Hell

[Johanabrahams]

We all entered "hell" when Adam sinned.  Where "hell" don't just exists some day in the afterlife to be feared.  It is already here.  Adam had to go out in the world and create His own life in sweat and Eve had to get birth in pain.  All living by the tree of knowledge in intellect.  Where we all suffer in being good and evil.  And of course it gets worse by our own tongues. 

 

James 3:  3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
  4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
  5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
  6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
  7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
  8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
  9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

And then you get those Disciplining and Rebuking in the Power of Hell which they heap on the heads of the "disobedient".

Rom. 12:

 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
  15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
  16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
  17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
  18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
  19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
  20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
  21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. 
 

And of course this will not stop in the afterlife but manifests in Greater Proportions. 

And God's Kids are all saved from it.  We enter eating The Tree of Life which is Jesus and we enter in Jesus in the Heavenly Life of God's Kingdom.  Where we Live as Conquerors now on earth and also in the afterlife in the Total Spiritual Realm of God.

[Locust]

hell is nothing more than the grave where the dead are put  

[BlindSeeker]

On 1/10/2025 at 3:37 PM, Cyoder said:

I can't wrap my mind around how a just and forgiving God can sentence you to literally burning alive for eternity.  So, your average soccer mom that doesn't believe is going to burn for eternity?  How is that just in any possible way?  I don't know if any human who has ever lived deserves that kind of torture.  God controls and knows everything.  This wouldn't bother him?  Knowing the unending suffering of his creation.  Think about that.  God would know, every second of eternity that billions of people are burning in fire.  I can't imagine anything more terrible.  It doesn't seem logical to me.  Being denied eternal life would seem much more humane than eternal torture. 

I know. But remember, God "inhabits eternity." Every moment for His is an eternal-now, since He is everywhere all through time at the same time, just as he is omnipresent.

Isa 57:15 - For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity...

I think another reason people fail to understand all this is because they have little or no understanding or grasp of the holiness of God. However, it is impossible even for the Spirit of Truth to lead someone when they are comfortable with staying where they are and satisfied with what they have. All because they simply do not understand sin and judgment.

I have explained it this way to my kids and people at rehabs to which I have ministered-

Let’s say I was invited over to someone’s house for barbecue, and was sitting in an inexpensive PVC lawn chair. While sitting there, after I finished eating, I took out my pocketknife and I carved my initials into the arm of the chair. The owner sees me and comes over upset and asks, “What are you doing!?!” I tell him to relax, it’s no big deal, but he is still upset, getting angrier. So I tell him, “Don’t worry, good grief! I’ll buy you another cheap $10 chair, just get over it.”

When it was time to leave, I got into the friend’s car I came with and on the way home I take out my pocketknife and again cut my initials, this time into his car seat. My friend totally freaks out, but hey, all I did was the same thing, I simply carved my initials.

Now let’s say somehow, I managed to get into the Oval Office at the White House and I carved my initials into the president’s chair, now I am in big trouble . . . but still, all I done is carve my initials in another seat. See a little difference here? Now remember all sin is against God and His authority. You might as well carve your initials in His throne.

Now think for a minute about King David when he attempted to hide his sin with Uriah’s wife Bathsheba. He literally gave Uriah his own execution orders to carry back to general Joab telling him to “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire you from him, that he may be smitten, and die.”

Now mind you, it wasn’t just Uriah who died there, for other “men of the city [who] went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.” Many men died that day because of Davis’s attempt to hide his sin. However, David had only compounded his sins, heaping many on top of the one.

Had David not excused himself from his obligation to go and led his men when “the time when kings go forth to battle,” he would have it would not have only led him away from unseen temptation, it would have delivered him from evil as well. But David trusted in his righteousness and somehow justified his staying at home. Simply put, David was in the wrong place when he looked upon another man’s wife and lusted. Then David allowed that lust to conceive and sin revived.

James 1:15 Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin. And sin, when it is fully formed, brings forth death.

And so it happened, David sinned bitterly against Bathsheba. But consider this, Bathsheba’s husband was such a man of integrity, he would not go home and lay with her while his brothers were in battle. What a contrast to the depths David had fallen.3

2 Samuel 11:11 And Uriah said to David, The ark and Israel and Judah abide in tents. And my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are camped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.

