(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)
No specific term is associated with this text other than a description: “kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.” Once again, a singular reference is given concerning this spiritual realm. That text is found in the book of Jude. Continue Reading
(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)
Tarturus is another Greek term found only in a singular text: 2 Peter 2:4. The term “Tartarus” finds its roots in Greek mythology, being the name of the lowest place of confinement in the Greek mythological underworld. Thus, Peter uses an established term in this singular biblical reference. Although the term is established outside of scripture, it’s cultural use may certainly offer keen insight into its biblical use. Continue Reading
(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)
The Euphrates River is noted several times in scripture in its common usage. It normally refers to the literal Euphrates River, of course, which begins in Russia and flows through Syria and Iraq, emptying into the Persian Gulf. The Euphrates is first mentioned in the book of Genesis, being one of the four rivers which flow out of Eden. Continue Reading
(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)
While the preparation has been laid for the full procession of the unrighteous of humanity through the realms of the afterlife, there still remain several spiritual abodes which are noted in scripture. These abodes are of a somewhat different essence than those described thus far. The first of these additional abodes to be observed is that of the Abyss. Continue Reading
(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)
Gehenna is a Greek term, yet it comes to the Greek from the combination of two Hebrew terms, Gei and Hinnom. Gei Hinnom literally means “the Valley of Hinnom.”
The Valley of Hinnom was an area outside the walls of New Testament Jerusalem, at the southwestern corner of the city. The pertinence of Gehenna in Jesus’ day was that it was Jerusalem’s trash dump. All manners of refuse were thrown there, from typical household waste to industrial discards. Dead bodies also were thrown here, both of animals and humans. Criminals with no proper burial choices were discarded there, as were others who were unable to afford nicer burials. Continue Reading
(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)
The phrases describing the “lake of fire” occur four times in scripture, each in the book of Revelation. Being a phrase of several very common terms, the “lake of fire” is a simple representation of this group categorically. The phrase is rendered as the “lake of fire and burning sulfur,” with slight variances, in three places, and simply “lake of fire” in the fourth. Variances are slight throughout numerous translations, with each yielding the same essence, “lake of fire.” Because there are only four references to this phrase, each one will be examined in this section. Continue Reading
(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)
Of all abodes of the dead, perhaps none bring the immediate sense of recognition as does the term, “Hell.” Hell is an English word from the Saxon “helan,” which means “to cover” or “to hide”. There is no single underlying Hebrew or Greek term which can be traced biblically to coincide with the use of “Hell” in varying translations. To that end, Hell must be treated first by its English understanding and then applied to those Hebrew and Greek terms which represent that definition in scripture. Continue Reading
One of the hardest things about being a premillennialist is being inevitably associated with other premillennialists. Among the many qualified, biblically sound and sane Biblicists out there also exist a panicky, superstitious and downright dishonest fringe (ok… it may be a pretty wide “fringe”) which will stop at nothing to “prove” their postulates; even if it means that the truth must be entirely misrepresented in the process. Continue Reading
(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)
As has been demonstrated thus far, the righteous are appointed to leave Sheol/Hades at some point in time. The hope of a future release from Sheol for the righteous is a demonstrated characteristic of their existence there. Hannah notes in her prayer,
1 Samuel 2:6 (NIV)
6 “The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave (Sheol) and raises up.
The priestly sons of Korah note,
Psalm 49:15 (NIV)
15 But God will redeem my life from the grave (Sheol); he will surely take me to himself. Selah Continue Reading
(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)
“Paradise” is a Greek term literally meaning a “royal park” or a “garden.” However, the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) translates “the garden of Eden” as “the garden of Paradise.” Thus it can be gleaned that the Greek understanding of “paradise“ was more than a mere garden. It was an exceptional type of garden, denoting a place of peace, innocence and freedom from the sinful realm. It was a place in some way resembling the character and nature of Eden. Continue Reading