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Angelic Beings: In the eternity past, long before God created our universe and the human race, He created the heavenly beings called angels (Job 38:7). In most cases, the term "angels" denote heavenly created beings. The Greek term "aggelos" and Hebrew "malakh" both mean messenger, an order of created beings, superior to man, belonging to heaven and engaged in the service of God. Angels are spiritual supernatural, eternal, and celestial beings with no material bodies but may assume human form when necessary (Heb. 1:14, Luke 24:4, Acts 10:3). The doctrinal study about the Second death begins from the angelic history, from eternity past, long before God created man. The term chosen by Scripture to denote angels gives us the clue to the function by which they are primarily to be known and understood. They are God's messengers or ambassadors. They belong to His heavenly court and service. Their mission in heaven is to praise God (Rev. 4:5). They devote themselves to doing God*s perfect will (Ps. 103:20) and by this activity they behold His face (Matt. 18:10). In the eternity past, they accompanied God in His work of creation (Job 38:7), though they themselves are also creatures (Psalm 148:2, 5). They also assist in God's providential ordering of human historical affairs (Daniel 12:1). Above all they are active in the divine work of reconciliation (from Genesis 19:1-2 onwards). In fulfillment of their mission, they declare God's will or decree (Luke 1:26-27) and do His work (Matt. 28:2). In the eternity future, regenerated people and angels will coexist in perfect harmony and purpose. There seems to be some ordering in their ranks; some are referred to as archangels, as over against those who are referred to simply as angels (1 Thess. 4:16; Jude 9). Angels have various ranks and functions that glorify God. The function of angels (Neh. 9:6, Job 38:4-7, Ps. 103:20) may be seen clearly from their part in the saving mission of Jesus Christ. They are naturally present when this both begins with the nativity (Luke 1-3) and ends with the resurrection (Matt. 28:2) including in the ascension (Acts 1:10). They also assisted the church in its early ministry (Acts 5:19; 10:3). Finally, they will come with Christ when He returns in glory (Matt. 24:31) and separate the righteous and the wicked. They will play an important role in the events of the end times (Rev. 7:1-11). The countless angelic beings (Dan. 7:10, Luke 2:13, Heb. 12:12, Rev. 5:11) were created to live and serve in the Third Heaven. Angels accompanied Christ in the work of redemption and the declaration of His work of salvation, praising the God of grace and glory and summoning men and women to participate in their worship (Luke 1:46). There seems to be only two angelic appearances recorded between Christ's birth and resurrection: at the beginning of His way to the cross in the temptation and then before the crucifixion itself at Gethsemane. This is perhaps because Christ had to tread His way of atoning self-giving alone, and in His humiliation He was made a little lower than the angels (Heb. 2:9), though exalted far above them by nature. They rejoice at sinners repenting (Luke 15:10) and will hear the Son of man confess those who will confess Him (Luke 12:8). Angels observe the Church Age believers as they execute the protocol plan of God. The Bible offers only a few hints about the nature of angels. Belonging to the heavenly sphere, they cannot be properly conceived of in earthly terms. Angels are mostly described in relation to God, as God's angels (Ps. 104:4). The two archangels Michael and Gabriel, emphasize this relationship with the "el" suffix attached to Hebrew name of God. It is as God's angels, that they are called "elect" (1 Tim. 5:21. Heb. 1:14) which, described them as "ministering spirits" (Ps. 104:4) who assist the suffering believers under evidence testing (see: The Suffering of Spiritual Maturity). Angels were created for the glory of God (Col. 1:16). Among the heavenly beings mentioned were that of the seraphim (Isaiah 6:2) and the cherubim. Cherubim guarded Eden after the expulsion of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:24). They form God's chariot at His descent (Ps. 18:10). Figures of cherubim adorned the Ark (Ex. 25:17) and Solomon's temple (I Kgs. 6:23), so that Yahweh is enthroned above the cherubim (I Sam. 4:4; Psalm 80:1). Ezekiel offers an elaborate visionary description (Ezek. 1:10; 9:3; 10:15-22) in which they appeared in a form of human being but in essence is (1:5) symbolical of the traits stressing their glory and spiritual excellence. Of the angels named, Michael is called "the great prince" (Dan. 12:1) and the other angels seem to be led by Him (Rev. 12:7), though God Himself, of course, is the Lord of hosts and Prince of the host (Dan. 8:11). The man who appeared to Joshua was an angel, the commander of the Army of the Lord, (Hos.12:4). Gabriel, is the angel of the annunciation (Luke 1:26). The apocryphal archangels (Raphael, Uriel, Jemeil, and Tob) are all fictitious. The error in so much angelology was to deal with angels apart from the biblical doctrines. Even regarding their functions there was a tendency to rationalize or to focus interest on the idea of the guardian angel (Matt. 18:10, Ps. 91:11-12, Dan. 6:22). Though they come in human form, the angels are essentially non-corporeal. Even if they were present at the time of creation, they are still creatures (Ps. 148:2, 5). They form an ordered unity, yet their plurality entails the existence of individuals within the totality, with a possible gradation in function and limitation in power. As compared to humans they have the advantage of being in God's immediate presence while serving as His direct messengers, and seem to play some role in or over the nations (Dan. 10). But when men and women respond to God's saving work in Christ they are raised above angels (Heb. I: 14), and will finally judge them (I Corinthians 6:3), for even angels are not faultless in God's eyes (Job 4:18; 15:15). Angels of God are majestic and glorious beings (Ps. 148:2-5, Col. 1:16). They are superior in power, strength and intelligence than men (2 Pet. 2:11). Although they are endowed with superior intellect and wisdom (2 Sam. 14:17, 20), but they are not omnipotent (Ps. 103:20) and not omniscient (1 Pet. 1:21). The Bible clearly warns us not to worship them (Col. 2:18, Rev. 19:20). Angels were created with a volition freedom and capacity for making free will decision (Jude 6, Gen. 1:31). Believer are equal to them after resurrection to eternal life (Luke 20:34-). They are to be judged by mature believers of the Church Age (1 Corinthians 6:3). The elect angels of God in no way will speak or act contrary to God's will and purpose (Gal. 1:8). Angels are not sexual beings so they do not marry. Angels appeared in human form but never appeared in sub-human form or in the form of animals (Acts 10:3, 30). They always appeared as men, never as women and never as infant without wings (Gen. 18:2, 19:1, Heb. 13:2, Jos. 5:13).They appeared fully clothed not naked. There is no recorded appearance of angels in the Bible to unbelievers (Matt. 24:37-39. Luke. 24:4, Dan. 10:5-6, 18). When angels appeared to men they did not have wings contrary to popular notion. There are numerous terms for angels like the sons of Gods (Job 38:7), a phrase prior to angelic rebellion was applied generally to all angels of lower rank, but became exclusively designated for demons after the angelic revolt (Gen. 6:2-4, Job 1:6). Angels of God are also called heavenly beings referring to all ranks (Ps. 29:1, 89:61) or Holy Ones (Ps. 89:5-7) or Heavenly Hosts (Luke. 2:13), or Hosts of Armies (1 Samuel 1:11) and Holy Myriads (Jude 14). They are called Holy Angels or Angels of God (Luke 9:26, 12:8) or God's Angels (Heb. 1:6, Ps. 103:20). Some angels announced beforehand the birth of some of God's select servants (Gen. 18:9-15, Judges 13:2-24, Luke 1:13, 2:8-15). Certain angels on some occasions forewarned the righteous of imminent danger or threatening disaster, destruction or calamity (Gen. 18:16-19, Matt. 2:13, Dan. 8:1). Certain angels guided and instructed the righteous believers while completing the Canon of the Scripture (Acts 7:38, 8:26, Gal. 3:19). Certain angels interpreted dreams and visions for some select servants of God (Zech. 1:9, Dan. 7:16, Rev. 17:7). Angels destroyed the enemies of God's people and in some occasion defended them (Ex. 12:23, 29). Angels are sentry guards over believers, client nation and local spiritual churches (Ps. 34:7, 91:11, Matt. 18:10). They are watchers over the universal Church of Christ (Rev. 1:20). They are the ministering Spirits to the Church Age believers under the undeserved sufferings. They assist in the divine judgment of unbelievers and divine discipline of the reversionistic believers (Rev. 18; 1, Mark 13:27). They praise God continually in the past, present, and future (Rev. 19:1-3). They are always praising God with authentic praises. The Fallen Angels. Satan, (the Hebrew term for adversary) also known as the devil, is a high ranking angelic creature who, before the creation of the human race, rebelled against the Creator and became the chief antagonist of God and man. The following passages describes Satan's past career as "Lucifer" and as "the Anointed Cherub" in his pre-fall splendor.. "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! "But you said in your heart, `I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. `I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." (Isaiah 14:12-14). From this context, five times, Satan claimed superiority above God. The phrase "you have been cut down to the earth" denotes the demotion of Satan from his heavenly pedestal of arrogance. "Son of man, takes up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and says to him, `Thus says the Lord God, "You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty." You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; the lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; and the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you. On the day that you were created they were prepared. "You were the anointed cherub who covers and I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked in the midst of the stones of fire. "You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you. (Ezekiel 28:12-15) But many of the modern theologians refused to apply the prophecies of Isaiah 14:12-14 and Ezekiel 28:12-15 to Satan for several reasons: Under the argument that are addressed solely to the kings of Babylon and Tyre. Their interpretation is totally unwarranted since the prophecies fail to take into account some essential issues. It ignores the close connection Satan has in the Scripture with the government of the satanic world system. Those theologians missed the doctrinal point of view. In their full scope these passages paint Satan's past career as "Lucifer" and as "the Anointed Cherub" in his pre-fall splendor. Lucifer was the most beautiful creature that God has ever created. If he will appear today in his natural beauty, human beings will be attracted and magnetized to him. Only the Bible has the accurate information about angels, Satan, demons and hell. The Bible is the sole authority not the theologians who made teachings out of their fallacies and hypothesis. He does not need to sing to captivate creatures because he was music himself. He was the most intelligent creature that God has ever created. Whoever painted the image of the ugly looking Satan with horns and sharp pointed tail had insulted his Creator. God clothed Lucifer with majesty, glory and honor. Though he was not omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent, he is still the most powerful creature that God has ever created. As the highest ranking honor guard, he was responsible to guard the throne of God. He was created perfect (holy and without sin) until he used his freewill and chose to become evil. As the high ranking archangel assigned to guard the throne of God, Lucifer was a showcase of God*s grace and glory which was denied by his arrogance and ambition to dethrone God. Satan is the author of rebellion, insurrection, uprising and became the originator of sin (John 8:44). These passages also portrays Lucifer's apostasy in drawing with him a great multitude of lesser celestial creatures (Rev. 12:4), making him "the Evil One" or "the Tempter." Lucifer wanted the power and authority of God (Isaiah 14:14b) but not the responsibility since he cannot function as God. Satan is the author of rebellion against all legitimate authority. These fallen angels (demons) are classified into two classes. The fallen angels (demons) that are bound are evidently guilty of more heinous wickedness and are incarcerated in Tartarus (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6, Gen. 6:1-4). ). Satan is an instrumentation in the fall of the human race. Satan disguised as "the Serpent" (the deceiver). His judgment was predicted in Eden (Gen. 3:15), and was accomplished at the cross (John 12:13-33). As created, his power was secondary only to God (Ezek. 28:11-16). He is limited by himself, and restricted by the divine sovereignty. Satan is never omniscient or omnipotent in any way, and he cannot be in two places at the time, for he is not omnipresent. His actions toward the children of God is limited and restricted by the sovereignty of God (Job 1:12, 2:6). He has no power to take their lives Satan attempted to block the First Advent of Christ by infiltrating the human race (Gen. 6:1-4), extermination of the Jewish race (Ex. 1:1-15), inspiring evil men to kill Christ (Luke 22:3-6). Satan's present work is widespread and destructive. God permits his evil activity for the time being. Demons must do Satan's bidding. The unsaved are largely under Satan's authority, and he rules them through the evil world system over which he is the head and of which the unregenerate are a part (Isaiah. 14:12-17; Eph. 2:2; Col. 1:13). Satan became the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) after Adam deliberately surrendered his dominion in the world when he sinned and died spiritually (Gen. 3:3). God assigned Adam as the legitimate ruler of the world, of which privileges and responsibility he rejected when he chose the satanic will instead of the divine will. Adam deliberately surrendered to Satan his authority and dominion over the created things. The free fallen angels roam the universe with their prince-leader Satan (Matt. 12:24) and as his emissaries they are so numerous as to make Satan's power practically ubiquitous. Those at the courtroom of God (Job 1:6, 2:1, Zech. 3:1) Those who are on earth (1 Tim. 4:1) God exiled Satan to planet earth because of the angelic conflict. The angelic conflict involved the rebellion of Lucifer against God where he was was found guilty and sentenced to the Lake of Fire but