The Apple of His Eye - Part 4 - God's Judgement - Hades and Sheol by Hendrik Vorster

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The Witness 30 July 2008

The Apple of His Eye…

Part 4 God’s Judgement – Hades, Tartarus and Sheol “And death [Tratarus] and hell [Hades] were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev 20:14-15) KJV Hades, the place of the dead…

After this the Lord took me, in the spirit, to the place called Hades, the place of the dead. It was a place where men would await either the judgement of God or the resurrection of the dead. Here I was in a deep sleep, yet my spirit was aware of all that I have done through out my whole life. It was in this place that I knew that a great battle had begun for my soul. All the choices I have made, whether right or wrong was brought to my remembrance. It was truly a place of reconing for all that I have done on earth. Every inclination of the thoughts and motives of man were judged and accused.

Judged by God, as was written: “For the word of God [is] living and effective and sharper than every double-edged sword, and [is] penetrating as far as [the] division of both soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and [is] able to discern [the] thoughts and intentions of the heart [fig., inner self]. And no created thing is able to be hidden before Him, but all [things are] naked and have been exposed to His eyes to whom we [must give] an account.” (Heb 4:12-13) ALT

The Witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ South Africa, Pretoria info@witnessesforjesuschrist.co.za & www.witnessesforjesuschrist.co.za This letter was written as a witness to the Lord Jesus Christ so that by all possible means God’s people will be prepared for the works of service to which He has called them. Proclaim His coming, for His coming is soon at hand. (1 Cor 9:1-27) Please send this letter to as many others so that they may be blessed. This letter may be copied, but all rights are reserved as revealed from the Lord Jesus Christ and those ministries mentioned. Therefore give Glory to whom Glory belong. -1-

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The Witness 30 July 2008

And accused by Satan, as was written: “…the one captive, preventing me from coming to the Lord who is accusing them before our God day and night…” my only saviour. I was in a severe battle within myself (Rev 12:10) ALT with the very thought patterns, and the forces of darkness, which were warring for my soul. My sin I was judged by the Spirit of the living God, and also would entangle me and through me into something like accused by Satan in this place. a maze of dungeons. I would find myself lost and with The battle was for my soul. As was written by Peter the out help because of my sin. apostle: “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against Even the apostle Peter spoke of these dungeons into the soul; (1Pe 2:11) KJV which God would keep even angels in prison: “But also false prophets came to be among the people, as also It was also in this place that Christ came and preached false teachers will be among you, who will secretly the eternal gospel of life to me as was briefly written by bring in destructive, heretical sects, and denying the apostle Peter: “For Christ also hath once suffered the Master having redeemed them, bringing swift for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to destruction upon themselves. And many will follow God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by their flagrant sexually immoral ways, because of the Spirit: By which also he went and preached whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in unto the spirits in prison; (1Pe 3:18-19) KJV covetous desire [or, greed], with fabricated words, they will exploit you, for whom their My heart and soul were convicted by the Holy Spirit as judgment of old is not idle, and their destruction was written: “And when he comes, he will prove to will not sleep. For if God did not spare angels having the people of the world that they are wrong sinned, but having hurled [them] down to the about sin and about what is right and about God's deepest pit of gloom [Gr. tartarus], He delivered judgment. (Joh 16:8) GNB [them] to chains of thick darkness, being kept for judgment; and He did not spare the ancient world, but It was here, in Hades, that I understood the scripture, kept Noah, [the] eighth person [fig., with seven others], which the apostle Paul wrote saying: “For [if] we [are] a preacher of righteousness, having brought a deliberately sinning after the receiving [of] the Flood upon the world of the ungodly, (2Pe 2:1-5) full [or, true] knowledge of the truth [there] no ALT longer remains a sacrifice concerning sins, but only a terrifying expectation of judgment and It was in this fearful place of waiting, pits of deep fiery indignation being about to be devouring the darkness and gloom, which cast every time my sins adversaries. would entangle me. I was like one who was asleep, While I was in this place my sinful nature and even very awaiting that Day of Judgment. There was no time in type of sin, transgression and iniquity, which I have not this place, only the waiting, like one who was asleep for repented of and which were still in my heart, a long time. It was here that I realized what Paul said: condemned me, throwing me into fear and a pit. I “…, so that whether we are awake [fig,. are alive] or would go into deeper darkness and would become more are sleeping [fig., have died], we shall live together and more entangled by those sins, which would hold me with Him. (1Th 5:1-11) ALT The Witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ South Africa, Pretoria info@witnessesforjesuschrist.co.za & www.witnessesforjesuschrist.co.za This letter was written as a witness to the Lord Jesus Christ so that by all possible means God’s people will be prepared for the works of service to which He has called them. Proclaim His coming, for His coming is soon at hand. (1 Cor 9:1-27) Please send this letter to as many others so that they may be blessed. This letter may be copied, but all rights are reserved as revealed from the Lord Jesus Christ and those ministries mentioned. Therefore give Glory to whom Glory belong. -2-

