Table of Content
Title Page
The First Beast (The Scarlet Beast
and The Harlot) 135
The Number Of The Beast 139
The Mark Of The Beast 141
The Beast Buy And Sell 144
The Four Beasts Of The Revelation 146
The First Beast Of Daniel 150
The Second Beast Of Daniel Seven 154
The Third Beast Of Daniel Seven 156
The Fourth Beast Of Daniel Seven 158
The Seals 161
The First Seal 162
The Second Seal 163
The Third Seal 164
The Fourth Seal 165
THE FIRST BEAST
(THE SCARLOT BEAST AND THE HARLOT)
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First, I’d like to recognize Denny Hunter’s contribution to the doctrine on “The Beast.” I heard him teach on a CD. It was a great help to me.
I suppose that The Revelation Chapter seventeen is the best lead in to a good understanding of THE SCARLET BEAST AND THE HARLOT.
FIRST, THE DOCTRINE ON THE HARLOT
In the Revelation, John said of the angel: “So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. [4] And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: [5] And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. [7] And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.” Revelation 17:3-7
John identified the mystery woman that rode astride the scarlet colored beast as being old Jerusalem. No, not the city itself, but the people that occupied her at the time.
He wrote: "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.” Revelation 18:24
John also likened her to Sodom and Egypt where he said: “And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.” Revelation 11:8
Jesus also singled out Jerusalem as being the slayer of the prophets and saints of the Old Testament. He told her heads of state: "That the blood of all the
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prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, be required of that generation; from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished
between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.” Luke 11:50 and 51
Jerusalem had a history of being a whorish woman. The Lord challenged her with being a whore in the Old Testament. In a rebuking voice, He told her: "Thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed."
Jeremiah 3:3
God, even as did the inscription upon her forehead identified her as being a spiritual adulteress.
THE SCARLET BEAST
John identified the beast with this proclamation, "The waters, which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." Revelation 17:15
Now to interpret: The angel showed John a scarlet Beast with a whorish woman astride. As he continued to observe, the beast, as it were, turned out to be many waters.
Then as he continued his visual; he said of the angel: “And he saith unto me, The waters, which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Rev. 17:15
The woman, THE MOTHER OF HAROLETS as it were, was made up of the combined whorish spirits of the people that carried her within their bosom. (They were whorish because they worshipped other gods.) And the scarlet beast was made up of the combined earthen bodies of the people wherein those spirits dwelt.
The natural eyes that looked upon that scene on that day saw people and multitudes, and nations, and tongues; whereas John being in the spirit, he saw a spiritual adulteress woman, upon a scarlet beast. (The beast being scarlet in color identified it as being one that shed innocent blood.)
Now, we have just witnessed the difference between viewing an event with natural eyes, and the eyes of John’s understanding, that Paul made mention of in
Ephesians 1:18. Now thus far we have found that the Scarlet beast was made up of people and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. To GOD Be The Glory, Amen!
THE BEAST
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Both the Old and New Testaments have a lot to say about the beast or beasts.
Solomon understood that mankind, categorically fit into the animal kingdom. He wrote: "I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that GOD might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts." Ecclesiastes 3:18
Yea, all men are beasts, said the wise man Solomon.
Some men have the nature of ravening wolves, while others act like roaring lions.
Little wonder that God chooses to symbolize men as animals. Such was the case where Jude said of some evil men: "But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts in those things they corrupt themselves.
Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core." Jude 10
But thanks be to God, some men have the nature of GOD’S non-violent creatures. These are the saints of GOD and God calls them His Sheep. Amen!
After his life-threatening episode with the silversmith and the men of Ephesus Paul wrote: "After the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus,’’ 1 Corinthians 15:32
(Paul’s fight with those beastly men was over the goddess Diana.)
The best example that I know of a common cause bringing people together as a biblical beast is where the men of Jerusalem and the Gentiles came together and crucified Jesus. (More on that event when we deal with the doctrine on the four beast of Daniel chapter seven)
“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns.” Revelation 17:3
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The beast had seven heads:
Here are the names of the seven heads of that scarlet beast: Jerusalem’s Priests Sadducees, Pharisees, Scribes, Caesar Augustus, Pontius Pilate, and Herod the king. Revelation 12:3
And it had ten horns:
The ten horns represents the strength the beast had. The ten horns were typical of the law that God gave Israel in the form of the Ten Commandments. Therefore all seven heads drew their authoritative and justifiable strength from the law, of the Ten Commandments.
Other biblical attributes that are ascribed to the beast or beasts, are: The number of the beast, the mark of the beast, No one can buy or sell, The four beasts of Revelation, and The four beasts of Daniel chapter seven.
