There is a popular myth,
a widely held but false belief or
idea,
that has been and is being perpetrated
by countless pastors and other
individuals
as they conduct memorial and funeral services
for people who have
died.
It's become a familiar part of our human traditions.
This is certainly a difficult time for those surviving.
As a
result many efforts are made to soften
the impact of the death of a loved one.
We use the term "passed on", for example,
instead of saying plainly
"they have died".
The myth is that when one dies they instantly go to Heaven.
Let me state plainly, "THIS IS A LIE!"
It is a
false teaching!
There is no solid support in Scripture for this point of view.
This
is based on human tradition,
wishful thinking,
and good intentions,
but it is a gross
misinterpretation of Scripture.
Lest you think I'm in error
please consider carefully this
one question:
If you go instantly
to Heaven
why does Scripture teach there will be a resurrection of the dead?
You cannot be alive
AND be resurrected from the state of
death!
It's pointless.
Resurrection can only occur if you are dead.
And if you are already in Heaven, alive,
there is absolutely
no need for a resurrection of the dead!
And if there is no need for a resurrection
of the dead
why does Scripture teach such a concept?
YAHWEH does not lie!
What
He speaks He does!
He has given us this teaching
so we know what He will do at
some future point
and we can have hope for the future, even after we die.
There are numerous references to resurrection in Scripture.
It's clear that such an event will take place.
Some will be resurrected to
eternal life with YAHWEH - in Heaven.
Others will be resurrected to eternal separation from YAHWEH
- in what is traditionally referred to as Hell.
The Old Covenant contains many references to She'ol and the
grave.
The concepts of She'ol and Hades
are found in both The Old Covenant and
The New Covenant.
However, there's much confusion attached to these references
because of the practice of using the Greek term, hades,
as a replacement
for the Hebrew term she'ol.
The Greek term is only found in the Septuagint
translation
of the Hebrew text of The Old Covenant,
which is a Greek version of
the text.
It replaces she'ol, the Hebrew term used in the
Hebrew text.
This Greek term is also used in the Greek New Covenant.
Unfortunately, the use of this term
has introduced the Greek
concept of hades
and its surrounding mythology
as opposed to the Hebrew
view of she'ol.
This Greek view introduces hades
as a place of torment and
distress.
It was connected to the Greek god of death.
It is often translated as
"Hell".
The Greeks believed that only bad people went to hades.
In their view, the good people "worked their way upward"
while the bad
people descended into a pit.
This concept is not found in the Hebrew understandings
of she'ol.
When one looks at the definitions
given in theological
dictionaries for these terms
the confusion becomes apparent.
There is a
blending of both views into most of these definitions.
She'ol and hades are treated as virtually identical.
This is not correct.
And it has led to many
incorrect understandings of these terms.
For the Yisra’elite,
she'ol was the place of the
departed, the dead.
It was a place of nothingness,
a place of waiting,
a
holding place for those who had died
where they were kept until the
resurrection of the dead,
at which time they would stand before YAHWEH
for the
purpose of judgment of their deeds while they lived.
In their view, everyone
went to she'ol,
both the good and the bad.
She'ol represented death.
Because it represented death
it came to be associated with the tombs, the
grave.
In many instances it is translated as "the grave".
However,
there is a different Hebrew term for the grave, qivr,
and it should
properly be used
whenever the concept of a grave or a tomb is intended.
The blending of these two terms,
using them both to refer to
the grave,
leads to some of the confusion we have
regarding death, hell, she'ol,
and hades.
It's my hope that this article
will help you understand the distinction
and
will help you to be more clear
in your own conversations about such things.
Now, if everyone goes instantly to Heaven to be with YAHWEH,
as the popular myth purports,
there is no need for a resurrection or a final judgment.
Heaven is already fully populated.
This view makes numerous passages of Scripture meaningless.
That cannot be correct.
YAHWEH would never place such teaching
in His Word of
Truth if they are meaningless.
You need to decide who you you are going to
believe.
The implication that "everyone" goes to Heaven
immediately upon death is false teaching!
It is not supported by Scripture!
How many pastors have you ever heard say
that one who has
died has gone to Hell?
I've never heard one pastor teach this or suggest this,
no
matter how evil the person was
whose memorial service they were leading.
You can imagine how devastating it would be
to the family
that's left behind to suggest such a thing.
So in the interests of
"comforting the family"
they are LIED TO!
They are told their loved
one
is "now with God - in Heaven" - instantly!
It doesn't matter if
they were a good person
or an extremely evil person.