Do you think Bathsheba was a willing participant or one who was intimidated by a king? But then David adds insult to injury when he has her husband Uriah killed, but not only him but several fellow soldiers as well.” David’s sins keep adding up, because all these men were someone’s son, father or brother. David sins were multiplied because he sinned against all their families by having their family members killed to hide his sin. His sins were compounded over and over again.

But listen to David’s prayer after he repents when the Prophet Nathan confronted him –

Psalm 51:4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done evil in Your sight; that You might be justified when You speak, and be clear when You judge.

What? Did David forget about all his sins against everyone else? They were real, and certain to be numbered. But even though they may all be as the stars of the Milky Way, perhaps too innumerable to count, they are all still obligated to disappear in the presence of the Son. For all David’s sins go back to his failure to walk holy before an infinite and holy God. Sins against other men fade in light of God’s holiness, as David realizes his transgression was against God in every sense; it was as if he snuck into the heavenlies and carved his initials in the throne of God. If God is infinite, then the scales of righteous justice demand that the punishment for sins against Him be infinite as well.

We must never forget, we must be holy for God is holy, for He has commanded it of His people. Therefore, we are to be perfecting holiness in the fear of God, for without holiness no man shall see God. To do so, we must discern the difference between something being holy simply because it is given to God; like an inanimate object being made holy when given to God.

However, we are not inanimate objects which cannot answer a call to be holy; we are quickened spirits who must be holy for God is holy. Our call to holiness is more than just receiving imputed holiness; we must have that holiness which comes only as is a fruit of righteousness

Romans 6:17 But thanks be to our God that you were the slaves of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 Then being made free from sin, you became the slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in the manner of men because of the weakness of your flesh; for as you have yielded your members as slaves to uncleanness, and to lawless act unto lawless act, even so now yield your members as slaves to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when you were the slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. 21 For what fruit did you have then in those things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now, having been made free from sin, and having become slaves to God, see that you have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

[TheBlade]

Facts are no one here knows.. never been there .. no one came back  "wow I got out!". I don't know what the big deal here is.. hell.. well its not the only word we use that is not in the bible. Then we can't even agree on where the word hell came from. No form all I have searched it did not come from the Catholic Chruch. 

As far as I know and read no one is lost by chance. One has to fully know He is the way the truth and the life and came died for you to reject Him. If you were blind you would have no sin you say you see your sin remains. Most I believe are blind yet many do say they can see. 

What was planned made for Satan was never meant for man. I do not believe anyone is in some (forgive me Father) fire burning when the ones that caused this are out there free to sin do oh such evil things we cannot will not talk about. 

Were talking about something we have no hand in.. He is not going to share anything about it.. nor will we see anyone whos name is not in His books. After this life we will never think about it ever again. So all this "talk" does what? Ok just what are you going to do about it now? To say we know .. and do nothing? 

[BlindSeeker]

On 1/3/2025 at 1:36 PM, PATrobas said:

We have no record of what He did there, but there is zero Biblical evidence that He went there to preach the Gospel or to give a second chance to them that had rejected Him before their death.

Amen!!!

I would like to start my post by establishing what I believe is an important scriptural truth is one is to properly understand 1 Peter 3:19, “By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.”

Hebrew 1:1 - God, who at various times and in diverse manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Has in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He Has appointed heir of all things, and by whom also He made the worlds.

First, note the words in bold type, "God, spoke, by the prophets, by His Son." Let’s continue.

2nd Peter 1:21 - For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Notice that “God” who “spoke, by the prophets” in Hebrews 1:1-2, and is again speaking by these “holy men of God as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Same God, same prophets, and the same Spirit.  So, let’s continue.

1st Peter 1:10 - Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, did signify when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 

All three verses are basically saying the same thing, that the “prophets” through which “God spoke” as they “were moved by the Holy Ghost,” were in truth speaking that which “the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify,” only in diverse ways, which is exactly what the first verse said, “God, …in diverse manners spoke…” But Peter is the one who brings to the precision of it being “the Spirit of Christ which was in them.”

To continue with the point, Paul in a statement to the Galatians stated that as a minister “crucified with Christ,” that consequently Christ lives both in and through him. But Paul doesn’t stop with applying this principle only to himself, for later he stresses how this principle applies to all who are Christ’s. For if we are truly “in Christ Jesus,” it is only because His Spirit lives in us; and if we are ever to truly be ministering quickening-life through the Gospel, it is because His Spirit ministers through us.

Galatians 2:20 - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. 

