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.


+ + +

Resurrection Day - Day 10~ ~ The Victory

Resurrection Season ~ ~ ~ Day 10
for the Year of Our LORD, 4.1..2008




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

Our LORD came out of the tomb victorious… so victorious that had they known what was going to happen, the wicked ones would never have crucified the King of Glory+.

HE+ accomplished more than one victory. One thing HE+ did to strengthen His+ beleaguered Brethren was to open their eyes and explain His+ coming and going which was written aforetimes in the Prophets and Psalms and other places in the Old Testament. For 40 days HE+ showed Himself+ alive to them. At least once it is recorded --- perhaps there were other times, unrecorded--- HE+ ate with them. HE+ taught them many things during this time, according to the old Christian records. Luke’s account in Acts 1:3 confirms this:

To whom also HE+ shewed himself alive
after His+ passion
by many infallible proofs,
being seen of them forty days,
and speaking of the things
pertaining to the kingdom of GOD:
and also opening up to them

and explaining the scriptures from the Law

and the Prophets concerning Himself+.


Now, let us lay to heart these words of the Apostle Peter, who was delivered of his fear and denial of CHRIST JESUS.


Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man
approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

Him+, being delivered by the determinate counsel and
foreknowledge of God, ye have taken,

and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:


Whom+ God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death:
because it was not possible that he should be held by it.


For David speaketh concerning HIM+,

I foresaw the Lord always before my face,

for HE+ is on my right hand,

that I should not be moved:

Therefore did my heart rejoice,

and my tongue was glad;

moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

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.

We will see why as we explore what happened
during those 3 nights and 3 days
HE+ spent in the heart of the earth.

(To be continued)

Resurrection Day - Day 9 ~ A LIVING HOPE

Resurrection Season ~ ~ ~ Day 9
for the Year of Our LORD, 3.31.2008

We know what the Resurrection did for Our LORD JESUS CHRIST: it gave HIM+ the victory. HE+ won. What did His+ Resurrection do for mankind, for all who follow CHRIST JESUS unto death?

His+ Resurrection DID A WHOLE LOT for mankind!

To start with, here is what the Apostle Peter tells us,

in his first letter:



Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which according to his abundant mercy
hath begotten us again unto a living hope
by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled,
and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you…

I Peter 1:3,4


His+ glorious Resurrection brings Christians this: hope. We now have hope that we too will not remain in the heart of the earth…

…nay, we won’t even descend there!

Because of the Resurrection, GOD’S people no longer descend into Abraham’s Bosom when they leave their earthly, Adamic body of flesh. Scripture says that Abraham’s Bosom (Paradise) where the souls of the righteous dead used to go, used to be in the heart of the earth. The unrighteous dead went there also. Before the Resurrection, there was a deep chasm fixed between the two groups and no-one could cross over the deep, (See Luke 16,) according to the Words of The LORD. Keep in mind that these Words of CHRIST in Luke 16 were not a parable.

Those who “SLEEP in the LORD” NEVER die,
The LORD tells us.

How can this be so?

We all know loved ones in CHRIST who have departed this life in faith and the fear of GOD who are NO LONGER WITH US. We all have seen their bodies buried to await the Resurrection when HE+ returns to earth… as King, this time. But for right now, we say they are dead because Life has left their bodies.

However, Our LORD says they are not dead
but rather their lives have been moved elsewhere.

This is the hope we have gained from His+ Resurrection.

(More on this in the next couple of blogs.)


Let us join our hearts in prayer:

O GOD, Who for our deliverance did give Thine Only-Begotten SON+ to the death of the cross, and by His+ glorious resurrection has delivered us from the power of death: Grant that we may abide in His+ presence, both now and beyond the grave. Amen.

Adapted from the CBP, 1979, Collects, amended by the OGS.

RESURRECTION SEASON ~ ~ ~DAY 8

Resurrection Season ~ Day 8

For the Year of Our LORD, 3.30.2008

O sing unto the LORD a new song;

for HE hath done marvellous things:

HIS right hand, and HIS holy arm,

hath gotten HIM the victory.