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The Witness 30 July 2008

Sin truly would make it very hard and difficult for me to come to my Lord and only saviour, because of pride and even fear and the thought patterns of my mind. It would seem like I just kept struggling in my sin falling into all kinds of traps, which the enemy would set for me around every corner of my thoughts just like Paul the apostle said: “For [though] walking about [fig., conducting ourselves] in the flesh, we do not wage war [fig., struggle against evil forces] according to the flesh. (2Co 10:3) ALT It was in this time that my understanding came to me and the Holy Spirit reminded me that I can ask for forgiveness of those sins, which I have committed against God, because of the blood and the price that our Lord Jesus Christ had paid, as were written to the church in Corinth: “For the weapons of our warfare [are] not fleshly but powerful in God for [the] tearing down of strongholds [or, fortresses], tearing down misleading arguments and every high place [fig., arrogance] lifting itself up against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being in readiness to punish every disobedience, whenever your obedience is completed. (2Co 10:46) ALT Then the Lord gave me understanding of the awesome power of the weapons which He had given us. Then the Lord Jesus, through the word of knowledge from the Holy Spirit and taught me, how we must counter every evil inclination of our thoughts with the truth of His word, choosing to be led by the Holy Spirit, in order to escape this evil trap, which the enemy sets for us, each moment of the day, until we have learnt to say no to all disobedience to God and be fully led by the Holy Spirit as Paul said to the church in Rome: “For if you live according to the flesh, you are about to die; but if by [the] Spirit you put to death the deeds of the

body, you will live. For as many as are led by [the] Spirit of God, these are the sons [and daughters] of God. (Rom 8:13-14) ALT After this the Lord showed me another vision, which helped me to understand the word of the Lord. As I repented of that sin, in that same instant, the hand of Lord came from heaven and stopped me from falling deeper in to these dungeons of torment and fear. I fell into the Lord Jesus’ hand of mercy and salvation. Immediately the Lord showed me another vision. As I looked I saw how a large wave of the sea was about to break, suddenly something like a standard was raised against it, stopping it immediately from breaking and falling, then the word of the Lord came to me: “We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the

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The Witness 30 July 2008

garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad thoughts and arguments of my mind, which are the sins and iniquities of my past. with zeal as a cloke. According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence. So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun.”

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “But about the angels God said, "God makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire." (Heb 1:7) GNB

“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.”

