Heaven, Hell and Everything In Between (part 13)

Father we come before you this morning just thankful to be here Delighted to Have the opportunity to look at your word and What it says about things that really matter about life and death heaven and hell.

Eternity. We Father have a tendency to get so focused on this life and what's happening in the here and now or would you? Stir our hearts afresh for those who do not know you. Indeed may one day face your wrath Lord.

Would you bless this time in Christ's name? Amen? Well, I Guess I wasn't here last week. Was I? Know I was recovering from food poisoning in Los Angeles. What could be better? You know and and honestly during during that time.

While I was spending an inordinate amount of time on my knees I thought. Someone might well say I feel like She'll I feel like Hades. I feel like the pit I feel like and I'm going well I I know this is bad, but I don't feel anything like.

What's ultimate? Wrath is going to feel like. We've been talking about heaven and hell and I think we got to. And I'm going to just go back to page 48 for a second to just kind of catch this up to where we are.

We talked about what is is it John Osteen? Is that what his name is? Joel Osteen. I I always get him confused with Claude. I don't know why I Can never remember his name Joel Osteen. He's got a great smile we talked about him and then we talked about Rick Warren and We talked about the seventh-day Adventists, and I just have a little bit more information on our new page.

So I wanted to just go over that quickly. This is from their statement of faith down at the bottom page 48 death and resurrection the wage of sin is death. They got that right, but God who alone is immortal will grant eternal life to his redeemed.

Until that day death is an unconscious state for all people. What's a common term for that? Soul sleep soul sleep. My soul slept a little bit last night, but the idea that you know you just kind of go into a spiritual coma at the point of death.

And then you awaken later and they believe that you'll be in that state of soul sleep until the Millennium the end of the Millennium and you'll wake up and. All that kind of stuff we talked about last time.

But note this at the top of 49 the new handout you just got here one writer said this if death is viewed as sleep and It is in Scripture. It's called. You know slept with his father's. So-and-so went and slept with his father's.

That just meant that they took his body and put him in the family crypt put him in the tomb put him in with everybody else. It's a euphemism for dying, but if death is viewed as sleep We need to interpret this not as soul sleep in Sheol as understood by seventh-day Adventists.

But quote that the state of dying is a falling asleep to awake in another world. What does that mean it means that just that there's a transformation that if you go to sleep in Some sense that you're not you don't spend a long period of time in that State but that you awaken in a new reality.

Gonna give some other views some other religious views of hell. Islam in the Quran. It's not a funny way to spell Quran. But that's the preferred way of spelling it in the Quran the holy book of Islam.

There are literal descriptions of the condemned in a fiery hell. Heaven and hell are split into many different levels. Depending on the actions perpetrated in life where punishment is given. Depending on the level of evil done in life and good is separated into levels depending on how well one followed God while alive.

The gate of hell is guarded by I'll say it Malik. Who is the leader of the angels assigned as the guards of hell also known as? And I'm not even gonna try that say that the Quran states that the fuel of hellfire is rocks and stones or idols in other words idols made of rocks and stones and human beings.

That's what keeps it burning all the time. Buddhism Teaches that there are five sometimes six realms of rebirth by the way on the way back from Los Angeles at a unique experience. I Flew Virgin America, which is not the unique experience.

Although it was very nice and Cheap and non-stop, but I digress I. You know, you never know who you're gonna sit next to on the airplane. Obviously, that's one thing you really cannot control at all.

And so I sit down and there's this little tiny Asian woman next to me. And she's got in front of her this huge plant. I mean, it's like bigger than she is and and you know, we get ready for takeoff. She's in the middle seat.

We get ready for takeoff and the stewardess comes up to me and she says ma 'am you you can't have that they're the plant. You know the person by the window needs to be able to get out in the event of an emergency and I'm like, yeah yeah in the event of an emergency that plants gonna stop her but so.

So they say, you know, you're gonna have to move that and she's like What yeah, she doesn't understand anything so they try to explain it to her, you know. It's kind of the old speak slowly speak louder.

