Straight out of here:
Zondervan Publishing House,1985/1991
'HEAVEN AND HELL
Most Christians have definite, though hazy, notions about heaven and hell. We are confident of our resurrection. We are sure that just and unjust alike are ever-living persons. Saved and unsaved will exist forever as self-conscious, aware individuals.
Usually we speak of "heaven" as the place where believers go at death, and "hell" as the place where unbelievers go. But when we explore the use of these words in the OT and NT, we discover how little is said about heaven and hell as we usually understand them!
(Kinda the whole reason
for doing this series.)
OT
1. The heavens
2. S'ol: the realm of death
NT.
3. Heaven
4. Hell
5. Conclusions
(Thats gonna be the five parts)
'OT-1. The heavens.
The Hebrew word translated "heaven" or "the heavens" is shamayim It is used in two primary senses.
First, the heavens are part of the created universe. Specifically, the heavens are everything above the earth, that is, (1) the sky and (2) the lights seen in the sky. In OT thought the earth is below, the heavens above. While a number of figures are used, such as heavenly sluice-gates ("windows") through which rains come, such expressions reflect Hebrew imagery and not a set of literal beliefs about cosmology.
Second, the heavens are viewed as the realm of God. Thus the physical and spiritual universe parallel to some extent the pattern set by earth and sky. The spiritual universe too is above, beyond the ability of humanity to experience directly. Thus Isaiah says: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, declares the LORD. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts' " (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Continuing the parallelism, the phrase 'hosts of heaven" indicates, depending on context, either the stars (the multitude of lights in the sky of the material universe) or angels (the multitude of bright beings inhabiting the spiritual universe).
(Angels)
"Although God inhabits the heavens, he does exercise complete control over events in the physical universe (e.g., Isa 10:10-31 see full passage below). It is God who is the unifying Factor between material and spiritual realms, for he is Creator and sovereign Lord of both."
(Satan,
while the ruler of this world
can only do here
what God allows:
John 12:31: "Now is the judgment of this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out".
John 14:30: "I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me".
John 16:11: "...about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned".
2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel...
Eph. 2:2 "prince of the power of the air" .)
"The OT does not speak of "heaven" as place to which the believing dead go, but it does look forward to eternity. In the end, God will restructure the universe, earth and heavens alike, for righteousness: "The heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies" Isa 51:6). But, as God goes on to say in The same verse, the spiritual universe is stable: "My salvation will last forever, ny righteousness will never fail."
The OT message of hope is found in God's hints about resurrection and in his plans for the future. Resurrection 'Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind (Isa 65:17). "As the new heavens and the new earth that I will make endure before me,' says the LORD, 'so will your name and descendants endure" (Isa 66:22). God's plan for humanity extends beyond the end of time as we know it. But the OT is almost silent concerning the destiny of the individual who dies before history's history's end."
(If you honestly believe:
God's plan for humanity
extends beyond
the end of time as we know it.
??????????
Then what are you
worried about?)
Isaiah 10:10-31
10 As my hand seized the kingdoms of the idols,
kingdoms whose images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria—
11 shall I not deal with Jerusalem and her images
as I dealt with Samaria and her idols?’”
12 When the Lord has finished
all his work
against Mount Zion and Jerusalem,
he will say,
“I will punish the king of Assyria
for the willful pride of his heart
and the haughty look in his eyes.
Daniel 7:8
This horn had
eyes like the eyes of a human being
and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
(Quantum powered soulless
synthetic robotic humanoid.
Itself the abomination
this time around)
13 For he says:
“‘By the strength of my hand
I have done this,
and by my wisdom,
because I have understanding.
I removed the boundaries of nations,
I plundered their treasures;
like a mighty one I subdued[a] their kings.
14 As one reaches into a nest,
so my hand
reached for the wealth
of the nations;
(Micah 5:13
"...you will no longer bow down
to the work of your hands.")
as people gather abandoned eggs,
so I gathered all the countries;
not one flapped a wing,
or opened its mouth to chirp.’”
15 Does the ax raise itself
above the person who swings it,
or the saw
boast against the one who uses it?
As if a rod were to wield
the person who lifts it up,
or a club brandish
the one who is not wood!
16 Therefore, the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
will send a wasting disease upon his sturdy warriors;
under his pomp a fire will be kindled
like a blazing flame.
17 The Light of Israel will become a fire,
their Holy One a flame;
in a single day it will burn and consume
his thorns and his briers.
18 The splendor of his forests and fertile fields
it will completely destroy,
as when a sick person wastes away.
19 And the remaining trees of his forests will be so few
that a child could write them down.
The Remnant of Israel
20 In that day the remnant of Israel,
the survivors of Jacob,
will no longer rely on him
who struck them down
but will truly rely on the Lord,
the Holy One of Israel.
21 A remnant will return,
a remnant of Jacob
will return to the Mighty God.
22 Though your people be like
the sand by the sea, Israel,
only a remnant will return.
Destruction has been decreed,
overwhelming and righteous.
23 The Lord, the Lord Almighty, will carry out
the destruction decreed upon the whole land.
24 Therefore this is what the Lord,
the Lord Almighty, says:
“My people who live in Zion,
do not be afraid of the Assyrians,
who beat you with a rod
and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did.
25 Very soon
my anger against you
will end
and my wrath will be directed
to their destruction.”
26 The Lord Almighty will lash them with a whip,
as when he struck down Midian at the rock of Oreb;
and he will raise his staff over the waters,
as he did in Egypt.
27 In that day
their burden will be lifted
from your shoulders,
their yoke from your neck;
the yoke will be broken
because you have grown so fat.
28 They enter Aiath;
they pass through Migron;
they store supplies at Mikmash.
29 They go over the pass, and say,
“We will camp overnight at Geba.”
Ramah trembles;
Gibeah of Saul flees.
30 Cry out, Daughter Gallim!
Listen, Laishah!
Poor Anathoth!
31 Madmenah is in flight;
the people of Gebim take cover.
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