Heaven and Hell; Life and Death

Heaven and Hell exist:

1. Above

2. Below

3. and on Earth

How do I know this? God rescued me with His powerful arm from the Spiritual hell I was living in when I Repented and rejected my life and this world; I couldn't bare its torture anymore, so I called to the Almighty God.

Now, I know the difference; it is night and day! And since I have received the Holy Spirit into my heart, which cannot be imagined, missed, or faked, He is the one who teaches me. "Physical" Location It is not physical in the likeness of our 3D world. Hebrews 9:24 "For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf."

• Jesus Christ had to die physically in the body to be able to do that. However, His body did not stay buried but transformed at His resurrection.

Luke 16:19-24 "Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. “Finally, the poor man died and WAS CARRIED BY THE ANGELS to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried, and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’"

• This verse makes it clear, that it's the same with everyone else. Neither location is accessible to human flesh. Both Heaven above and Hell below are Spiritual in nature. Only after both men died physically, their spirits were taken. Unlike Jesus, human bodies stay buried. (there are some exceptions to prophets who were taken up, which is extremely rare)

• they both "lived on" in their spirit, and they can still sense and feel as if they were in their human bodies; the poor man enjoyed banquet food in good company and the rich man is in painful fiery torment

• Can they communicate this way? No, it's a parable to teach about the consequences of wickedness and their regrets and give us clues about the only two outcomes available

• Luke 16:26 "And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’" (This means; sin has no place in Heaven, and holiness has no place in Hell)

All dead flesh remains buried Ecclesiastes 3:20 "Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust." Ecclesiastes 12:5-7 "Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral. Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it." Dead will rise to live again John 5:28-29 "Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when ALL THE DEAD in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will RISE AGAIN. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment."

• This means that departed Souls will return to their physical body

John 3:18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son." Revelation 20:5 "This is the first resurrection. The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years." Those who died in the Lord Holy; Had Faith, Repented, and did good works in the Spirit Malachi 3:17-18 “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 "We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words."

• Revelation 20:4 "Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years."

Those who died as sinners, but fear the Lord Blessed; Lukewarm believers; who did not receive the Holy Spirit, which leads to good works. However, not every sin leads to death; they will go through testing and purification in Fire 1 Corinthians 15:36–38 "What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed."

Those who pass the testing; Zechariah 13:9 "I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” Malachi 3:3 "He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. Then once more the Lord will accept the offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, AS HE DID IN THE PAST." Those who died being evil

Deadly sin Malachi 3:5 “At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies." Malachi 3:14-15 “You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins? From now on we will call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.’” Zachariah 14:12 "And the Lord will send a plague on all the nations that fought against Jerusalem. Their people will become like walking corpses, their flesh rotting away. Their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths." This will continue for the next 1000 years, until the Final Judgment. Heaven Above Temporary and Spiritual until Judgment Day. Psalm 123:1 "I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven." The Star of David is where Heaven is "located"; Sirius Constellation. Sirius Star, also known as the Lion’s Gate; is the brightest star in the sky (25x brighter than the sun)

• John 14:6-7 "Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

It's the star that led the three kings to the place where Jesus was born as a baby. JESUS CHRIST IS THAT STAR. (The Narrow Gate) Numbers 24:17 "I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A STAR will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the heads of Moab’s people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth." Matthew 2:1-2 "Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his STAR as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:9-10 "After this interview the wise men went their way. And the STAR they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the STAR, they were filled with joy!" Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning STAR.” Heavens as Dwelling Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

• Heaven (a House) and Heavens (rooms in the House)

Genesis 1:6 "Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.”

• This means that there are waters in the heavens. When God flooded the earth during Noah's time, He opened the floodgates in Heaven.

Deuteronomy 4:19 "And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don’t be seduced into worshiping them. The Lord your God gave them to all the peoples of the earth."

• Deuteronomy 17:3 "For instance, they might serve other gods or worship the sun, the moon, or any of the stars—the forces of heaven—which I have strictly forbidden."

• Judges 5:20 "The stars fought from heaven. The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera."

Deuteronomy 32:8 "When the Most High assigned lands to the nations, when he divided up the human race, he established the boundaries of the peoples according to the number in his heavenly court."