Everyone is treated the
same by these supposedly well-meaning individuals.
My friend, this is hypocrisy at its worst!
Everyone does NOT
go to Heaven.
And most assuredly,
no one goes there instantly upon their death.
If they do then Scripture is false and
you cannot believe any of it.
We've been inundated with "near death" experiences.
These are often related as a means of affirming this myth.
The encounter with
"The Light",
the moving through a tunnel toward this brightness,
the
"return to life" after purportedly having "died”….
These so-called "miracles", these anecdotes,
are
all used to support this lie of Satan.
We really do not know what is taking
place in these stories.
We are not the ones experiencing them.
And we have no
way of confirming the validity of what's being reported.
To use a modern
cliché, it may simply be "fake news."
Everyone wants to believe in the miraculous.
Everyone wants
to have hope.
We all want good things to happen for ourselves.
We go to
extremes to make this happen.
This has become even more pronounced
in our
current overly selfish culture.
So, when we hear a story like this we want to
believe it.
But, like all "fake news", we need a dose of skepticism,
a dose of reality.
We need to be able to verify things
before we accept them as
true.
Here are two articles from theological dictionaries
that
"define" these terms.
Please note the similarities and the lack of
clarity involved.
Here's what The Old Testament Word Study Dictionary says
about "she'ol":
7585. lwøaVv s¥§}o®l, lOaVv s¥§}oœl The word means depths or Sheol.
Job
called the ways of the Almighty higher than heaven
and lower than Sheol or the
depths of the earth (Job 11:8).
The psalmist could not escape the Lord even in
the lowest depths of the earth,
in contrast to the high heavens (Ps. 139:8;
Amos 9:2).
It means the deepest valley or depths of the earth in Isaiah 7:11.
In a few cases, Sheol seems to mean
death or a similar concept;
that Abaddon (destruction) lies uncovered
seems to
be matched with Sheol’s meaning of death (Job 26:6).
It means death or the
grave, for neither is ever satisfied (Prov. 7:27; cf. Isa. 38:10)
The word is
best translated as death or the depths in Deuteronomy 32:22.
Sheol or the grave is the place of
the wicked (Ps. 9:17[18]; 31:17[18]);
Ezekiel pictured it as the place of the
uncircumcised (Ezek. 31:15; 32:21, 27).
Israel’s search for more wickedness and
apostasy took them to the depths of Sheol (Isa. 57:9).
On the other hand, the
righteous were not made for the grave or Sheol; it was not their proper abode.
They were not left in the grave or Sheol (Ps. 16:10) but were rescued from that
place (Ps. 49:15[16]).
Adulterers and fornicators were, metaphorically,
described as in the lower parts of Sheol or the grave (Prov. 9:18). Sheol and
Abaddon (Destruction) are as open to the eyes of God as are the hearts and
thoughts of humankind;
there is nothing mysterious about them to Him (Prov.
15:11).
Here's what Strong's Hebrew Dictionary says:
7585. lwøa◊v sh}owl, sheh-ole´; or lOa◊v shol, sheh-ole´; from 7592; Hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates:—grave, hell, pit.
Notice how James Strong uses the term hades as equivalent to she'ol.
Yet hades has no place in a Hebrew dictionary. It is not a Hebrew term. Even the revered
James Strong got it wrong.
Now let's take a closer look at
what Scripture itself says
concerning death and dying
and concerning she'ol.
The following Scriptures provide us
with some very strong evidence for how we
are to properly consider this term.
Eccl. 9:10 Everything which your
hand finds to do,
do it with your might.
Indeed, there is no work, or
planning,
or knowledge, or wisdom in She’ol,
to which you yourself את are
going.
Job 7:9 A cloud passes and goes
away.
Likewise, one going down to She’ol
will not come up.
Job 7:10 He will not return any
longer to his house.
And his place will not know him
any longer.
Job 10:20 Are not my days
few?
Stop!
Put me away!
Then I will be caused to cheer up
a little
21 before I go and do not return,
to a land of darkness and the
shadow of death,
22 a land of obscurity
comparable to the darkness of the
shadow of death.
And there is no order.
And it is caused to shine like the
darkness.”
Psa. 6:5 (H6:6)
Indeed, in death
there is no remembrance of You!
Who can cause praise to You in
She’ol?
Psa. 88:3 (H88:4) Indeed, my life is filled with evils,
and my life has drawn near to
She’ol.
4
(H88:5) I have been considered
as with those going down to the
pit.
