MODULE 1 : CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION AND GROWTH
LESSON 9 : HEAVEN AND HELL
1.0 THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH
“…GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH” (GEN. 1:1)
1.1 The Heavens
Usually when we speak of heaven we simply think of the place where God is – above. But the Bible tells
us that there are three heavens; that is, the space above is of three layers of distinct descriptions, and each
layer is called heaven.
First Heaven: The “Clouds of Heaven.” – Mark 14:62. This is in the air and is scientifically called the
atmospheric heaven or serial heaven.
Second Heaven: The “Firmament” – Genesis 1:6-8. What do we find in the firmament of the heavens?
Genesis 1:14-17 – It is plain here that the great expanse where the sun, the moon, and the stars are in the
firmament, the second heaven.
Between the second and the third heaven is water. Gen. 1:17 – “…waters which were above the
firmament,” this we cannot see anymore.
Third Heaven: “God’s dwelling place” – 1 Kings 8:30. The third heaven is God’s Home. When Jesus was
here on earth He called this third heaven “My Father’s House” (John 14:2). St. Paul confirmed this place
when he related his own personal experience as a “man in Christ” (2 Cor. 12:2-4). Here we have in clear
language the description of the third heaven as: God’s dwelling place; the Father’s House with many
mansion; and Paradise – the place of rest, contentment, happiness and peace for all eternity.
Entrance to the Third Heaven: Rev 21:27; John 3:3; John 14:6; Matt. 5:8; Col. 1:27; 2 Cor 12:2,4
1.2 THE EARTH
By the earth is meant the terrestrial globe, the earth and all that is therein; men, animal, plants, metals,
water, fish and fowls. Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”
By the earth is taken for all that crude matter, which was created in the beginning (Gen. 1:1). “In the
beginning God created… the earth,” that is, the matter of all sensible beings.
By the earth is taken for the gross and terrestrial elements which sustain and nourish us (Gen. 1:10). God
called the dry land earth. In this sense, it is taken in those passages where the earth said to yield fruit, to be
barren, watered, etc.
Descriptions of the Formation of the Earth
God formed the earth (Psalm 90:2)
1st. By laying the foundation thereof (Psalm 102:25; Job 38:4).
2nd. By having it measured, no doubt, accurately (Job 38:5; Isaiah 40:12).
3rd. By having its foundations fastened and laying the cornerstone thereof, of which He alone knows (Job
36:6).
4th. By hanging the earth upon nothing (Job 26:7).
5th God saw to it that the earth must be round.(Isa. 40:22
6th. Not only does God sit on the circle of the earth, but the earth is His footstool (Isa. 66:1).
“THUS THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH WERE FINISHED, AND ALL HOSTS OF THEM.”
(Genesis 2:1)
2.0 HADES, HELL AND PARADISE
2.1 Hades
HADES (Heb. SHEOL) is a place for the departed human souls during the Old Testament times – both for
the righteous and the wicked. HADES has two compartments; one for the wicked souls – HELL; and
another for the righteous souls – PARADISE or ABRAHAM’S BOSOM. These two compartments are
separated by a great gulf – the BOTTOMLESS PIT.
2.1.1 The OT Righteous and the Wicked
The righteous in the Old Testament are those who, because of their sins, come to God through a
sacrifice of the lamb, “firstlings of the flock,” without blemish and without spot. The blood of these
animals offered as burnt offerings to God, covers the sins of the one offering, although it cannot wash
away his sins (Heb. 10:4). We have Abel and his offering as an example (Gen 4:4). On this we have
the record in Hebrews 11:4, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by
which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gift; and by it he being dead
yet speaketh.”
The wicked in the Old Testament are those who rejected the animal sacrifice for their sins, and like
Cain, offered a bloodless offering of the fruits of the ground.” And in the process of time it came to
pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. But unto Cain and to his
offering God has not respect. And Cain was very wroth and his countenance fell” (Gen. 4:3,5).