“You use the winds as your messengers and flashes of lightning as your servants. (Psa 104:4) GNB

“As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.” (Isa 59:11-21) KJV Then as I repented and the Lord instantly forgave my sin, I spontaneously thanked and praised the Lord Jesus who had mercy on my soul. Then I saw how the Lord Jesus came down and pulled me up to save me out of the miry pit of doom. Even as the Lord came to save me, the enemy changed his line of attack and came in from another angle, trying to deceive me in my mind through human effort and self righteousness. There once came a time, when I truly could not find a way out of the attacked of the enemy. The attack was so severe, making me believe that I have no hope. When I could bear it no longer, I begged the Lord God and Jesus Christ to send His mighty angels to save me and lead me out of the traps of the enemy. Then I saw how the messenger of the Lord Jesus Christ came, bringing the answer, like a swift arrow, flying through the entangled

And

Then I understood the Lord’s great mercy and unconditional love for those who trust in Him. Then the word of the Lord came to me once again: “No temptation has taken hold of you, except a human [one] [or, [one] characteristic of humanity]. But God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able [or, capable of], but with the temptation He will also make the way out, for your being able to endure [it]. (1Co 10:13) ALT Praise God for His unsearchable riches and grace to us who have chosen to follow and obey the rhema word of the Lord Jesus Christ. I would not have believed or understood the truth of the Lord’s rich mercy and ability to save us from every sin, if it was not for this experience and had He not taken me to this place, but it is true and I was sent as witness to forewarn all mankind that they must make right with God before they come to this place. Yes, even I was in danger of the fires of Hell. Here in this place I realized that we still have time on this earth left to make right with our God. It was also here that I realized that many religious men and women, who only knew God in religious knowledge of the mind, will wait in fearful expectation of the fiery wrath of God, unless they truly know the love and the

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The Witness 30 July 2008

righteousness of God. It was only then that I truly realized those words of our Lord Jesus Christ: "Not every one saying to Me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of My Father, the [One] in [the] heavens. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, we prophesied in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and did many miraculous works in Your name, did we not? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; be departing from Me, the ones practicing lawlessness!' (Mat 7:21-23) ALT But you can say, but how can this be? I have been there and it is true. Then the Lord reminded me that He is righteous and holy and without holiness no one will see the Lord. Do not be deceived, God can not and will not be mocked. If we have learnt about the truth and the word of salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ, but have lived in sin, then we too will be in danger of the fires of Hell. Thus, we need to work out salvation with fear and trembling. For many will not be saved who have lived half hearted lives. “Anyone regarding as nothing [or, rejecting] [the] Law of Moses dies without mercies on [the testimony of] two or three witnesses. By how much severer punishment do you suppose will be counted worthy the one having trampled underfoot God's Son and having regarded [as] unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and having outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know the One having said, "Vengeance [is] Mine; I will repay," says [the] Lord. And again, "[The] LORD will judge His people." [Deut 32:35,36] [It is] terrifying to fall into [the] hands of [the] living God! (Heb 10:26-31) ALT

judgment to begin with the house of God; but if with us first, what [will be] the end of the ones refusing to believe the Gospel of God? And "If the righteous [person] is scarcely [or, with difficulty is] saved, where will the ungodly and sinner appear [fig., what will become of the ungodly and sinner]?" [Prov 11:31] (1Pe 4:17-18) ALT In conclusion on this place of torment, which is not Sheol, some one once asked Jesus a question, saying: “Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them; Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. (Luk 13:23-24) ALT Sheol the second death…

After this I the Lord took me to another place. It was a place in the lower regions of the spiritual heavens. It was reserved for those who would be judged and whose names are not written in the book of life. As I looked I saw a large lake of fire. I saw something like a gate. Then I asked the Lord what is this place and Lord, through the Holy Spirit answered me saying: “This the gates to Sheol.” I was reminded of the word to the apostle John: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. (Rev 2:11) KJV And Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Rev 20:6) KJV

