HEBREWS 12:7-13 PART 2  

GOD’S CHASTENING BEFORE AND AFTER DEATH 

It will be discovered by any truth seeker that Scripture does not teach we Christians go directly to Heaven when we die. Scripture will be found to teach that everyone continues (as it has been since the first man, Adam, died) to be carried into or directed into Hades/the intermediate place of the dead at the time of death, to be detained there until resurrection. Scripture teaches that man is a triad being. He is a living soul, (Genesis 2:7) he has a spirit, and a body. The soul and body have self-consciousness and with the spirit, man has God–consciousness. (Hebrews 12:9) Scripture teaches us that this union is “life”, and death is its separation. Man having died, Scripturally means that these three parts separate; the body goes back to the dust, where we await its resurrection, the spirit goes back to God who gave it, (Ecclesiastes 12:7, Luke 23:46) and then the soul (the essence of us) goes to the Intermediate place of the dead; or Sheol in Hebrew. The Old Testament declares it (according to our count) 65 times in several different versions; the word Sheol is translated hell or grave equally and pit three times. The New Testament word, in Greek, for the same place is Hades; it is used 11 times, and 10 times it is translated “hell” and “grave” once. For a total of 76 times we are informed in Scripture about Sheol and 22 times in the Old Testament we are told it is down where we go when we die. “But those that seek my soul to destroy it shall go into the lower parts of the earth.” [Psalm 63:9] “Let death seize upon them and let them go down quick into hell (Sheol).” [Psalm 55:15] “…that her guests are in the depths of (Sheol).” [Proverbs 9:18] “For I will go down to (Sheol) to my son mourning”. (Genesis 37:35) “They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol.” [Job 21:13]   

It is here where we can briefly examine what Scripture says on the subject of the intermediate place of the dead. We have before established from Scripture that death in itself has no magical effect on our character. We are what we were when we arrive in Hades. We are tainted with sin and death when we are here on the earth and we are yet tainted with sin and death after we die. First, it is important to note that it is not the Christian’s sins per se that will be dealt with by corrective or instructive chastisement after death, because the days of our response to these unto worthiness of the First Resurrection in faithful fruitfulness have passed, in that a dead branch cannot produce fruit no matter how much it is beaten. Therefore, it is instead the Christian’s punishment after death (as opposed to a Christian’s chastisement while alive, when they could have still produced fruit). In his punishment, the Christian would have the sorrowful realization of how it was his unwillingness to be purged through the conscience, the Word, and Holy Spirit from the works of the carnal nature that created the “debt” now owed to God, which he must now pay the consequences for in full. (Matthew 5:25–26… “Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.” See also Matthew 18:34-35…“And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, – till he should pay all that was due. SO SHALL ALSO MY HEAVENLY FATHER DO UNTO YOU, IF YE FORGIVE NOT EVERY ONE HIS BROTHER FROM YOUR HEARTS.” See also James 2:13, “…for judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy”. 

When we are dead, we are no longer in the position (to acquire mercy and grace) for cleansing or purging from our sins that we might be found and judged as faithful and fruitful. Only while we were alive were we able to approach the throne of grace to receive grace and mercy to cover our sins after regeneration. The cleansing process is likened unto mowing the grass, as the mowing equates to cleansing from sin “…let us lay aside ever weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us…” that we might stay in communion/koinonia with God; through the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus; and that being without critically appraising God’s goodness, that we might yet continue justly or lawfully to run in the race for the prize. (1st Corinthians 9:24) Whereas now, after death, the essential requirement of recompense is for the sorrowful purging of the fallen nature that while alive, remained willingly in the soul (for this we need not the spirit, which went back to God who gave it). This purging after death equates to the removal of the roots that the grass may not grow back.  