Galatians 5:24 - And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, then let us also walk in the Spirit.

For this reason, Paul testified to both the Thessalonians and the Corinthians that what he preached unto them was not the mere words of a man, but rather the words of God. For what Paul had spoken was through both the unction and leading of the Spirit of Christ within him.

1st Thessalonians 2:13 - For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works also in all you that believe. 

1st Corinthians 13:3 - Since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. 4 For though He was crucified through weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. 5 Examine yourselves therefore, whether you be in the faith; and prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you be reprobates?

But it is the opening passage that further establishes this truth that it was Jesus Christ, who by His Spirit was ministering through the prophets of old. Unfortunately, it is also a passage that has been greatly misunderstood by many throughout the centuries. Sadly, this confusion has given way for many erroneous teachings to creep into the church about Jesus, His death, and the completeness of the work of the cross. So, lets look again at what Peter wrote in his first epistle –

1 Peter 3:19 - By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.”

1st Peter 1:10 - Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, did signify…”

As rejected by PATrobas in the opening post, it is nonetheless still a popular misunderstanding of this verse - that after He died, Jesus went to hell and preached to the souls there; and all those that believed were therefore set free. Others have further asserted to this concept other false assertions, such as Jesus had to die spiritually, taste hell itself, and then be born again in order to defeat the devil on his own ground so that He could take back the keys of death and hell. All of which are false.

In truth, many believers raised in traditional churches assume these beliefs to be credible because they lack an understanding of the scriptures and have not properly understood the Nicene or Apostles’ Creed, which many of them were compelled to memorize in their youth. For when it states that Jesus was “crucified, buried, descended into hell and rose again the third day,” they assume it means Jesus literally went to hell, the place prepared for the angels that had sinned. However, this reference to the death, burial, and resurrection which is a true tenet of the Christian faith actually refers to Jesus’ body being crucified, prepared for burial, and placed in the grave for three days after which He resurrected.

Psalms 16:10 - For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither will You suffer Your Holy One to see corruption.

This psalm speaks about the body of Jesus not being left in the grave to decay, or “see corruption.” It is not speaking about Jesus going into hell which was prepared for the devil and his angels. The word translated “hell” in English is the Hebrew word “sheol” which was used sixty-five times in the Old Testament; thirty-three times implying the “grave” and consequently so translated.

Equally as odd as this concept, is the notion many people falsely believe is that hell is the headquarters of Lucifer, when actually it is a prison made for the fallen angels and those who imitate their lawlessness. For when Jesus cast out demons out of the possessed Gadarenes man, they were terrified of hell and fearfully inquired if He had come to torment them before their time by sending them there. (Mind you, I am using “hell” here in the popular understanding for the sake of the post.)

Matthew 8:29 - And behold, they cried out saying, What have we to do with You, Jesus, thou Son of God? are You come here to torment us before the time?

Except for those select fallen angels which were long ago cast down for their particular sins and are already bound in chains of darkness in Tartarus, the remaining principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world are still loose, and they too share the sentiments of demons, having a fear for the torment of hell for they know this prison was created for them. 

2nd Peter 2:4 - …God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.

(Sadly, many are completely ignorant of the extent of the various rebellions and sins of these fallen angels, a subject far too vast to cover here. I would simply recommend two books on the subject which are available online in PDF format for those interested. The first would be “The Fallen Angels and the Heroes of Mythology” by Rev. John Fleming, A.B., published in 1879. The second would be “Earth’s Earliest Ages” by G.H. Pember, published 1889.)

Jesus created all things, and to me it would be foolish for anyone to assume He needed to go to hell in order to get the keys of death and hell, for He has always possessed them. 

Psalms 68:20 - He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.

Revelation 1:18 - I am He that lives and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and I have the keys of hell and of death.

Most of the time, one only needs to carefully listen to what Jesus is saying with a true hunger for understanding to properly discern what He is meaning. Yet, sadly many believers are so lazy, and being such have become gullible and easily swayed by the latest popular theology that comes along.

Others are so absolutely convinced that what they were taught is so unquestionably right, they only know how to read the Holy Scriptures in the light of their theology; when in truth they desperately need to learn how to prove all theologies, even my presentation here as well, critically, with much prayer, and only by the light of the scriptures.

2nd Timothy 2:15- Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, as one rightly dividing the word of truth.

Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

So, let’s take another fresh look once more at that greatly misunderstood passage in I Peter and see if we cannot properly follow the apostle’s words.