• meaning; by the number of "sons of God;" they are the fallen angels who rule on earth, who have already been judged for their disobedience, and their "dwelling" in the heavenly court will be destroyed

• the reason why they are called "Fallen" is because they have no option for repentance. No option to go back to their original positions assigned to them by God. They have "fallen" when they lusted after women and defiled their holiness by having intercourse with them; all people are sinners, so their holiness turned to wickedness

• Psalm 82:1-8 "God presides over heaven’s court; he pronounces JUDGMENT ON THE HEAVENLY BEINGS: “How long will you hand down unjust decisions by favoring the wicked? “Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people. But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core. I say, ‘You are gods; you are all children of the Most High. But you will die like mere mortals and fall like every other ruler.’” Rise up, O God, and judge the earth, for all the nations belong to you."

• John 16:11 “Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.”

• when God mentioned "other gods" in Deuteronomy 17:3, He meant the evil spirits and any other spirits that are in the heavens; they are under the authority of the one and Only God Almighty; no one is above God

2 Peter 3:7 "And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed."

• Revelation 6:14 "The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places."

Revelation 9:1 "Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a STAR that had fallen to earth from the sky, and HE was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit."

• Luke 17:24 "For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man comes."

Revelation 2:26-28 "To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, To them I will give authority over all the nations. They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning STAR!"

• Revelation 21:3 "I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them."

• Zechariah 6:13 "Yes, he will build the Temple of the Lord. Then he will receive royal honor and will rule as king from his throne. He will also serve as priest from his throne, and there will be perfect harmony between his two roles.’"

2 Peter 3:13 "But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness." Hell Below Temporary and Spiritual until Judgment Day. The bottomless pit. Also called the Grave and Sheol.

The difference: The Bible makes reference to the Grave as Sheol (Hell) when it speaks of condemnation.

When it's only mentioned as physical burial, there is no reference. For example:

As condemnation: 2 Samuel 22:6 "The grave[a] wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path."

• the [a] next to the word grave is that reference. The reference will say "Hebrew to Sheol." This verse is about David giving glory to God for saving him from condemnation

As physical burial: Judges 8:32 "Gideon died when he was very old, and he was buried in the grave of his father, Joash, at Ophrah in the land of the clan of Abiezer."

• no reference; it's only funeral

1 Samuel 2:6 "The Lord gives both death and life; he brings some down to the grave but raises others up." Matthew 7:13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way." Luke 8:31 "The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit."

• even demons don't want to go there; think about it. (which also means that they are on Earth)

Numbers 16:30-35 30 "But if the Lord does something entirely new and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them and all their belongings, and they go down alive into the grave,[a] then you will know that these men have shown contempt for the Lord.” 31 He had hardly finished speaking the words when the ground suddenly split open beneath them. 32 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the men, along with their households and all their followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned. 33 So they went down alive into the grave, along with all their belongings. The earth closed over them, and they all vanished from among the people of Israel. 34 All the people around them fled when they heard their screams. “The earth will swallow us, too!” they cried. 35 Then fire blazed forth from the Lord and burned up the 250 men who were offering incense."

• In verse 30; God condemned them for rebellion to Hell,

• In verse 33; their bodies were buried underground

• Those were some of the people who were rescued from the slavery of Egypt! Numbers 16:13-14 "Isn’t it enough that you brought us out of Egypt, a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us here in this wilderness, and that you now treat us like your subjects? What’s more, you haven’t brought us into another land flowing with milk and honey. You haven’t given us a new homeland with fields and vineyards. Are you trying to fool these men? We will not come.” (Their wish came true)

Revelation 20:1-3 "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while." Permanent Hell; The Lake of Fire

• This will take place after the 1000 years reign and the Final Judgment.

• Both; Spiritual and Physical.

• The Lake of Fire is the sun.

Matthew 10:28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy BOTH SOUL AND BODY in hell." Ezekiel 8:16-18 "Then he brought me into the inner courtyard of the Lord’s Temple. At the entrance to the sanctuary, between the entry room and the bronze altar, there were about twenty-five men with their backs to the sanctuary of the Lord. They were facing east, bowing low to the ground, worshiping the sun! “Have you seen this, son of man?” he asked. “Is it nothing to the people of Judah that they commit these detestable sins, leading the whole nation into violence, thumbing their noses at me, and provoking my anger? Therefore, I will respond in fury. I will neither pity nor spare them. And though they cry for mercy, I will not listen.”

• 2 Corinthians 11:14 "But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light."

• Isaiah 14:12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world."

• Job 31:26-28 "Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies, or the moon walking down its silver pathway, and been secretly enticed in my heart to throw kisses at them in worship? If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven."

Revelation 13:12-13 "He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and its people to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching." Malachi 4:1-3 "The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all. “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies."