Psalm 98:1

On the eighth day, when the doors were shut, came JESUS unto His+ disciples through closed doors, saying, PEACE BE UNTO YOU.

Hallelujah!

RESURRECTION SEASON Day 7 ~~~ Where's the Blood ? ...a blog for our JEWISH friends, those under the Old Covenant.

Resurrection Season ~ ~ ~ Day 7

This is a blog for our JEWISH friends,

those whose hope remains in the Old Covenant,

(which is ineffective without Blood)

instead of the New Covenant...

which is made effective by the HOLY LAMB of GOD,

our Passover LAMB.

Where's the Blood ?

Ah, my friend
… such a plight!
Where’s the BLOOD
this Passover Night?

Where’s the BLOOD
So red and cruel
To cover our sins
… the unchanged rule.

CircumSign marks
HIS people in skin.
HIS Covenant requires
BLOOD for sin.

Where is that BLOOD
When Death doth hover;
It’s written plain:
NO BLOOD--- NO COVER.

Without the BLOOD
Our doom is sealed.
HIS Word is sure;
HIS Judgment real.

Is our GOD on Judgment Day
Unfair ? … But that
Is not HIS way.

Does GOD, our Hope,
Command such pay…
Then let us grope
To find the way?

Has HaSHEM
In Whom we trust
Abandoned us…
In great disgust?

Did our Rock
In desert holes
Water our flesh…
To slay our souls?

GOD forbid!
Yet no-one stands
On Judgment Day
With defiled hands.

No BLOOD in “works”
As we’ve been taught.
This is NOT found
In Torah thought.

Sins are covered
by Moses’ Law?
No… its work
Reveals our flaws.

Meticulous laws,
detailed, GOD taught.
No BLOOD covers
fallen man’s thought.

Unsuffered to hew
Even one altar stone.
That act defiles it.
Man is left alone.

Wait! Is GOD nonchalant?
Has integrity declined?
Are HIS chosen forsaken?
Has GOD changed HIS Mind?

NO! HE provides.
HIS love, undiminished.
HIS Holiness wrought
The Work that HE finished.

Abraham and Isaac
Pointed the Way
HIS Provision would come:
Blood--- HOLY--- would pay.

The blood of bulls
and goats is done.
HaSHEM covered us
In HIS SON.

King David spoke clearly
of THIS ONE+
When he admonished:
Kiss the SON+ !

The HOLY ONE of Israel
Did come down.
HE offered HIMSELF;
HE wore no crown.

But thorns did don
and flesh did wear.
A LAMB HE+ was…
Our sins did bear.

+

The BLOOD requirement
Now is met.
Unblemished Lamb,
HE+ paid our debt.

The Law is kept
By HIM, precise.
MESSIAH’S BLOOD,
HIS sacrifice.

Death could not hold
GOD’s HOLY ONE.
HE+ swallowed up Death.
In Victory, HE+ will come.

No longer a LAMB,
Moshiach now roars.
HIS+ glory the Lion
of Judah restores.

HE+ Who came
To the Ancient of Days,
The Son+ of Man,
Is Judge of man’s ways.

Mene, mene, Tekel …
From hardness depart.
Let not that be etched
On the wall of your heart.

Spirit of Truth
versus Spirit of Error:
Stubbornness yields
Inescapable Terror.

His+ mercy-filled love,
His+ Grace--- do not fear it.
Men hungry for Truth
HE+ will fill with His+ Spirit.

To those under the Old Covenant, may The LORD JESHUA reveal HIMSELF+ to you today that you may be filled with hope... the only hope available for mankind... in believing The Word and Provision of HaSHEM... the Blood sacrifice HaSHEM gave to cover your sins... the TRUE PASSOVER LAMB.

HE+ has Blood aplenty for all.

Poem by Sister Judith Hannah of the Order of The GOOD SHEPHERD, 1998. Hebrew text says: "Where's the Blood?" and "Here's the Blood!" All drawings and photos by The Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD also. The red blossoms are on a Hawthorne bush in the back yard of the hermitage. The Hawthorne bush is also known as the "Crown of Thorns" bush because of its very prominent stout thorns. Legend says HIS+ crown of thorns was taken from this shrub.