It is not forgiveness from sin that we are faced with here, but the purging unto the paying of the debt and the cause of sin in us, the fallen nature. And the Justice of God answers to the debt of services we owed. For after having been redeemed from the master of sin and from being doomed to eternal death, we then owed service to God which was never met. Our purging is our recompense for our bad and evil deeds/works; and it is done in order to purge that un-repented of nature from the soul. (See John 15:1-6, Isaiah 33:14, Matthew 24:51, Luke 12:46-48) Christ’s Blood dealt with our sin; past present and future as it relates to our escape from eternal death in the lake of fire, when we were then enemies of God who became reconciled. This is the gift of eternal life. (Romans 6:10,23) Christ’s Blood Atonement has also made effective provision that we can and must; satisfy the law of sin and death. (See Romans 8:13… “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”) So, what death? Certainly not eternal death, and certainly not physical death either; for not all Christians that live after the flesh die accordingly, but this death warning is related to Millennial Kingdom inheritance. The death is the loss of this inheritance and spending 1000 years more of the state of death. Through the provision of Christ’s Blood Atonement, we receive forgiveness for our present sincerely confessed sins (1st John 1:9) and we appropriate mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:16) as we by God’s granted provision of grace/power through the spirit, root out and mortify the sin nature as it relates to the hurdles to the prize of crown and eternal glory for a well–run race in stewardship. (Luke 19:12-27, Matthew 25:14-30) This faithful service has the promise of regal/royal quality of eternal life.  

BUT “If we (as Christians) say that we have no sin, (because Jesus bore our sin once and for all, wrongly combining justification righteousness with holy righteousness) we deceive ourselves, (and remove the possibility to attain unto the First Resurrection worthiness to rule with Christ) and the truth is not in us (the deceit extends to the unawareness of God’s salvation plan for the soul to be purged of the carnal nature by loving faithfulness in obedience to Christ’s commandments while alive that the Father might justly have regal sons). “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. [1st John 1:8–9]  

The event of being saved from eternal Hell answers to the propitiation (or justness in the holiness of God being met for the extending of) grace (power) of Christ’s Blood unto justification, that is in the imparting of the divine nature into our fallen anemic state of our spirit (thereby being born again). Certainly there was an initial purging and cleansing effect upon our soul’s being. Nevertheless, though then our spirit was animated, and our soul is forever free from the threat of eternity in the Lake of Fire. Yet, our soul retained the nature of the fallen state; this nature’s control of the soul is naturally weakened with the reception of the divine nature but it is, and can never be otherwise, set at enmity with our regenerated spirit. (Romans 8:7) And so the Blood Atonement of Christ additionally provides for the gift of the power of the Holy Spirit unto sanctification, that we also may be true witnesses. (Acts 1:8, 26:15-18) With this gift of the power of the Holy Spirit, together with our reanimated spirit, we are equipped to “overcome” the fallen nature and fulfill the just purpose of the Father for regal sons; sons who will qualify to be “partakers of His holiness”. (Hebrews 12:10)  

It is not “sin” that is set at enmity with our spirit per se, but the flesh (the carnal un-renewed mind and the sensual body) which is the fallen nature behind sin. It could be simply said to be as the character or nature of satan. (John 8:44) It is after we are saved, in the battle against the flesh for an overcoming type of faithfulness, that when we sin we need forgiveness that we might not be condemned and disqualified by the law of sin and death pronounced against that flesh, as it relates to the reward of faithful service.  And that we might maintain an unbroken relation with the spirit/Spirit in the war against the carnal nature intrinsic in our soul, being inherited from fallen Adam. (Romans 5:12 and 8:1-5) This Scriptural understanding of Christ’s two applications of Atonement answers to both God’s loving mercy AND justice in holiness. It becomes essential in correctly discerning the Word and God’s intent in the salvation of man.  

It is God on the one hand, through Christ’s Atonement, Who has graciously gifted us His divine nature with eternal life, and on the other hand has justly granted us the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus and the gift of the power of the Holy Spirit and then purposely left us with this fallen nature resulting in this dichotomy of enmity within, and commanded us as “Christ followers” to overcome the sin nature within, by our works. That is the putting on of the works of righteousness (Colossians 3:10,12,14) and the putting off  of the works of unrighteousness. (Colossians 3:8–9) For that God has set before us a great reward to keep in view, that of a far greater and glorious life, abundantly beyond that of eternal life. (John 10:10) 

It is our willing participation in this battle of faith and hope in His promised Word that pleases God. (Hebrews 6:6) Whereas, as a Christian/Christ follower who shuns the light of the enlivened conscience (John 3:20) thats designed intent is to bear witness of the truth; that of the call unto the soul unto acceptability beyond justification, to set our soul free from slavery unto the flesh unto royalty of a resurrected spiritual man, that *we might be partakers of His holiness. That which cost so dear a price for Him to extend should be no great wonder as something sorely displeasing to God. This great intent of God for regal sons makes the living resistant believer subject to His persistent loving chastisement, and the shunning of the light through the restored and enlivened conscience subject to His awful but just due punishment after death.  