Start bringing on an accent and that's gonna help it didn't work she spoke no English and While we're getting ready to take off. I noticed that she's praying and she's got these beads. And I thought well, maybe she's some kind of you know, maybe she's a Catholic and that's a rosary.

You know not being all that hip on Catholicism in terms of actual practice. I mean the only time the only time I've seen a rosary was in the jail and I Don't know they're they're a little bit different.

But anyway, so she's counting these beads and she's praying and then she kind of folds her hands like that. And I thought she must be some kind of Buddhist and then she opens up. She's got a little like prayer book.

She opens it up and I'm just kind of like looking like this, you know. And I could make out the first few words you wouldn't believe what they were. The first few words of this kind of prayer book thing.

Ho Chi Minh. Ho Chi Minh. We're a young crowd here. Ho Chi Minh it was the leader of the communist in Vietnam. And I just thought that was that was pretty weird, you know, you're gonna say a prayer and then read Comforting things about Ho Chi Minh.

I don't know how that works. Anyway Buddhism. Five or six sometimes six realms of rebirth. I just thought it was weird. Oh it I finally yeah to get back to the plant. So they move this plant and she's terrified that they're moving this plant.

She's not gonna let him stick it up in the overhead bin or whatever. So finally they take it back to the back of the plane, but it was pretty bizarre because she didn't speak English. They didn't speak Vietnamese and it was just really strange and they were fighting over this plant and we're not gonna be able to take Off and you know, but they get it all resolved.

Okay. Sorry, I digress. Okay further five or six realms which can be further subdivided into degrees of agony or pleasure of. These realms the hell realms or Naraka is the lowest realm of rebirth. The worst is a VC or endless suffering.

Rebirth in hell realms is not permanent. Those suffering can persist for eons before being reborn again. You know an amazing concept Buddhism because you know, it's. I think you could kind of summarize it in a rather flippant way.

But you could kind of summarize it this way. Better luck next time, you know, if you don't like this life, well, maybe the next life will be better. Maybe the one after that maybe the one after that so just keep going.

How many are familiar with the Zoroastrianism you ever heard this? Maybe you haven't. You know that basically all religions can be tracked back to Zoroastrianism that Christianity takes a lot of its ideas from Zoroastrianism.

Which predates Christianity? What would you say to someone who said that? Christianity stole from Zoroastrianism which predates Christianity does anything predate Christianity, by the way I have to tell you one more thing and since we're being taped I won't be specific.

I Had actually had a pseudo not a real but it like like a first contact for a job offer while I was in Los Angeles. It was in a country where they can't even tell the country that they're hiring a pastor that they're hiring a pastor and where you're not allowed to proselytize the local nationals because it's against the law and I thought about it for a good five or six seconds and you know.

Suggested some other ways they could find a pastor. I'm just like I read that I was like no no no. No, very strange. I could tell you off the air, but it was it was it was sad. People desperate for a pastor and it's a desperate place.

I wouldn't I wouldn't go there lightly but anyway, here's what I would say to someone who says Zoroastrianism predates Christianity, which is Zoroastrianism is nothing more than a satanic copy a counterfeit.

Satan knows the Bible very well. He takes elements of this elements of that creates a new real religion. You know we talked about or some people will talk about spiritual warfare as this contest between angels and demons what it is.

Spiritual warfare rightly understood is a battle of ideas. God's ideas God's plan God's Word versus distortions of that put out by Satan propagated by his ministers and his followers. But Zoroastrianism is not you know.

Religion is not an evolutionary process. There was one truth, which has been changed many times over but anyway, this is kind of a Wicked ending of things several possible fates for the wicked including annihilation purgation and molten metal and Eternal punishment all of which have standing as rasters writings.

Zoroastrian eschatology includes the belief that wicked souls will remain in hell until following the arrival of three saviors at thousand year intervals. Ahura Mazda. And mr. Toyota and mr. Honda will reconcile the world destroying evil and resurrecting tormented souls to perfection.

I Don't know why the Mazda thing comes in, but I just can't resist Mormonism. Now this is very curious. You know Mormons, and we're gonna. I think probably hear more about this in the next few years. I just.

You know with Mitt Romney probably being in the news a little bit 10th LDS means Latter-day Saints. President Justice Fielding Smith wrote quote. The church does teach that there is a place called hell of course.

