THE CRUCIFIXION SERIES #3

THE CRUCIFIXION part #3: Questions answered

The deeper questions. Are you prepared to take in the answers?  From the last blog:

What is paradise? Paradise in Greek denotes “garden or park,” according to Strong’s #3857. The Greek Septuagint also uses the same word for the “garden of Eden.” Truly, this must be a lush garden for the waiting “righteous.”  

This is a diagram before Jesus walked the earth. “Hades” being translated literally: “the Unseen Place.” This does not measure up to the Hell Fire that takes place later. It is just a place.

Clearly, God made it easy for us to see His plan for us. You need the scriptures to understand . We always seem to be taken to scriptures, both, in the NT and OT. I believe it’s His way of proof of validity. 

Below is the “Jewish Orthodox” version. The timeline is crucial for understanding. Jesus had not been born yet. This is the timeline before Jesus’ death and resurrection. Do you remember the rich man and Lazarus?

There was a certain rich man who was customarily clothed in purple and fine linen and making merry in luxury every day.  (Luk 16:19 MKJV)

And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, full of sores  (Luk 16:20 MKJV)

and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. But even the dogs came and licked his sores.  (Luk 16:21 MKJV)

And it happened that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich one also died and was buried.  (Luk 16:22 MKJV)

And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  (Luk 16:23 MKJV)

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.  (Luk 16:24 MKJV)

But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things. But now he is comforted and you are tormented.  (Luk 16:25 MKJV)

See the thick line between torment and paradise in Hades (the grave)?

And besides all this, there is a great chasm fixed between you and us; so that they desiring to pass from here to you cannot, nor can they pass over to us from there.  (Luk 16:26 MKJV)

Now, see on the left of the diagram, it says “A Person?” This is when you are at the threshold of going over to the other side. When someone dies, they are split in two. the body which will decay goes to the grave. On the other hand, the Spirit goes to Hades either to Paradise ( the righteous) or Torment (unrighteous). The ones in Paradies are waiting for our Lord’s resurrection. All must go through Hades to either Torment or Paradise at that time.

And I have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.  (Act 24:15 MKJV)

However at this point in time the Judgement was yet to come. So where do you think Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc. went. They are of course in Paradise.

And it happened that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich one also died and was buried.  (Luk 16:22 MKJV)

BEING ASLEEP IN DEATH

This brings up quite a few questions about where we are. If, for instance, we die before the rapture? I know questions will arise if I do not make it clear:

In the Bible there are many references to the word “asleep,” but to qualify what we are talking about Biblically, it also means the souls are asleep , as the corporal bodies decay. Hence, when Jesus’ good friend Lazarus had died, Jesus’ said he was only asleep.

He said these things; and after that He said to them, Our friend Lazarus sleeps. But I go so that I may awaken him out of sleep.  (Joh 11:11 MKJV)
Then His disciples said, Lord, if he sleeps, he will get well.  (Joh 11:12 MKJV)
But Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He had spoken of taking rest in sleep.  (Joh 11:13 MKJV)

Then Jesus said to them plainly, Lazarus is dead.  (Joh 11:14 MKJV)

The soul was at rest in Hades, even though his physical body was decaying in the burial plot. With the soul, that had gone to the “living” or those who were in Hades considered asleep, not dead. Until Jesus’ ascension. Look at the diagram below:

Then there is the Torment side. You see that remains in Hades. Jesus only took the Paradise side to Heaven. If you ever wondered that if we all are going to be judged and that hasn’t occurred yet. So my thoughts, before I researched this was where is the dead while waiting for Jesus’ death resurrection and ascension. Observe the diagram in the previous page. It was the Jewish theology,  since  there was no Messiah. However, that was the way it was before Christ came to this earth.

Look at both diagrams and think. They are based on the timeline. When Jesus  went down to hades to bring “Paradise” to Heaven. That’s where He was for three days.  That is why this scripture makes perfect sense because Jesus’ body could decayed, because He had not risen yet. Consequently :

For You will not leave My soul in hell; You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.  (Psa 16:10 MKJV)

So also the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption;  (1Co 15:42 MKJV)

it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;  (1Co 15:43 MKJV)

it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.  (1Co 15:44 MKJV)

And so it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul,” the last Adam was a life-giving Spirit.  (1Co 15:45 MKJV)

But not the spiritual first, but the natural; afterward the spiritual.  (1Co 15:46 MKJV)

The first man was out of earth, earthy; the second Man was the Lord from Heaven.  (1Co 15:47 MKJV)

Such the earthy man, such also the earthy ones. And such the heavenly Man, such also the heavenly ones.  (1Co 15:48 MKJV)

And according as we bore the image of the earthy man, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.  (1Co 15:49 MKJV)

And I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption.  (1Co 15:50 MKJV)

 Keep in mind, only the spirit/soul can enter heaven, not our fleshly bodies as some think. Now it will become even clearer, since the term for “Hellfire” is not Hades.

Notice where Paradise is after Jesus took it with Him to Heaven and left Torment in Hades . But again, the time has not come yet, so the Bible tells us where the righteous and unrighteous dead are.

Paul said in 2 Cor. 12:1:

Indeed, it is not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.  (2Co 12:1 MKJV)
I know a man in Christ fourteen years before (whether in the body, I do not know; or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows) such a one was caught up to the third Heaven.  (2Co 12:2 MKJV)
And I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I do not know; God knows),  (2Co 12:3 MKJV)
that he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not allowed for a man to utter.  (2Co 12:4 MKJV)

Paul was in Heaven with Jesus. He is speaking about himself as he goes on, he identifies himself as the one being caught up.
I will glory of such a one, yet I will not boast on my behalf, except in my weaknesses.  (2Co 12:5 MKJV)
For if I desire to boast, I shall not be foolish. For I will speak the truth. But I spare, lest anyone should think of me as being beyond what he sees me, or hears of me;  (2Co 12:6 MKJV)
and by the surpassing revelations, lest I be made haughty, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be made haughty.  (2Co 12:7 MKJV)
For this thing I besought the Lord three times, that it might depart from me.  (2Co 12:8 MKJV)
And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may overshadow me.  (2Co 12:9 MKJV)
Therefore I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am powerful.  (2Co 12:10 MKJV)

So, to reiterate, Hades is the grave in the all views. But when Jesus dies, and is resurrected, we have that different  understanding. Again, it is the timeline. However, Jesus warns about “hellfire’ when He uses the term “Gehenna.”

Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear His voice,  (Joh 5:28 MKJV)
and shall come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil to the resurrection of condemnation.  (Joh 5:29 MKJV)

In my next blog, I will answer questions about “Hellfire” and “Gehenna.”