Some biblical beasts are very good while others are ungodly evil.
Praise ye the LORD ye saints for all His benefits.
Amen!
THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST
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John said: “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred three score and six.” Revelation 13:18
*Note: If John’s reference had been to two different objects, namely, (the beast and a man), then he would have used the plural pronoun, they; but he did not. It is clear that he spoke of a singular being when he used the singular pronoun his number. Thus as we’ve learned in the previous lesson, the man and the beast are one. And his number is Six hundred three score and six.”
That will begin to make sense as we continue.
THE LORD used many symbols to convey His ideas.
Oft times He used the number six to show that the object of reference pertains to the letter or the natural as opposed to being of a spiritual nature.
While on the other hand, He implemented the number seven (7) to show that the object under consideration was spiritual in nature.
Now, with these things in mind, let’s continue our pursuit of the elusive beast; whose number is six hundred three score and six.” Revelation 13:18
Here are some examples: the Lord used the number six to indicate that the object or objects were natural or temporal in nature. When the LORD delivered Israel from the hand of Pharaoh and his army, Moses said: “And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, there were about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.” Exodus 12:37
Now the number of footmen being six hundred thousand in number suggested that Moses spoke of the natural man. And rightly so, for these were the people that served to make up the natural kingdom. (Although such numbers indicated that the footmen were natural, the number of about six hundred thousand was also correct. (Though the Scripture give approximate numbers it doesn’t speculate.)
It is recorded in the book of Joshua that GOD provided six (6) cities of refuge for the protection, of those, said he; who had killed some one unawares. I believe the reason GOD provided six cities was that it provided protection for the man that was created on the sixth day. Joshua 20:3
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Those six cities not only provided protection to the natural man that needed refuge, they also prophesied of the coming of the man JESUS, who would be our “…hiding place from the wind…” Isaiah 32:2
We needed such refuge because we killed the man JESUS unaware.
The number six is further documented in the following scriptures.
When the LORD GOD gave Moses the plans for building the tabernacle and its fixtures, It called for 6 branches (on the candlestick), 6 curtains (on the forefront of the Tabernacle), and 6 boards (for the side of the tabernacle). It is important to notice that no materials were used in quantities of seven nor any other number rather than the number six.
Perhaps what is just as significant is that after the tabernacle was finished;
When they dedicated it to the Lord, they offered up 60 rams, 60 he goats, and 60 lambs of the first year. Numbers 7:88 (And all this was because the tabernacle was natural and temporal in nature.)
The natural man glories in the number six. After the men of Babylon convinced king Nebuchadnezzar to make an image of himself, he made it of gold.
Its dimensions were 60 cubits high and 6 cubits in breadth. Daniel 3:1
The number 6 seemed to gratify the natural man, be they king or servant. The giant that David killed; his spear’s head was forged from 600 shekels of iron.
I Samuel 17:7
Shimura stopped his slaughter of the Philistines after he had killed 600 men with an ox goad. Judges 3:31
When such leaders as Saul and David made up their small garrison, they were satisfied after their army numbered 600 men. King Saul’s garrison was made up of about 600 men. I Samuel 14:2 While David’s garrison numbered about 600 men. I Samuel 27:2.
Solomon collected six hundred sixty and six talents of gold in one year. I Kings 10:14. Finally, “The children of Adonikam numbered, six hundred sixty and six.” Ezra 2:13
May God Bless. Amen!
THE MARK OF THE BEAST
December 31, 1999
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John said of the beast: “He causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads." Revelation 13:16
In Revelation 13:1 John called the seven headed ten-horned creature a beast.
He also referred to him as the great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns. Revelation 12:3
The next account of the beast (or dragon) John’s next description of him was; "The old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan." Revelation 12:9
In other words the Devil and Satan (Biblically speaking) is called a beast, the dragon the serpent, the old serpent, the body of sin and the Adamic sin.
Sin is also symbolized as the beast, the serpent, or the old serpent.
No one bitten by the old serpent can escape his mark.
Paul gave us a first hand account of when he was bitten by the old serpent. He wrote: " I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. [10] And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. [11] For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Romans 7:9-11
The bite from the old serpent contaminates the mind. His victims in all cases become carnal minded. Thus the mark in the forehead of sinners is the carnal mind. And the mark in the forehead of the saints is the mind of Christ. When the writer of Acts described Saul, or Paul, in his sinful state, it sounded as though he was describing a serpent. He wrote: "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, [2] And desired of him letters…" Acts 9:1-2
Paul implied that sin used the same subtlety to deceive him as the serpent deceived Eve. He wrote: "Sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me."
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Both marks are made visible through the works of an individual.
