Jesus went there as well, “For thou wilt ever use a personal name. He may say, not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou “there once was a king,” or “there once FROM THE BEGINNING suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” was a man” but He never uses names. In www.creationinstruction.org (402) 756-5121 [email protected] (Ps 16:10). Yet at the same time, the this story Jesus names a real person named wicked receive punishment there: “For a Lazarus. He also names Abraham, a real, 1770 S Overland Ave – Juniata NE 68955 fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall living spirit. The “rich man” goes to the Oct-Dec 2006 VOL. 45 burn unto the lowest hell” (Deut 32:22). same place upon death that Lazarus does, Note, that this verse suggests different however, it seems that this hadee is levels of sheol by saying “lowest” hell. separated into two sections. People cannot Greetings in Christ! Our new website is up and going. It is the same address just with (See also Num 16:30; Ps 9:17 and Matt pass from the lower portion to the upper improved functionality. Please visit the forum section where you can communicate with 11:23). At the same time, the same place is portion. The lower portion, where the rich others and put any feedback you have regarding this newsletter or any other topic you desire. considered to be a place of reward for the man is, is still a place of torment since he You can win a free DVD by posting a comment. righteous (Hos 13:14; cf. 1 Cor 15:55). is very thirsty. The rich man can see the Also keep in your prayers our new book that will be coming out soon. It is on the To understand what sheol is we upper portion of hadee/sheol but there is topic of evangelism and will probably be called, “Church Monkey Business.” By using need to look at a story told by Jesus in the no indication that Lazarus, who is in humorous stories about my childhood pet monkey and other events, including many examples New Testament. “There was a certain rich peace, can see into the lower portion. of what we have seen doing street evangelism, you will learn of the “monkey business” going man. . . And there was a certain beggar Lazarus went to the bosom of Abraham on in the churches today and find out what can be done to change that. I believe this is going named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, which is very significant. Why didn’t he to be a powerful motivator for believers to live a life worthy of their calling. God bless you all full of sores, and desiring to be fed with go to the bosom of God or Christ? and we would love to hear from you on our forum. the crumbs which fell from the rich man's Because Jesus had not come yet, thus, table . . the beggar died, and was carried paradise isn’t ready at this time. This may In the Old Testament, when people by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the be the Bible’s best indication as to what Sheol: Where did people died, they all went to a place called sheol, rich man also died, and was buried; And in sheol was. Vines Biblical Dictionary even go after death in the Old which is often translated as “grave, pit or hell [hadee] he lift up his eyes, being in says, “Jesus' teaching in Luke 16:19-31 hell.” In Genesis we see that Jacob mourns torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and seems to reflect accurately the Old Testament? for his son who is believed to be dead: Lazarus in his bosom. . . between us and Testament concept of she'ol . . . one side “All his sons and daughters came to you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they of which is occupied by the suffering, comfort him, but he refused to be which would pass from hence to you unrighteous dead separated by a great If Jesus had not yet come to earth comforted. ‘No’ he said, ‘in mourning will cannot; neither can they pass to us” (Luke chasm from the other side peopled by the to die and rise from the dead, where did I go down to the grave to my son.’ So his 16:19-26). The word “hell” (hadee in righteous dead enjoying their reward” people of the Old Testament go when they father wept for him” (Gen 37:35). So Greek) is the same word for Sheol in (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of died? This is a question that many people great was Jacob’s grief that he said he Hebrew. Here we see that both Lazarus Biblical Words, Copyright (c)1985, don’t ever think about because it is too far would mourn until the day he went to the and the rich man went to hadee or sheol. Thomas Nelson Publishers). removed from our reality today. We know grave. The word used for “grave” is sheol, We often think of hadee as the Understanding this concept, we that when we die we will go to be with the which is simply the place of departed burning fires of hell but that isn’t may have insight into another glorious Lord, therefore, we naturally think, spirits and is seen 65 times in the Old necessarily the case. I believe that this truth revealed in the Biblical Festivals