demanded an appeal trial. Satan accused God of injustice for sentencing him to the Lake of Fire. God accepted his appeal to prove the perfection of his work and character. The entire human history is part of the angelic conflict, as an evidence of divine righteousness and justice. Christians are the proof of God's grace. Although Satan lost after Christ won His strategic victory at the cross (Col. 2:15), he continues to reign as a usurper (2 Corinthians 4:4), and works in tempting and accusing men (Rev. 12:10), he is to be ousted from the heaven (verses 7-12) as well as an earth (5:1-19:16), and is to be confined to the abyss for a thousand years (20:1-3). When released from the abyss at the end of the thousand years, he will make one last mad attempt to lead his armies against God (Rev. 20:8-9). This will result in his final doom when he is cast into the Lake of Fire (vs. 10), which has been prepared for him and his wicked angelic accomplices (Matt. 25:41). This will be the one place where evil angels and unsaved men will be kept and quarantined so that the rest of God's sinless universe will not be corrupted in the eternal state. The present activities of Satan are:
Satan is a defeated enemy, condemned and doomed. He is a real enemy that you cannot just ignore around since he desires nothing but your destruction and spiritual defeat. Our God's given weapon against the devil is the Bible doctrine stored and resident in the souls of the believer (Eph. 6:17). Nobody is capable of fighting the devil with human power, resources, power or man-made weapons (Eph. 6:12). We can only destroy speculations (2 Cor. 10:5) with Bible doctrine. Speculations are human viewpoint expressed in myths, superstitions, human philosophy, man-made religious teachings, and demonic doctrines circulated in the world by various satanic advocates. Bible doctrine must replace these garbages long dumped into our souls. J. R. Cherreguine Bible Doctrine Ministries The Lake of Fire One of the most misunderstood doctrines in the Bible is the doctrine of hell. There are several words for hell. From the Old Testament, the Hebrew word "Sheol" is 31 times translated as hell in the English Bible. In the New Testament, the Greek word "Hades" is 10 times translated as hell, "Gehenna" 11 times and "Tartarus" (2 Pet. 2:4), once. The biblical knowledge of hell comes almost exclusively from the teachings of Christ who spoke emphatically on the subject on several occasions. According to the Lord Jesus Christ, the punishment of hell is so severe than any punishment known to man. The punishment of hell is greater than death (spiritual death of man) itself (Matt. 5:22, 29-30, 18:5). The Lord used figurative language to describe hell, but the figure stands for the most terrible reality beyond comparison. 'And fear not them, which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him, which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell' (Matthew 10:28). The human soul is immortal, eternal and indestructible on earth. In hell, the soul of the unregenerate will suffer the most severe punishment, which includes separation from God, torture of the soul with unquenchable fire, undying worms and memory of the past. The soul will not die in hell but will remain alive forever in pain and agony. The fire of hell is spiritual and unique; it is something not of this world. We cannot compare it with any human created fire or with any kind of fire we know in this world. (Mark 9:43, 45). It is better to suffer the pains of divine discipline and rebound than to suffer the pains of hell. Satan is not the lord or master of hell, he will be its most notorious and forgotten prisoner. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord of hell. Satan will not hurt or punish anyone in hell, but he will be the subject of the most severe punishment (Luke 12:5). Nobody is in-charge of hell or heaven except the Lord Jesus Christ. "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" (Rev. 1:18). Hell is originally created for fallen angels (Satan and his demons), not for human beings, but since men through Adam decided to follow Satan*s rebellion, God assigned hell as the place of punishment for all who rejected the free gift of salvation. "And death (the spiritually dead people of all generation) and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death" (Rev. 20:14). Contrary to popular belief, hell is the place of punishment for all self-righteous people not for the "wicked" or evil people. In the New Testament, the term wicked or unrighteous refers to those who have rejected the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Religious people are more self-righteous than anyone else in the world, they are the genuine evil and wicked people, and they are not serving God but Satan. They are working for the kingdom of the world. "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone" (Rev. 19:20). "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever' (Rev. 20:10). Another