It is ordained by God in the Atonement of Christ’s Blood, with the gift of the power of the Holy Spirit that through the enlightenment of the Written Word that each Christian’s enlivened spirit’s conscience is to divide the mind of the spirit from the mind of the carnal soul and from the sensuality of the body. (Hebrews 4:12) And then by minding the revealed things of the spirit/Spirit (Romans 8:1-5) we are commanded by Christ to become overcomers of that sin nature (Revelation chapters 1-3), and by overcoming that nature we by extension overcome satan  (Revelation 12:11) and are thereby worthy to rule in his stead. Overcoming our sins is another way to describe overcoming the sin nature or crucifying the flesh. (See Matthew 10:38–39… “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”) Digging out the roots is a great advancement from just mowing the grass. (2nd Timothy 2:21, Hebrews 9:14) It’s likened to the on-going purging by loving faith in overcoming righteousness unto holiness, by yielding our will to His will as He lovingly and consistently chastens us to do so, in the developing of His First Born Son’s character in us. (Read and contemplate 1st Peter 4.) 

When we die we are not automatically purged; as that which is not removed through the process of our yielding the will in faith, is an opportunity with promise of glory in resurrection only while alive that passes when we die, with the departure of our spirit. Death brings to our eyes a new dynamic: seeing is believing, and seeing eliminates the dynamic of God–pleasing faith (believing/yielding without seeing). That God’s Holiness demands Justice is noted throughout Scripture, and it can be seen that He is exacting down to the last hair. Every farthing, to the last penny, will be paid that is yet remaining owed to God determined at death. (Hebrews 9:27 speaks to there being judgment at the point of death) What comes into view at death and the Judgment Seat of Christ is worthiness according to our works of loving faithfulness to Him in selfless service just as our Lord. (Hebrews 9:14) This righteousness in service, by definition “loving faithfulness”, has nothing to do with religious “dead works” and those works of rote religious legalistic formulas should be repented of quickly; as they are disqualifying in nature. (Hebrews 6:1) 1st Corinthians 13:1-13 gives us a clear description of developed character that will carry weight at the scales of acceptable service at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and what overcoming (the flesh) by faith energized by love (Galatians 5:6) looks like contrasted with religious dead works. Our taking up our cross, as Christ followers and crucifying the carnal soul while alive is the basis on which we are to be judged for glory. 

Now on earth, Scripture tells us the Father of spirits chastens and disciplines us and that is to be as naturally received by us, as we would receive discipline from our fathers of the flesh, which should be in loving gratefulness and directed by it in the faith dynamic, (Hebrews 12:9) in order that we might align ourselves with His loving intent against the fallen nature and resist its works on the one hand while we embrace the good works of the spirit/Spirit on the other hand. (Nehemiah 4:17 speaks of having a trowel in one hand to build and the sword in the other to fight.) But when we, as a “Christ follower” die, we are no longer in the race for the prize of the high calling. (1st Corinthians 9:24 with Philippians 3:10) Our opportunity to “…be made conformable to his death…” that we might hear the words “well done good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:2) has passed. That is, the process of being made conformable to His character, that we might attain unto His like resurrection, is over and now comes not more instructive chastening in discipline but Judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)  

And this judgment by Christ (as to a Christian) is based upon how we finally lived that tells the story of our character, what nature was given prominence by the soul, (the divine nature or the fallen nature) and the way we as a Christian chose to live and respond in the circumstances of our lives. According to Scripture, the Christian is faced with at least two destinations (none are Heaven or Hell): Paradise or Place of Torment. (Additionally we have made mention of “outer darkness” Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30 and the place of “Death” Revelation 20:13–14; 1:18; Psalm 23:4, the “Bottomless Pit/gulf/Abyss” Revelation 9:1,2,11: 11:7; 17:8; 20:1,3 and the “Lake of Fire” Matthew 5:29–30; 10:28; Luke 12:5, Revelation 19:20; 20:10,14,15) Christ, the righteous Judge with the authority of the Father will determine where we will be retained until the First Resurrection. “I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” [Revelation 2:23]

