The Harrowing of Hell

The harrowing of hell and the victory of Christ

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The translators of the Septuagint, which was later accepted and used by the Holy Apostles, translated "Sheol" to "Hades" whereas they merely transliterated "Gehenna" into Greek. When we look at the ancient texts and icons of the Church especially in the Orthodox Church of which I am a priest we see the event of Christ's harrowing commemorated at the "Harrowing of Hades" and not as the "Harrowing of Hell. Could this lack of distinction stem from a juxtaposition of Anglo-Saxon pagan belief and Christian belief?

If so, could it have affected translations from Latin texts into English? Unfortunately, I cannot read Latin nor do I know much about the history of English.

I'm merely asking so that I might learn more about the confusion of the two ideas in modern translations when they, at one point, were distinct. Again, thank you for your time! An idea for a future post: The origins of the word "Easter" and its used in English as opposed to some form of the word "Pasach" Passover which the rest of the world seems to prefer. The use of Hades in place of Hell for translations of Sheol reflects both a difference in Greek or Hebrew scriptures but I suspect also 19th century discomfort with the word 'Hell,' which had become a swear word but on this, I admit I've no sources here to cite!

Thank you, indeed two Easters later! To take away the sin of the world: To set the captives free: Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound Isaiah For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

His purpose is very clear: According to Scripture, Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, created all things, reconciles all things, is Heir of all things, has authority of all things, will have all men to be saved, His grace comes to all men, He takes away the sin of the world , He gives His flesh for the life of the world , He is the propitiation for the sins of the world , whose gifts are irrevocable of which life is one of the gifts, He manifested to put away sin, He preached to the spirits in prison and holds the keys to death and hell, who changes not, He is Lord of both the living and the dead, he will destroy all enemies of God the last one being death, Who made all things alive, Who completes the work the Father gave Him to do, Who restores all things, gave Himself a ransom for all , He takes away the curse and said He came to do the will and work of the Father who wills that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth so that God, the Father may be all in all!

I could lengthen this paragraph considerably, but I think the point has been made. Jesus said He finished the work and accomplished His purpose which was also the Fathers purpose. Dear reader, please contemplate what I am about to say very carefully and prayerfully understanding that "God's chosen" people after years of tradition couldn't recognize their own Messiah because they had swallowed "traditions of men which make the word of God of no effect.

Be humble enough to acknowledge that it is possible after 2, years of Church "traditions" of which there are thousands not found in the Bible , that perhaps you, yourself, may have swallowed some traditions which prevent you from seeing what is plainly right before your eyes. Before you read the rest of the tract, look over carefully once again the purposes Jesus came to the earth. Based upon the scriptures above, if Jesus loses a single sheep, a single soul, will He have accomplished what He was sent to accomplish? As I stated, we, Christians have inherited many traditions not founded upon the teachings of Jesus and His apostles.

The meaning of the word "sin" is one example. In both the Hebrew chatah and Greek hamartano the word for the English word "sin" means to "miss the mark" as in aiming an arrow at a target. The Benjamites had men who could hurl a stone in a sling and not miss, not chatah, not sin. If all of the above are the purpose for Jesus coming to the earth and He loses a single human being, did He not fall short of His purpose?

According to what most Christians have been taught by their church leaders, Jesus is going to lose far more than a single soul, Jesus is going to lose the vast majority of mankind. Yet according to the purpose for Jesus came to the earth set up by God the Father, if He misses a single soul, Jesus cannot be the promised Messiah because He will have sinned, He will have "missed the mark" of His calling.

If Jesus loses a single soul, He will have become a sinner and therefore our hope in Him would be in vain. All things were created through Him and for Him. And he is before all things and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the ecclesia, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself , by Him whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. Please understand that when the scriptures talk about "things" being reconciled back to God, He is not talking about rocks and trees. It was descendants of Adam who were cast out of the presence of God in the garden of Eden, remember?

We need to be restored, reconciled, redeemed and the Scriptures make it abundantly clear that His purpose, goal, will and work was to reconcile all. Jesus came to "destroy the works of the devil. To whom do human beings truly belong? Satan, through deceiving Adam condemned all mankind to death. Death is separation from God in our minds. Satan cut mankind from fellowship with God by planting fear of God into our minds. These above Scriptures make it abundantly clear what the goal, the mark, the target which Jesus was aiming at when He went to the Tree of Crucifixion.

The majority of the church says Jesus either will not Calvinist or cannot Arminianist save all mankind due to Satan and the power of "free-will. There has always been a minority in church history, which used to be the majority before the dark ages who believe the Scriptures that declare Jesus Christ the actual Savior of the whole world. This minority pays close attention to Scriptures and notices things like that fact that Paul, the apostle to the nations, never preached salvation as deliverance from our modern concept of Hell.

As a matter of fact, he never used the word "Hell"! That should make one think.

Go to a concordance and see for yourself. Part of the problem regarding why we can't seem to see what is plainly written is that we, particularly Americans, have injected our love of individuality and freedom to choose into our theology. We've made salvation an individual thing.