I have become like a man who has
no strength,
5
(H88:6) among those dying,
loosed like those killed, lying in
the grave,
who are not remembered by You any
longer.
And they have been cut off from
Your hand.
Psa. 88:6 (H88:7) You have set me in the lowest pit,
In darkness in the depths.
Is. 26:14 One dying does not
live.
Dead ones do not stand up.
For this reason You have held them
accountable.
And You have destroyed them.
And You have caused to perish
every remembrance for them.
Is. 38:9 A writing of
Hizkiyah, king of Yahudah,
when he was sick but lived from
his sickness.
10 I myself said, “Into silence my days are
going,
into the gates of she’ol have been
appointed
the rest of my years?”
11 I said, “I will not see YAH,
YAH in the land
of the living.
I will not look intently at human
beings any longer
with the inhabitants of the world.
12 My period of time is pulled up,
removed from me like the tent of a
shepherd.
I am rolled up like a weaving cut
off from the loom.
From day until night You make an
end of me.
Is 38.18 Indeed, She’ol does not praise
You,
Death does not commend You.
For those going down to the pit
there is no hope toward Your
faithfulness.
Is. 38:19 The living, the
living, he praises You
like me this day.
Psa. 6:5 (H6:6) Indeed, in death
there is no remembrance of You!
Who can cause praise to You in
She’ol?
Psa. 30.9 (H30:10) “What benefit is there in my blood,
in going down to the pit?
Can the dust praise You?
Can it declare Your truth?
Psa. 115:17 Those dying can
not praise YAH,
nor any going down to silence.
Psa. 146:3 Do not trust in
princes,
in a child of a human being
in whom there is no deliverance!
4 His breath goes forth.
He returns to his soil.
In that very day his thoughts
perish.
2Sam. 22:5 Indeed, the
waves of death surrounded me.
Streams of worthlessness made me
afraid.
6 The cords of the she’ol were around me.
Before me were the snares of
death.
Proverbs 7.27 Her house is the way
to she’ol,
descending to the chambers of
death.
Notice that when one dies they
"go down" to she'ol.
The Hebrews viewed this as
they viewed their tombs,
down, in the ground; beneath the surface of the earth.
Some of their tombs were 30 feet in depth.
And they typically had chambers or
shelves in them
where the bodies were laid.
This is very similar to the concept
of she'ol
with its bars and gates and "rooms" (chambers).
There are references in Scripture
to one being "gathered to their fathers (forefathers)".
The practice
was that of placing a body in a tomb
until it had decomposed.
Then the bones
were "gathered" and placed in an ossuary,
a stone box with a lid
typically,
which was then stored, "gathered with the fathers",
in the
family tomb.
For the Hebrew mind
this concept is tied very closely with that of
she'ol.
One can observe the connections
if you do a study of that term in Scripture.
The myth of instant Heaven
is
often supported by the story of the rich man and Lazarus.
It appears to imply
one being in the presence of YAHWEH.
What's seldom identified is that this
story is a parable
YAHUSHUA, The Messiah, was using to illustrate a point.
It
was not a factual account of anything that really existed.
The other scripture that's
typically used to support this point of view
is that of Paul (Sha'ul) where he
states
in 2 Cor 5.5-9:
5 Now He who has fashioned us for
this very thing
is YAHWEH,
Who also has given to us the
earnest money deposit
of The Divine Nature of YAHWEH.
6 So also accordingly, we are always
courageous,
understanding that while we are at
home in the body,
we are absent from The Master.
7 Indeed, we walk by trust, not by sight.
8 We are courageous.
But we also think it even better
to be absent from the body
and to be present with The Master.
9 Consequently we are eager,
whether present or absent,
to be fully acceptable to Him
10 because we must all appear
in front of the judgment seat of
The Messiah,
so that each one might be
responsible
for the things done in the
body
in accordance with what he has
performed habitually,
whether good or bad.
But please take notice of what
this passage states.
The concept of being absent from the body and present with
The Master
is stating Paul's desire.
He is not stating this happens instantly
upon one's death.
He's teaching responsibility
before YAHWEH in relation to The Messiah.
The portion of being absent from the
body and present with The Master
is taken out of context.
This reveals the
danger of "proof-texting",
using Scripture to say what YOU want to
say,
not what Scripture actually says.
This proof-texting is exactly what is
done
at many funeral/memorial services
to justify the comment that one's loved
one
is "now in Heaven with YAHWEH".
It is a lie!
It is not supported
by Scripture.
Take note of his identification
of
the "judgment seat of The Messiah".
That event will not take place
until the end of things.