We do not believe that all those who do not receive the gospel will eventually be cast into hell. Well of course. They don't believe that. What is that. Of course we do not believe. Well because they think that there's a second chance.

Smith clarified his comment by adding we do not believe that hell is a place where the wicked are being burned forever. This is from another website that examines Mormonism. Listeners the greatest punishment given out in the final judgment will be those for those called sons of perdition.

I've mentioned them before. Many have wondered who will be a part of this group, and what can be expected to happen to them. Mormon doctrine teaches that those who are sons of perdition. Are those listeners who had a sure and perfect knowledge of the truth?

Then voluntarily turned from it and committed the sin unto death. The first requirement then to become part of this group is they have to be members of the LDS Church. In other words if you don't Join the church guess what?

You can't go to you can't. So I don't know why you would want to join the church after that they would Have to have the truth revealed to them with such sureness and clarity. That there would be no doubt in their minds about the truthfulness of the Mormon gospel.

Speaking of the sons of perdition Joseph Fielding Smith taught that before a man can sink to this bitterness of soul He must first know and understand the truth with a clearness of vision wherein there is no doubt.

Such clarity requires a confirming vision from heaven. So you not only have to join the church? You not only have to have a sure knowledge you have to have a vision from heaven that confirms your knowledge of the Mormon gospel.

Joseph Smith taught that to become a son of perdition a person must have the heavens opened unto him and know God. He has got to say that the Sun does not shine while he sees it. He has got to deny Jesus Christ when the heavens have been opened unto him and to deny the plan of salvation with his eyes open to the truth of It.

I mean who's going to hell under that scheme and The answer is almost no one. Okay, so from all these speculations, let's get back to terra firma, let's get back to the Bible and See what the Old Testament has to say about hell.

It's interesting because you know if you were to talk to many Jews, I think the idea of hell would be something that they would not fully Agree with and I think that's because you have to almost take a Systematic approach to the doctrine to really understand it in the Old Testament.

So that's something that we are going to Kind of do in a quick fashion here the doctrine Block this is kind of a summary of block the doctrine of hell is not fully developed in the Old Testament. But there are definite hints talks often about Sheol.

And block says it most likely relates the nouns with the verb to ask or inquire perhaps have become because of some association with the practice of necromancy that is Fiddling with the things of the dead consulting.

What is necromancy? Taylor come on. You should know that I don't know why It has to do it is Yes, sorcery sorcery the sorcery wizardry. I wanted to combine the two and just get it over with faster sorcery wizardry, but it has to do specifically with the dead like a Seance or the all those kind and they're all condemned in the Old Testament.

But that's just speculation on his part because of the similarity of word structure. But Notice that one enters Sheol through the gates of Sheol the gates of death. Let's look at Isaiah 38 10 in fact, I'll read verses 9 and 10 a writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery and Who hasn't felt like this during the middle of your illness and recovery.

Especially last Saturday, but I digress I said in the middle of my life. I am to enter the gates of Sheol. I'm to be deprived for the rest of my years. That's exactly what I was thinking life is over Sheol that you enter it through the gates of Sheol just Sheol is not necessarily Hell it just refers to the afterlife and we're going to see That more carefully developed here.

Sheol is as Mott your says the place of the departed. Block says that it appears or it seems to appear as a massive wasteland filled with the refuse of collapsed civilizations. Sounds like an inviting place.

The most dishonorable occupants are sent to the farthest recesses. In other words the worse you were in this life the farther away the worse your place is the Less desirable it is. Another word that's used to describe the afterlife is Abaddon.

Let's look at Joe Job 26 -6. Anybody read the left-behind series? You can raise your hand. Oh. We have a few including my wife, so I guess you can raise your hand. Hi. Anybody recognize that that word there Abaddon from the left-behind series was it in there?

Go ahead. No. Oh. She doesn't remember. Okay I've been on the abode of destruction that is of lost souls. Let's see what Job 26 -6 says. In fact, I'm gonna read verse 5 again. The departed spirits tremble under the waters and their inhabitants Naked is Sheol before him talking about God and Abaddon has no covering in other words this idea that Sheol this place of death.