Therefore as witnesses of our Lord Jesus Christ we urge And death [Tartarus] and hell [Hades] were cast you to live lives that truly are worthy of the grace which into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And God had bestowed upon each one of us for as the whosoever was not found written in the book of Apostle Peter said: “For [it is] the time for the The Witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ South Africa, Pretoria info@witnessesforjesuschrist.co.za & www.witnessesforjesuschrist.co.za This letter was written as a witness to the Lord Jesus Christ so that by all possible means God’s people will be prepared for the works of service to which He has called them. Proclaim His coming, for His coming is soon at hand. (1 Cor 9:1-27) Please send this letter to as many others so that they may be blessed. This letter may be copied, but all rights are reserved as revealed from the Lord Jesus Christ and those ministries mentioned. Therefore give Glory to whom Glory belong. -5-

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The Witness 30 July 2008

life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev 20:14-15) Holy men driven by the Holy Spirit… KJV Jesus only spoke to the people in parables, but when He was with His disciples He would explain the Then I understood, through this experience, which the scriptures and gave understanding of the scriptures as Lord Jesus had allowed me go through and through the much as they were able to bear, as was written: “And Holy Spirit, that this is the place where, those who did with many such allegories He was speaking to not repent of there sins and did not accept the grace of them the word, as much as they were able to be our Lord Jesus Christ, will be taken for an eternity. hearing. But without an allegory He was not speaking to them, but privately to His disciples He This was truly a place of eternal captivity in the sins we was explaining all. (Mar 4:33) ALT never repented of, which lead to death, as John once said: “If anyone sees his brother [fig., fellow believer] So also it will be with those who study these things, sinning a sin not [leading] to death, he will ask, and which God, through the Holy Spirit and because of the He will give to him life, to the ones sinning [a sin] blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, could revealed to me, as not [leading] to death. [There] is sin [leading] to kind of last apostle of those things, which were hidden death; not concerning that [sin] am I saying that he for ages and generations and will now be re-opened and should urgently ask. Every unrighteousness is sin, proclaimed to all, before our Lord Jesus Christ will and [there] is sin not [leading] to death. We know come to judge the earth. Blessed are all those who do that every one having been begotten from God is not not shun these words, but live them and put them into sinning, but the one having been begotten from God practice, for they will be bless in all that they do and will keeps himself, and the evil [one] does not touch also inherit eternal life soon. They will be counted him. We know that we are from God, and the whole worthy to escape those things which will soon come on world lies in evil [or, the evil [one]]. (1Jn 5:16-19) the ungodly and the hypocrites. ALT Thus we should repent of all sin, for sins which are done deliberately, after we come to the knowledge of the truth, should be repented of for these sins not repented of will lead to eternal death. Even Paul the apostle said: “You know that unrighteous [ones] will not inherit [the] kingdom of God, do you not? Stop being led astray [fig., being deceived]; neither sexual sinners nor idolaters nor adulterers nor passive partners in male-male sex nor active partners in male-male sex nor covetous [ones] nor thieves nor drunkards nor slanderers [or, abusive persons] nor swindlers will inherit [the] kingdom of God. (1Co 6:9) ALT

Therefore, the Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ guided me with His eyes so that I could understand all these things as they were explained and written by all the prophets and apostles. Then the Lord God answered David saying: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will Guide thee with Mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

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Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. (Psa 32:1-11) I also like Jobs will say: “I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:26) KJV And like David said: <A Prayer of David.> “Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips. Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal. Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their

trust in thee from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about. They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly. They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth; Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, by thy sword: From men by thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psa 17:1-15) KJV In conclusion, I praise the God of Heaven and earth, who alone, has opened all these things to me. He has opened my eye that I could understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God. I also praise God in our Lord Jesus Christ as David did for His righteousness, which He had revealed to me His servant and to all those who would trust in the Word, which gives life, because of His Anointed Son, Jesus our Messiah: <A Psalm of David, Maschil.> Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.

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The Witness 30 July 2008

For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. May all who find this righteousness, which has been revealed to me His servant and witness, apart from the works of self-effort and self-salvation, find the Lord’s everlasting, loving-kindness and mercy; living according to the faith and hope that comes from a clear conscious, without guilt; be filled with all assured joy, as we eagerly await the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

From the Directors: “The Witness”