misconception about hell is its locality. The idea that hell is in the bottom of the earth originated from the rabbinical and ancient cults teaching not from the teaching of the Lord Jesus or his apostles. Hell is outside space beyond the reach of any created beings. Indeed, there is fire in the middle of the earth, but that is not Hell. The Lake of Fire is not geographical but spiritual yet it is a real place. The question is, What is Hell? Hell is a place of perpetual burning with unquenchable, supernatural, eternal fire (Matt. 5:22, 29-30, 9:44-45) that will torture the souls of the unbelievers forever. Hell is a Lake of Fire (Rev. 19:20, 20:10, 19:15, which describes the vastness of its suffering where all the prisoners have no possible escape. Hell is also called the Second Death because the first death is the spiritual death of Adam which was imputed to every human being (Rev. 2:21, 20:14-15, 21:8). Hell is eternal separation from God, meaning, God will "delete" everything about him, no memory will remain in His mind as if he did not come to existence. He is absolutely forgotten forever. Hell is totally the opposite of heaven where the believers will enjoy the presence of God, fabulous inheritance, marvelous spiritual rewards and tremendous blessings. Hell is the released wrath of God against human rejection of the Gospel and Bible doctrines. God cannot be angry with the sins of His people, for which He sent Christ to die and reconciled them back to Himself (Col. 3:6, 1 Thess. 1:10, Rom. 2:5-8), Hell is a place of eternal darkness (Matt. 8:12, 22:13, 2 Peter 2:17). Its darkness beyond comparison because we do not have anything like it in this world. It is darkness produced by human and angelic total negative volition toward God and His Word. Hell is a place of destruction (Matt. 7:13, Rom. 9:22, Phil. 3:19, 2 Peter 2:1). The human soul is indestructible and created with a purpose to return back to God, and the soul that rejects Christ has lost that purpose. It served Satan, the world and its lusts. God has no use for that soul but it must be destroyed. Destruction in this context means to leave out since it has no other purpose. Hell is a place of eternal pains and sufferings (1 Cor. 1:18, 2 Tim. 2:10). At the resurrection, God will provide all regenerate people with glorious bodies designed for eternal fellowship with Christ in heaven. All unbelievers will also receive their resurrection bodies designed for eternal suffering in hell. The suffering unbelievers may wish to die because of the severity of pains but death will not come. Hell is a place of permanent imprisonment (Matt. 11:21) where there is no escape, no parole, no pardon, and without release for those who have rejected Christ during their lifetime. Hell is a place of woes (Matt. 11:21) and sorrows. The memory of the wasted life spent for the world and the things of the world bring much agony to the suffering souls in hell. Memory of past opportunities to believe and accept the free gift of eternal life will torture the soul of the unbelievers forever. Hell is a place of torment (Luke 16:23, Rev. 14:10, 20:10). Torment refers to severe bodily tortures inflicted upon the victims. The Roman Empire was an expert of physical tortures, but the tortures of hell is much more severe and horrible beyond compare. Hell is a place of weeping & wailing (Matt. 8:12, 13:42, Luke 13:28). The Jews were famous for their weeping and wailing during death of their loved ones, disaster, and calamity. The Lord Jesus Christ used these analogies to describe the sufferings of hell. The Jews mourned for the dead for several days but hell will be a place where people will weep and wail forever. Hell is a place where worms do not die (Mark 9:43-48). The worms of hell are eternal and unique because their habitat is darkness and fire. The worms are associated with death and futility. The people in hell are in terrible futility; they are good for nothing except destruction. Hell is a place of everlasting fire (Matt. 5:22, Mark 9:43-49, 2 Peter 3:7, Rev. 20:10, 14-15). Only in the Bible we find supernatural and spiritual fire like in the burning bush and at Elijah*s sacrifice. The fire of hell is a real fire, but it is superior to any kind of fire we know on earth because it is an everlasting fire. Hell is a place for judgment of all human good works of unbelievers (Heb. 9:27, Matt. 10:15, Mark 11:22). Hell is the venue for the judgment of all human good of unbelievers for which reason man rejected the grace gift of salvation. Actually, hell will be full of "good and righteous" people of the world. People who tried to earn salvation by their good works and religious activities, rejecting the free gift of salvation, rejecting the works of Christ on the Cross on behalf of men. Hell is the end of human rejection of Christ; it will terminate human rejection of Christ and Bible doctrines. Nobody else in the eternity future will ever again reject Christ. Hell is the ultimate testimony that God is