Resurrection Season ~ ~ ~Day 6

Resurrection Season ~ ~ ~ Day 6
For the Year of Our LORD, 3. 28 .2008


Let this mind be in you,

which was also in CHRIST JESUS:
Who+, being in the form of GOD,

thought it not a thing to be held onto

to be equal with GOD:

+ + +

But made HIMSELF+ of no reputation,

and took upon HIM+ the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men:

+ + +

And being found in fashion as a man,

HE+ humbled HIMSELF+,

and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross.

Wherefore GOD also hath highly exalted HIM+,

and given HIM+ a name

which is above every name:

That at the name of JESUS every knee should bow,

of heavenly beings*,

and earthly beings*,

and beings* under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess

that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD,

to the glory of GOD the FATHER.
*Gk adaptations, Phil. 2:5-11



Glory be to The FATHER, and to The SON+, and to the HOLY SPIRIT. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be;

world without end.

Amen.

+ + +

Resurrection season - Day 5

Resurrection Season ~ ~ ~ Day 5
For the Year of Our LORD, 3.27.2008


If ye then be risen with CHRIST,

Seek those things which are Above

Where CHRIST sitteth

at the Right Hand of GOD.

Set your affections on things Above,

Not on things on the Earth.

For you are dead

And your life is hidden

With CHRIST in GOD.

When CHRIST, Who+ is our life, shall appear

Then shall you also appear

With HIM+ in Glory.

Dear Heavenly FATHER, teach us by the Power of Your HOLY SPIRIT to Love as you Love, to Love You first, with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and then our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Amen.




Glory be to The FATHER, and to The SON+, and to the HOLY SPIRIT. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be; world without end. Amen.

+ + +

RESURRECTION SEASON ~ ~ ~ Day 4

Resurrection Season ~ ~ ~ Day 4
For the Year of Our LORD, 3.26.2008



CHRIST is risen from the dead

And become the first-fruits of them that slept.

For since by man came death

By Man+ came also the Resurrection of the dead.

For as in Adam all die,

Even so in CHRIST shall all be made alive,

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,

At the last trumpet.

For the trumpet shall sound,

And the dead shall be raised

Incorruptible,

And we shall be changed.



Glory be to The FATHER, and to The SON+, and to the HOLY SPIRIT. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be; world without end. Amen.


HE+ did it all for us.

RESURRECTION SEASON ~ ~ ~ DAY 3

Resurrection Season ~ ~ ~ Day 3
For the Year of Our LORD, 3.25.2008


CHRIST being raised from the dead

Dieth no more:

Death hath no more dominion over HIM+.

For in that HE+ died,

HE+ died unto sin once:

But in that HE+ liveth,

HE+ liveth unto GOD.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves

To be dead indeed unto sin,

But alive unto GOD

Through JESUS CHRIST our LORD

Glory be to The FATHER, and to The SON+, and to the HOLY SPIRIT. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be; world without end. Amen.



The Most Glorious Resurrection of Her Life !

This is the most glorious Resurrection Season that our dear friend and sister in CHRIST has ever experienced in her life. The joyful music, the spice of blossoms, the glow of springtime life are enhanced beyond anything she had ever experienced here on planet earth, locked into time.

+ + +

The radiance of our Beloved Savior’s face far outshines the sun, for she sees HIM+ face to face now… and face to face for all Eternity. Yes, our dear sister Nadine went Home the eve before Palm Sunday. Her pain is vanished. Her distress is ended. She has no trouble hearing and seeing. She can walk now.

+ + +

We pray her good works do follow for Nadine gave her widow’s mite… what she did for the least of us, His+ Brethren, she did unto HIM+… an offering of a sweet savor. Hallelujah!

As it is written,

Eye hath not seen,

nor ear heard,

neither have entered into the heart of man,

the things which GOD hath prepared

for them that love HIM+.

I Cor. 2:9

+ + +

The RESURRECTION ~ ~ ~Day 2

The Resurrection Season ~ ~ ~ Day 2



CHRIST our Passover is sacrificed for us.

