We Know The Story

"the Truth that He has the keys now removes any power struggle"

HELL IS GOD’S, so we must be wrong about it. Just today, I saw a post by a wonderful minister, remarking on the movements of hell. Everything about it was wrong, except the heart of the writer and belief in God’s control.

How can I say it’s God’s … because He is the Creator of all things. Satan has created nothing, not a kingdom, not a throne. He has no authority now and, in fact, is rendered useless (“destroyed”, Hebrews 2:14). Knowing God’s character then, hell is a place of extreme regret and lack of repentance. Of the Hebrew word “repentance”, a Jewish teacher said he prefers to say “return” instead. For repentance is a return to God. “Just come back to Him.” We know from the parable Jesus told, of the rich man and the poor man, Lazarus, that there is none there. The rich man did not treat the poor man any better, seeking only his fingertip, despite his own torment. This was still an insult.

Jesus has the keys to death, hell, and the grave (Revelation 1:18). Not because God didn’t have them and had to regain them, but because He is King of Kings, the highest name (Ephesians 1:21). Even if you disagree with me about portions of this post, the Truth that He has the keys now removes any power struggle we’ve concocted. James 1:13 says there is no evil in God. Evil is the absence of God. And evil begets more evil, until the soul and spirit man are consumed. It takes complete evil in a man or a spiritual being for it to be taken to hell, and yet, there is a greater truth we can glimpse.

“He ordered us to warn the people, ‘God has appointed Jesus to judge the living and the dead.’” (Acts 10:42 GW)

God is good and doeth good (Psalm 119:68). He is justice, what older translations call “Judge.” Where sin is gloated in, there is judgment. Jesus preached to the fallen spirits in the prison of hell (1 Peter 3:19). The word “preached” there means to proclaim with authority which must be obeyed. It implies to publish something which has been done. So Jesus, in death, in the depths of hell that belongs to God, told them SOMETHING WHICH HAD BEEN DONE and His authority demanded obedience. We know the story. This takes away the torture of Jesus, pictured by the church, which didn’t happen because hell is God’s, and Jesus is Christ, the Anointed One; and the anointing is the Holy Spirit who cannot die.

We’re best to stop rearranging the Scriptures to fit our lack of understanding. And stay in a position of humility, even with what we’re sure of, always preferring God’s Voice. And knowing the Word, which only comes through study IN THE SPIRIT. He is the Teacher of the church. He is the wisdom of the Jews. He is the power that lifted up and carried off all sin (Isaiah 53:4) then raised Jesus from physical death.

In that same parable of the rich man and the poor man, Lazarus, Abraham said no one could cross the gulf between them (Luke 16:26). No one, that is, but the One who told the story, and He would do so as the Lamb of God, who fulfilled Israel’s covenant and wrote another, for those born outside of it. The blood that cleanses sin, our sins and Israel’s sins, made Him King. It was as the King of Kings that Jesus held and holds the keys. For only God decides now, who goes where, and He’s made His heart very clear.

John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”


----------
Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com