Matthew 25:41-43 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into THE ETERNAL FIRE prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’" Revelation 20:7-10 "When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into THE FIERY LAKE of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." Revelation 21:8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in THE FIERY LAKE of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 20:11-15 The Final Judgment "And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave[b] gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire." Spiritual Realms on Earth Now Deuteronomy 4:39 “So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: THE LORD IS GOD BOTH IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH, and there is no other."

• Luke 17:20-21 "One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you."

• Spiritual reality is invisible.

Satan took over authority as the ruler of the Earth by deceiving Adam and Eve; all people are born under his authority as well. All are born sinners.

• Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."

• This means that all are born into Spiritual Death; which also means spiritual hell

The only person born without sin in a human body is Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

• 1 Peter 2:22 "He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone."

LIVING IN SIN; means Death; DARKNESS TURNING FROM SIN; means Life; THE LIGHT 2 Corinthians 4:4 "Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious LIGHT of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God." THE LIGHT John 1:5 "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." John 1:8-9 "John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one WHO IS THE TRUE LIGHT, WHO GIVES LIGHT to everyone, was coming into the world." John 12:8-19 "Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I AM THE LIGHT of the world. If you follow me, YOU WON'T HAVE TO WALK IN DARKNESS, because you will have the LIGHT that leads to life.” The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.”

• John 8:23-24 "Jesus continued, “You are FROM BELOW, I am FROM ABOVE. You belong to this world; I do not. That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”

• which means; if they never repent and turn to God, they will die under the authority of Satan, which they were born into

Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.” “Where is your father?” they asked. Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I AM, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.”

• John 8:57-59 "The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am!” At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple."

Jesus Christ defeated Satan's authority by dying on the cross and rising to LIFE in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18 "Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life IN THE SPIRIT."

• His physical body transformed into a Spiritual body that is eternal and will never die. Death has no power over Him.

John 14:26 "But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will TEACH YOU everything and will remind you of everything I have told you."

• Matthew 23:10 "And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah."

Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, but God is in both Heaven and on Earth. This means the Spirit of Jesus Christ speaks through His chosen people; those He called to repentance and the ministry of spreading the Good News and giving them His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus Christ. It's not a separate entity. God is all Three in One; God above, the Holy Spirit, and the human body. Those who receive the Holy Spirit, belong to God, and their bodies are the Temple of God. John 17:3-6 "And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word." Romans 8:9 "But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all." John 17:9-26 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory.

• Keep in mind; they bring glory to God, not themselves. They do not call themselves by His name

Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I WILL BE IN THEM.” Isaiah 66:1-16 "This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Could you build me such a resting place? My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken! “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word. But those who choose their own ways—delighting in their detestable sins—will not have their offerings accepted. When such people sacrifice a bull, it is no more acceptable than a human sacrifice. When they sacrifice a lamb, it’s as though they had sacrificed a dog! When they bring an offering of grain, they might as well offer the blood of a pig. When they burn frankincense, it’s as if they had blessed an idol. I will send them great trouble—all the things they feared. For when I called, they did not answer. When I spoke, they did not listen. They deliberately sinned before my very eyes and chose to do what they know I despise.” Hear this message from the Lord, all you who tremble at his words: “Your own people hate you and throw you out for being loyal to my name. ‘Let the Lord be honored!’ they scoff. ‘Be joyful in him!’ But they will be put to shame. What is all the commotion in the city? What is that terrible noise from the Temple? It is the voice of the Lord taking vengeance against his enemies. “Before the birth pains even begin, Jerusalem gives birth to a son. Who has ever seen anything as strange as this? Who ever heard of such a thing? Has a nation ever been born in a single day? Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment? But by the time Jerusalem’s birth pains begin, her children will be born. Would I ever bring this nation to the point of birth and then not deliver it?” asks the Lord. “No! I would never keep this nation from being born,” says your God."

John 12:36 "Put your trust in THE LIGHT while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them." John 3:20 "ALL WHO DO EVIL HATE THE LIGHT AND REFUSE TO GO NEAR IT FOR FEAR THEIR SINS WILL BE EXPOSED." However, they are already exposed, only they aren't aware of it yet.

• Psalm 139:11-12 "I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you."

• Job 12:22 "He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness; he brings light to the deepest gloom."

• Job 34:22 "No darkness is thick enough to hide the wicked from his eyes."

