“From Hell to Heaven”

“For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered
my soul from the depths of Sheol” —Psalm 86:13

Reviewing “hell:”

If you came to our study of “hell,” you heard my argument that the vast majority of Scripture that speak about “hell” are not about eternal punishment at all. And, I believe, that the overriding message of the Bible is good news, a comfort to the believer, and the assurance of his grace, love, forgiveness, and eternal life in a restored paradise.

The word sheol is the Hebrew word for “grave.” The Greek word hades is the word translators chose to translate the Hebrew word sheol. These texts almost exclusively are meant to assure the believer that God has the power over death and “the grave.” Although these words are sometimes translated as “hell,” they are not talking about an eternal place of torment but the present reality of evil, death, and bondage to sin.

When Jesus talks about Gehenna (Matt 5.21-30), he is referring to a garbage dump on the southwest outskirts of Jerusalem. The epistle of James also uses the word Gehenna (James 3:6). Both use this word to refer to the presence of evil and the nature of sin.

Jesus’ mentioning of the “furnace of fire” (Matt 13.41-42) and John’s vision of “the lake of fire” (Rev 19.20; 20.10) give us a description of what many call “hell.” But neither use the word “hell.” And, in fact, “hell” is an Anglo-Saxon word describing the mythic, pagan underworld. The “furnace” or “lake of fire” is primarily for Satan and those who wage war against God and his people.

Yes, there is the judgment but, again, the emphasis is on those whose names are written in the “Book of Life.” There is no book of death. The Bible is clear and gives assurance of eternal life to the believer (John 3:16-17; Eph 2:8,9; etc.). But the Bible does not tell us who exactly who will be lost forever except the devil and his accomplices. In other words, we Christians should be clear on God’s grace and assure the child of God of salvation but we should be hesitant to identify or condemn those we think will suffer eternal separation from God.

Again, the emphasis in the Bible is not threatening the world with God’s wrath and eternal destruction but a loving God who promises forgiveness, life and salvation. And, our message is that there is no other comfort or assurance of this grace outside of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are “evangelical” in the truest sense of the word; we are the people of the good news!

The emphasis in the Scripture is that evil, death, sin, “the grave,” and the world’s garbage dumps can destroy lives now. God wants us to know that he has defeated our personal “hells” and that we need not fear or live under the dominion of a broken world. We are free, delivered, and more than conquerors!

Preview of “heaven:”

So, we should at least give “heaven” equal time, shouldn’t we? That’s what I hope to do beginning on Wednesday, September 14th and Sunday the 18th. The study of “heaven” will be similarly structured with our study of “heaven.” You have the option of coming either Wednesdays or Sundays.

Perhaps it is not surprising that just as the Old Testament says little about “hell” so it says very little about “heaven.” What God holds before the eyes of the Old Testament believers is a righteous “kingdom” that is to be a blessing to the whole world.

Jesus makes the connection of this promised land to a promised presence wherever God’s Spirit works. This is the “Kingdom of Heaven” or the “Kingdom of God” that Jesus spends so much time talking about.

Again, the emphasis is not an abstract “place” somewhere else or sometime in the future but a present reality. This does not deny a future without sin, the devil, and death. But the blessings of “heaven” are here for us now.

The concept of a present and future heaven is sure to blow our minds as we talk about God’s promise of restoring his creation and reuniting heaven and earth into a renewed paradise. I’m confident that our discussions will be as encouraging and fruitful as our last study—actually, I’m sure it will be even better!