Abaddon the abode of destruction is Available to God he sees it. There's no protection from him. Dr. Daniel Block who's been here says this usually translated about Abaddon perdition or Place of destruction.

This is the most negative expression. For the abode of the dead or for the dead the personification of the word in Job 2822 leads to the notion of Apollyon the destroying angel of the abyss in Revelation 9 11.

Now, I know Apollyon. It's a term that we're more familiar with. Let's look at quickly here at Job 2822. Personification since we're almost already there Job 2822 who has that and would like to read it.

Since I figured somebody might be awake by now. Job 2822. Go ahead Dave. Okay, so there there we have Abaddon this place of destruction actually talking. Is that possible? No, that's what a personification is it's a poetic language used to point out a truth about God more than anything else.

But that leads he says to the notion of Apollyon the destroying angel of the abyss in Revelation 9 11. So much of Revelation, I mean what do people do with the book of Revelation by the way, how do they try to understand it?

What's the most common way to understand Revelation? Allegorize it is a very common way maybe the most common way. What's another way that people try to figure out what Revelation says? Literally. Yeah, but I'm looking for how do they how do they try to determine its meaning very frequently?

Newspaper yeah, you know the hermeneutic of newspaper. I mean the way to understand it as even we see here is by knowing the Old Testament because John's John's not writing things. They're in a vacuum.

Jesus is not speaking about things in a vacuum. This is all based on the eschatological that meaning the end times views that are presented in the Old Testament. Now it's interesting on page 51 what the block says about Ezekiel the book of Ezekiel no biblical authors of vocabulary on this theme meaning hell and death.

Matched that of Ezekiel. He could really turn a phrase. He says some of these terms that Ezekiel uses are found elsewhere in the Old Testament. Others are unique well, just a Quick note on some of the phrases that he uses those slain by the sword.

He uses that a lot and it just means That this is the the way that they went down to Sheol. In other words, Sheol Sheol is not necessarily hell. It's just not a place that you would want to stay in death did not have a good a Good sense to it.

Let's read now. This is gonna be a long one. So I'm gonna read this but let's read Ezekiel 32 verses 17 to 32. And I think we'll get some kind of sense Of Ezekiel's discussion of hell and also just the the Old Testament picture of Of what death and Sheol and all these Things were like that's Ezekiel 32 verses 17 to 32.

Make sure I have this right. Okay in the 12th year on the 15th of the month The word of the Lord came to me saying son of man wail for the hordes the masses the large armies of Egypt and Bring it down Her and the daughters of the powerful nations to the netherworld.

Another term there with those who go down to the pits another term. Whom do you surpass in beauty go down and make your bed with the uncircumcised? They shall fall in the midst of those who are slain by the sword.

She is given over to the sword. They have drawn her and all her hordes away. The strong among the mighty ones shall speak of him and his helpers from the midst of Sheol. They have gone down. They lie still Again death gone down.

They lie still death the uncircumcised slain by the sword. Assyria is there and All her company her graves are round about her. All of them are slain fallen by the sword whose graves are set in the remotest parts of the pit.

Notice again. They've got a bad spot in here. They're put in the furthest possible places and Her company is round about her grave. All of them are slain fallen by the sword who spread terror in the land of the living.

This is what they did. This is why they deserve to be out there because they spread terror in the land of the living. In this life Elam is there and all her hordes around her grave all of them slain fallen by the sword who went down?

Uncircumcised to the lower parts of the earth. Who instilled their terror in the land of the living and bore their disgrace with those who went down to the pit? They have made a bed for her among the slain with all her hordes.

Her graves are round are around it. They are all uncircumcised slain by the sword. Although their terror was instilled in the land of the living and they bore their disgrace with those who go down to the pits.

They were put in the midst of the slain Meshach tubal and all their hordes are there their graves surround them. All of them were slain by the sword. Uncircumcised and they instilled their terror in the land though.

They instilled their terror in the land of the living nor do they lie beside the fallen heroes of the uncircumcised. Who went down to Sheol with their weapons of war and whose swords were laid under their heads?

