© 2007 The Flaming Torch, All rights reserved.
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THE
GATES OF HELL?
By Charles Perkins, Contributing Editor |
In the last issue of the Flaming Torch I wrote an article about the "True Church" using this verse of scripture as my text. This article deals with the prophetic doctrines of the verse which include, Hell, Paradise, Abraham's Bosom, the Church, the rapture, the resurrections, the second advent, and the Millennium. The Christian who is still nursing on the "milk" of the word will have difficulty with the "meat" found in this article. Take what you can get and leave the rest.
Laying aside the false doctrines of the church of Rome and their self deluded, psychotic interpretation of perpetual existence, (Rev. 19:2,3) let us go on to comparing scripture with scripture and not be swayed by emotional sophistry.
When The Lord Jesus Christ spoke of the "church" he was speaking of a real church. When he spoke of "the gates of hell" he was speaking of real gates not spiritualized private interpretations. When He said "shall not prevail" it was literal not figurative.
"I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God."(Jonah 2:6)
Before the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, there were three places in the "heart of the earth" where the souls of men went, when they died: Paradise, Abraham's Bosom and Hell (the fiery part).
1. Everyone, who was saved, before there was any written word of God and before Abraham (and circumcision) went to PARADISE, when they died. Many of these people are referred to as the antediluvian saints. There was no place called "Abraham's Bosom" before there was an Abraham.
2. Everyone who was saved from the time of Abraham to the death of Christ went to ABRAHAM'S BOSOM, when they died.
3. Everyone, who is lost, in any time frame, goes to HELL (the fiery part) when they die. It has only been imagined by the writers of commentaries that Paradise and Abraham's Bosom are the same place.( just as they have imagined the kingdom of Heaven and the kingdom of God are the same, which they are not.) In truth, Paradise and Abraham's Bosom are two separate places, although both are located in the heart of the earth.
The third part is the fiery part, in the heart of the earth, making a trinity of places. Each place is identified with each person in the Godhead.
1. Abraham's bosom is identified typically with the Father. "And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent." (Luke 16:24)
2. Paradise, the original Garden of Eden, is identified typically with the Son. "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit." (1Cor. 15:45)
3. The fiery part is identified typically with the Holy Spirit. "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:" "For our God is a consuming fire." (Mat. 3:11; Heb. 12:29)
When a saved person dies, this side of the cross, they go directly to Heaven to be with the Lord. "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." (2 Cor 5:8)
"I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth."(Ezek. 31:16)
This verse is a reference to Pharaoh. It shows that he went to hell. It also shows that Eden is in the "nether" parts of the earth. It was a place with trees, water and comfort.
The Bible student should notice the tree of life was one of the trees in the original Garden of Eden."And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil." (Genesis 2:9) More about this later.
The saved thief could not go to Abraham's bosom for that is the place for those who died under the law. (which we will deal with later) Also, he could not go to the third Heaven, because Christ had not yet ascended, completing the atonement. Also he could not be joined to the body of Christ in Heaven because Christ had not yet completed the atonement and set down at the right hand of the Father, becoming our High Priest. (John 20:17; Hebrews 12:24)
The saved thief had to go to paradise, in the heart of the earth, where Adam and Eve were, who lost paradise, which was the original garden of Eden. At some point in time the original garden of Eden went down into the heart of the earth. When a saved person died, before there was any Bible written, he was saved entirely by grace. His salvation was to a temporary place called "paradise." It was based on an animal sacrifice which was a type of Christ that would come as the Lamb of God. "And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:"(Gen 4:4)
This animal sacrifice could not take a person to Heaven, nor could it TAKE AWAY sins. Christ had not died and the gospel of Jesus Christ had not been preached. The souls of the people in paradise were called "captives" and "spirits in prison". When Jesus died he went there to preach the gospel and deliverance to them, telling them of His blood sacrifice on the cross and His coming resurrection in three days. (Luke 4:18; 1Peter 3:18-20; 1Peter 4:6)
The souls in paradise were called "spirits in prison." A prison has bars. Gates have bars. "IRON" BARS! (Job 17:16; Psalms 107:15)
This is the second time Paradise is mentioned in the Bible.
The apostle Paul was speaking of himself being "caught up" in these verses. This was after the resurrection of Christ. Paradise and its people had previously been carried up into the third heaven, having the Lord Jesus Christ leading the way at His ascension. This was the first part of the resurrection known as the "first fruits" of the harvest. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end,when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power." (1 Corinthians 15:22-24)
"And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." (Matthew 27:52,53)
"Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)" (Ephesians 4:8-10)
At this point in time, Paradise and those antediluvian saints called "captives" were resurrected from the heart of the earth. They came out of the graves, after His resurrection, and are now in the third heaven. This would include Adam, Eve, Able, Seth, Noah, the saved thief on the cross and others. If the argument is made that these resurrected bodies were not in close proximity of Jerusalem, therefore could not be the antediluvian saints. The answer is, the Bible does not say they came up out of the Jerusalem grave yard, nor is distance any problem for a glorified body. The Bible says they "went into the holy city..." That means they were somewhere beyond the holy city, since they went into it. The souls in Abraham's Bosom, being the saints under the law, (called the circumcision), remained in the "heart of the earth."
