tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142949871080046815.post5954012479497448722..comments2023-06-19T10:15:32.585-05:00Comments on Redeemer Church: The progression of heaven and hellJared Tottenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02281732280151894322noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142949871080046815.post-38528394412480385652013-08-20T12:16:27.613-05:002013-08-20T12:16:27.613-05:00Thanks for sharing this well-written, enlightening...Thanks for sharing this well-written, enlightening article. I'm in agreement with you on this. I'd like to add a reference to Matthew 12:40: Jesus said "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."<br /> <br />Putting this verse with the Luke 23:43 verse, I summise that, since Jesus said that he was on his way to Paradise on the day that he died, and Jesus also said that he would spend three nights in the heart of the earth, that a "Paradise" must have been "in the heart of the earth" at the time of Jesus' death.<br /><br />It makes sense that those who lived in the O.T. times, who lived according to their faith in God and looking forward to Christ's appearing, would not go directly into God's presence when they died, because Jesus' sacrifice had not yet made the way for them to be able to do that. In the meantime, God provided another place of comfort for them - a Paradise where their conscious spirits resided until Jesus' redeeming work on the cross was completed.<br /><br />Hebrews 10:4 says that it was impossible for the old regulations (the blood of bulls and goats) to take away sins, but Hebrews 10:19 says that now we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place (God's presence in Heaven) by the blood of Jesus, by a new way opened for us through Jesus' body.<br /><br />Hebrews 9:15 says that "through the new covenant, those who are/were called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant."<br /><br />I agree that, if at the time of Jesus' resurrection, he told Mary he had not yet ascended to the Father (in Heaven), but he told the thief that, on the day that he died, he would see him in Paradise, that the Paradise Jesus was referring to was not Heaven, otherwise Jesus wouldn't have said that he had "not yet ascended to the Father".<br /><br />It seems clear that after Jesus' death, he spent 3 days in a Paradise in the heart of the earth, and not in Hell. After all he didn't say to the thief, "Today, I'll see you in Hell!" - that wouldn't have been very reassuring! :)<br /><br />Here is a good description of the difference between Hell and Hades and Paradise and Heaven "Did Jesus go to Hell?": http://www.gotquestions.org/did-Jesus-go-to-hell.html<br /><br />The only point made that I believe is in error, in the article from the link that I shared, is the common misunderstanding that God separated himself from Jesus while he was on the cross. Rather, this declaration made by Jesus was an announcement that he was the Messiah - it was the name of a well-known Psalm, entitled "My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?" (Psalm 22). This Psalm gives a detailed description of Jesus' crucifixion. Jesus was pointing out that he was fulfilling this prophecy. And in verse 24 of Psalm 22, it is revealed that God did never forsake him - "For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help." Isn't that awesome!Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03295665572007670793noreply@blogger.com