06. THE UNDERWORLD

The Hebrew word "SHEOL" is found 65 times in the Old Testament. It is translated 31 times, "HELL," 31 times, "GRAVE," 3 times, "THE PIT." The corresponding word in the Greek of the New Testament is "HADES." It is translated 10 times "HELL." "Sheol" and "Hades" mean "The Unseen State," or the place to which the "Soul" and "Spirit" of the dead go between the death and the resurrection of the body. The "bodies" of the dead go into the "Grave," the word for which in the Hebrew is "GEBER," and in the Greek "MNEMEION." Neither "Sheol" nor "Hades" denote the "Hell" of final punishment of the wicked. That is called in the Hebrew of the Old Testament "TOPHET," and in the Greek of the New Testament "GEHENNA." Neither do they denote "THE BOTTOMLESS PIT" (Rev. 20:1-3), that is "ABUSSOS," nor the "prison house" of the "Fallen Angels" (2 Pet. 2:4, Jude 6), that is "TARTARUS." Their general meaning is—"THE UNDERWORLD."

That we may the better understand the relation of the places mentioned above to each other let us turn to the Chart. "The Heavens." The word "Sheol" means a "hollow subterranean place," therefore "Hades" must mean the same. It has "gates," for Jesus said that the "Gates of Hell" (Hades), should not prevail against the Church. Matt. 16:18. And Jesus after His return from "The Underworld," said—"I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the 'KEYS' (of the Gates) of hell (Hades) and of death (the Grave)." Rev. 1:18. To get these "Keys"

Jesus had to descend into the "lower parts of the earth." Eph. 4:9. The Apostolic Creed says that Jesus descended into "Hell" (Hades). Therefore Hades, or "The Underworld," must be in the "heart of the earth," and is so pictured on the Chart. Jesus said to the penitent Thief "TODAY shalt thou be with me in 'Paradise.'' Luke 23:43. And as Jesus "that day" descended into "The Underworld" or "Hades," "Paradise" must have been in Christ's day in "Hades." But as it had been prophesied of Jesus that His "SOUL" (for His body was in Joseph's Tomb on the surface of the earth) should not remain in "Hell" (Hades), (Psa. 16:10, Acts 2:27), therefore, before His body could see corruption, Jesus came back from "Hades." But He did not come back alone. He seized the "Keys of Hades," unlocked the Gates of the Paradise Section (P) in which He was confined, and emptied it of its captives, and when He ascended on high He took them to the Paradise section of the "Third Heaven" (E), where they now are, and since then the Paradise Section of "The Underworld" has been empty. Eph. 4:8-10.

In the account of the experience of the "Rich Man" and "Lazarus" in the other world (Luke 16:19-31), Jesus gives us a description of "The Underworld" as it was in His day. According to the narrative, for it is not a parable, for parables do not give proper names as Abraham and Lazarus, both the "Rich Man" and Lazarus had died and their bodies had been buried, and what happened to them in the "Underworld," was descriptive of what happened to them in their "disembodied state." In that state they were conscious, could see, hear, speak, and recognized each other. The difference was that Lazarus was in the "Paradise" section of the "Underworld" (P), typified by Abraham's "bosom," while the "Rich Man" was in the "Hell" section (H), not the final Hell, which is "Gehenna" (Lake of Fire), but in the section of the "Underworld" where the "souls" of the "Wicked" dead go, and remain until the resurrection of the "Wicked" dead. Between the "Paradise" (P) section, and the "Hell" (H) section of the "Underworld" there is an "Impassable Gulf" (K), (Luke 16:26), which reveals the fact that there is no possibility of the "Wicked" dead ever getting out of "Hell" into "Paradise."

On the Chart this "Impassable Gulf" is represented as the entrance to the "Bottomless Pit," or "ABYSS" (A), the "prison house" of the "Demons" (Rev. 9:1-21), and where Satan is to be bound for 1000 years. Rev. 20: 1-3, 7-8. The Old Testament speaks of a place in "The Underworld" called in the Hebrew "ABADDON," and in the Greek "APOLEIA." The word is translated in the Old Testament, "DESTRUCTION" (Prov. 27:20. Job 26:6, 28:22, 31:12. Psa. 88:11. Prov. 15:11), and the same in the New Testament (Matt. 7:13. Rom. 9: 22. Phil. 3:19. 2 Pet. 2:1, 3:16). In Prov. 27:20 it says—"Hell (Hades) and 'Destruction' (Abaddon) are never full," thus connecting "Abaddon" with "Hades" (Sheol). The inference is that "Abaddon" is a part of "The Underworld," and when we turn to Rev. 9:1-3, 11, this inference becomes a certainty, for there we read that the "King" of the "Bottomless Pit" is called in the Hebrew tongue "ABADDON," but in the Greek tongue his name is "APOLLYON," that is, the King of the "Bottomless Pit" is named after the Hebrew and Greek words that are translated—"DESTRUCTION." Now the word translated "Bottomless Pit" is "ABUSSOS," or "ABYSS." Nine times do we read of this "Abyss" in the New Testament. Rom. 10:7. Rev. 9:1-2, 9:11, 11: 7, 17:8, 20:1-3. It is the place into which the Demons besought Christ not to send them. Luke 8:31. The "Bottomless Pit" or "Abyss" (A) then is a deeper compartment in "The Underworld" than "Paradise" (P), or "Hell" (H), and is the place where the "Demons" and baser spirits are temporarily confined until they are finally consigned to the "Lake of Fire" to spend eternity with their Master, Satan.