It is unimaginable that all Christians go to Paradise, where they are supposed to await the Judgment Seat of Christ, where then according to Scripture, some are judged as deserving of severe temporal Judgment, that they would have been assigned and carried unto Paradise at death, the Place of Comfort, only later to be sorely punished in the appointed place. It is equally unimaginable that all Christians go to the Place of Torment, especially in light of Paul’s statement of his having run a good race… “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day (day of First Resurrection with his further statement) of and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” [2nd Timothy 4:6-8] These are approved in that Character development attained by sanctification with the fruits substantiated in the way they lived out their lives on earth, (certainly as deserving was the repentant thief hung beside Christ) and they are carried by the Angels of God into the Paradise of comfort/Abraham’s Bosom to await the results of Christ’s completed Judgment. 

(To what purpose would there be need of a Judgment Seat lest there be reward and punishment following?) Completed Judgment meaning He judges each at the time of death for worthiness, as no qualifying works can be added beyond that of faith on earth. He then and there determines each one’s worthiness to be resurrected in the First Resurrection and rule as a first born son of God in Christ’s Kingdom over this world and assigns them accordingly to the place of detainment. (See Revelation 2:27; 3:21; 20:6 where it is also stated that ALL these resurrected then will rule, in some capacity. “And I saw thrones, and THEY, sat upon them, and judgment was given unto THEM…and THEY lived and REIGNED with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” Revelation 20:4–5) 

But additionally, Scripture does not teach that all who are comforted in Hades’ Paradise (such as the supposed many like the beggar named Lazarus, who received evil things in this life and is comforted in Hades) are to be a part of the blessed overcoming worthies of the First Resurrection. Nor does it follow that one who experiences “evil” in this life, like that of the beggar Lazarus, who was comforted in Paradise, and that for thousands of years, would at the Second Resurrection Great White Throne Judgment be condemned to Hell/the Lake of Fire. But certainly at last his name, as those like him, will be found in the book of life. (Revelation 20:15) 

Now as to those Christians who were carried to the Place of Torment/Outer Darkness/Death…. Sin is but the offshoot of the fallen nature and that carnality that was regarded in a Christian’s soul (“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” Psalm l66:18) which was therefore not crucified, the soul lacking in loving faith in a healthy reverent fear of God’s Holiness, while alive (“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Romans 11:22) must be now answered for. Forgiveness of sins is no longer the issue at hand; it is the state of the soul according to our life lived on earth, and our assigned place that is at issue. 

Again, it is not at a Christian’s death and his possible censure in the appointment to the Place of Torment that eternal life is brought into question, but on the contrary in that he was/is sealed by the Holy Spirit, as a recipient of the gift of the divine nature of God with the promise of eternal life, that he is faced with this detaining Place. The sad discovery is he is in the place of torment due to a life somehow lived according to flesh’s demand, be it as in the case of the rich man of Luke 16 for inordinate self indulgence, or some other un-repented and regarded manifestation of the carnal nature. 

But what the faithless, lazy or “wicked” Christian (Matthew 25:26) discovers is two–fold…  

1) the certain loss of the inheritance of regal glory in the presence of God  

2) the purging of the soul yet necessary for the entering into the eternal state of life where none of the sin nature will survive to enter. This is not chastisement in the sense of instructive measures, which the Father undertakes to discipline a future first–born ruling son, but punishment for a fleshly disobedient child of His that is purging in nature.  

(As opposed to that of the lost soul, yet an enemy of God who shall experience eternal fiery punishment with no purging effect, either in the retaining temporary Place of Torment or in Hell/the Lake of Fire for eternity. Isaiah 66:24) 

EXCLUDING THE SIN NATURE FROM CHRIST’S KINGDOM 

See 1st Corinthians 6, Ephesians 5, and Galatians 5 for lists of some of the flesh’s sinful expressions. It’s safe to say that any warnings of un-repented sins of disqualification from the Kingdom of Christ, and any other sins that are followed by a warning of God being a consuming fire, such as here in the Book of Hebrews, are subject to the place of torment in Hades. It is here where the flesh nature will meet its destruction, although the soul will be saved. 