1st Peter 3:18 - For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which Spirit He also went and preached to the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

First it is clear how Jesus suffered and “was put to death in the flesh,” but He was then “quicken by the Spirit,” signifying His body was not resurrected by the power of that earthen vessel of Christ’s humanity, rather by the Spirit of Christ that dwelt in that fleshly tabernacle. Paul had stated virtually the same thing in his Epistle to the Romans, which again is also a “confirming [of] the covenant.”

Romans 8:11 - But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.

But what also needs be taken notice of is that Peter was very specific in what he stated, in how it was by that same “Spirit” which had quickened Jesus’s flesh and bone body by which He had “went and preached unto the spirits in prison,” and not in His bodily form. So, unless we pay careful attention to just whose “spirits” these are that are “in prison,” then like so many others have, we too might run the risk of jumping to all sorts of erroneous conclusions, which is completely unnecessary since Peter clearly states right here just whose “spirits” these are.

These are those spirits “which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” Therefore, these spirits are not all the lost souls of humanity which died from the time of Adam to the time of Christ which are in hades waiting final judgment; rather these are only the spirits of those who were alive during the days of Noah, “while the ark was a preparing.”

This is an excellent example of how we must be careful not to apply content beyond what is written in the context of a passage of scripture. So why then does it say it was Christ who preached to those souls which were alive in those last days of Noah while the ark was being built? Perhaps it will help to review what Peter had said just a little earlier, as well as another passage from his second epistle.

1st Peter 1:10 - Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

2nd Peter 3:2 - That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour.

Noah was not just an ark builder - nor was he only a “preacher of righteousness,” for unquestionably Noah was one of these very prophets which Peter mentions as preaching by, “the Spirit of Christ which was in” them. So, when it says by which Spirit he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, which were sometime disobedient when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah,” that this was in fact Jesus Christ preaching thru His servant and prophet Noah.

All this is all no different from what the Apostle Paul stated to the Corinthians, that he would come with power in his reproof  “Since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but is powerful in you,” and this is also why the prophets of old often began their messages with “Thus says the Lord…”

Nonetheless, the people in Noah’s day were disobedient, and because they had rejected what the Spirit of Christ thru Noah had preached unto them, they therefore perished and their bodies returned into the earth, but their “spirits” are now awaiting their final judgment “in prison.”

So no, Peter wasn’t saying that after Jesus Christ died that He went to hell to preach. For anyone who could possibly enter hell and offer any hope to those spirits, would immediately find every soul there grasping at any possibility to escape. No, rather Peter was affirming the omnipotence of Christ, that though He was a man who suffered and died in the flesh, He was much more, He was a quickening Spirit within the Prophet Noah through which He warned those alive in those days that they should flee the wrath to come, of which only the few righteous were spared while the disobedient perished.

Consequently, we have a sound scriptural account of Jesus via His Spirit preaching to mankind even before Israel was even a nation, and before there was a Holy City of Jerusalem and Temple, even before the time of His own incarnation.

1st Peter 3:5 - For of all this they are willingly ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that was then, was overflowed with water and thereby perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now, are by the same word kept in store, and are reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and the perdition of ungodly men. 

So why then would we fail to acknowledge that it will once again be the Spirit of Christ in the same power and authority via the Two Witnesses at this next coming end of the world, which is now cresting our own horizon?

It may very well be that these Two Witnesses will know exactly who they are. For by “the Spirit of Christ, which is in them,” they will testify how just as Jesus Christ their Savior was crucified, that they too will be martyred, and likewise, according to His word and promise, as He had risen from the dead, so they too will also be raised from the dead.

However, their testimony of Jesus Christ will utterly infuriate the Jewish people and the world, nevertheless a remnant of the Jews will be convicted in their hearts, being pierced by the Sword of Truth, and will believe the words of the Two Witnesses and be watching and waiting. This remnant will fulfill prophecy and give glory to God after they witness their resurrection as the Spirit of Christ within the Two Witnesses once again, in both word and deed, confirms the covenant of God, and this perhaps for the very last time before the entire world.

Rom 11:15 - For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

Look up, our redemption is drawing nigh…

 

[BlindSeeker]

I know, this is a long post, but there's much to cover to bring out my final point. Feel free not to read - I understand.