To the left of the "Bottomless Pit" is "TARTARUS" (T), the "prison house" of the "Fallen Angels." 2 Pet. 2:4. Jude 6. These "Angels" are not Satan's angels, for they are at liberty. These "Fallen Angels" confined in "Tartarus" are the "Sons of God" who married the "Daughters of Men," and whose abnormal sin caused the

THE UNDERWORLD

Flood. See the Chapter on "The Fallen Angels." They are to remain in their "prison house" until the "Great White Throne" Judgment, when they with the "Wicked Dead" are to be judged. Jude 6.

To the right of the "Bottomless Pit" is "GEHENNA" (G). This is the "Final Hell" or "LAKE OF FIRE" prepared for the Devil and his angels, into which the "Wicked," after the "Great White Throne" Judgment, will be cast to spend eternity. Matt. 25:41. Rev. 20: 12-15. It is called "TOPHET" in the Old Testament Hebrew (2 Kings 23:10. Isa. 30:33. Jer. 7:31-32, 19: 6, 11-14), and in the New Testament Greek it is twelve times called "GEHENNA" (Matt. 5:22, 29-30. 10:28. 18:9. 23:15, 33. Mark 9:43, 45-47. Luke 12:5. James 3:6), and five times the "LAKE OF FIRE." It is as yet unoccupied. The first persons to get into it are the "Beast" and the "False Prophet" (Rev. 19:20), then "SATAN" and his Angels a 1000 years later (Rev. 20: 10), and then after the "Great White Throne" Judgment the "Fallen Angels," now confined in Tartarus, and all the wicked whose names are not found written in the "Book of Life." Rev. 20:12 15. On the south side of Jerusalem was the "Valley of Hinnom." At a high place in this valley called "Tophet," in the times of Isaiah and Jeremiah, parents made their children to pass through the fire to Moloch. 2 Kings 23:10. This fire was kindled with brimstone. Isa. 30:33. The locality afterward became a place for the burning of garbage from the City of Jerusalem. The fires were kept up perpetually, and the decaying matter as yet unconsumed bred worms. Jesus took this valley called "Ge-Hinnom," corrupted into "GEHENNA," and made it a type of "Hell" or the "Lake of Fire," where "their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." Mark 9:43-48.

At the upper part of the Chart "Heaven" is shown. It includes the present "Paradise" (E), and the "New Jerusalem" (J). And also gives the relative location of the "Judgment Seat of Christ" (C), and the "Great White Throne" (W). The "Arrow" marked lines give the course and destiny of the "Righteous" and "Wicked" dead.

There are those who claim that "Sheol" (Hades) and the "Grave" are identical, and as there is no "knowledge" in the grave (Ecc. 9:5, 10), therefore the soul "sleeps" until the resurrection of the body. But as it is only the "body" that goes into the "grave," it is only the "body" that "sleeps" or has no knowledge. The "Soul" and "Spirit" of a man goes to "Sheol," not to the "Grave."

Among those who teach that the "Soul" at death goes to "The Underworld," are those who claim that the "souls" of those who are not as yet fully fit for Heaven go to a place called

PURGATORY.

The word "Purgatory" is not found in the Bible. The word means a "PLACE OF PURIFICATION." The "Doctrine of Purgatory" was not known in the first century, and was not promulgated as a doctrine until 600 years after Christ. It had its origin in the belief that the souls of men when they die are not fit to go immediately to Heaven, and so an "Intermediate Place" was invented where they might wait for a while and be purged of their sin. The instrument of purification is physical suffering. The Doctrine further teaches that the soul in Purgatory can do nothing towards its own deliverance, and is dependent upon "prayers" and "masses" said by the living. The purpose of the Doctrine was to secure revenue for the Church by so working on the sympathy of loved ones, that they would pay for "Masses" to deliver the souls of their relatives and friends from the torments of Purgatory.

The "Doctrine of Purgatory" is unscriptural. There is no "INTERMEDIATE PLACE" to be seen on the Chart between "Paradise" and "Hell," and the "Impassable Gulf" declares that there is no possibility of the occupants of "Hell" ever passing over into "Paradise." This nullifies the "Doctrine of Purgatory," and also the

RESTORATION THEORY.

The "Restoration Theory" is that after the "Wicked" have suffered in Hell for a time, and been sufficiently punished for their sins, that they will be restored and

THE UNDERWORLD transferred to Heaven. The "Theory" includes Satan and his angels and all the "Evil Powers" of the Universe, and the final wiping out of Hell. The Scripture the advocates of this "Theory" use is—

"Whom (Christ) the Heaven must receive until the 'Times of Restitution, of ALL THINGS, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His Holy Prophets since the world began.'" Acts 3:21.