Hallelujah!

Therefore, let us keep the feast...

Not with old leaven,

neither the leaven of malice and wickedness,

but with the unleavened bread of purity and Truth.



+ + +

Almighty GOD our FATHER, Who for our deliverance gave Thine Only-Begotten SON+ to the death of the cross, and by His+ glorious Resurrection delivered us from the power of the adversary: Grant us so to die daily from sin, that we may evermore live with HIM+ in the joy of His+ Resurrection; through the same, Thy SON+ JESUS CHRIST our LORD, Who+ liveth and reigneth with THEE and Thy HOLY SPIRIT, One GOD, now and forever, to the ages of the ages. Amen.

Adapted from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer,

Collect of the Resurrection Season.

RESURRECTION ~ ~ ~ Day 1

Resurrection Day
~ ~ ~ Day 1~ ~ ~

CHRIST is risen!

HE+ is risen indeed!

Hallelujah!

CHRIST the SON of the LIVING GOD
has arisen from the dead!

Hallelujah!

CHRIST the SON of the LIVING GOD
ever liveth to make intercession for us.

Hallelujah!


CHRIST the SON of the LIVING GOD
is coming again in flaming fire,
to take vengeance on them who know not GOD
and obey not the Gospel of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Hallelujah!


CHRIST the SON of the LIVING GOD
is seated at the Right Hand of the FATHER.

Hallelujah!
+ + +

HOLY WEEK ~ ~ ~ The GREAT NIGHT

Holy Week ~~~ Day of the Wielka Noc

+ + +

[The GREAT NIGHT ]

The Polish call it the "Vi-elk-ah Notes"... the Great Night which heralded in the Greatest Deed Done on Earth for Fallen Man... the Resurrection of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST... the unblemished LAMB+ of GOD.

+ + +

Some honor this time with a Great Night Vigil. Some read through the Gospel accounts of His+ Crucifixion. Some stay in prayer through the night and fast, awaiting the Dayspring from on High.

+ + +

Some do nothing... think nothing... feel nothing... about it.

Lord have mercy.

+ + +

HE+ has done His+ part.Whoever will may come and partake of His+ Life... if one comes His+ way, as HE+ said.

+ + +

The tremendous gift of Eternal Life was obtained at Great Sacrifice for us miserable human beings. Let us love HIM+ Who obtained Life for us with all of our hearts, our minds, and our souls.

+ + +

LORD JESUS CHRIST, we praise You for what You have done for us. To You be all honor and glory, Who, with Your HOLY FATHER, and His Most Blessed Holy Spirit, live and reign , ONE GOD, for ever and ever, to the endless Eternal Ages, Amen.

+ + +

HOLY WEEK ~ ~ ~ Crucifixion Day ~ or, Good Friday

Holy Week ~ ~ ~ The Day HE+ Was Crucified ~ ~ ~

(Known to the Church as GOOD FRIDAY)

A Week of Two Sabbaths

Or, Why Can’t Christians Count to 3, Twice ?





The LORD JESUS said HE+ would be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth. HE+ was speaking most accurately, as HE+ always did. HE+ meant exactly what HE+ said. A school child can count 3 days and likewise 3 nights. Why can’t we?

Christians need to count like the Hebrews counted and take The LORD’S words to heart. Everything connected with Our LORD JESUS CHRIST was not only accurately predicted but it was most precisely accomplished… down to the utmost detail… including the timing of His+ death and Resurrection. Would Our Heavenly FATHER, Who set in motion the earth, sun, moon, and stars so accurately that their movements correct the clocks of mankind, be imprecise about any details connected with His+ Precious SON’S death and Resurrection ?

Let us look at the crucifixion scene.

Passover days, High Holy days, and Sabbaths all entered into the Passion Week of Our LORD. Coinciding with the Temple Sacrifices in the morning (9 a.m.) and evening (3 p.m.) was the Crucifixion and Finished Work of the Cross. The animal sacrifices set up during the time of Moses were established by GOD to be at the exact time of the beginning and ending of His+ Crucifixion. It was established that precise way to point to CHRIST.

