Sheol - the World of the Dead

Sheol is the place of the dead. Before Jesus “led captivity captive”, it was divided into Hades and Paradise (Abraham's Bosom). Afterwards, only those souls in Hades were left – the souls of believers went directly to Heaven to be with the Lord forever. The souls of unbelievers still go to Hades (Hell) where there are flames and torment. All souls in Hades will be judged at the White Throne (Rev 20) and thrown into the lake of fire with Satan and his angels, the false prophet and the Antichrist.

Luke 16:19-28 Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house — for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

Sheol (7585) – hades or the world of the dead

Hades (86) – the place (state) of the departed souls

Gehenna (1067) - the place (state) of everlasting punishment

Paradise (3857) – place of future happiness

Tartaros (5020) – the deepest abyss of Hades

On This Rock I Will Build My Church

Matthew 16:16-18 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven! And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

The Roman Catholic Church incorrectly interprets this verse. The rock is Peter's confession “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” There is also a play on Greek words: you are Petros and on this petra. The only "rock" in Matthew 16 is petra.

Lies, Secrets and Deception

Oh what a tangled web we weave

When we purpose to deceive.

An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies.

Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble.

Please Petition Obama for the Romeikes

The fate of Uwe and Hannelore Romeike – along with their six children – now rests with the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2010 an immigration judge granted the family political refuge, but the  Dept. of Homeland Security objected and argued they don’t deserve asylum.

The fear of persecution is why an immigration judge granted the family political asylum in 2010.

German authorities demanded the family stop home schooling. They faced thousands of dollars in fines and they initially took away their children in a police van.

German state constitutions require children attend public schools. Parents who don’t comply face punishment ranging from fines to prison time. The nation’s highest appellate court ruled in 2007 that in some cases children could be removed from their parents’ care.

Uwe said he was extremely disappointed that their petition to seek asylum was appealed by the Obama administration. “If we go back to Germany we know that we would be prosecuted and it is very likely the Social Services authorities would take our children from us,” he said.

Caught Up to the Lord in Heaven

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians. For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Scripture out of Context

baptism now saves you (1 Peter 3:21)

Is baptism necessary for salvation? The Church of Christ will use this verse to say 'Yes.'

Let's look at the same passage in context starting with verse 18:

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Note that this passage is about spiritual baptism experienced by each true believer at the point of salvation. The analogy is to Noah and his family. Who in the analogy were immersed? Noah and his family were in the Ark which was sealed with pitch inside and out. The passage clarifies that it is not the flesh which is being cleaned.

Another passage frequently quoted out of context is 2 Chronicles 7. This is a conditional covenant between God and Israel. The 3 "ifs" are drought or, pestilence or, locusts. Verse 14 is quoted "if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land." This covenant should never be claimed for the Church or the United States.

Mac Davis Prayer (Pride Problem?)

Oh, Lord, it's hard to be humble

When you're perfect in every way

I can't wait to look in the mirror

'Cause I get better lookin' each day

To know me is to love me

I must be a hell of a man

Oh, Lord, it's hard to be humble

But I'm doin' the best that I can

I used to have a girlfriend

But I guess, she just couldn't compete

With all of these love starved women

Who keep clamorin' at my feet

Well, I probably could find me another

But I guess, they're all in awe of me

Who cares, I never get lonesome

'Cause I treasure my own company

Janis Joplin's Prayer (Materialism?)

Oh lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz

My friends all drive Porsches I must make amends

Worked hard all my lifetime with no help from my friends

So oh lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz

Oh lord won’t you buy me a color TV

Dialing for dollars is trying to find me

I wait for delivery each day until three

So oh lord won’t you buy me a color TV

Oh lord won’t you buy me a night on the town

I’m counting on you lord please don’t let me down

Prove that you love me and buy the next round

oh lord won’t you buy me a night on the town

Kudos to RC Sheriff Richard Roundtree

Kudos to Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree for his policy of allowing RC Jail inmates to read softcover religious books. My church has managed a free correspondence prison ministry for South Carolina and Georgia and have been prohibited from sharing courses with the RCJ inmates.

I understand the reluctance since I believe “there is none righteous, no not one.” Jail is not nice place to live or to visit. I have been locked in a cell with over 70 criminals many times. My purpose was to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. It has been a long time since I have done this, but I don't miss it at all. This is not because I was scared. The inmates were very helpful and receptive. I believe that I am a teacher rather than a preacher. Taking courses into the jail and teaching was only allowed for Sydney Temples – a true man of God who taught until the year of his death in his 90s. He had retired from the Richmond County Jail but continued as a volunteer teacher of the Word for the inmates for over 40 years.

The Sheriff is responsible for everything that happens in the RCJ. The inmates are very adept at fashioning weapons from whatever is available. Even a softcover book can be torn apart and made into a weapon. The Sheriff risks the real possibility of a tragic event.

The RCJ Chaplin is Andy Scott. He has made a positive difference since he started. He is a gifted preacher of the Word. His influence can be seen in this new policy. God saving an inmate is much more effective than any rehabilitation program.