While that is true in some sense, when we look at the Bible overall, God's picture of what He plans do to in the earth is much more encompassing than the narrow minded "self" centered creatures, we, Westerners have become.

We like the idea that we, individually, "decided to follow Jesus," when, in fact, Jesus says that nobody decides such a thing. Apart from receiving the grace to see, we, all, like sheep have gone astray. No, not one and that, my friend, despite what you have been told and perhaps feel, is the truth. As Bibles get closer to the original languages, Hell and "eternal" punishment passages in Bibles are disappearing. The King James Bible used the word "Hell," 54 times.

Many translations do not contain the words "Hell" nor "eternal punishment. This article is much too short to get into the subject, but none of these Hell or "eternal punishment" type of phrases should ever have been brought into English translations. The Roman Catholic Church, with its "convert or die" policies, took many of the pagan and idolatrous practices of the countries it forced to convert and "christened" them, that is, incorporated them into the church.

That is how thousands of pagan ideas and practices became "christianized. One of these false doctrines which came from pagan countries is the idea of a place of eternal punishment called "Hell. The whole concept of a place of eternal torment comes from a mistranslation of the Hebrew word Sheol and the Greek words Hades, Gehenna, and Tartarus all being translated into the Anglo-Saxon word "Hell. As Bible translations get closer to the original languages, our pagan concept of Hell will fade away.

I understand it is very difficult to remove this hideous, Satanically inspired teaching from one's mind because it is found in many English translations. But it doesn't belong there. I have about 3 feet of shelf space in my library of English Bible translations that do not have the word Hell in them from cover to cover. In the years ahead, Bible translations will become much better - AND they will remove Satan's greatest lie that he has used so successfully to keep people in fear preventing them from coming into perfect love.

Paul never preached a place of eternal torment to anyone! That is why he could say in 1 Timothy 4: For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men , especially those who believe.

Binding the devil, defeating death

He never misses the mark! We, in our short-sightedness may have brought Him down to our image, that is, a sinner, but He will be vindicated. When He is, will you hang your head in shame? It is not too late to "study to show yourself approved" and see for yourself the glorious Truth that the salvation of the world does not depend upon a church that constantly contradicts itself and the Scriptures.

No, the world, all of it, is in much better hands. Jesus Christ, the Savior of all mankind, Who gave Himself a ransom for all , including you, whether you presently are aware of it or not. Some people think that if everyone is going to be saved that this diminishes the cross, but just the opposite is true! If Jesus went to the cross to redeem those under the curse of Adam and only ended up with a small percentage of those He died for THAT, dear friend, is diminishing the work of the Cross.

That makes Jesus the foolish builder who couldn't finish what He started. That makes Jesus the foolish king who went to war not having enough men and resources to win. Ask the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, Who will lead you into all Truth, to reveal to you the full meaning of those three words. They declare Jesus hit the mark at which He was aiming.

It is important for you to do this. You, also, have a mark set for you. To give God full Glory. In the light of what we have just read, let's look at some more verses in the Bible which speak of the "harrowing of Hell" bringing the "restoration of all things" as spoken by the mouths of the prophets:. Contained herein are two sets of Scriptures which point to the Salvation of all mankind through the work of Jesus Christ.

The first list is from what is commonly called the New Testament. The second list comes from what is commonly called the Old Testament. Jesus said the Law and the Prophets testified about Him. Their testimony reveals they expected the true Messiah to be the savior of the whole world. If the Messiah you believe in, doesn't match the qualifications of the Law and the Prophets, perhaps you should do some serious thinking and prayering:.

He who created all things will "reconcile to himself ALL things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross" Colossians 1: This reconciliation or restoration of ALL things was foretold by God when He "spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago" Acts 3: Because of "the unchangeable character of God's purpose" Hebrews 6: He "gave himself as a ransom for ALL" 1 Timothy 2: Jesus says that like a good shepherd, He will search for each of His lost sheep "until he finds it" Luke Jesus is the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" John 1: Jesus gave His flesh as bread "for the life of the world" John 6: He is "the light of the world" John 8: Jesus "abolished death" 2 Timothy 1: His power "enables him to subject all things to himself'" Philippians 3: He has "the keys of Death and Hades" Revelation 1: He will throw "Death and Hades into the lake of fire" Revelation He "accomplished the work" that the Father gave Him to do John For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all" 1 Corinthians These verses have not just been thrown together haphazardly. They are the expression of that purpose that runs through the Bible, a purpose first stated in mankind's creation in the image of God, a purpose that can be traced throughout the entire Bible, in the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets, and most clearly in the New Testament.

From it we learn at least three things:. Christ came claiming the entire human race as His own, to the end that He would save and restore the entire race, not just part of it. He came with full power and authority over all men, having received all power in heaven and earth over all hearts, all evil, all wills. To deny universal restoration and reconciliation is to mutilate the Scriptures.

We are not dealing with a few isolated verses in which it might be possible to say that "all" was used loosely and doesn't really mean "all. Let's look closer at these passages, taking them in their natural and fair meaning, not obscured by the traditions of men. Will Jesus Christ really do what He said He came here to do? He didn't say He came to save some of the lost. He came to save the lost. And that is everybody!

