RESURRECTION VICTORY !

For THOU

wilt not leave

My+ Soul

in Sheol;

neither wilt THOU allow

Thine HOLY ONE+

to see corruption. 

Psalm 16:10 

Sheol, remember, is ... or rather WAS... divided into two parts, a bad part and a good part. It was the abode of the dead... both the righteous dead and the UN-righteous dead.

They were separated by a great gulf over which none of the dead  could pass over  to the other side, according to Scripture in Mark 16.  Unfortunately, both parts are rendered in the KJV as "hell."

The gates of Sheol were opened by the Victor KING+ during those 3 days and 3 nights HE+ spent preaching to the dead.

Remember: The FATHER gave Our LORD JESUS a commandment that HE+ could lay down His+ life and that HE+ could pick it up again !

So, yes indeed, Our LORD JESUS' body did NOT SEE CORRUPTION in the grave! HE+ left His+ tired body in the grave while HE+ went in spirit to preach to the spirits in prison... that prison being Sheol in the heart of the earth.

Even though the good part of Sheol was pleasant ( see Mark 16 ), the spirits of the righteous dead COULD NOT LEAVE the realm of the dead... until The Victor King+, JESUS the CHRIST, descended into Sheol to set them free !

Where did they go when they were released out of prison  by Our LORD JESUS ?

(more to come...)

+ + +

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 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.


+ + +