2.1.2 Where is Hades?
Since the Scriptures record that Hell is part of Hades, and Hell is beneath the earth, therefore
Hades is beneath the earth. As further Scriptural proof to this definite location of Hell or Hades, we
will go over the experience of the Lord Jesus Christ after His physical death which confirm His won
declaration of this vital truth – hell is beneath or in the heart of the earth.
Christ’s Statements and Experiences
1. Matthew 12:40 – Here, Christ is Himself saying that from the time of His physical death to His
resurrection, He is in the heart of the earth, three days and three nights. It is safe to say that this heart
of the earth is the center of the earth.
2. Luke 23:43 – Jesus assured the repentant thief on the cross, “Verily I say unto you, Today shall
thou be with me in paradise.” This is the Old Testament paradise, in Abraham’s Bosom. This is not
the New Testament Paradise which is in the third heaven. It was Christ who told Mary Magdalene
after His resurrection, saying, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father and your
Father:…” He has not been to His Father in heaven yet; He was in Hades.
3. Acts 2:31 – God here promised David that Christ would be raised from the dead – that His
(Himself – His Person-God) will not be left in Hell (Hades), and His physical body in the grave
Joseph of Arimathea gave will not see corruption.
4. Ephesians 4:8-10 – The lower parts of the earth is no doubt the paradise part of Hades – in the heart
of the earth. He stayed three days and three nights. This is definitely and unmistakably the center of
the earth.
What did Christ do in Hades?
1. To wash away the sins of the O. T. Saints kept captive in Abraham’s Bosom, so they all could be
fit for entrance into Heaven, God’s Home (Eph. 4:8).
2. He took the opportunity to preach to those unsaved in Hell, possibly the preaching of condemnation
(1 Peter 3:19).
2.2 Hell
“AND IN HELL HE LIFT UP HIS EYES BEING IN TORMENT…”
HELL IS A PLACE. It is a terrible place of suffering and torment. Wicked souls are cast in hell to be
tormented forever. In the New Testament it is set forth by such representations as may powerfully instruct
and terrify even the most carnal man. That is why God spoke more of Hell than of heaven in the Bible.
God does not want that any should perish (in hell) but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
This is a very important Biblical truth no one must set aside or ignore. Of course, satan is trying his best to
cover and prevent any knowledge of this place of torment until his victim is there: then it is too late.
2.2.1 Where is hell? The answer is found in Proverbs 15:24 & Isaiah 14:9. The earth is 8000
miles in diameter. The center of earth is 4000 miles. As far as our human direction is concerned,
our beneath is the center of the earth – equidistant from every part of the surface of the earth
where mankind dwells. (We shall prove this as we go further in the lesson).
2.2.2 What are found in hell? The Lord Jesus Himself said, as recorded in Mark 9:44 (also 46
& 48), “Where their worms dieth not and fire is not quenched.” Revelation 19:20 says, “These
were both cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone (or sulfur).”
2.2.3 For whom was hell made? The answer as told by the Lord Jesus Christ, is recorded in
Matthew 25:41. Hell with its everlasting fire was prepared for satan and his demons; it was not
made for man. Hell is satan’s home, as Heaven is God’s Home. But others may ask ‘Why are
people cast in hell?’ Simply because they give their hearts to the Devil. To whomsoever you are
in love with and have surrendered your heart, to his home you go at the end of the road. If to
Christ, He takes you to God’s Home in Heaven; if to satan, he likewise takes you to his home in
hell. And man must choose where he must spend eternity.
2.2.4 How was hell made? The story is recorded in Ezekiel 28:13-18 and Isaiah 14:12-15. The
first beautiful earth which God created was first inhabited by angels. The angels had a leader by
the name of Lucifer, son of the morning. Lucifer was a n anointed cherub; he was created perfect.