Notice: The mark in the right hand or in the forehead is manifested through works, so with the sinner, also with the saint.
John envisioned the carnal mind was working (over time) in those that came to him to be baptized. Matthew said: "When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" [8] Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:” Matthew 3:7-8
John said of the children of God: “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.” (These worked the work of Christ) Revelation 14:1
Peter's observation of Simon revealed that he still had the carnal mind imbedded in his forehead instead of having the mind of Christ.
The writer said: "Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, [19] Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. [20] But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." Acts 8:18-20
"The mark in the right hand"
Isaiah recorded where a certain carpenter planted and harvested trees. In that account, he said that after that wood worker falls a tree “….He will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he falleth down to it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. They have not known nor understood:"… "He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart has turned him aside that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, is there not a lie in my right hand ?”
Isaiah 44:15b-20
From what the Lord said (in the above) it revealed that man's right hand is typical of his religious worship; be it to worship God or the gods. Another scripture that tells us that the right hand is symbolic of personal works is where that after the psalmist was intimated by some that worshipped idle gods.
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He prayed: "Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children; [8] Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.” Psalm 144:7-8
With the following question the Psalmist also implied that both hands of the sinner is unclean. He asked: "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;"
Psalm 24:3-4
James taught that clean hands are a necessity.
He wrote: "Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." James 4:8
Spiritually speaking, the two hands represent our relationship toward God and man and that through the two greatest commandments.
Our right hand (as we’ve learned) represents how we relate to God, and the left hand the way we relate to mankind.
The first step in having clean hands is to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. The second is to Love thy neighbour as thyself. Mark 12:30-32
such process can only be obtained through Salvation in Jesus Christ.
Amen!
THAT NO MAN MIGHT BUY OR SELL
SAVE HE THAT HAD THE MARK OF THE BEAST
December 6, 2001
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Now to continue the study on “The beast, the great dragon, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world…” Revelation 12:9
Now that we have established that the mark of the beast in the right hand typifies the sinner’s religious work; while the mark in the forehead means that he is carnal minded.
Let’s continue with our subject:
John wrote: ”And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:17
Now I believe that we have well established that that discribes the sinner but not the saint for sinners are the merchants that can buy and sell during the time of Grace.
Jesus gave us a good example of those who have the means by which to buy and sell when he spoke the following parable He said: “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”
Matthew 13:45-46
In Jesus’ parable the sinner is represented as the merchant and the pearl of great price is Jesus Christ. That merchant sold all that he had, “lock, stock and barrel” in order to buy the pearl of great price, Jesus Christ. That transaction rendered him in a position where he could no longer buy or sell, for he had separated himself from all that he had. However, when he sold all that he had and bought the pearl of great price, he become joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. (What a bargain!)
John said that he saw “them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.” Revelation 15:2
Since that is true, it altogether rules out the saints as having the identifying mark of the beast.
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That transaction describes Paul’s situation to a tee. He had more than most. But in his final analysis he concluded: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. [8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, [9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” Philippians 3:7-9
Paul’s forsaking all had dire consequences on his and his cohort’s every day living, he wrote: “Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place.”
Now grasp this. (If the apostle hadn’t counted all things as dung, in order to win Christ, he could have been lying in a good warm bead and full of good food.) But he said: ”Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place.” 1 Corinthians 4:11
(Although the buying and selling is spiritual, Paul has shown that it can, and often does effect our everyday living.)
Therefore, neither Paul nor his brothers in Christ, could buy or sell in the spiritual economy on the basis that they had sold all that they had, including themselves in order to gain that precious pearl of great price, Jesus Christ.
In the case of the rich Man and Lazarus, Lazarus counted all that he had as dung in order to have eternal life, while the rich man played the fool.
Solomon said of those rich fools: “There is a sore evil I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners to their hurt.” Ecclesiastes 5:13
May GOD be praised forever. Amen!
THE FOUR BEASTS OF THE REVELATION
(That cries Holy, Holy, Holy)
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John wrote: "And round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. [7] And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. [8] And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." Revelation 4:6-8
After much study, meditation, and consideration, I believe the four beasts (in this study) are the Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. That can also be said of their authors, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The reason that is true is that a man, his work, and his word are considered to be one according to the Holy Scriptures.
I came to that conclusion after Paul use God and His Scripture, interchangeable. He said: ”For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, “Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up…” Romans 9:17
Notice, although it was God Himself that said to Pharaoh, “Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up.” Paul said that the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh.
With that proclamation Paul showed the oneness that exists with God and His scripture.
There is yet another that falls into that category. Jesus is the Word of God and the Bible is the written Word of God Amen!
