A Trip to Hell and back, with Jonah
George F. Howe
Did you realize Jonah went to
"hell" and got out? That's right---he went straight to the womb or
belly of hell (Jonah 2:2 King James Version KJV) and then God brought him back
again! These words come directly from the King James Translation, a Bible
version that many people consider to be very authoritative.
Jonah 2:2 "…out of the belly of hell
cried I,…"
Jonah 2:6...thou brought up my life, O Lord
my God."
The word Sheol (Hebrew) is often rendered
"hell" in the KJV rather than just "grave" or
"death" as it is put in other translations.
So Jonah chapter two proves that whatever
"hell" in the KJV may be, it is a place where the five following
events can and do occur; please watch carefully.
1.
God can and does hear people who are in hell (2:2).
2. People
in hell can and do repent (2:4).
3.
People there can and do pray to God (2:7).
4.
People there do experience "salvation" (2:9)
5.
God gets people out of hell, as we already saw in the case of Jonah (2:6).
Scholars go two or three different ways with
the one word Sheol, sometimes rendering it "death", "the power
death," "the grave", etc., and quite often in lie KJV as
"hell." But, this has allowed humans to pick and choose meanings in
different passages---process that opens the door to the possibility of false
teaching and to the pharisaical defense of a human doctrine---eternal torment.
But, whatever Sheol really is its door outward is open to ultimate salvation.
Have you always thought that the Bible
teaches hell to be a place where God torments lost souls forever? Please write
for further formation showing how the inspired Bible words by Christ, Paul,
John, Peter, Luke, Matthew, and others describe Gods plan to saw all people
ultimately and to reconcile them all to Himself.
TURA
(The Ultimate Reconciliation of All)
24635
Also go to Restore All Things