sovereign Lord of all. Hell was specially created for Satan and his demons who rebelled against God by challenging His sovereignty. The Bible is silent about the time of creation of hell. When and how it was created is not important to believers. The exact location of hell is second in importance to knowing the Lord Jesus Christ, but some Christians were distracted by this non-essential issue. God created hell for Satan outside space. The location of hell becomes the center of various theological speculations and illogical assumptions. Some "Christians' support the ancient pagan view that hell is located in the center of the planet earth. Recently, some psuedo-Christians released a publication of their latest discovery utilizing modern technology. Their super microphones claimed that they were able to gather noises and voices from the bottom of earth. Hell is an escape "proof prison created and especially designed for the supernatural, superpower and super-intelligent angelic being, formerly known as Lucifer. The phrase "bottomless pit" described the infinite depth of Abyss, which will be the prison of Satan for 1000 years. Satan and the demons will need more than a thousand years to reach the top of the bottomless pit. The most powerful angel (Satan) is totally incapable of breaking away from hell. There are several biblical terms for hell. Hell has several subdivisions There are likewise numerous popular and widely accepted false doctrines about hell. We must be familiar with the original terms (Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, Tophet, Abyss, Tartarus, and others) used by the Scriptures for hell because the English Bible translations are misleading. We must be familiar with the biblical concepts of hell to refute the idle, weak and struggling believers. Understanding the terms used by the original text for hell is of extreme importance to avoid the subtle infiltration of human viewpoint. J. R. Cherreguine Bible Doctrine Ministries
FOUR COMPARTMENTS OF HELL The translators of the English Bible have created confusion for understanding the concept of hell, which they rendered several different Hebrews and Greek words simply as "hell," when they actually refer to different places. Sheol is the general designation for the abode of the dead for both unbelievers and believers in the Old Testament. Hades is also the general designation for the abode of the dead both believers and unbelievers in the New Testament before the resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hades or Sheol has four compartments:
Paradise (a Persian word, meaning "Garden of the king") also called Abraham's Bosom was the designation of the souls of all Old Testament believers (Luke 16:23-25). No human being entered heaven until Christ entered into the presence of the God the Father and was accepted as a true humanity "the only perfect man". The acceptance of Jesus in His humanity means the acceptance of the Father of his sacrifice for the sins of all humanity. His sacrifice was approved and served as the only access to heaven. Only under these conditions could believers be admitted into the abode of God (Psalms 110:1, Heb. 1:13, 8:1, 10:12-20). Christ in His ascension transferred the souls of all believers who have died (from Abel to the last believer who died before Christ's ascension) from Paradise (Abraham's Bosom) to the New Paradise or Third Heaven (Eph. 4:8-9). Paradise remains empty from the time the souls of the OT believers were transferred to heaven. Today, believers who died go directly to the presence of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). At the Second Coming of Christ, we will return with Him to glorify Him in His millennial kingdom. Torments is a temporary place of fire for the souls of unbelievers from Cain to the last person of the millennial kingdom who will reject the grace of Christ (Luke 16:23-25). Torments is the temporary punishment for all unbeliever before the opening of the Lake of Fire (see page 25). Those in Torments do not have resurrection bodies designed for eternal punishment of the Lake of Fire. They have temporary bodies (different from natural physical body), fully conscious, designed to suffer the torments, but still awaiting the resurrection bodies designed for the punishment of the Lake of Fire. In the same manner, the souls of believers in the New Paradise or Third Heaven are provided with temporary bodies without old sin nature, fully conscious and with supernatural abilities. Hades and Torments are synonymous, but the rendering of both term as "hell" creates confusion because there is yet a final hell designated as Tophet, Gehenna, the Lake of Fire or the Second Death. The first two occupants of the Lake of Fire will be the beast and the false prophet of the Great Tribulation (Rev. 20:10), who will be thrown into this prison just before the start of the Millennial kingdom. At the second resurrection, at the end of the 1000 years reign of Christ, all unbelievers will be judged