SHEOL

1. If you use or have access to the KJV the word hell is used in Jonah 2:2.

2. The prophet said he called upon God from the “belly of hell.”

3. When we hear the word hell we typically understand it as the opposite of heaven.

4. This is the proper definition of hell.

5. The Bible teaches that hell is a place of eternal pain and separation from God.

6. Those who go to this place do not come back or get out.

WE KNOW THAT JONAH DID RETURN FROM THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS.

1. Common sense suggests that God’s prophet was not literally in hell.

2. This is exactly right.

3. In the ASV the text says Sheol.

4. The original term in Jon. 2:2 occurs 65 times in the Old Testament.

5. This word describes the place of the dead; an unseen place where the deceased go.

6. When translators encountered this word they did not always translate it the same way.

7. The KJV describes this place as pit (about 3 times) and grave/hell about 30 times each.

8. Part of the confusion also comes from changes in the English language.

9. I have read that in 1611 people said they took potatoes and sent them to hell.

10. They dug a hole, put potatoes in it, and said the spuds were safely in hell.

11. Back then the word hell had a variety of meanings.

12. Putting them in the ground so they would not rot was one use of the word hell.

13. This helps explain the Old Testament descriptions for Sheol as grave/pit/hell.

14. Back in 1611 people understood these words to describe several different meanings.

15. We need to remember that several different words are used to refer to the same place:

16. This place is Sheol; the place where man’s eternal spirit goes after death.

17. The word translated Sheol in the Old Testament is first used in Gen. 37:35.

18. Jacob thought his son had died.

19. He reacted to this news by saying he would see his child in “Sheol.” KJV: grave.

20. Very early in the history of man people understood something about death.

21. People realized that leaving this life is not the end.

22. There is a place where part of mankind goes after leaving this earth.

23. Ancient people did not believe death as total extinction.

24. The body goes to the grave, but man’s eternal spirit is placed in Sheol.

25. Most believe the book of Job was written very early.

26. Job may have lived about the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

27. At this early time in Biblical Job was also aware of Sheol.

28. In Job 17:16 he spoke of Sheol as having “bars. The KJV, if you have it, says “pit.”

29. Job’s statement reflects something that Jesus said several days later.

30. Sheol (which in the New Testament is called Hades) is controlled.

31. Rev. 1:18 refers to the “keys of Hades.”

32. It is like Hades is barricaded with a barred gate and none can escape from this place.

33. After the book of Job we come to the Psalms; Sheol is mentioned in the psalms.

34. This term is also found in the next book: Proverbs.

35. Prov. 27:20 says Sheol (Hell, KJV) is “never full.”

36. Hades (the place for the deceased) has new additions every single day but there is always room.

37. Once someone goes to this place, they find something that didn’t exist in this life.

38. Isaiah spoke of this in Isa. 14:9-10 (in the KJV the translators again used hell).

39. God’s prophet referred to people who had been mighty in this life.

40. He spoke of powerful rulers like kings presidents.

41. What he said is very interesting – READ Isa. 14:9-10.

42. In Sheol everyone is equal. There are no longer kings, presidents, and the wealthy.

43. After going to Sheol the secular benefits of this life don’t matter.

44. A few days ago I saw a news clip of former President Bill Clinton.

45. It was a wintry day and he was throwing a ball to his dog.

46. He looked lonely.

47. He is now out of office. Others now have the power he used to have.

48. He is now Bill Clinton, American citizen.

49. He still has some benefits from being President, but after death he will be no different.

50. Sheol (Hades in the New Testament) removes rank, status, and earthly privileges.

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT IS MORE FULLY REVEALED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.