This is the third and final time the word "paradise" is found in the Bible. Please notice the "TREE OF LIFE" is still in Paradise just as it was in the original Garden of Eden. Only now it is located in the third heaven, not on earth nor in the heart of the earth. John is writing this in about 96 A.D., long after Jesus went back to Heaven.
"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." (Revelation 22:1,2)
"And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee." (Genesis 16:5)
It is important for you to remember that the "MAID" referred to is Hagar the Egyptian. Egypt is where Israel would be in "BONDAGE" and later be "BOUND" by the law. "Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children."
(Galations 4:21-25) Aha! the plot thickens! Don't forget, we are still looking for those gates of hell. Mount Sinai is where Moses received the law. Paul says mount Sinai answereth to Jerusalem which NOW is in bondage WITH HER CHILDREN. The allegory represents Hagar (Agar) a picture of the Old Testament saints under the law in Abraham's bosom, at the time Paul is writing Galatians. They will be found in the proximity of (or under) Mount Sinai. "And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai." (Exodus 19:11)
When Peter was preaching, on the day of Pentecost, AFTER the Lord Jesus had ascended he said, "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:29, 34-36)
David was of the house of Israel and he was still DOWN! He had not ascended and his body was still dead and buried. Don't put David in Heaven yet.
Abraham's bosom is a place in the heart of the earth where souls are comforted and resting in the bosom of Abraham. These are all the saved people who died from the time of Abraham to Christ's death on the cross, mainly called "the circumcision".
"And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence." (Luke 16:22-26)
The rich man, in the fiery part of hell, could look across the gulf and see Lazarus in Abraham's bosom. The water he wanted Lazarus to dip his finger in was probably in the gulf. You know, like the "Gulf of Mexico". The reason these Old Testament saints, under the law, could not come up with the Paradise saints is because The House of Israel rejected their King and the Kingdom the first time He came. (John 1:12) Therefore they remain in bondage, even though the law was fulfilled by Christ. They await to be resurrected at the second advent after the time of Jacob's trouble, Daniel's seventieth week. They come up as the gleanings of the resurrection.
"Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (1Corinthians 15:24)
Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel."(Ezekial 37:11,12)
"Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam." (Judges 5:12)
"And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:" (Romans 11:26)
"And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last." (Luke 13:30)
When The Lord Jesus Christ comes back as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, with His church, riding on white horses, we will ride up to Mount Sinai and He will shout "Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea;" (Mat. 21:21) And ,walla, Mount Sinai is cast into the sea and there are the gates of hell. King Jesus with His Church will ride up to the gates and He will shout "Israel come forth." The gates will not prevail against the King and His church. The gates of hell will be broken and out comes the captive souls (the House of Israel) who have been resting in Abraham's bosom.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:25-29)
"And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth." (John 11:43)
Psa 68:4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
Psa 68:8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
Psa 68:10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
Psa 68:17 The chariots
of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them,
as in Sinai, in the holy place.
18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received
gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among
them.
Psa 68:22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
Psa 107:16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
Isa 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
Jonah 2:5 The waters compassed
me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were
wrapped about my head.
6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about
me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.
Job 38:16 Hast thou entered
into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors
of the shadow of death?
Psa 9:13 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:
2 Pet 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
About two days (2,000 years) have past since Jesus went back to Heaven, if our calendar is correct. The following verses show His return is at hand starting with the Rapture of the church age saints. Esther is a type of the Bride of Christ. The marriage is in Heaven and the Marriage supper is on earth.
Est 5:1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
Exo 19:10 And the LORD
said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow,
and let them wash their clothes,
11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come
down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
Exo 19:16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
2 Ki 20:5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.
Hosea 6:1 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.
2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and
we shall live in his sight.
3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared
as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former
rain unto the earth.
John 2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
John 11:6 When he had
heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place
where he was.
7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again
John 11:25 Jesus said
unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though
he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou
this?
Hell is also in the heart of the earth. Everyone who rejects Christ as their personal Saviour goes to hell when they die. They will be judged at the great white throne judgment at the end of the millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a place of fire and torment. You do not want to go there. You do not have to go there. Come to the Lord Jesus Christ, if you are lost and tell Him you are a lost sinner and need to be saved. Repent from your sinful condition and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5:8,9)
"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:31) "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and 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. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:12-15)
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© 2007 The Flaming Torch, All rights reserved.
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