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible

On the topic of hell, I would like to look at a little discussed passage of scripture of which I have never heard anyone preach or teach on  –

 Deuteronomy 23:9 -When the army goes forth against your enemies, then keep yourself from every wicked thing. 10 If there is among you any man who is not clean because of an accident at night, then he shall go outside the camp. He shall not come inside the camp. 11 And it shall be as evening turns, he shall wash with water. And when the sun is down, he shall come into the middle of the camp. 12 You shall also have a place outside the camp where you shall go forth. 13 And you shall have a paddle on your weapon. And it shall be, when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it and shall turn back and cover that which comes from you. 14 For the LORD your God walks in the middle of your camp, to deliver you and to give up your enemies before you. Therefore, your camp shall be holy, so that He may see no unclean thing in you and turn away from you.

This is one of those passages that many Christians just read over and rarely gleam anything from. However, there is much here that we should focus upon, for we are talking about our going into battle and having certainty that the Lord will be with us. What is the underlying principle in these verses is the requirement for us to be holy for He is holy. That is why it is clear every day we wake up afresh we therefore need to be daily putting on the whole armor of God, . . . because every minute, of everyday, our adversary is seeking to devour all he can. Therefore we must keep ourselves “from every wicked thing.” These truths should be clear and evident even to the young in faith.

However, the passage also warns against those who are “not clean by reason of uncleanness that chances him by night.” Now what does this passage mean? These verses in Leviticus help to bring clarity–

Leviticus 15:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean. 3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness. 4 Every bed, whereon he lays that hath the issue, is unclean: and everything whereon he sits shall be unclean.  5 And whosoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Leviticus 15:16 And if any man’s seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening. 17 And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening. 18 The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening.

The light shed by these verses clearly indicate that the concern of the Lord is the uncleanliness, associated with either genital disease, or a “copulation,” meaning an ejaculation of semen. Now, some might readily see the problem with disease rendering one unclean, but an ejaculation? How would that defile a man? Whether we understand it or not it is still in God’s Holy Scriptures and is given as an admonition to His people and therefore requires our prayerful consideration. But this is also why I selected to entitle this post with the opening verse –

1Peter 1:23 - Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever.

 The “corruptible seed” Peter alludes to is the seed whereby we were originally born, our father’s semen. Yet in this verse Peter is also stating how we are in fact “born again” by incorruptible seed, even the word of God.

Furthermore, the beloved Apostle John tells us that true Christians cannot sin because His seed is in us –

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother.

Now for clarity, when John says one who is “born of God cannot sin,” he is not saying they are incapable of sinning. He is saying that because God’s “seed remains in him” that he cannot accept the pleasures of sin in the light of the cost of sin.

It would be similar to me offering any of you $5.00 for your car, or perhaps your gold watch. Certainly, you could foolishly accept the $5.00, but since you understand the worth of what you have, you “cannot” accept my offer without abandoning what is reasonable.

That is why Paul pleads with us to present ourselves as living sacrifices unto God.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The Christian can only “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, [even] will of God?” Only his actions complying to by God’s will. That is why John stated that “His seed remains in him,” which may help to shed light on some other passages of scripture regarding uncleanliness –

Leviticus 15:19 - And if a woman has an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening. 20 And everything that she lies upon in her separation shall be unclean: everything also that she sits upon shall be unclean. 21 And whosoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. 22 And whosoever touches anything that she sat upon shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. 23 And if it be on her bed, or on anything whereon she sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until the evening. 24 And if any man lay with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the beds whereon he lays shall be unclean.

Leviticus 20:18 - And if a man shall lay with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he has discovered her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood: both of them shall be cut off from among their people.

Now let’s reason just why it would be inappropriate for a man to lie with a woman while she is menstruating? Apart from the normal responses regarding hygiene, it is because the “seed” placed in her would not remain; her body will naturally cast it forth from her.

When a woman’s body is menstruating it goes through the cycle of expelling her last egg that wasn’t fertilized. Since at this point most eggs are no longer viable, in the normal situation the male sperm will therefore never penetrate such an egg but it too will only be flushed out as waste.

(Now before I am dismissed because of accuracy regarding the chances of a woman becoming pregnant even though she has had her normal cycle, the chances are very, very rare and could only most likely happen if prior to the menstrual cycle some sperm from an earlier relation managed to enter the fallopian tubes and was not flushed out. This unlikely event would create an opportunity for them if they were still alive to encounter a fresh egg during the next ovulation which for some reason was hastened through an irregularity in the cycle. But again, this is going outside the norm and stretching normal limitations. So please, I admit that I am not a gynecologist...