Apart from Christ, we are all lost, but He came to seek for us until He finds us Luke To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

The Harrowing of Hell

If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungratefujl and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. If you are a Christian, you have probably read this passage many times to discover what kind of lifestyle Jesus expects from you.

Have you ever thought of reading it as a description of God? Look at it in that light. Jesus says in the end that if you do these things, you will be like your Father, "for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil" and "your Father is merciful. If God's attitude toward sinners now is love and mercy, it will always be. Could the loving God described above really be happy knowing that even one of His children created in His image is suffering unspeakable anguish in hell forever?

Then indeed he may plunder his house. Jesus defeated Satan on the cross and He will eventually carry all of the spoils of that victory to be with Him. If anyone is eternally lost, Jesus' victory was only partial. In the NLT, Luke To me it is so clear. If the average shepherd would keep on looking for one lost sheep and not give up until he finds it, surely our Lord will be no less persistent in seeking out every last one of His sheep, not just until they die, but until He finds them and brings them back safely to His fold.

Praise His name forever! By asking, "What man of you It is obvious that that is exactly what Jesus is doing here in this passage. It is as if He said, "If a shepherd won't give up until he finds one lost sheep, how much more will God refuse to give up on His children! He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

That is God's stated reason for sending John, and that is His reason for all of His dealings with mankind. Jesus is "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! Will He do it? Does He work "all things according to the counsel of his will? That doesn't make sense. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.

If you believe that punishment after death is temporary and remedial, as I hope to show when we get to our study of the Greek words translated "eternal" and "everlasting," the above verses are crystal clear. The Father has promised the Son that everyone will eventually come to Him.

The Theology of Johnny Cash

He has given them to Him. Their destiny as redeemed children of God is sure! I am not saying faith and repentance are unnecessary. I am saying that verses like Philippians 2: Remember Jesus didn't say that He would draw a select group called "The Elect"! He doesn't say He will try to draw all people to Himself. He says He will do it! He says in the words of a poet:. Why would Jesus choose not to reveal the Father to anyone for whom He died? And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Or as John 3: Ryle writes, "Our Lord meant that His great work of redemption was finished. After thirty-three years, since the day when He was born in Bethlehem, He had done all, paid all, performed all, suffered all that was needful to save sinners and satisfy the justice of God. He had fought the battle and won it, and in two days He would give proof of it by rising again. If the salvation of all men was not secured on the cross but only made available, it would have been far from finished.

The battle would have just begun. The hard part would have been getting people to receive the salvation made available to them. People do need to receive it, but Jesus died knowing that they all eventually will because the Father had given them all to Him. So much for limited atonement!

Jesus made atonement for the sins of the whole world. Would He who knows all things, who knows the beginning from the end, die for anyone unless He knew His death would have the desired effect of reconciling all people to God? Our next verse answers that question. The works of the devil.

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Jesus came not to keep sin in hell forever but to destroy it. That is why 2 Peter 3: There won't be a place called hell that is full of sin forever, because according to Revelation No, it says, "The Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. God's "purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time," is to "unite ALL things in him [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth.

In the fullness of time, ALL things "all people," according to the context will be united in Christ and God will be all in all! That is why Paul talks in verse 12 about "we who were the first to hope in Christ. The rest will follow in due time. Jesus "must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of ALL things, as God promised long ago through the prophets.

We have been looking mostly at the Gospels and Acts. Now we turn to the letters of Paul. We will find in them the stream of promise still widening, the universal nature of redemption indicated with a precision of language and a variety of illustrations that seem impossible to reconcile with endless evil. I don't mean that every passage quoted is in itself conclusive. If we are to believe in endless evil and endless suffering, how can we account for such passages that, taken in their natural meaning, obviously point to the wider hope?

That the Bible holds out the hope of universal restoration and reconciliation cannot be denied Acts 3: If this will never take place, why is it in the Bible? Why does the Bible raise expectations that will never be fulfilled? Paul's writings deserve special notice. I want to draw your attention to two points:. Not only does Paul assert the sovereignty of God, but it also lies at the center of his teaching.

He sees everywhere a purpose slowly but surely fulfilling itself, a purpose that can be resisted but not defeated. It is the climax of Christ's work for man. This is a spiritual inheritance, not physical. In verse 17, Paul cites Genesis Everyone who was condemned by Adam's sin will be justified by Christ's death. If the word "ALL" means "all mankind" in the first part of the verse, it means "all mankind" in the second part.

I highly recommend studying the entire passage Romans 5: Commentators will just try to explain away the clear teaching of this passage, which is that grace is always stronger than sin. In the first part of the verse, they say the word "many" refers to all men because Adam's trespass brought death on all mankind, but when Paul uses the same word in the second half of the same sentence, they say it refers only to those who are born again before they die, because they refuse to believe that God's grace will reach every man. Paul clearly says in this verse that the grace of God and the free gift of salvation abounds for everyone!

Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.

Experimental Theology: The Harrowing of Hell

They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.

For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob; and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.

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