THE GATES OF HELL 

“The Gates of Hell (Hades) shall not prevail against it.” This is the promise of Resurrection. IN HADES we are kept in custody til the Resurrection. All dead are continually being carried down within Hades’ Gates, and there they are separated into the different locales according to the Judgment at their death. But Jesus promises deliverance for His Bride from Hades, the Gates will not hold His when the 7th Trumpet calls.  

Most of Christendom would say; ‘all this is changed since Christ’s Resurrection’. But this cannot be satisfactorily substantiated from Scripture. NO, the Gates of Hades are yet prevailing against those to whom the promise was given, and will continue to prevail til the Lord, Who holds its Keys, calls at His Return; then and only then… “…when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave (HADES), where is thy victory? [1st Corinthians 15:54–55] 

Paul comforted the Thessalonians when they were grieving over some of their dead, who thought ‘how could these now enjoy Christ’s Millennial Kingdom upon His return, they being dead? Paul’s comforting counsel did not take the road so well traveled by today’s Christian scholars and teachers. For if they were to give the Thessalonians comfort today they would have said; ‘Be not concerned, they that have passed are better off than us who are alive, for they have went to Heaven to be with Christ until His Return!’ 

But put on some spiritual ears and hear what Paul said to them: 

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep thro’ Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall first rise: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” [1st Thessalonians 4:13-18] 

*PARTAKER OF HIS HOLINESS 

The root idea of justifying righteousness; is rebirth of the spirit when brought into question by the law; the law then being satisfied by Christ’s imputation, then moves on (the law of condemnation for Adam’s transgression perpetuated to every man born of him). (Romans 4:5, 5:12, and 6:23) The root idea of holy righteousness is completeness of character when scrutinized by the eye of the Law (of holy righteousness) articulated through Moses. Now the process of instruction in holiness, between justification as a child of God; the Father of spirits, (Hebrews 12:9) and the development of His character of holiness in us, is the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1-5) This law prevails over the law of sin and death, and stands in the gap and interim that a child may receive grace and mercy that he might be finally fully instructed in holiness. The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus answers to the accusing adversary (Matthew 5:25, Revelation 12:10–11, Acts 24:16) where confession of sins to the Judge is designed to bring cleansing unto further anticipated character development and shut the avenger‘s mouth. (1st John 1:9, Psalm l8:2) This law of the spirit of life in Christ; who is the First Born of God, also makes loving provision for the Father’s instructive chastening unto many sons. ‘He that will not hear the Word will feel the rod’. The Father instructs, reproofs, and chastens. He chastens His sons by the means of the body, the mind, circumstances, family, friends, brethren, associates, finances, and by all means, that they might attain unto the Kingdom of Christ in the First Resurrection out from among the dead. “They that are accounted worthy to attain to that Age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given to marriage: FOR NEITHER CAN THEY DIE ANY MORE’ for they are equal unto the angels (having incorruptibility); and are (now instructed and judged to be holy righteous) SONS of God, BEING (first-born) SONS OF THE (first) RESURRECTION”. (Luke 20:35) Note: It is these Christians only that are promised to be free from the threat of the 2nd death. (Revelation 20:6) It is only these that are promised “incorruptibility,” that is to say to be free from any future or ongoing decay forever. The implication is that those Christians in the 2nd Resurrection who are not judged worthy of the First Resurrection, shall not be found as the Angels in incorruptibility; only those raised to be partakers of His Holiness in the Kingdom of the Son. (1st Corinthians 15:50,52-58)  

 JOB 

Job is a perfect example of training in holiness. Job was a righteous man, made holy through GOD’S chastisement. Job was upright in walk but not holy in heart. (He was righteous but not holy….) Scourging corrected this. His pains proved more profitable than his pleasures. They fitted him for double blessing and to rule over doubled possessions. (Job 1:3; 42:12) It was thus with Nebuchadnezzar after his scourging: “I was established in my kingdom and excellent greatness was added unto me”. (Daniel 4:36)