Ok - you say that Sheol “…ceased to exist after the cross”, but lets see what Scripture actually says. Jesus says it clearly: "I hold the keys to death and the netherworld [sheol]" (Revelations 1:18 - sheol in Greek is hades). Jesus is not holding the keys to something that no longer exists, but to something that still exists.
Yes, hell still exists. No one said it doesn't. Remember the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Now think back to the thief on the cross. Jesus said to the thief: "Today thou shalt be with me in 'paradise.'" Immediately after Jesus died he went down to Paradise (where the OT saints were--Abraham and Lazarus) and led them to what is now heaven.
That is the meaning of this passage:
Ephesians 4:8-9 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
--He descended into the lower parts of the earth. Why?
"He led captivity captive."--a difficult phrase to understand. Those who were in "paradise" were led to heaven, and now there remains only hell where the rich man continues "to be tormented in this flame."
Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
--This is hell. It still exists. It is not Purgatory, but hell. And someday it will be cast into the Lake of Fire for all the unsaved:
Revelation 20:13-15 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
--This is not Purgatory. This is the final sentence of all those, who like the rich man, rejected Christ.
Hmmm… this leads to a few questions… if it still exists, what is it for? Are souls still going to sheol after Jesus' resurrection? Further, if so, are any of these souls righteous?
Sheol is a Hebrew word. The only part of sheol that exists is that part reserved for the unsaved. Paradise no longer exists.
Revelation 20:4 depicts the righteous coming to life during the first resurrection: "the souls of those who had been beheaded...they came to life and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years."
This is the first resurrection. It refers to the rapture. It is an event that is yet to come.
Further, scripture says that "The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over."
This is the resurrection of the unjust. It will happen after the Millennial Kingdom, just before the Great White Throne judgment, which I previously referred to in Rev.20:13-15
These remaining people are said to come from sheol: "then Death and Hades [sheol] gave up the dead in them" (Revelation 20:13). This answers the previous question; there are souls that still go to sheol even after Jesus' resurrection.
Sheol is a Hebrew word not found in the NT. Hades is Hell where the rich man, already referred to is, as well as all others who have rejected Christ. All unsaved who die right now will go to Hell (or the Greek word Hades).
You claim that this "hades" or "sheol" of Revelation 20:13 is actually hell itself. Yet, Revelation 20:14 says it thusly: "… Death and Hades were thrown in the lake of fire [Hell]." This conclusively PROVES that sheol is not the same thing as hell for if it were, then Revelation 20:14 would be indicating that Hell was being thrown into Hell;
It doesn't say that. It says:
"Death and hell will be thrown into the Lake of Fire."
Have you ever sat beside a fire place, and thrown a burning match into an already burning fire? One burning fire is thrown into another burning fire. The Lake of Fire is far more extensive and larger than what is termed as Hell. Hell is thrown into the Lake of Fire. Though more realistically it could refer to those that were in Hell were resurrected and stand before God, and then are thrown into the Lake of Fire. Either interpretation is acceptable. The outcome is the same.
a proposition which makes no sense. You might be tempted to say that absolutely all the souls of this second resurrection from sheol go to Hell. But what does Scripture say about these souls? (Rev 20:15). "If any one's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Rev 20:15).
That is what it says. All the unsaved, all the Christ-rejecters, from wherever they come, will be thrown into the Lake of Fire at that point in time. No unsaved person has their name written in the book of life.
Further, when Ephesians 4:9 uses the phrase: "…if any one…," what does it mean but that some names were indeed found in the book of life.
I know my name is written in the book of life. I know that because I am saved, that my sins are forgiven, cleansed (purged), that I am part of God's family, and that I will never face the wrath of God. My name is already there. (Eph.4:9 makes no such reference)
Therefore, the souls of those named in the book of life did not go to Hell. These remaining souls were among the saved! It thus holds ipso facto that there is a place, neither heaven nor hell, which does hold some number of righteous souls before entrance into heaven.
It is simple. The saved have their names written in the book of life; the unsaved do not. The unsaved are thrown into the Lake of Fire. What is so hard to understand about that?
“Purgatory!” by BRENT ARIAS
OHHHH YEAHHH!!!!
What Purgatory? There is no mention of Purgatory anywhere but in your imagination.
