Parts One & Two
Bible Teaching Class at Purcellville Baptist Church, Virginia. C.S. Craig teacher. April – May, 2017.
There are basically FOUR Parts to our Study:
1). Compartments of Hades – The Underworld
2). Paradise Luke 16:22.
A). The Ascension
3). The Rich Man and Lazarus –
A). View of Hell. Luke 16:19-31.
4). Angelic Infiltration of the Human Race:
The super-race, “nephilim” – Genesis 6; Jude 6.
COMPARTMENTS OF HADES — THE UNDERWORLD
After Christ died, are you aware of what took place?
How many times have you read about the crucifixion and the resurrection and did not assimilate in your mind what was being said by Christ as He hung on the Cross … nailed in agony?
It is one thing to read through the Bible in a year, but it is quite another to stop and research the context.
Moving on: Christ Himself tells us what happened on the cross. Please turn in your Bible to Luke 23:43. On the cross, Christ said to the one thief: “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in ‘Paradise.’”
And in Luke 23:46 Jesus cried out with a loud voice: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last … literally, He exhaled.
Then in Luke 23:53, His body was placed in the tomb (grave) of Joseph of Arimathea, a believer.
In Luke Chapter 23, verses 43, 46 and 53, we are told that Christ’s Soul went to Paradise; Christ’s Spirit went to the Father, and His Body went to the tomb (grave).
Before we continue, we need to clarify ‘Hell,’ or ‘Hades.’
Unfortunately, the translators of the English Bible from the original manuscripts have confused the issue by rendering several different Hebrew and Greek words simply as “hell” when they actually refer to different places.
In the Hebrew “Sheol” is translated “hell” and sometimes “the grave.”
The parallel (to the Hebrew) Greek word is Hades, which is always translated “hell.” But, Sheol or Hades is the general designation for the abode of the dead, both believers and unbelievers, before the resurrection and ascension of Christ.
Hades, or “Hell,” contains three compartments: Paradise, Luke 16:19-22; Torments, Luke 16:23-25; and Tartarus, 2 Peter 2:4
Let’s look at each compartment.
1). Paradise – this is a Persian word meaning “Garden of the King.” The Jews called it “Abraham’s Bosom” — the place of the “righteous dead,” which included all believers from Adam right up until Christ’s resurrection (Luke 16:22).
2). Torments (Luke 16:23)
Between Paradise and Torments was “a Great Chasm (Gulf) Fixed” (Luke 16:26), “so that no one could cross to the other side.” Believers were on one side (Paradise) and unbelievers were on the other side (Torments).
3). Tartarus (2 Peter 2:4)
Tartarus is where the fallen angels were incarcerated who were involved in the Satanic conspiracy of Genesis 6 & Jude 6. This was the infiltration of fallen angels who took daughters of men.
Now that we understand that there are three compartments in Hades, we must also recognize that there is yet a final hell designated as “Tophet” in Greek, which is “The Lake of Fire” (Revelation 20:10).
In Isaiah 30:33, the Hebrew word for final hell is “Gehenna.”
The Lake of Fire will not be occupied except by the “beast and false prophet,” until the second resurrection.
Okay, now that we have all this background we are prepared to move forward and upward.
PARADISE — MOVED TO HEAVEN
After our Lord’s unique visit to Paradise — it would never be the same again, because when Christ left Paradise, He ascended to Heaven and took those waiting for Him in Paradise with Him. This was the first time that anyone had ascended into Heaven. “When He Ascended on high, He led Captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts” (Ephesians 4:8-10). The fact that Christ removed Paradise from it’s underworld location and transferred it to the “Third Heaven” is confirmed to us in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, by the apostle Paul. Be sure you read this for yourself.
Please note: In Scripture, Paradise is always referred to as God’s dwelling place. Paul also tells us that his vision of Heaven was “surpassing greatness,” in 2 Corinthians 12:7. In other words there was just no way to describe what He saw and heard.
Christ our Lord led the most fantastic procession ever made, from Earth to the Third Heaven. He came from Heaven to Earth (Incarnation) and here He ascends back to Heaven taking man for the first time with Him.
What a Savior we have in Christ.
Nothing will match the procession of Old Testament believers from Earth to Heaven until the Second Coming occurs, when Christ brings Heaven to Earth to reign, and Christ will bring with Him all believers. He will lead the procession from Heaven to Earth. It is then that we will experience the same ecstatic experience as those Christ led in the processional ascension of Old Testament saints from Paradise to the Third Heaven.
Can you imagine what that must have been like for all those believers to be with the Lord and travel across the universe without falling back to earth, without any concern for gravity? Without becoming cold, without being frightened?
Well guess what? When we pass away, we too will experience the journey, the same ecstasy, and we will be escorted by one or many angels, to Paradise (Heaven), Luke 16:22.
There is no need to fear death, to the contrary — we should look forward to this wonderful event. God has made provision for everything in our future, especially when we pass away. Praise the Lord.
Now, regarding the Ascension:
The Humanity of Christ Jesus was accepted by the Father, this is the doctrine of “Propitiation” (satisfaction). Because Christ is accepted by the Father, believers are accepted by the Father.
Of course, we know Christ was accepted, because the Father said, “sit thou at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool” (Psalms 110:1; Hebrews 1:13; 8:1; 10: 12-20).
Note: Since Christ ascended, taking Paradise and all Old Testament believers to heaven, all believers from that time forward go directly into the presence of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).
The Second Resurrection is for all unbelievers, of all time, clear back to Adam and right up until the Great White Throne Judgment. All unbelievers will stand before Jesus Christ the one they rejected. God’s Son, the Savior, will now be the Judge.
Unbelievers are not judged at the Great White Throne Judgment for their sins! They are NOT there because they were sinners – we all are sinners – Heaven is full of sinners! Unbelievers are there to be judged according to their works. Revelation 20:11-15. You must understand that all sins of all men for all time were paid for on the Cross about 2,000 years ago. Sin has not been the issue since Christ paid for sin, once and for all.
The issue for mankind is faith in the Cross-work of Jesus Christ. Do you believe Christ died for you, and that He took your place as your Savior? Each person who ever lived has a choice believe or not believe. Personal Faith (belief) determines each person’s eternal destiny. This is not a game; this is not make-believe or myth or “something man created to control people.” If you do not believe in Christ, you will go to Hades (Torments), and there’s no getting out. Ever. But, if you believe in Christ, He will take you to Heaven at the moment of your passing.
We will continue with PARTS THREE AND FOUR OF OUR STUDY – The Rich Man and Lazarus, and The Angelic Infiltration in the Days of Noah.
Nephilim literally means: “fallen ones” in the Hebrew, and is sometimes translated “Giants” in the English. But, these super creatures apparently became half-man and half-angel, creatures of remarkable strength and brilliant intellect. A Fantastic study.
Thank you Father, for your revelations in this study, and thank you for your Plan of Grace. Thank you for your wonderful Word and your wonderful Son in whose name we pray … amen!
Happy studying in fields of grace!