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Christianity Today, March (Web-only), 2008 |

Speaking Out

Going Down to She'ol

Is death a place?

Rajkumar Boaz Johnson | posted 3/27/2008 08:42AM

Many Christians pass over the word She'ol in the Bible without realizing what they're reading. Do we nag our children with, "You are bringing my gray head down to She'ol?" What would we tell someone who ...

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Ephrem Hagos

Posted: April 03, 2008 6:26 AM

In view of the final and complete unfolding of the fulfillment of the "new covenant" (Jer. 31: 31-34; Matt. 26: 26-29) and the great defining moment of "I AM" in Jesus Christ (John 8: 24-28), repeated in John 16:32, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me" should be punctuated with an exclamation mark (!) but not a question mark (?) to reflect more faithfully Jesus' comment on the complete unbelief surrounding Him at His crucifixion and death then and now --a crucifixion and death executed exactly as prescribed in John 10: 17-18!!!!! To write "his distance from God was agonizing ..." is no different from "God forbid it, Lord! That must never happen to you!" --Peter's words of opposition sharply rebuked by Jesus! We had better be aware of the huge difference between the thoughts of God and man (Matt. 16: 22-23)!

Mart	Posted: March 28, 2008 12:42 PM

Sheol is the grave, the realm of the dead. Every person goes to sheol, the grave, when they die. On the resurrection day when Jesus returns to this world according to His promise (John 14: 1-3 and 1Thessalonians 4:13-17) God will bring to life those who have accepted His offer of salvation, the righteous. Then, they will never more die. Those who did not accept salvation, the wicked, will remain in the grave, sheol, until the 1000 years are finished and they will be resurrected (Revelation 20:5) to be completely destroyed in Gehenna, a place of utter destruction (2Pt.2:4-10 and Revelation 20:14-15).

Banner Kidd

Posted: March 28, 2008 8:31 AM

Meditating on Torah of Psalm One is a very key element to this writing. The temple that has always been the focus of Messiah is the one not built with human hands, but still a temple. We are the temple of the Almighty, according to Paul. So longing to be in the temple, and being in the temple, for professing followers of Yeshua is still found in meditating on Torah. The focus has shifted for men from the physical temple built according to the pattern given to the reality that HE is the temple and we are in HIM and HE is in us; we are the temple of Elohim. The Torah that establishes this is still valid and in order to clearly understand and to live - abide in this place built by Elohim we must still meditate on Torah - The Word of Elohim. Blessed be the Name of the LORD - Yahweh! This with the understanding from the Psalm that HE esteems HIS Word above HIS name. Why? Because it defines HIM. Apart from this definition and pattern given we won't know HIM for who HE is!

jim	Posted: March 28, 2008 8:19 AM

Interesting article but Sheol is never clearly defined. And the orginal question "Is Sheol a place?" is never answered. Sheol is a Hebrew term and as far as I know has no equivalence in NT Greek. You wrote "She'ol,(a place) where the face of God is the bleakest," And "if the wicked could drag the Messiah into She'ol, they can do the same to his followers."? I'm confused about whether Sheol is a physical place or psychological attitude.

endless pleasure

Posted: March 28, 2008 5:54 AM


We can forsake God by seeking endless pleasure. Our view of the "joy of heaven" should be same as the "joy" which Paul had even when he lacked comforts. Our view of heaven is skewed when we see it a a perpetual delight instead of a place of maturity and kindness and uprightness.

Esther

Posted: March 27, 2008 2:46 PM


Wish I had the bases covered with my name like Rajkumar Boaz Johnson does! Is he an Indian Christian, a Hebrew Christian or an American from one of those backgrounds? I am joking, of course. I am happy to know someone by those names understands like he does.

MDub	Posted: March 27, 2008 1:19 PM


Great article as Dr. Johnson provides great biblical insight into the issue of forsakenness and bleakness that all of us are susceptible to. In our idealistic notions of a righteous life we often miss the practical nature of the Bible.

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