Alfred Ederscheim, the historian, noted that about a million people would gather in Jerusalem during Passover. Naturally-speaking, sacrificing one million lambs would take a lot of time and, naturally-speaking, couldn’t be done on one day. Thus, the Passover sacrifices began a few days earlier in the Passover week and those in the Covenant of the Jews were permitted to partake of the Passover Meal at that time.

Thus, in order for the True LAMB+ of GOD to be sacrificed exactly on the Day of the Passover, HE+ had to partake of the Meal the evening before the day of the actual Passover. Passover began in the evening, at 3 p.m., as did all Jewish Days. If we are going to count as the Jews did… and Our LORD JESUS did… we must start counting the day when it began...on the evening before, at 3 p.m, the time of the evening sacrifice.

We will be in error if we follow the Western Civilization’s method of counting days which goes from 12 a.m. (midnight) through 12 noon to 11:59 p.m. The Jewish way of counting days is: evening-night time-day time.

HE+ did partake of the Last Passover Meal; we know the story well. After that Meal, it was night. HE+ entered the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. The intensity of the ordeal was so great that Our Savior began sweating drops of blood.

O thank You, Precious Savior, for going through this agony for me, for us, for whosoever wants to be near You in Heaven and through all eternity.

This is NOT counted as the “first night” in the “heart of the earth.” Our LORD, we see plainly, was still ON the earth, like as we are, preparing to offer HIMSELF as the Sacrificial LAMB+ on our behalf.

After His+ time in the Garden of Gethsemane, Our LORD was taken. It was still night. After that hideous night-time trial and mistreatment, Our LORD JESUS, our innocent LAMB without spot or blemish before GOD and man, was crucified at the time of the morning sacrifice in the Temple. HE+ was crucified on the High Holy Day of Passover. This does NOT count as one of the “days” in the heart of the earth. He+ was ON the earth, going through the agony of the Cross, battered and beaten but still in earthly human form.

O HOLY FATHER, how we thank THEE for giving us Thy SON. O Precious JESUS, we thank THEE+ for being willing to be given for us, unworthy creatures all, including me.

Precision. At precisely the time of the evening sacrifice, 3 p.m., the Finished Work of the Cross was completed. HE+ cried, “IT IS FINISHED, FATHER. INTO THY HANDS I COMMIT MY+ SPIRIT.” Our dear Savior’s earthly body died on the cross.

Thank You, Precious LORD JESUS. Thank You. Thank You for Your willingness to die for me, for us, for the entire race of mankind… whosoever will come. We would be lost without Your Costly Sacrifice of Your Life, precisely given at the Time Appointed by The FATHER.

Thus, at 3 p.m. at the precise beginning of Passover our LORD+ cried out and yielded HIS+ Spirit to HIS+ FATHER. Our LORD’S dead body was then laid in Joseph of Arimathea’s newly-carved tomb… and HIS+ Victorious Self entered into the heart of the earth, unbarring the Gates of Hell (Sheol). This was the FIRST NIGHT HE+ spent in the heart of the earth.

The following day after the crucifixion no work was done because it was the day time of the Passover. It was a High Sabbath, a High Holy Day. Keep in mind that Passover started at 3 p.m. the evening before when HE+ Finished the Work on the Cross. That is why the priests did not want to go into Pontius Pilate’s Judgment Hall; they would be unclean and could not celebrate the coming Passover. Thus, Pilate came out to them. This was the FIRST DAY He+ spent in the heart of the earth.

At 3 p.m. of Passover day-time began the second night HE+ spent in the heart of the earth. As the sun arose, this was a day of “preparation” for the regular weekly Sabbath. On this day of preparation, the women who followed Our LORD JESUS went to the market, bought spices, and prepared them for the dead body of Our LORD. This day of preparation activities became the second day HE+ spent in the heart of the earth.