The important issue is that we see the correlation the Apostle Peter makes between the “corruptible seed” whereby we were conceived and Peter’s “incorruptible” whereby we are born again, even the word of the Lord. This shows us the significance of our design and why God created us male and female.

Symbolically the male’s semen represents the word of God which is not cast to the ground. To do so is prophetic action showing disrespect for that which has literal holy symbolism. Just consider the anger the Lord had towards Onan who was told by his father Judah to go and “raise up seed” for his dead brother with Tamar –

Ge 38:6 - And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar. 7 And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him. 8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. 9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore He slew him also.

 This displeased the Lord on at least two counts, first, a lack of love for his brother and second, the intentional spilling of his semen on the ground. Since we are created in the image of God and are to be His glory, then it is conceivable that our seed, i.e. semen, is a type or shadow of His holy word. Thus, it was important to God that Onan’s seed should have remained in Tamar, just as it is important that God’s seed remain in us, and that as children of God, we be able to impart His seed unto others.

Perhaps this can more readily seen in how through our love of Christ and evangelistic willingness to go and “raise up seed” for our Brother and Savior Jesus Christ, the Gospel is spread. Therefore, we are to be ever ready, “in season and ready to give and answer for the hope that is within us.”

Again, these are but prophetic imagery woven in scripture to teach us greater lessons from our Lord, just as circumcision of the flesh does in regards to circumcision of the heart. But look at the verses in Duet.23 before this –

Deut 23:1 - He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

It is important to the Lord that we know in whom we believe and are able to procreate with our faith by His seed, i.e. word which remains in us. Those not having seed or ability to impart it “shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord.” Also, since Paul tells us we’re to be living sacrifices, we should be able to appreciate that animal sacrifices were not acceptable unto the Lord if they were too born or rendered impotent.

Le 22:24 - You shall not offer unto the LORD that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall you make any offering thereof in your land.

We who have truly been quickened by God’s word have hidden His word in our hearts and desirous to share it. That is because God’s word is the only solution for uncleanliness in the heart and lives of His children. However, please don’t confuse that with the purpose of Christ’s blood for our atonement and forgiveness, justification versus sanctification.  We know that all things were sanctified and consecrated unto the Lord with both water and blood.

Consider now the Apostle Paul address to husbands loving their wives “even as Christ also loved the church” and the correlation of the water of the word and the blood of atonement and their applications as to why Jesus laid down His life for us. –

Ephesians 5:26 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Consider also the words of Peter –

1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  15 But as he which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be you holy; for I am holy.

We are to be holy; we must be holy. Not only because we have been washed by His blood, but also because we have renewed in our minds, yielding fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life. As if the very loins of our minds were girded with the girdle of truth and walking in obedience to our Lord and Savior. That is why we are forgiven by His blood, so we can be freed from sins, indwelt by His Spirit, and thus empowered to walk in His word whereby we are to be changing daily, our old carnal nature decreasing while the nature of Christ is being formed and perfected in us.

1 Peter 1:18 - Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,  21 Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.  22 Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you continue to love one another with a pure heart fervently:  23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever.

We are given the responsibility of purifying our souls by obeying His truth, but thanks be to God for the grace and empowering of His own Spirit within us which enables us, and labors with us, to perfect our love for Him and each other… if we remain willing. It is this Gospel, which is the incorruptible seed planted in us that causes us to be born again, quicken, and changed into new creatures.

1 Peter 1:24 - For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower thereof falls away: 25 But the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Now back to Deut. 23 –

KJV Deuteronomy 23:12 - Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:  13 And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee:  14 For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.

After the instructions regarding, “uncleanness that chances him by night,” as it said in Leviticus concerning if “any man’s seed of copulation go out from him,” the Lord now moves to another topic concerning keeping the camp clean because the Lord “walks in the midst of the camp.” This shows both the responsibility for personal cleanliness, and the individual and corporate responsibility to keep the camp clean as well.

Therefore, if any man has to “ease” himself he is to go outside the camp and so do. By the words “thou shalt have a place without the camp” it is indicated that this would be a designated place, not just every man running off to wherever, but a specific place known to all.

Therefore, the instruction was given that every man should have a “paddle upon their weapon,” whereby they could dig a hole and ease themselves in it, and “turn back and cover that which comes from you.”