Jesus verified that where He said: “Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.” Hebrews 10:7
The four beasts were, "Full of eyes before and behind."
I believe that with the eyes behind the writers looked back and saw the prophecies of the Old Testament fulfilled in Jesus’ coming to earth. With the eyes in front they saw and prophesied of future events, Such as the Resurrection of Jesus and the resurrection at the last day. (In their writings we find both.)
"And they were full of eyes within."
I believe that with their "eyes within," they focused on our Savior’s every move as He went about defeating His foes and ours.
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"And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him."
The number six infers that we are dealing with the letter, the letter being the writings or the authors themselves for both man and his writings are called the letter in the Holy Writ.
I am altogether convinced that what John called the four beasts, Isaiah referred to as the four seraphims; therefore what was true with the four beasts also applied to the four seraphims and I shall doctor accordingly.
“The four beasts had each of them six wings about him;”
Revelation 4:8
Isaiah said that the seraphims: Each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly."
Isaiah 6:2
After considering the way those men made use of their wings, I believe the six, or the three pairs of wings, told us that these men had three God given options.
Option one: The first set of wings suggested that each of these men could have disclosed their identity and pedigree. All chose to keep those a secret. Thus, "with twain he covered his face.”
Option two: They could have testified of their salvation experience. Their choice was not to testify. Thus, "with twain he covered his feet.”
Option three: they could have written about their Saviour as He went about doing good. That was exactly what they did. Thus, "with twain they did fly." And fly they did and because they flew, we have the Four-Gospels, with the Old and New Testament on either side. We call it the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible, and we deem it “The holy, untainted, undefiled and untarnished Word of truth.”
Now to enlarge on the doctrine of the six winged creatures.
"With twain he covered his face. That is to say that when these men wrote his Gospel, each kept his own identity a secret. Therefore, if others had not identified the four books, today their writings would bear the label, "Author Unknown."
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"With twain he covered his feet."
The feet represent a personal testimony when he/she is being led by the Holy Spirit to testify of what good thing God has done for them. A good example of the feet being ones testimony is where Jesus told his disciples, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all powers of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19
Not once did these men refer to themselves directly, but when they did it was always in the third person, (grammatically speaking.)
Case in point: when Matthew, who was called Levi, told of his experience with Jesus he wrote: "And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, follow me.
And he arose and followed him." Matthew 9:9 (Isn’t that precious?)
Thus, "With twain Matthew covered his face."
John also referred to himself in the third person. He wrote: "Now there was leaning on JESUS' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved." John 13:23
In fact when John wrote the fourth Gospel, when he penned the name John, it was always in reference to John the Baptist. "With twain John covered his face."
The Apostle Paul did not hide his identity, and rightly so. Neither was he silent about what the Lord had done for him on the road to Damascus. However, none surpassed Paul when it come to glorifying Jesus Christ, his Lord.
John described those beasts as:
“The first beast was like a lion.”
“The second beast was like a calf."
“The third beast had the face of a man."
“The fourth beast was like a flying eagle.”
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I believe the doctrine on the four beasts held true to form and that Matthew showed Jesus to be like a lion, while Mark presented Him as a like to a calf, etcetera.
However, I have chosen an easier way out.
I found where Jesus was like a lion in that He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Revelation 5:5
"The second beast was like a calf."
Jesus was the fatted calf that the Father killed, or had killed.
" The third beast had the face of a man."
Jesus had the face of a man. Because he was a man, made of a woman and grew up into a man. Galatians 4:4
The fourth beast was like a flying eagle."
I believe that Hosea said it best as to how JESUS fit the description of an eagle.
He said: "Set the trumpet to thy mouth, he shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed against my law. Israel shall cry unto me, my GOD we know thee. Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him." Hosea 8:1-3
"And they (the four beasts) rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy LORD GOD Almighty.” It is to the thrice holy GOD to whom the four beasts cry Holy, holy, holy.
Holy to the Heavenly Father, holy to His blessed Son, and holy to The Holy Ghost, Holy to the three in one. Amen!
And they rest not day and night:
The Word of God is never at rest or at peace, with a sinner. After God’s Word enters the heart of a sinner, it works day and night with the sole purpose of bringing him/her to CHRIST.
"And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, [10] The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever…" Revelation 4:9-10
AMEN!
THE FIRST BEAST OF DANIEL
(Chapter Seven)
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Before we get started on the doctrine of the four beasts of Daniel, it is important that we have established that a beast or beasts, Biblically speaking, is a man or a group of men bound together by a common cause.
As we have establish there are beasts that are honorable then there are those that are not so dishonorable.
Such is the case where the men of Israel and the Gentiles came together with the soul purpose of destroying Jesus. You’ll find that to be true when we come to the fourth beast of this chapter seven.