At 3 p.m. on this second day, the Third Night HE+ spent in the heart of the earth began. The Jews began their weekly Sabbath then. The women who bought and prepared spices for His+ dead body, rested. They did no work after 3 p.m. that night, nor through the daylight hours of the ensuing day time, as it was commanded them to keep the Sabbath. The Third Day HE+ spent in the heart of the earth was the regular Jewish Sabbath.


So, from the Gospel accounts, we see Our LORD spent two Sabbaths: a High Holy Day (Passover) and the regular weekly Sabbath in the heart of the earth. HE+ also spent the day of preparation which fell between the two Sabbaths in the heart of the earth.

For the sake of clarity, let us put these times on our westernized calendar. HE+ ate the Last Passover Meal on Tuesday evening. That night, HE+ was taken from the Garden of Gethsemane and brought before Pontius Pilate. On Wednesday, HE+ was crucified at 9 a.m., the time of the morning sacrifice in the Temple.

He died on the cross at 3 p.m., the time of the evening sacrifice. Wednesday night was FIRST NIGHT.

Thursday day would have been Passover day time, a High Holy Sabbath. That was the FIRST DAY.

Thursday night would have then been the SECOND NIGHT.

Friday day (the day of the preparation) was the SECOND DAY.

Friday night, at 3 p.m., was the beginning of the Jews’ regular weekly Sabbath. Friday night was the THIRD NIGHT.

Saturday, the Jews’ weekly Sabbath day time, was His+ THIRD DAY in the heart of the earth.

When did HE+ arise? Scripture doesn’t pinpoint that precise moment. Scripture says that HE+ was seen early on the first day of the week… which would have been quite early Sunday morning.

Being consistent with the precise timing found in Scripture, it was likely HE+ came out of the heart of the earth when HE+ said HE+ did: precisely after 3 nights and 3 days in the heart of the earth. That would place His+ removal from the heart of the earth at precisely 3 p.m. on Saturday evening... at the end of the Jewish Sabbath... which is what the Gospel accounts record.


So… why don’t we be accurate and keep “Good Tuesday” instead of “Good Friday”?

We at the Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD personally mark the time, but we join with the church systems and put black on our cross on Friday and do the Good Friday services. We do this only to avoid causing confusion to the non-Christian (and Christian, more's the pity) world. May the LORD help us all to be unified and loving in our witness.

The important thing is to remember What HE+ did… and why.

In the name of the FATHER, the SON+, and the HOLY SPIRIT.
Amen
+ + +

Holy Week-One With The Cross

Holy Week-One With The Cross~Difference Between Duty & Oneness

Holy Week ~ ~ ~ One with the Cross
For the Year of Our LORD, 3.20.2008

~or~


The Difference Between Duty and Oneness

Peace comes when you perform your duty thoroughly. The requirement is duty. You will be held accountable if that duty is NOT performed. Duty can become heavy and tedious, if the inner heart is not yielded. Duty is accomplished because you are afraid of the consequences if you don’t do it right. This is the case in paying taxes, paying bills, going to some jobs, and alas, in being in some marriages.



Joy comes when you WANT to perform that duty out of Oneness, out of a union that agreement engenders.. If you approve what the government does, then paying taxes feels good. If you agree whole-heartedly that nothing should be free, then paying bills seems sensible. If you enjoy your job and get great satisfaction from it, then you would rather be on your job than anywhere else. It gives you identity and helps define who you are, to others and to yourself. It gives you meaning for life. Then, that brings you joy.


Alas, though, if a marriage is performed out of duty instead of a loving Oneness, you may reap a quiet existence … if your partner is willing to accept duty as a replacement for Oneness. Joy may eventually develop… if your partner is willing to accept the terms of that kind of agreement.

But if your partner is NOT willing to replace Oneness with duty, then sadness will be your bed-partner. A heart hurt down at the deepest level is hard to be healed. To the partner accustomed to Oneness, duty is a bitter replacement. He/she won’t want it. Then, all past love becomes screened through the eyes of duty, and even that joy becomes tainted with sorrow. A lack of trust develops.