Again, regardless of the apparent subject matter, we are being given glorious imagery here. Placed upon the weapon was a paddle, designed specifically for digging a hole to accommodate that which is expelled from the body.

Sadly, we cannot see these weapons, but one of the weapons of choice which could be so equipped with a small spade is a sword; which symbolically, the sword represents two things in scripture, God’s word and His judgment. Not just judgment in the sense of determining right and wrong, but in the sense of a judgment coming upon a people for their rejection of His holy word, casting it, as it were on the ground.

 Deut. 32:41 - If I whet My glittering sword, and Mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to Mine enemies, and will reward them that hate Me. 42 I will make Mine arrows drunk with blood, and My sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.

Now one thing we must remember, our Lord is a warrior, the ultimate warrior . . . and He is mighty in battle.

Psm 24:7 - Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be you lifted up, you everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O you gates; even lift them up, you everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.

Our God has graciously given us His word and by it quickened us, it is His “seed” whereby we are born again. But be not mistaken, it is also the sword He will yet whet and take hold of, His sword of judgment against the wicked who “will not stand in the congregation of the righteous.”

Consider also these verses in Isaiah –

Isa 1:16 - Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil;  17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Broad is the path which leads to destruction, and many will choose it by casting God’s word behind them. These are wicked men serving their own lusts, refusing to honor God who gave to them both a blessing of life, and opportunity for the honor of being created in His own image. Instead, they defiantly turn away and live their lives refusing and rebelling, doing so regardless of the convictions of His Spirit, shunning of His grace. Therefore, they remain unclean, defiled, sold under sin, and foolishly boasting in their own shame.

Isa 1:21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.  22 Your silver is become dross, your wine mixed with water:  23 Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loves gifts, and follows after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come unto them.

God will not always strive with mankind; He will soon avenge Himself of His adversaries.

Isa 1:24 - Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease Me of Mine adversaries, and avenge me of Mine enemies.

Yes, as God commanded the host to keep the camp clean, and just as a man who needed to ease himself was to go to the designated place and there with the paddle on his weapon dig a hole. Likewise, God has prepared a place in His judgment where He too will ease Himself.

Listen to the word of the Lord; listen to His cry, “Ahhhh!” This is the groaning of the pain within His bowels of mercies after continually being frustrated, grace extended in vain to a rebellious, stubborn and stiff-necked people. It is as if God is cramped over in anguish and heartache by the very presence of the wicked within Him; all creation as well is groaning for the manifestation of the sons of God and the removal of the wicked.

Mind you though, all the evil men and all the demons and devils which hell currently awaits cannot weaken or abate one iota the strength of God. Still nevertheless He has long suffered while warning them and endeavoring to rescue the lost, anxious to offer repentance to the broken and contrite ones. His omnipotence cannot be weakened by the sins of men, but His heart is nonetheless pained and vexed by their sins.

Pr0 1:22 - How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 2:22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

All who reject God’s word, who from the very beginning who have lived and moved and had their very being within Him, will one day be expelled out from His presence for all eternity as waste out the draught and into the pit.

The Gospel makes it evident it is the responsibility of every person to take full advantage of the exceedingly great and precious promises of God’s word, whereby we can be made partakers of His divine nature. Therefore, we are commanded to be what He fully enables us to be. We must be holy, because He is holy, or be expelled.

Only by purifying ourselves by obeying the truth through His spirit, can we perfect this holiness in the fear of God. For He will not be mocked. He will repay those who reject what He went through great lengths to provide, a remedy for our sin and sinful nature.

Psalm 62:11 - God has spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongs unto God. Also, unto You O Lord belongs mercy: for You renders to every man according to his work.

Deuteronomy 7:9 - Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations; And repays them that hate Him to their face, to destroy them: He will not be slack to him that hates Him, He will repay him to his face.

Yes, there is hell, and all the other universalists are wrong. It is the eternal place of torment for all those who would not be assimilated unto God, refusing to be purified, sanctified, consecrated and made holy by yielding to the working of the Spirit of Christ within them with and through the power of His seed/word.

All those unclean, rebellious and wicked will not only fail to be able to stand in and with the congregation of the righteous, but God will also treat them as the filth when they are finally eased from Himself into a place He has prepared outside the His eternal camp. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

Isaiah 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me, says the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the LORD. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against Me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.