THE DARKNESS Belonging to Satan. Isaiah 45:7 "I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things." 1 Samuel 2:9 “He will protect his faithful ones, but the wicked will disappear in darkness. No one will succeed by strength alone." Psalm 105:28 "The Lord blanketed Egypt in darkness, for they had defied his commands to let his people go." Matthew 8:28-31 "When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They came out of the tombs and were so violent that no one could go through that area. They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?” There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”

• some demons are in hell, and others are on earth, torturing people; either way, they have to obey God

Matthew 9:32-34 "When they left, a demon-possessed man who couldn’t speak was brought to Jesus. So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!” they exclaimed. But the Pharisees said, “He can cast out demons because he is empowered by the prince of demons.”

• Pharisees blasphemed the Holy Spirit

Matthew 12:28-29 "But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house. Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven."

• Matthew 10:25 "Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names!"

1 Corinthians 10:19-21 "What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too." Romans 7:7-13 "Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” But SIN USED THIS COMMAND TO AROUSE ALL KINDS OF COVETOUS DESIRES WITHIN ME! IF THERE WAS NO LAW, SIN WOULD NOT HAVE THAT POWER. At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, and I DIED. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, BROUGHT SPIRITUAL DEATH instead. Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good. But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes."

• in other words; unless a person kills their sinful nature in repentance, they will always be enticed to break the law. Sinful nature is unable to obey the law. A person with the Holy Spirit is unable to break the law.

James 3:13-18 "If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are EARTHLY, unspiritual, and DEMONIC. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and EVIL OF EVERY KIND. But the WISDOM FROM ABOVE IS FIRST OF ALL PURE. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness." 1 Timothy 5:5-7 "Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help. But the widow who lives only for pleasure is SPIRITUALLY DEAD EVEN WHILE SHE LIVES. Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism." Ephesians 6:10-12 "A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the UNSEEN WORLD, against mighty powers IN THIS DARK WORLD, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." Matthew 8:21-22 "Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead." The Heart Directs Romans 9:14–24 "Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen. Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?” No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. And we are among those whom he selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles."

• There is nothing we can “do” with our hands in the physical sense, to obtain God's mercy. It’s about the state of our hearts; our spirit. God shows mercy to those with broken and repentant hearts.

Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” Joel 2:13 “Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.” Ezekiel 11:19-21 "And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those who long for vile images and detestable idols, I will repay them fully for their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” Turning from Death to Life John 5:24-27 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from DEATH TO LIFE. “And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. AND THOSE WHO LISTEN WILL LIVE. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same LIFE-GIVING POWER to his Son. And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man."

• The "dead" in this passage includes all who are "spiritually dead;" it's about Repentance

Ephesians 2:1-7 "ONCE YOU WERE DEAD BECAUSE OF YOUR DISOBEDIENCE AND YOUR MANY SINS. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, OBEYING THE DEVIL—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. HE IS THE SPIRIT AT WORK IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO REFUSE TO OBEY GOD. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that EVEN THOUGH WE WERE DEAD BECAUSE OF OUR SINS, HE GAVE US LIFE when he raised Christ from the dead. It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved! For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus." Putting on New Clothes (Repentance) Zechariah 3:3-8 "Jeshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel. So the angel said to the others standing there, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And turning to Jeshua he said, “SEE, I HAVE TAKEN AWAY YOUR SINS, AND NOW I AM GIVING YOU THESE FINE NEW CLOTHES." Then I said, “They should also place a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean priestly turban on his head and dressed him in new clothes while the angel of the Lord stood by. Then the angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Jeshua and said, “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here. “Listen to me, O Jeshua the high priest, and all you other priests. You are symbols of things to come. Soon I am going to bring my servant, the Branch." Genesis 35:1-5 Jacob’s Return to Bethel "Then God said to Jacob, “Get ready and move to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother, Esau.” So Jacob told everyone in his household, “GET RID OF ALL YOUR PAGAN IDOLS, PURIFY YOURSELVES, and PUT ON CLEAN CLOTHING. We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.” So they gave Jacob all their pagan idols and earrings, and he buried them under the great tree near Shechem. As they set out, a terror from God spread over the people in all the towns of that area, so no one attacked Jacob’s family." Galatians 3:26-27 "And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on NEW CLOTHES." Revelation 16:15 “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their CLOTHING READY so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”

• naked and shamed = IN SIN. Genesis 3:9-11 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” "He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”

1 Thessalonians 5:4-9 "But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of THE LIGHT and of the day; we don’t belong to DARKNESS and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let US WHO LIVE IN THE LIGHT be clearheaded, protected by the armor of FAITH AND LOVE, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us."