The writer said: “Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. “And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.” Daniel 7:2-3
The four winds of Heaven that strove upon the great sea was Jesus striving with ‘multitudes and multitudes’ of people, with His everlasting Gospel.
Doctrine being symbolized by the wind is no stranger to the Holy Scripture.
Paul said: “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine.” Ephesians 4:14
Neither should it seem strange that a large body of water should typify multitudes and multitudes of people, since the angel told John: “The waters, which thou sawest where the whore setteth are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Revelation 17:15
Therefore the great sea that Jesus strove with, through the Gospel, was peoples and multitudes and nations, and tongues.
Oh yes, Daniel prophesied of that event and Matthew recorded its fulfillment.
In the following Matthew described how that enormous gathering came about. He wrote: ”And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases
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and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.”
“And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.” Matthew 4:23-25
Therefore the Gospel Jesus preached was the four winds of Heaven, as prescribed by Zechariah.” Zechariah 2:6
And the multitudes of people were portrayed as the great sea.
“And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.”
Daniel 7:2-3
The first beast to emerge from that great sea, of people, was Jesus’ disciples.
Matthew described the event. He wrote: “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:” Matthew 5:1
Daniel said of Jesus’ disciples: That they were like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. Daniel 7:3-4
“The first (beast) was like a lion.” Balaam portrayed the remnant of Jacob as a lion. He said: "Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain." Numbers 23:24
In another scripture Balaam said of Israel: "He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee." Numbers 24:9
Micah gave his view of how the small remnant measured up to being a lion. I quote: "And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces and none can deliver." Micah 5:8
That small remnant did tread down, and tear in pieces as they spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth, yea, even to the ends of the world.
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Paul said that they did, he wrote: “But have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” Romans 10:18
The Prophets that prophesied of Israel’s blessings were not speaking of Israel at large, but only of the Lord’s redeemed. Paul said of that small remnant: “Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:” Romans 9:27 Then Paul said of Israel: “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.” Romans 11:7
The disciples of God were a nation within a nation.
Both went by the name Israel. Paul explained on this wise: "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Romans 9:6
A man's heart was given to it.
The new heart God gave to the small remnant was the product of the New Covenant. The Lord prophesied of the new heart, on this wise; "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: [20] That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God." Ezekiel 11:19-20
The writer of Hebrews said of the New Covenant:
“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. [8] For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: [9] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. [10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts… ” Hebrews 8:7-13
During the newer and better Grace Covenant, when God removes the stony heart of a sinner He replaces it with a new heart of flesh. However, that promise was primarily made to Israel’s small remnant. For under the law convenant they had.
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And It Was Lifted Up From the Earth. Paul to the rescue, he wrote: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3
Then He said; “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians 2:6
Daniel also added: “I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked.” What Daniel saw, in his vision by night, was the removal of the wings from the first beast. Those wings (in that biblical account) were typical of the Spirit and the Letter of the Old Testament.
Before Jesus came and fulfilled the law, such testimony and its spirit served well. However; after He fulfilled the older Covenant, and established the better Grace covenant, His work rendered the Old Testament fulfilled. Thus, He took away the first Covenant. Hence, “The wings of the first-beast were plucked.”
John explained, "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent." Revelation 12:14
The two wings that GOD added to the woman (the Bride of Christ) was the Letter and the Spirit of the New Testament. Scriptures and the renewing of Holy Ghost. With those she testifies that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh and that He was crucified buried, and yea rose again on the third day. And went back to Heaven and that His return is eminent. Amen!
As they say in a song, “He didn’t stay dead and He won’t stay gone.” I suppose the Hebrew writer described it best in the case of the removal and replacement of Her wings. He said: "He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second." Hebrews 10:9
May God Bless AMEN!
The Second Beast of Daniel
(Chapter Seven)
September 8, 2003
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Daniel continued his commentary on his vision by night.
He said; "And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh." Daniel 7:5
According to Mark the second beast to separate itself from that great sea (of people) was the Pharisees and the Herodians.
He said that after Jesus healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath day:
“The Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.” Mark 3:6
The second beast was like a bear.
Solomon helps us to identify this second beast. He wrote, "As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people." Proverbs 28:15
"And it raised up itself on one side."
I believe what Daniel saw (in his night vision) was that this second beast was made up of wicked men. And that its conspirators chose not to be identified with Jesus and His disciples, thus, it raised up itself on one side.
"And it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it. And they said thus unto it, arise, devour much flesh."
Jesus identified this man-devouring beast as being the scribes and the Pharisees.
