JD Abshire Supporter

My understanding is that the Hebrew "sheol" (Deuteronomy 32:22) and Greek "hades" (Matthew 11:23) both represent death, the grave, place of departed spirits, also called hell (Psalms 16:10). We learn from reading Luke 16:19-31 that hades had two compartments separated by a great gulf or chasm. The righteous dead were in one compartment being comforted, the unsaved tormented in the other. There was no movement from one side to the other. 

Christ also used the term hell when referring to “Gehenna”, the future place and eternal state of torment and punishment for the unrighteous (Matthew 5:22, 29, 30, 10:28, 18:9, etc.)

The word "atonement" is used some 80 times in the Old Testament which basically meant to cover, to appease, pacify, to propitiate. Atonement is only used once in the New Testament (Romans 5:11) and has a different meaning; make an exchange, to restore, reconcile. 

The pre-resurrection saint’s sin was atoned for (covered) but God’s righteous demands required full payment of man’s sin which was not met until after Calvary and the resurrection (Hebrews 10)

Having declared the end from the beginning (Isa 46:10) our great God and savior knew and planned Christ would one day come and make this payment; God created a “lay-away” plan and effectively laid-away those believers in paradise. Upon the debt being “paid in full” our precious Savior took those spirits he purchased to heaven. I believe this shows that God, who is always righteous and just in his requirements of man, requires the same of himself. He is faithful that has promised (Hebrews 10:23). I praise God he has marked my debt “paid in full”.

January 23 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

William Ingersoll Supporter

I praise God he has marked my debt “paid in full”.

Paid to God? - God is the liberator from sin, death, and the bondage of the devil through the shed blood of the cross. Revelation 5:9 (the Biblical word is liberated - loosed) 

Paid to justice? Mercy triumphs over legalistic justice, judgement, and forensics justification. James 2:13

Paid to the devil? No, but freedom is not free - freedom, being loosed, liberation, is costly. The Passover sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was costly (the meaning of the Biblical word), but the blood of Jesus was not paid to anyone. Jesus taught forgiveness, not payment of a debt or punishment; instead Jesus’ parables and messages taught forgiveness, not payment: Matthew 6:12, Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 18:27-35, Mark 11:26, Luke 7:42, Luke 11:4, Luke 23:34. Where there is forgiveness - there is no payment; where there is payment - there is no forgiveness. Forgiveness is costly - the shed blood of the cross. The New Testament teaches that the shed blood of Jesus, the blood of the cross, was sprinkled to cleanse, heal, and free from sin, death, and the bondage of the devil. The atoning salvation of Jesus is about forgiveness, not payment, purification not punishment, freedom not forensic justification. Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; the sacrificial shed blood of the slain Lamb of God cleanses from the disgusting defilement and perversion of sin, heals from the horrific disease and corruption of death, and frees from the terrifying and tormenting bondage of the devil. God raised Jesus from the death by the blood of the everlasting testament - the blood of the cross.

September 02 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

NET translation: "Now what is the meaning of “he ascended,” except that he also descended to the lower regions, namely, the earth?"

The NET Bible has in the Greek, “to the lower parts of the earth.” Translate the phrase “of the earth” as a genitive of apposition: “to the lower parts, namely, the earth” (as in the present translation). Many recent scholars hold this view and argue that it is a reference to the incarnation. At Dallas Seminary in our Greek classes, we had to learn the different uses of the Genitive Case. The Genitive of Apposition was one of them. 

Here is another example of how to identify this Genitive: an appositional form is when you want to use a noun to clarify another noun. θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν (“God our Father”) identifies “God” as being our “Father.” If you want to confirm that a word is appositional, insert something like “which is,” “that is,” “namely,” or, “who is.” “God, who is our Father.” If it makes sense, you probably have an appositional construction. BM

So Ephesians 4:9 most probably means that Christ descended (at His incarnation) into the lower parts (of the universe), namely the earth. RSB

September 04 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

David Cory Enderby Supporter I'm nobody special. You should check out Jesus!

He descended into Hell. Hell is toward the center of the Earth. According to a testimony by Bill Wiese (who was taken there by Jesus), Hell is about 3700 miles down. The Earth is supposedly 8000 miles in diameter.

January 22 2014 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

Ephesians 4:9-10: Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.

Lord Jesus has revealed unto the chief priests and elders, along with the council, who sought false witness against our Lord Jesus, who put him to death. He then said to them, "Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." (Mat 26:59,64) After Lord Jesus was crucified, the chief priests were mocking him with scribes and elders, and said, "He saved others, then let Him come down from the cross and we will believe in Him." (Mat 27:35,41-42) On the next day, the chief priest and Pharisees came to Pilate, saying, “He said after three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day." Pilate then said to them, "Ye have a watch, make it as sure as ye can," and they went and made, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. (Mat 27:62-66)

When Lord Jesus was laid in the tomb, He descended first into the lower part of the earth. The great and the terrible day of the Lord came to pass as the remnant called on the name of the Lord. Lord Jesus then delivered them who called out to Him, for the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints who slept arose and came out of the graves. For they then went into the holy city and appeared unto many, for the centurion and they that were with him watching then knew that, “Truly this was the Son of God.” (Joel 2:31-32/John5:28/Mat 27:52-53/Rev 7:9) At the end of the sabbath, the third day at the tomb, Mary Mag-da-le’-ne and the other Mary came to the tomb. The angel of the Lord who descended from heaven rolled the stone from the door and sat upon it. The angel then answered unto the woman, "Jesus, who was crucified, is risen, He is not here," for the guards were in fear who did shake and became as dead men. (Mat 28: 1-6)

Lord Jesus, who descended to the lower parts of the earth, came to pass what He revealed to the ones who persecuted Him, for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice. (John 5:28) Mary Mag-da-le’-ne and the other Mary, who departed from the sepulchere with fear and great joy, ran to bring to His disciples the word. As they then went, Lord Jesus met them and said, “All hail,” that is rejoice and they came and held Him by His feet and worshiped Him. Lord then said to them, "Go to tell my brethren that they go to Galilee and there shall they see Me." When they were going some of the guards came into the city and shewed unto the chief priest all things that were done. When they were then assembled with the elders and had taken council they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, "Say ye, His disciples came by night and stole Him away while they slept." (Mat 28:1-13) 

John 5:25,28: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death to life. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice.

2 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report