But the punishment for their iniquity rested on their bones. Though the terror of these heroes was once in the land of the living. But in the midst of the uncircumcised you will be broken and lie with those slain by the sword.

There is also Edom its kings and all its princes who for all their might are laid with those Slain by the sword they will go with the uncircumcised and with those who go down to the pits. There are also the chiefs of the north all of them and all the Sidonians who in spite of the terror resulting from their might In shame went down with the slain.

So they laid down uncircumcised with those slain by the sword and bore their disgrace with those who go down to the pits. These Pharaoh will see and He will be comforted for all his hordes slain by the sword.

Even Pharaoh and all his army Declares the Lord God though. I instilled a terror of him in the land of the living. Yet He will be made to lie down among the uncircumcised along with those slain by the sword.

Even Pharaoh and all his hordes declares the Lord God. So what we have here is a picture of the enemies of Israel a picture of the enemies of Israel's God Who waged war against Israel and one by one are? cast into the pits.

For the terror that they raised during the course of this life. The New American commentary says this the mourners were to bewail. In other words were to mourn the descent of Egypt into the pit which represents the grave verse 18.

In other words Egypt all these other nations are already there and God is saying Egypt is going to follow all these other nations and all their leaders and all their armies Easy would go into the grave and join the other uncircumcised nations that represent all others who suffered the judgment of God.

These nations would recognize Egypt's arrival as a Fulfillment of God's judgment against those who were who killed by the sword already in the pits to receive the Egypt was Syria who had been overthrown by the Babylonians and Elam located east of Babylon.

Jeremiah still recognized Elam as a power to be destroyed destroyed, but for all practical purposes the nation was already dead. Block notes that to call anyone uncircumcised was the ultimate insult so again and again the Prophet Ezekiel says that All those down there were uncircumcised.

And what does he mean by that? He's not just talking about their physical condition. Block goes on to say those who did not bear this mark at the time of their deaths Were excluded from the family grave.

They would be in the most undesirable compartment of the netherworld along with other vile and unclean persons. In other words You weren't part of the Abrahamic Covenant. You were uncircumcised and therefore your punishment would be great in the next life.

Block also points out three truths that come out of this passage. Number one That which survives of the deceased person is not simply the spirit But also an image of the entire person with a head and skeleton.

In fact, he said what that their sin Survived I think somehow in their bones. Number two their significant organization things are structured just so in this pit in Sheol. And number three the inhabitants of Sheol are conscious, right?

They're awaiting Egypt's arrival they're welcoming Egypt in all of Their hordes in there and they also are aware of their actions everything that they did in spite of their great deeds so to speak the terror that they were able to Spread in this life.

They suffer terror in the next life. Let's read also Ezekiel 26. Just taking a look at some of the things that Ezekiel. Ezekiel spends a great time amount of time writing these judgments and talking about.

What happens to the opponents of God during the next life? Ezekiel 26 verses 15 to 21 thus says the Lord God to tire. Shall not the coastlands shake at the sound of your fall when the wounded groan when their slaughter occurs in your midst.

Then all the princes of the sea will go down from their thrones remove their robes and strip off their embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling. They will sit on the ground tremble every moment and be appalled at you.

They will take up a lamentation over you and Say to you just want to make sure okay. How have you perished. Oh inhabited one from the seas. Oh renowned city Which was mighty on the sea she and her inhabitants who imposed her terror on all her inhabitants.

Now the coastlands will tremble on The day of your fall. Yes, the coastlands which are by the sea will be terrified at your passing. For thus says the Lord God when I make you a desolate city like cities, which are not inhabited.

When I bring you when I bring up the deep over you and the great waters cover you. Then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pits. To the people of old and I will make you dwell in the lower parts of the earth like the ancient waste places.

With those who go down to the pit so that you will not be inhabited. But I will set glory in the land of the living. I will bring terrors on you and you will be no more. Though you will be sought you will never be found again declares the Lord God.

So he's talking about a place there, but in doing so he also talks about Sheol. MacArthur study Bible says this so important a center of commerce. So important a center of commerce could not be destroyed without affecting all the nearby nations.

