where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of GOD with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.

Life, in the above passage, refers to entering into Eternity with JESUS. Our LORD is telling us that rather than sin and miss Eternal Life with HIM+, it would be better for us to sever our needed body part through which sin has come. Why? It is because when we get to Heaven, we'll be made whole, once again, plus have eternal life in a NEW KIND of BODY, LIKE HIS+ GLORIOUS RESURRECTED BODY!

In other words, no matter the personal cost,

DON'T MISS ETERNITY WITH JESUS.

The opposite is a nightmare which never, ever ceases.

That second death is where all who are waiting in hell for the final judgment are thrown into the Lake of Burning Fire with hell itself and death ! We see that when the unredeemed die, they go to a place of waiting called hell or hades (Gk) or sheol (Heb). They are in torments there, as JESUS told us in Luke 16.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE SECOND DEATH

....WHICH AWAITS THEM LATER.

That awful, eternal, SECOND DEATH,

where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.

This brings us back to our priorites, Christians...

and our accountability before the great Judgment Seat of CHRIST.

In the light of the SECOND death, how then should we live... before GOD, daily... before our fellow man... in our pursuits of this life... in the priorities of our day?

Are we truly concerned about the peoples and tribes who have never heard about The LORD, that they might be saved from the Lake of Burning Fire, the SECOND death?

Are we truly concerned about our lost neighbors that they might be saved from the SECOND death? Or rather, do we keep things on an easy, comfortable level? Do we even think to pray for them... other than when they get sick? The SECOND death is going to be harder on them than any sickness they have ever seen on this earth... and more long-lasting, too. Do we care enough even to set some regular time aside to pray?

Do we pray for opportunities to share the seriousness of eternal consequences with those who are hostile to us?

Let us pray:

Dear Holy, Heavenly FATHER,

I come to you ashamed of my light-hearted walk before THEE. I have not laid to heart the seriousness of Thy words nor of Thy commission. O LORD JESUS CHRIST, it is my heart's desire that all would know THEE+ ... Thy great love, Thy great cleansing power, and Thy great Life both here and beyond the grave.

Turn me away from self-centeredness, O LORD, and let Thy Anointing rest upon me. Let others sense the seriousness of eternal consequences when they see me or converse with me. And help me, O help me, to dislodge myself from comfort and rise up and do those things which will help to rescue friends and enemies alike from the SECOND death... which was not intended for men but for the fallen angels. I am ashamed of my lack of concern. Where would I be if others had not been concerned about my falling into that very Lake ?

I Thank THEE+, O Holy ONE+, for the salvation THOU+ has given to mankind... for whosoever will come to THEE+ . Help me to rescue the perishing and do my part, to show my love and thankfulness unto THEE+.

IN the name of the FATHER, His+ SON, JESUS CHRIST our LORD, and the HOLY SPIRIT. Amen.

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