everybody must have done so. This isn’t Testament (see Job 3:13-19). Whether you “parable” Jesus told us here isn’t a parable discussed in earlier newsletters and on one really what the Bible says, however. were godly or ungodly, you went to sheol. at all, rather a true story. As you look at of our DVD’s in the CIA seminar series. We see that the prophecy of Christ tells us Jesus’ parables, in none of them does He In Ephesians we read, “When He ascended on high, He led captives in His train and The Biblical Festivals may suggest It may be good to add a little side- 11:26). (See also, 1 John 5:11-13, 2 Tim gave gifts to men” or in the KJV “When this to be true. In earlier newsletters we note to this topic as well. Jehovah’s 1:10 where life (zoen) and immortality He ascended up on high, He led captivity spoke of how Christ fulfilled the Passover Witnesses and 7th Day Adventists both (aphtharsian) are distinguished. Life is captive, and gave gifts unto men” (Eph in every detail. Likewise, the second teach that when we die today, we simply given upon belief (1 John 5:11-12) and 4:8). What do these verses mean? Who or Festival commanded in the Bible was the sleep until the resurrection at Christ’s immortality when new bodies are given to what was being held captive? Where did Feast of Firstfruits, three days after return. They say that the thief on the cross the spirit in Revelation). Thirdly, it would Christ lead them? What were these “gifts” Passover. It was this very day that Jesus was told, “Verily I say unto thee Today, also go against the Festival of Firstfruits given to men? I think in sheol lies the rose from the dead. It was also on this day shalt thou be with me in paradise” rather and the resurrected saints appearing to answer. that the priests were to be taking the first than, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt those in Jerusalem. When Jesus died he descended into fruit offering of the harvest and wave it thou be with me in paradise” (Note the Clearly, as believers in Christ, we sheol: “By which also He went and before the Lord. God was to have the change in commas). First of all, this would can be confident that upon death, we will preached unto the spirits in prison” (1 firstfruits. When Jesus rose from the dead, be redundant to say, “Verily I say today.” not go to sheol in sleep, but we will be Peter 3:19). The word for preached here He offered to the Father, the firstfruits of Secondly, it goes against the Scriptures conscious of life and redemption in and means to “proclaim.” It seems that Christ men who had previously been in sheol. that say, “We are confident, I say, and with Jesus. We won’t be in the bosom of proclaimed His victory to those in sheol We read in Revelation about the saints of willing rather to be absent from the body, Abraham, but in the bosom of our Creator, before ascending. When He did ascend, God, “These were redeemed from among and to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor Savior and Friend, Jesus Christ, the however, he led captives in His train or men, being the firstfruits unto God and to 5:8). “I desire to depart and be with Messiah, the Holy One of Israel who has captivity was led captive. Could these be the Lamb” (Rev 14:4). We also see that Christ” (Phil 1:23). “Whoever lives and come in the flesh. Thank you Jesus! the people who were captives in the upper, Christ offered Himself as the firstfruit believes in me will never die” (John good portion of sheol who were now being offering as well: “But now is Christ risen led to paradise to be with Jesus? Is that from the dead, and become the firstfruits why Ephesians says that He “gave gifts of them that slept. . . Christ the firstfruits” unto men?” The Scriptures may indicate (1 Cor 15:20-23). It makes sense that since so. We see that the thief on the cross was Christ lives in us, we, too, are firstfruits. told that that very day he would be with Praise be to God! God in paradise. The thief didn’t go to That Jesus was fulfilling the sheol as O.T. people did. Interestingly, we firstfruit festival is also clear when we also see that when Jesus rose from the know that the priests were to go into dead, so did others who had died seclusion for three days after the Passover previously. We read, “And the graves and not to be seen or touched by anyone were opened; and many bodies of the until the firstfruit offering was made. saints which slept arose, And came out of When Mary ran out to the empty tomb, the graves after His resurrection, and Jesus had already risen, but had not yet went into the holy city, and appeared unto ascended and led captives to their gifts in many” (Matt 27:52-53). Is it possible that His firstfruit offering. When Mary goes to when Christ went down to sheol, He led touch Him, He says, “Touch Me not; for I the people in the upper portion free and am not yet ascended to My Father” (John led them in His train to paradise when He 20:17). Yet after His ascension He tells resurrected? Thomas to touch Him in Luke 24:39.