Prophecies and Paradise

 

EASTER STORY Continued... PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT The story of Holy Week is far more rich and complex than this series of images can tell, because each and every event that happened was a fulfillment of specific prophecies. These events were predicted in astonishing detail hundreds of years earlier, and each prophecy was fulfilled with precision. Not one messianic prophecy was left unfulfilled, except for those that predict end times and the triumphant return of Christ. WAS JESUS IN THE TOMB? LUKE 23:43 Jesus said to the thief on the cross, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” The Bible mentions places such as Hell, Sheol, Hades, the Grave, the Lake of Fire, as well as Paradise and Heaven. The reason why there's confusion in understanding all this, is because the Greek and Hebrew words were not translated consistently. In addition, they were translated differently in the Old Testament than in the New Testament. So, the short version is this: • Hell, Hades, and Sheol are all the same place, and it is a temporary place of punishment and torment. (Gehenna, or the Lake of Fire, is a permanent place of punishment.) • Paradise was a temporary place of blessing, and scholars think it was located in a special section of Sheol. In the New Testament it was also referred to in one of Jesus’s parables as “the bosom of Abraham.” • When Jesus died on the cross, he went down to Paradise to be with the blessed souls who were sort of stuck there, and then he took all those faithful, God-fearing people to Heaven with him! Ephesians 4:8-10 When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.” So, what does “He ascended” mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fulfill all things. Thus, Jesus took “captivity captive” and Paradise was emptied when Jesus died for us. Paradise is no longer needed. When we die, we will go directly to Heaven to be with Jesus.

 

The Burial of Christ

 

Easter Story Continued JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MATTHEW 27:57 When evening had come, the disciples watched over the body of Jesus while a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus' body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up for burial. PLACED IN A NEW TOMB As the sun set on Friday, the disciples laid the body of Jesus in the new tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. THE PIETA As the prophet Simeon had predicted to the young mother Mary with her infant son 33 years earlier: LUKE 2:34-35 “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed— and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”  I LAY DOWN MY LIFE JOHN 10:14-18 Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd; and I lay down my life for the sheep. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again." THE CITY IS DISTURBED As the sun set, the Passover Sabbath had begun, and all was quiet. But the city of Jerusalem was disturbed by the things that had happened this day. SOLDIERS GUARD THE TOMB The Jewish leaders demanded that Pilate set a guard around the tomb, because Jesus had predicted he would rise from the dead, and they didn't want the disciples of Jesus to stage a fake resurrection. So the tomb was sealed and Roman guards stood around it.