The Spirit World: Ch. 7 (The Migration of Paradise)

The Migration of Paradise

(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)
¹⁵But God will redeem my life from the grave (Sheol); he will surely take me to himself. Selah Continue Reading

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The Spirit World: Chapter Six (Paradise)

Paradise

(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

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The Spirit World: Chapter Five (Abraham’s Bosom)

Abraham’s Bosom

(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)

The Term

The terms “Abraham’s Bosom” are found only in Luke 16, in Jesus’ story of Lazarus and the rich man. The terms are Greek “kolpos Abraam.” Kolpos (or kolpon) is rendered “bosom” by the KJV and “side” by the NIV. “Bosom” is the most articulate and accurate term and the most historically known, thus the term “Abraham’s bosom” is familiar in theology as a designation for this abode. The definition of kolpos describes the area between the arms, or the chest. While the English use of “bosom” frequently implies the mammary specifically, it is not intended necessarily as such in Greek, but rather, the general chest area. Continue Reading

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The Spirit World: Chapter Four (The Pit)

The Pit

(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)

The term

“The Pit,” is to be described in this work using its English rendering because two different Hebrew terms are translated “the pit” in the Old Testament. Both terms, when used metaphorically, clearly speak of the same place, however. Additionally, both terms translate into English as “the pit,” so are grouped together in this section. Continue Reading

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If You Love Jesus… Forward Another Brainless Email

You’d think I would be desensitized by now. But, truth be told, I get more irritated each time it happens. Before their morning coffee has opened passages to their hypothalamus, someone forwards me an utterly asinine email from their Aunt Myrtle which aptly demonstrates the theological aspirations of Joe Q. Christian. I’m sure it seemed relevant at the time.

The sentiment of Aunt Myrtle’s pining will be less than challenging to anyone who knows any actual scripture (beyond what is printed on their clothing or bumper stickers.) It will normally be the stuff that Touched By An Angel episodes are made of; such as the heart-warming story of the child who gave a homeless man his happy-fries outside of the local McDonalds. Continue Reading

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The Spirit World: Chapter Three (Abaddon)

Abaddon

(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)

Abaddon is also a Hebrew term, thus is constrained to the Old Testament, except for one occasion when the Hebrew term is referenced in its original language in the New Testament. Abaddon appears seven times in the Bible. Since it is used so sparingly, this chapter will examine each use of the term.

Abaddon is translated “destruction” throughout the NIV and KJV, except for the Revelation passage, where Abaddon is rendered in its native Hebrew, as a proper name.

Each use of the term is listed below. Continue Reading

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ROTK Makeup Videos

If you missed class in the current Return of the King study series you have a short window of opportunity to make it up online. We will keep three weeks of class video on the Return of the King online course page to give ample time to makeup any sessions missed.

After the third week, videos will be removed. However, we are also in the process of editing the videos and powerpoint presentation into a permanent online version of the course that can be taken at any time.

If you are not participating in the current study, at the time of this posting you have only missed two weeks. You can easily catch up online, then join us for future posts. The study is conducted live online at Needville.TV each Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m.

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The Spirit World: Chapter Two (Hades)

Hades

(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)

Skipping ahead to the New Testament, the next term to be observed in this work is the Greek term, Hades. Obviously, being Greek, Hades appears only in the New Testament. The term is used only ten times in Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. Hades is translated in the NIV as “the grave,” “the depths,” “death” or is left in its original Greek form, transliterated as “Hades.” Also in the NIV it is translated “Hell,” in Luke 16 (below), but in the modern understanding of that term, “Hell” is not the best designation to be used. (More will be discussed on this in chapter eight) With the NIV being a more modern translation, this is an inexplicable use of the term “Hell” in English translation. Hades is, however, translated as “Hell” in all ten usages of the KJV, a much older translation. Continue Reading

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The Spirit World: Introduction

Introduction

(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)

Numerous are the terms used in scripture to reference the other-worldly spiritual abodes which remain unseen to the human eye. Some biblical students are content to quickly categorize these many terms into two simple categories: Heaven and Hell. However upon a thorough examination of scripture it becomes exceptionally clear that many of the abodes of spiritual existence in scripture are not synonymous with either Heaven or Hell. Hades, is often considered synonymous with Hell, for example, yet numerous Godly men, including Jesus himself, are noted in scripture to have entered Hades upon their deaths. While there are some who erroneously teach that Jesus went to “Hell” when he died (meaning “the eternal lake of fire”), scripture is unwavering in its clear assertion that in fact, Hell is not yet occupied. Continue Reading

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The Boundaries of The New Law

(The following is a continuation of “The Law and the Believer,” and assumes the reading of earlier prerequisite posts.)

From the day of Pentecost, believers have experienced the full fruition of God’s ancient promise to Israel: that he will “put (his) law in their minds and write it on their hearts (Jer 31:33).” What fellowship could man desire over the very indwelling presence of God; himself guiding, chastening, leading and inspiring his disciples to his own will and purposes. The apex of God’s plan for fellowship with man has found its fruition in the redemptive work of Christ and the indwelling presence of the Spirit. The life of faith is one of fellowship rather than rule of law and freedom rather than the bondage of restraint. Continue Reading

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