The claim is that the "ALL THINGS" embrace everything in the Universe, and that therefore at the "Times of Restitution" (Restoration), "All Things" will be restored to their original glory and place. But there is a qualifying clause in the text which limits the "All Things" to what "God hath spoken by the mouth of all His Holy Prophets since the world began." Now we must not forget that these words were spoken on the "Day of Pentecost" to the JEWS, and were to show the Jews that Christ would not return until they repented and were converted (Acts 3:19), and then He would restore to them the things that the Prophets had foretold He would.

What were those things? (1). Their restoration to the land of Palestine. Amos 9:14-15. (2). The restoration of the Fertility of the Land. Joel 2:24-26. (3). The restoration of the Kingdom. Dan. 7:13-14. (4). The restoration of Edenic harmony in the brute creation. Isa. 11:6-9. (5). The restoration of Patriarchal years. Zech. 8:4. (6). The restoration of the earth to its Original condition before the Fall. Rev. 21:1. Nowhere in the Bible through the Prophets does God promise the restoration of the "Wicked," or the "Evil Powers" of the Universe, but clearly and distinctly states that they are to be punished FOREVER AND FOREVER, or unto the "Ages of the Ages." Rev. 20:10. Matt. 25:46.

If the Wicked are to have a "Second Chance" in the next world who is to proclaim it? If the things that are used by God in this life to lead men to Himself, such as providence, the Bible, the preaching of the Gospel, the striving of the Holy Spirit have no avail here, what is to lead men to God in Hell where those things are absent and their environment wholly evil? Character determines destiny. When character becomes fixed, condition is settled beyond change. "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still." Rev. 22:11. These words of revelation declare the "FIXEDNESS OF CHARACTER" at death.

But you say the sufferings of the Wicked, and the memories of the lost opportunities of this life will lead to repentance. It is doubtless true that they will be sorry for their sin, but it will not be "godly sorrow," for there will be no Holy Spirit there to lead them to "godly repentance," and without Him they cannot be saved. If punishment will turn men to God, then the Gospel is superfluous, and it would be better to punish men than to preach the Gospel to them. The fact is that punishment hardens criminals. The "Rich Man" in Hell (Luke 16: 23-28) showed no repentance, he did not beg for mercy, nor express a desire to be out of his place of torment and be where Lazarus was. He simply wanted relief for his parched tongue. The whole teaching of the Scripture is that punishment hardens the wicked. In the Book of Revelation we read how those who suffered under the Plagues of the Book instead of repenting and calling on God, called on the rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of Him that sitteth upon the Throne. Rev. 6:16-17. They also blasphemed God on account of the "Plague of Hail" (Rev. 16:21), and even Satan after a 1000 years of banishment in the "Bottomless Pit" comes out as bad as ever. Rev. 20:7-8. If men deliberately choose evil rather than righteousness in this world, they cannot keep Hell out of themselves, or themselves out of Hell. Men cannot sink so low in the moral scale but what they can sink lower, and the sad fact is that death will not retard their sinful development but will accelerate it, until it is beyond human conception to what depth the wicked will descend in Hell.

But I think I hear someone say, Is it not possible for God to devise some way to save the Wicked in the next

THE UNDERWORLD world? Does not the Bible say that God "Will have all men to be saved" (1 Tim. 2:4); that he has "No pleasure in the death of the Wicked" (Ez. 33:11); and that Christ "Tasted death for every man."? Heb. 2:9. Yes it says all this and much more. But it also says—"Behold, NOW is the accepted time . . . NOW is the Day of Salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2. I say it reverently, when God devised the "Plan of Salvation" through the death of His Son on the Cross, He went to the limit. If there had been any other way He would have provided it, rather than the Lord Jesus should suffer.

But you ask does it not say in Phil. 2:10-11, "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in 'Heaven,' and things in 'Earth,' and things 'UNDER THE EARTH' (in The Underworld); and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord?" And does not John in the Book of Revelation describe that day when he says—"And every creature which is in 'Heaven,' and on the 'Earth,' and 'UNDER THE EARTH,' and such as are 'in the sea,' and ALL that are in them, heard I saying, blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever?" Rev. 5:13. Yes, the Bible says all this, but confession is not REPENTANCE. A conquered foe will admit the supremacy of the conqueror by virtue of necessity, but that does not imply a changed heart. Satan and his angels and all the "Powers of Evil," in Heaven, Earth, and Hell, will confess that Jesus Christ is not only Lord, but King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but that will not restore them to Heavenly Glory. We must not forget that the issues of Eternity are settled in Time. Men and women are to be judged for what they do "IN THE BODY" (2 Cor. 5:10), that is on this side of the grave, and not for what they do on the other side. Jesus said—"I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go YE CANNOT COME." John 8:21. This shows that if men die impenitent they can never go where Jesus is.

The "Doctrine of Purgatory" is the result of