1. This is also true of Sheol.

2. Old Testament writers spoke of this place more than 60 times.

3. People before Jesus came were surely interested in learning more about this place.

4. When Jesus began to teach He offered more insight about Sheol.

5. The Lord described the same place but He used a different word.

6. The Old Testament word “Sheol” is “Hades” in the New Testament.

7. It is already been pointed out that Hades is not the eternal Hell Jesus described in the New Testament.

8. Neither is Hades identical to heaven.

9. Hades and Sheol are two words to describe the same place (holding place for deceased spirits).

10. This is why Jesus used this term in Mt. 16:18.

11. We normally use Mt. 16:18 to talk about the church built by Jesus.

12. While we need to use this verse in this way, this is not the only thought.

13. Jesus spoke about the “gates of Hades”; the KJV again says “hell.”

14. What the Lord said is consistent with the Old Testament.

15. Hades (the place of the dead) is like a locked and well fortified prison.

16. Those who go there do not escape.

17. Jesus went to Hades.

18. We know this because of Acts 2:27.

19. Jesus died and He was buried. Peter said He went to Hades.

20. Peter quoted a prophecy which said Jesus would not be “left” in Hades.

21. Acts 2:27 in the KJV says “hell,” but the actual term is Hades.

22. This is not surprising.

23. Back in the 1600’s people used “hell” to describe both hell Hades, and other things.

24. Changes in the English language now require us to be more precise.

25. On the Day of Pentecost Peter noted how prophecy said Hades would not keep Jesus.

26. Why was this so important?

27. It was important because of Mt. 16:18.

28. Jesus planned to build His church.

29. If the Lord had been kept in the Hadean realm (place for dead), there would have been no church.

30. Jesus predicated that Hades would not hold him.

31. Stated another way, Hades would not keep Him from coming back to life.

32. He would be in Sheol for a short time, but He would come through its gates.

33. What Jesus predicted and what the Old Testament promised happened.

34. Not only did it happen, Jesus took some time to describe the Hadean realm.

35. Most everyone knows that Jesus was crucified between two thieves.

36. One of these two men came to have faith in the Lord.

37. Jesus said this man would be with Him in “paradise” (Lk. 23:43).

38. Where did Jesus go after His death?

39. Acts 2:27 says He went to Hades.

40. Jesus spoke of Hades and said it was paradise (a beautiful and wonderful place).

41. Paradise was originally a Persian word to describe a nobleman’s park or garden.

42. Jesus and one of the thieves went to a very nice area.

43. If we only read Acts 2 and Lk. 23 we would have key facts but lack all the details.

44. The rest of the story comes from an earlier statement in Luke’s account.

45. At a prior time Jesus spoke about the Hadean realm.

46. We have this material in Lk. 16.

47. Jesus presented this information by contrasting two different men.

48. One fellow had an easy life upon the earth but he was not pleasing to God.

49. The second was a faithful child of God, but life on the earth for him was not pleasant.

50. Jesus’ presentation of this material begins in Lk. 16:19.

51. He affirmed that both men lived and both died.

52. Upon their deaths they were taken to Hades (verse 23).

53. In this realm of the dead there is a “great gulf” (barrier/dividing line, verse 26).

54. On one side of this barrier was the righteous man.

55. He was being cared for and blessed.

56. On the cross Jesus referred to this section of Hades as paradise.

57. On the other side of the great gulf was the man who had been disobedient.

58. He was suffering.

59. Hades has two sections (compartments): one for the saved and one for the lost.

60. Our relationship with God determines where people go.

61. The rich man knew hecould not leave the Hadean realm.

62. Earlier we noted how Hades is pictured as having bars (a place of confinement).

63. Before going to the cross Jesus knew what Hades (Sheol) was like.

64. If Hades (Sheol) is the place for our eternal spirit, we might ask about the future.

65. Will Hades always exist?

66. Will the people who are there ever get out?

67. This question is also answered in the scriptures.

68. The 20^th chapter of Revelation tells about the end of time.

69. Verse 12 of Rev. 20 tells us about a coming judgment. Each person will stand before God.

70. Perhaps to stress the universal nature of the judgment, this is said in verses 13- READ.

71. Hades will one day relinquish its inhabitants.

72. Those who are there can only get out at the end of time.

73. After Hades is emptied, it will be destroyed – verse 14 of Rev. 20 – READ.

74. Hade will suffer an eternal fate as will those described in verse 15 – READ.

75. The Bible warns man of his fate.

76. We will one day die and go to a temporary holding place till Jesus returns.

77. There will be a resurrection and a judgment day.

78. On that day some will be saved and most will be lost. Which group are we in?