He admonished, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Matthew 23:27
The Lord God also identified this second beast as being the heads of Israel.
He said, "Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment? [2] Who hate the good, and love the
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evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; [3] Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and
they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.” Micah 3:1-3
He also identified the Gentiles as assisting Israel in their cruelty.
He said, "Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out."
Jeremiah 51:34
(Though Nebuchadrezzar wasn’t there in person his ancestry were there)
Then in the very next verse, God continues with: "The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say." Jeremiah 51:35
That conspiracy continued long after they had killed Jesus and many of His disciples.
May the Good Lord Bless.
Amen!
The Third Beast of Daniel
(Chapter Seven)
September 9, 2003
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Daniel wrote: "After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had on the back of it four wings of a foul; the beast also had four heads; and dominion was given to it." Daniel 7:6
I beheld, and lo another, (beast) like a leopard
Jeremiah gave us much insight on this leopard-like beast. He prophesied against Jerusalem by saying: " A lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities" Jeremiah 5:6
The leopard, in his prophecy turned out, as it were, to be the King of Babylon and his army. The king and his men through a siege around Jerusalem and starved them into submission.
The duration of that siege was about 20 months. In fact it continued until there was no bread in the city and the city was broken up. Jeremiah 39:2
The writer of II Kings concurred. He wrote: "And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about. [2] And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. [3] And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. [4] And the city was broken up." 2 Kings 25:1-4
The results of that siege was still being felt during the life of Jesus and His disciples.
(Thus Daniel's leopard, as it were, turned out to be the King of Babylon and his army.)
That third beast also had on the back of it four wings of a foul.
Ezekiel told us wherein the four wings originated. He wrote: "And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel; [3] And say, Thus saith the Lord God; A great
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eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar. Ezekiel 17:1-3
"There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers:
And, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation." Ezekiel 17:7
Ezekiel continued: "Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? Tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon."
Ezekiel 17:11-13
Yea, The LORD singled out those two eagles with great wings were none other than the king of Babylon and the king of Jerusalem. Their wings as it were represented their religious doctrine. The bed of that union spawn such sects as the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and priests of Jerusalem. Thus the four wings on that third beast identified it as being the king of Israel and the king of Babylon. The doctrine of these two kings combined, to serve as the four wings on that third beast. And the offspring of these two kings were on their way to Calvary.
"The beast also had four heads; and dominion was given to it."
The four heads of this third beast were the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and priests. Those four heads were the heads of the government in Jerusalem at that time of Jesus’ ministry.
Jesus said as much, He said that they sat in Moses’ seat. Matthew 23: 2
Matthew said: "When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: and when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor." Matthew 27:1-2
May the God of Abraham be blessed forever.
Amen!
The Fourth Beast of Daniel
(Chapter Seven)
September 24, 2003
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Daniel continued to comment on his vision by night, with: "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns." Daniel 7:7
What Daniel has shown us unto now is beasts one two and three; but now the men of the second and third beasts merged; then after Pilate sent Jesus to Herod the Gentiles joined forces with them and thus forming the fourth beast. And they were on their way to Calvary.
"It (That fourth Beast) was dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly:
Anyone that has read the four Gospels understands why it was said to be dreadful and terrible.
And it had ten horns."
Biblically speaking the horns are representative of strength. This is born out in Deuteronomy 33:17 and elsewhere. Therefore this fourth beast drew its extraordinary strength from the governing forces in Jerusalem. The Jews had the law of commandments, thus the ten horns. While the Gentiles were the heads of state and together they were the governing forces in Jerusalem at that time. The beast gained extra strength when the Jews disregarded the (God given commandments) and shaped the law to fit their own twisted ideas.
One confronted them on that matter. He told them: "… Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." (Jesus' own words) Mark 7:9
"And it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it."
That description fits what The Lord God said of the king of Babylon. He said: "Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out." Jeremiah 51:34
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Though King Nebuchadnezzar wasn’t there in person he was there in principle and spirit.
The Revelator described the fourth beast as having seven heads and ten horns. Those heads were: The Pharisees, Sedducees, priests, scribes, Caesar Augusta, and Pilate then last of all Herod the king for he was the seven head of that fourth beast.
"And upon his heads the name of blasphemy."
It was blasphemous because its sole purpose was to destroy Jesus. Thus making it a blasphemer and anti-Christ.
Daniel said: "I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things." Daniel 7:8
“Behold there came up among them (the ten horns) another little horn.”
That certain horn appeared as being little because it was subordinate to the law of the Ten Commandments. Although it answered to the law, yet, it was powerful through its own God given authority because it was the Levitical high priest that year.