And of all the created angels, Lucifer was the most beautiful, the wisest, and the richest – walking
in the midst of the glittering precious stones. We do not know how long these angels lived in this
first created earth; maybe, millions of years. But something tragic happened. God found iniquity
in the heart of Lucifer. Lucifer’s hearts was lifted up because of his beauty (v. 17); he was filed
with violence (v. 16); and increased his iniquity by reason of this trafick (v. 18); he corrupted his
wisdom by reason of his brightness (v. 17). The Prophet Isaiah gave in detail the pride in the heart
of Lucifer; Lucifer said in his heart: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the
stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the side of the north: (where
God’s throne is): I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the Most High” (like
God, El Elyon). God found in Lucifer’s heart rebellion against the Almighty. As a result God
said, “Therefore will I bring forth a fore from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee (Ezekiel
28:18); the Prophet Isaiah recorded God’s word, “Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, by the
sides of the pit” (Isa 14:15). Further in Isaiah 14:11, “…the worm is spread under thee and the
worms cover thee.” There it is: HELL, FIRE AND WORMS, for Lucifer and his fallen angels.
Lucifer, the son of the morning (Isa 14:12), got the name Satan (Tempter) when he tempted Adam
and Eve in the Garden of Eden; and got the name Devil (Adversary) when God declared him an
enemy and pronounced “enmity between him (Devil) and the woman…” (Gen. 3:15). So there is
only one Satan, the Devil, but many demons. The Devil is the prince of the air (Eph. 2:2); and the
god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4).
2.2.5 What are the conditions of lost souls cast in hell? Crudens gave us this description:
“Nothing is more intolerable painful than suffering the violence of fire enraged with brimstone;
and hell is described by a lake of fire and brimstone (Rev. 19:20; 21:8). It is represented as a
dismally dark place, where there is nothing but grief, sadness, vexation, rage, despair, and
gnashing of teeth, like one excluded or shut out, during the obscurity of the night, and severity of
the cold (Matt. 8;12). The wicked in hell not only undergo the punishment of sense, but also that
of loss, which is separation from God, a privation of his sight, and of the beatific vision. Add to
this the eternity of their misery, which is above all other considerations makes it intolerable.”
(Mark 9:48).
Souls in hell are: alive (not annihilated or reduced to ashes or changed to other forms (Luke
16:19-31); weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 24:51); in outer darkness (Matt. 25:30); in
everlasting punishment (Matt. 25:46); tormented by fire forever (Luke 16:23, 24); tormented by
extreme thirst (Luke 16:24).
2.3 Paradise
Abraham’s Bosom, A Temporary Place for the O. T. Righteous
In Heb. 10:4, we are told, “For it is not possible that the blood of the bulls and of goats should take away
sins.” This means that the sins of the O. T. Righteous were covered but not washed away. This non-
removal of their sins prevented them from entering heaven, God’s Home, after physical death. Therefore,
God provided a temporary resting-place for them just opposite Hell, called Abraham’s Bosom. Jesus called
this “Paradise” (Luke 23:43). This place is just a shouting distance from Hell, (Luke 16:26; Rev. 19:1,2).
They were kept captives in this place, comforted and at rest, while waiting for Christ to die and shed His
blood so their sins could be washed away and they be fit for heaven. As shown in the true story of Lazarus
and the Rich man recorded in Luke 16: 19-31, Jesus made plain where the O. T, Righteous and wicked
went after their physical death.
The Transfer of Paradise to Heaven
Back to Ephesians 4:8 we quote, “Wherefore, He saith, When He ascended on high, He led captivity
captive.” At the ascension of Christ, to sit at His Father’s right hand, He took with Him those souls who
were for centuries captives in Abraham’s Bosom. Why? No doubt, He had already washed away their sins
by His precious blood shed on Calvary’s cross. Already made pure by the blood of the Lamb, they were fir
for heaven. He led those captivity captives to heaven, thus effecting the transfer of Paradise to the third
heaven (2 Cor. 12:2-4). St. Paul confirmed this place when he related his own personal experience as a
“man in Christ.” Here is his account recorded in 2 Cor. 12:2-4.
The N. T. Righteous and Wicked and the Destiny
From the resurrection of Christ to the end, the righteous go straight to heaven, while the wicked are cast in
hell (Gr. Gehenna- lake of fire- Rev 21:18, Luke 12:5). The righteous are those repentant sinners washed
by the blood of Christ. The wicked are the unrepentant sinners who reject the cleansing of the Blood of the
Lamb.