All the nations around the Mediterranean would consider tires fall a calamity. I mean, it's kind of like imagine if you know, New York City were absolutely utterly destroyed. We would all be mourning it and it's in that same kind of way.

This is a great center of commerce and were it destroyed all the nations around the Mediterranean would consider It a calamity. According to customs of mourning rulers would descend from their thrones and remove their royal garments as we saw in that passage.

Tires destruction is compared to a dead person placed in the grave. Now we just have a couple more sections here. I think we'll probably get one more done, but does the Old Testament teach eternal punishment in other words is this idea?

I mean we've seen Sheol and this idea where people go to get punished where they receive Punishments and it's not a desirable place, but does it teach eternal punishment? Let's look at Isaiah 66 last chapter of Isaiah.

And it was written by. Anybody know who wrote the book of Isaiah? Somebody say Daniel. That would be wrong. It's Isaiah, of course. Isaiah 66 verse 15 tell me if this sounds that this imagery is familiar.

For behold the Lord will come in fire and His chariots like the whirlwind to render his anger and fury and his rebuke with flames of fire for the Lord will execute judgment by fire and by his sword on all flesh and Those slain by the Lord will be many those who sanctify and purify themselves to go to the gardens.

Following one in the center who eats swine's flesh detestable things and mice Will come to an end all together declares the Lord. For I know their works and their thoughts. The time is coming to gather all nations and tongues and they shall come and see my glory.

I will set a sign among them and will send survivors from them to the nation's. Tarshish put lewd meshik tubal and Javan to the distant coastlands that have have neither heard my fame nor seen my glory and They will declare my glory among the nation's.

Then they shall bring all your brethren from all the nations as a grain offering to the Lord on Horses and chariots in litters on mules and on camels to by holy mountain Jerusalem says the Lord just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offerings in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord.

I will also take some for priests and for Levites says the Lord. For just as the new heavens and the new earth which I make will endure before me. So your offspring and Your name will endure and it shall be from new moon to new moon and from Sabbath the Sabbath.

All mankind will come and to bow Down before me says the Lord. Then they will go forth and look on the corpses of the men who have transgressed against me. For their worm will not die and their fire will not be quenched and they will be an abhorrence to all mankind.

You ever heard anything like that Revelation. Matthew, I mean Peter writes of new heavens in the new earth. I mean, this is this is there's a lot of New Testament here. What is Isaiah writing about? Well?

It's the same. Yeah, he's writing prophecy that the New Testament writers would flesh out. This is the Bible knowledge commentary says this people outside Israel will turn to him and worship him. The remnants of believing Israelites will travel as missionaries to other parts of the world to tell Gentiles about God's glory.

Those places and peoples include Tarshish. Probably in southwestern Spain. Who who went for a vacation in Tarshish or tried to? Was Jonah went there? He visited his travel agent didn't quite make it but Libyans in northern Africa Lydians in Western Asia minor tubal in Northeastern Asia minor Greece and distant islands these and other peoples will be converted and will travel to Jerusalem to worship in the temple.

Some of them will even be selected as priests and Levites thus showing that all the nations will in fact be blessed through Israel. Which is what? Fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant. Genesis 12 3. Israel will be as enduring as the new heavens and the new earth all mankind will worship the Lord bowing down before him as Isaiah has frequently written these righteous ones will contrast greatly with those who rebelled against the Lord.

They will suffer eternal torment. Their worm will not die. This awesome way in which the majestic book of Isaiah concludes points to the need for Unrepentant people to turn to the Lord the only God the Holy One of Israel.

I think I have. Well, we can at least start on this but if we just looked at At this I mean some of the some of the imagery here new heavens new earth Jerusalem for rejoicing her people for gladness. I mean all these things when we and I especially wanted to notice Here.

Oh, I went back a page too far 15. But where it talks about worshipping at the temple all mankind will will come and to bow down before me in verse 23 and. And this is I think this is very similar and we don't have time to look at it.

But I think it's very similar to Isaiah chapter 2 or Yeah, Isaiah chapter 2 verses 2 to 5 where it talks about The mountain of the Lord being raised above all mountains and the nations of the world streaming to it.