Daniel described the little horn that "came up" among the Ten Horns, He said: “Behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” The reason it had eyes like a man and spoke great thing was because he was the man Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the High Priest on the year of the crucifixion. And he served as their mouthpiece. Therefore it was Caiaphas that "had a mouth speaking great things." The great things spoken by Caiaphas were against Jesus, the Most High God.
Daniel prophesied: "He shall speak great words against the most High."
Daniel 7:25
And so he did. John wrote: "And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, [50] Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. [51] And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation." John 11:48-51
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"Before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots."
That reference was to the violent mob that "plucked up" (which is to say)
disregarded three of the Ten Commandments in order to justify putting Jesus to death.
First, they killed an innocent man. The commandment said: "Thou shalt not kill."
Another commandment they plucked up by the roots was: "Thou shalt not bear false witness." John wrote, "And the chief priests and all the council sought for witnesses … And there arose certain, and bare false witness against
him, saying, [58] We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands."
Mark 14:55-58
The third commandment that they plucked up was: "Thou shalt not covet."
They coveted Jesus' following. John said, "The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? Behold, the world is gone after him." John 12:19
"As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time." Daniel 7:12
The way I read this is: The men that held offices in Moses’ seat and the Levitical priesthood had their God given authority taken away from them when they killed Jesus. His sacrificial death brought the law covenant to an end. Then He assumed His throne as King and High Priest in Heaven.
"Yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time."
Though the Levitical priesthood and the seats of Moses officially ended along with the law covenant, the lives of the men who held those offices were allowed to live out their natural lives.
Now, “we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. [15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:14-15
Amen and Amen!
THE SEALS
(The Introductory)
June 18, 2001
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I believe the four Gospels, (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) holds the doctrine of the first-four seals in the same order that the books appear in the New Testament.
In other words, Matthew summons us to "come and see" the Lamb open the first seal. Mark the second etc..
Before we were saved the law had us incarcerated, and sealed up with seven seals, and in order to open the book, all seven seals had to be loosed. Then the question arose: "Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?" Revelation 5:2b
The Revelator said: "And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. [5] And one of the elders saith unto me, weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." Revelation 5:4-5
Yea, Jesus voluntarily took on the gruesome task of opening the seals.
After the question was ask: ”… Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Jesus answered; “Here am I, send me."
Isaiah 6:8
"And he came and took the book from the right hand of him that sat upon the throne." Revelation 5:7
John said that, "The hand writing that was against us" was presented to Jesus in the form of a book.
He wrote: "And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. [2] And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?" Revelation 5:1-2
AMEN!
THE FIRST SEAL
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John said: "And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, come and see. Revelation 6:1
The First summons to: "come and see, came from the Gospel of Matthew.
The Revelator wrote: "when the Lamb opened one of the seals I heard, as it were the noise of thunder." Revelation 6:1
At Jesus’ baptism the Heavenly Father said: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:16-17
Some thought that it had thundered. Thus, when His thunderous voice sounded as though it were the noise of thunder, that identified the time that Jesus launched His campaign that ended with the first seal opened.
Matthew said that immediately after His Baptism, "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil." Matthew 4:1
David described the weapons of war wherewith our Savior would be equipped when He took on the Devil.
He wrote: "Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee forever. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee. Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre." Psalm 45:2-6
After Jesus' battle with the Devil, and Satan (Both were named in thtt confutation) Matthew 410 and 11
Matthew said: "Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him". Matthew 4:11
(Thus the Lamb had succeeded to open the first seal) Amen!
THE SECOND SEAL
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Mark being the second Gospel he holds the doctrine to the second seal.
Even as we associated God’s thunderous voice with the opening of the first seal. We are looking for other omens to identify the opening of the remaining six seals.
John wrote: "And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth."
Revelation 6:3-4
And take peace from the earth he did for prior to Jesus healing the man with the withered hand, things were relatively quiet in and around Jerusalem.
That miracle upset the Pharisees (they said) because He healed the leper on the Sabbath. Mark recorded the turmoil that followed.
He wrote: “The Pharisees went forth and took counsel with the Herodians against Jesus, how they might destroy him.” Mark 3:6
"And there went out another horse that was red."
Those distraught wicked Pharisees and the Herodians, were the men whom John described (metaphorically) as the red horse. The mount on the red horse was the devil.
John continued: "And power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth." And take peace from the earth he did.
The Devil spurred the spirits of these wicked men to violence that was not seen in and around Jerusalem for some time. From that day on, no peace was to be had in the City of David as long as Jesus was alive.
“And there was given unto him a great sword.” Here is Mark’s account of Jesus’ betrayal. He said: “And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with SWORDS and staves, from the chief priest and the scribes and the elders.” Mark 14:43 (Thus the great sword the Devil was given.)