If the duty-partner refuses to deal with the necessity of returning to his first heart-felt Oneness, the union may limp along… after all, who can find fault with one who fulfills one’s duty? … but there will be a raw, unhealed sore festering in the marriage. The Oneness has been broken in the deepest recesses of the heart although not perhaps at the surface level. That unhealed place will funnel constant sorrow into the union.

It is like that with The LORD, too. HE+ calls us to Oneness with HIM+… a Oneness issuing from a heart of love which WORKS BOTH WAYS. As much as HE+ loves us… do we love HIM+ back that much? Are we performing duties but our hearts are fixated on ourselves instead of HIM+ ?

Are we fixated on what HE+ can give us instead of the closeness that HE+ wants? What do we want out of a marriage? Do we want gifts or closeness? Do we want areas of “no trespassing” signs in our marriage or do we want an openness of heart… in order to become One ?

Becoming one is what brings the joy in our first love; we realize we are not alone in heart. In order to have that oneness, we must agree to be honest and open in our hearts with one another. If a rough area is seen, then we agree to lovingly lay it bare. With each other, we work together on that part, through prayer, until it becomes clean in the eyes of The LORD. Then we have oneness with our partner and Oneness with The LORD.

If there is a “no trespassing” sign up in some area of our heart, that will hurt the other partner and break the fellowship, the unity, the oneness. It is imperative that the closed off areas be brought to the Light of CHRIST by the one who has the “no trespassing” sign up in his heart. No-one can do it for him. No-one can make him willing to touch that sign and remove the wall, the barriers… if he is not willing to have it removed. It is required, however, or the marriage roadbed will be full of potholes lurking around every bend and hidden in the shadows.

When we are at One with CHRIST JESUS, it works the same way. The “no trespassing” signs must be removed from our hearts towards CHRIST. HE+ will lovingly help us to bring these areas to HIM+ and commit them unto HIM+. If we yield the “no trespassing” areas unto His+ loving hands, HE+ will clean them out and make us whole again… more whole than we were before! We will go to new heights being One with CHRIST and our whole life will take on more meaning than ever before.

Now sometimes, in a marriage, duty masquerades as love. There will certainly be an argument if that mask is discovered! The duty-partner feels terribly offended that his duty is not seen as love. But in essence, duty is often used to hide the “no trespassing” sign.

We do that with The LORD, too. More’s the pity. Discipline and duty and even church participation are good works to do for HIM+, but they are not to be used to mask our “no trespassing” signs. They are not a substitute for ardent, passionate love of Our SAVIOR.

HE+ knows the difference.

We do too.

Worse, HE+ knows that we know the difference. What hurts is this: we are okay with the separation between HIM+ and us. HE+ is not.

So, His+ great heart grieves until we deal with those “no trespassing” areas which keep HIM+ out of parts of our hearts. And we, well, we have much less Life than HE+ intended.

Yes, it will feel like the cross. But, it will bring Oneness with HIM+. That Oneness will bring the Abundant Life that is promised in Scriptures. There is no other way to get abundant Life.

Let us go on with CHRIST. Let us take down the “no trespassing… this is mine!” signs. Let us become One with CHRIST. Then… and only then… will HE+ show us how to become One with each other.

In the Name of The FATHER, The SON+, and The HOLY SPIRIT.
Amen.
+ + +

HOLY WEEK ~ Day Three Following Palm Lauds of Our Savior

Holy Week ~~~ HE+ Set His+ Face

For Day Three Following the Palm Lauds of Our LORD

For the Year of Our LORD, 3.19.2008

And it came to pass,

when the time was come that HE+ should be received up,

HE+ stedfastly set His+ Face to go to Jerusalem.

Luke 9:51

Hallelujah, my FATHER, for giving us Your SON+,

For sending HIM+ into the world to be given up by man.

Knowing we would bruise HIM+ and smite HIM+ from the earth...

Hallelujah, my FATHER, His+ death is my birth;

Hallelujah, my FATHER, His+ Life is my life.

Amen and Amen.

+ + +

(This is an old Charismatic prayer group song from the 70's... possibly from the Word of GOD Christian Community in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Feel free to send me more accurate information... it's been 30 plus years ago that I heard this plaintive song.)