and sent to the Lake of Fire for their final punishment (Rev. 20:11-15). Tartarus is the prison for the fallen angels who conspired against God by co-habiting with the daugthers of men (Gen. 6:2). They were the only angels who had not seen the activities of the Son of God on earth and the defeat of Satan. They still entertained the hope that their leader would emerge victorious in his battle and keep Christ from going to the Cross and to free them (2 Peter 2:4). The Lord Jesus Christ visited Tartarus in His glorious resurrection body to announce the defeat of Satan and their hopeless situation. "Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things (Eph. 4:9-10) "In which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah..." (1 Peter 3:19). The captive followers of Satan received the bad news from the victorious Christ who defeated their leader. From Tartarus they will be transferred to the Lake of Fire after the Great White Throne judgment. Demons will go to hell not because they rebelled against God but because they rejected the offer of the Son of God for redemption. In the same way, those who will go to hell are the "unforgiven" sinners, because they refused and rejected the free gift of salvation. They will be in hell not because of sins they have committed but because they have have rejected the Gospel of Christ and His plan of grace. At the end of Satan's appeal trial, the original verdict of God against the devil will be finally executed. The "Satanic Trinity" will be the the first to enter the Lake of Fire. They will be thrown alive (Rev. 19:20), which denotes the designed and purpose of hell. The Lake of Fire burns with brimstone (an inflammable mineral substance found in quantities on the shores of the Dead Sea). This word figuratively denotes destruction or punishment (Job 18:15; Isaiah 30:33; 34:9; Ps. 11:6; Ezek. 38:22). It is used to express the idea of excruciating torment (Rev. 14:10; 19:20; 20:10). The writer of the Book of Revelation was familiar with brimstone, possible the only known material that burned with intense heat during his time. The purpose of the Lake of Fire is to torment the "Satanic Trinity" (the Devil, the Beast, and the False Prophet) day and night throughout eternity. The Lake of Fire is the Second Death, which denotes the kind of death that those in hell will experience forever and ever. Death (Sheol) and Hades (Torments and Tartarus) will be thrown (see page 25) into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:10, 14-15). Take note also, that the justice of God will meticulously deal with every person. Although the omniscience of God eternally knows the names of every unregenerated person, and yet He will search their names in the Book of Life. The Book of Life is the divine evidence against human rejection of the free gift of salvation in Christ, while the Book of Works is the divine evidence against human self-righteousness which they (all unbelievers) used to gain divine approbation and acceptance. Satan has succeeded in making a fool out of hell. Because of too many deviating viewpoints majority of people thought of hell quite differently from its reality. Hell is not fictional but a reality because the Bible speaks about it more plainly than Heaven. To say that God will not send anyone to Hell is contrary to what He has declared in the Scripture. The Scripture is the basis, the standard and the authority in any spiritual matter not human beings no matter how exalted they are. The Scripture has provided more details about Hell more than the facts of Heaven. The pains of Hell are clearly described more than the blessings of the believers in Heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ spoke of Hell in more occasions more than He spoke about Heaven. Hell is not a tool that God uses to scare the little rascal to behave well. God created Hell not for people but for Satan and his demons. When God created Hell God was thinking about the super ability, super power and super arrogance of Satan. The power, beauty, talents and arrogance of Satan will find their final "resting" place in the Lake of Fire where they will be forgotten by everyone else especially God. Nobody will ever remember or think of Satan again. "History" is something that previously exists and something you can recall back in your memory, but Satan and all those in Hell will become somebody that never has existed in eternity past, in time or in space. God will totally delete everything about Satan and everything about everyone in Hell. When the Bible says that the Second death is eternal separation with God, it means separation outside of His reach. God will put Hell "outside space", and "outside His reach" which is the exact opposite of Heaven, where the believers dwells in fellowship with God. J. R. Cherreguine Bible Doctrine Ministries
The Four Compartments of Hell
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Copyright ©2003-2007 J. R. Cherreguine Bible Doctrine Ministries |
11/30/06