May God Be Glorified Forever.
AMEN!
THE THIRD SEAL
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“And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.” Mark 14:53
The Lamb opened the Second seal when He healed the man with the withered hand. Jesus ended it with His surrender into wicked hands.
The second seal ended when Jesus surrendered Himself into wicked hands that were armed with swords and staves.
John continued his saga with, "And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see, and I beheld and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand." Revelation 6:5
Luke is the third book in the Gospel series. It was he that gave the account on the scales of justice. John said: "I beheld, and lo a black horse." Revelation 6:5
The black horse, in this third seal represented the people in whose hands, were the scales of justice. However, by choice, they chose to use them wrongfully. With those balances, Israel and the Gentiles committed the most miscarriages of justice ever delegated.
Since Luke was the only writer to record the following; it distinguishes his Gospel from the other three, thus identifying him as the third beast to say, "Come and see."
When Jesus was delivered up to Pilate, Pilate asked Him: “Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man was Galilaean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.” Luke 23:3-8
This third seal was opened when evil men took Jesus into custody. It ended with Him being falsely judged and convicted as a blasphemer. His sentence: death, by the cross.
May the Good Lord Bless you all.
Amen!
THE FOURTH SEAL
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John the Revelator wrote: "And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the forth beast say, Come and see. And I looked and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed…"
Revelation 6: 7-8
The Gospel of John is the fourth and last book of the Gospel series, thus he is the fourth beast. And it was John that bade us “Come and see.”
He said: “And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed…” Revelation 6:8
“His name that sat on him was Death.”
Jesus was the pale Horse; death had been pronounced upon Him, thus death was his rider. Then John added: ”And Hell followed” (Jesus’ death) this reference was to His descent into the lower parts of the earth.
Paul said: “(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?” Ephesians 4:9
Another thing that makes this thought applaudable is that John beckoned us to "come and see” for it was John and Peter that witnessed Jesus’ trial and crucifixion. John at close range, and Peter at a distance.
John confirmed that fact He wrote: "And Simon Peter followed Jesus and so did another disciple: that disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest." John 18:15
Here is John's eyewitness account that sets his Gospel apart from the other three.
He wrote: "Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.”
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John the Revelator said: "And I looked and behold a pale horse." Revelation 6:8
I believe that Jesus (himself) was the pale horse. John called the rider of the pale horse, death. He wrote: "And his name that sat on him (the pale horse) was Death."
According to Strong's concordance, "pale" (in the sense of the pale horse) means a greenish pale. Jesus' paleness (in all probability) came from His loss of blood.
Question: isn't the skin of those that has been drained of their blood, pale green in their appearance?
John said: “One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." John 19:34
Hell followed the death of Jesus. That reference was to Jesus' descent into the heart of the earth. The doctrine on the fourth seal ended with His death and the shedding of His blood for our redemption. AMEN!
Paradise and Hell
For the purpose of understanding where Jesus was after His descent into the lower part of the earth, allow that during the Old Testament, Paradise and Hell were both in the heart of the earth. Both were called Hell. Scriptural? You bet!
Peter preached that the prophecy of David was fulfill in Jesus Christ's Resurrection, he said: "Seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell." Acts 2:31
Yea, the soul of Jesus was in Hell while his body was in the tomb.
Here is that prophecy. He said: "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." Psalm 16:10
From the time of His death until His Resurrection, Jesus’ body was in the tomb while His soul was in heart of the earth. He wasn’t with the Father during the three days that He was in the heart of the earth, for on the third day He said to Mary: "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father." John 20:17
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Remember? Jesus taught that, "As Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Matthew 12:40
That (in turn) meant that Jesus and His new convert went to the Paradise section of hell, wherein Lazarus was comforted and the rich man saw them afar off, as he suffered the flames.
The prophets are a tremendous help on this subject, both Isaiah and David taught that the heart of the earth was a place of rejoicing as well as a place of retribution.
First: Isaiah said that it was a place of rejoicing. He encouraged, "Sing O ye heavens for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing” Isaiah 44:22
Second: As he adored his Lord, the Sweet Psalmist declared it to be a place of retribution. He said, "My soul followeth hard after thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me, But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth." Psalms 63
Yes, hell was in the heart of the earth and it was the place where GOD sent the souls of the dead, during the Old Testament, both saint and sinner alike.
Jesus didn't leave the souls of the blessed in Paradise, neither did He leave the souls of the dammed in the heart of the earth. Paul said, "When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive… "Ephesians 4:8
He took his saints to Heaven and the sinners were thrust into the lake of fire.
May God Bless.
AMEN!
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