Revelation identifies that it happens
after the resurrection of the dead.
Everything takes place in its proper time.
Scripture lays out a sequence of
events for us.
Death comes first.
Then the resurrection.
Then the Judgment seat
of The Messiah.
And only then does one go to either Heaven or to Hell.
Concerning Resurrection:
We now need to look at a few passages
that speak concerning the concept of resurrection.
These are only a few.
A
careful study will reveal many more on this topic.
1Sam. 2:6 YAHWEH puts to
death and He makes alive.
He brings down to she’ol and He
raises up.
Acts 2.25 Indeed, David says
concerning Him:
“I foresaw YAHWEH always
before my face,
for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
Acts 2.26 Therefore my heart
rejoiced,
and my tongue was glad.
Acts 2 27 Moreover my flesh
also will rest in hope,
for You will not leave my life in
She’ol,
nor will You allow Your Holy One
to see corruption.
Acts 2.28 You have made known to me the ways of
life.
You will make me full of joy in
Your presence.’ (Psa. 16:8-11)
Psa. 49:12 (H49:13) But a human being
does not remain in honor.
He is comparable to the animals.
They perish.
Psa. 49:13 (H49:14) This way of theirs is folly to them.
But their followers are pleased
with their sayings.
Selah.
Psa. 49:14 (H49:15) Like sheep
they will be placed in She’ol.
Death will shepherd them.
And the upright will have dominion
over them.
At dawn even their form will decay
in She’ol,
away from their exalted dwelling.
Psa. 49:15 (H49:16) However, The Elohim
will redeem my life from the hand
of She’ol!
Indeed He will take me!
Selah.
Psa. 71:19 And Your
justice, Elohim, is unto the heights,
You Who have done great things!
Elohim, who can be compared to
You?
Psa. 71:20 You who have caused
me to see
great and bad troubles,
You will return us to living!
Even from the depths of the earth
you will return us!
You will cause me to rise up!
Hos. 13:14 From the power
of She’ol I will ransom them!
From death I will redeem them!
Where is your plague, Death?
Where is your destruction, She’ol?
Redemption from "the powers
of death"
was the entire purpose of the resurrection of YAHUSHUA, The
Messiah
(His Name was never the Greek "Iesous"
(translated as Jesus).
Without His death and resurrection
there would not be a
resurrection for us either.
He gave His precious life
in order to redeem us
from the power death
holds over us as a result of our offenses against YAHWEH.
In Him alone we now have the possibility
of resurrection to Eternal Life
in the
presence of YAHWEH and YAHUSHUA, His promised Messiah.
PRAISE YAHWEH!
Having reviewed these things,
the
following verses give us the most clear understanding
of the meaning of she'ol.
Isaiah 28:18 And your covenant with death itself את
will be annulled!
And your agreement with she’ol itself
את will not
stand!
When an overflowing scourge passes
over
then it will be your trampling
down.
Psa. 89:48 (H89:49) What mighty man can live
and not see death?
Can he deliver his life from the
hand of She’ol?
Selah.
From these it seems clear that
each reference to she’ol
is a reference to the state of being dead, to death
itself.
She'ol virtually always refers to the state of death.
In death
there is "nothingness".
There is no life.
There is no breath.
There
is no thought.
There is no memory.
There is no praising YAHWEH.
There is
nothing except darkness, stillness, and silence.
There is a "going down
beneath the surface of the earth",
hence to the "lower parts of the
earth."
It's not merely one physical location.
It's a concept.
It's
something all but those
who are still alive at The Last Days will experience.
One cannot praise YAHWEH when they
are dead.
One cannot speak.
One cannot think.
One cannot raise a finger.
Life
as we know it has ceased.
There is no breath.
There is no heart beat.
There is
no consciousness.
There is silence and darkness, an absence of life.
The body is placed in the ground.
There it remains until The Day of YAHWEH,
when He will resurrect all who have
died.
Then there will be The Day of Judgment.
The "sheep will be separated
from the goats",
the just to eternal life,
the evil to eternal
condemnation.
It is to THIS state that one goes
when they die.
It is NOT to Heaven.
It is NOT into the presence of YAHWEH for
eternity.
Anyone who teaches otherwise is teaching a LIE!
I want to encourage you to demand
HONESTY
from those teaching you.
Push them to teach you The Truth of YAHWEH.
If
they will not, or can not,
go search for it yourself in His Word.
It is, after
all, your personal responsibility
to seek Him with all your heart.
You cannot
depend on someone else to do it for you.
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