Understanding Sheol, Hell

Q. In Numbers 16 it describes the children of Korah going straight to Sheol. It was my understanding that Sheol was hell. Why would G-d send innocent children to hell?

A. Sheol is the Hebrew word for the abode of the dead. The Greek uses “hades”. It is beneath the earth (Ezek 31.15-17). Luke 16 gives us a glimpse of “hell” or “sheol” or “hades”. Three words are rendered “hell” in KJV but the Revised Version is more accurate. The meaning of “sheol” moves between the ideas of the grave, the underworld and the state of death. G-d rules sheol and it is under the earth (Ps 86.13). Sheol is a form of judgment in some passages (Ps 49.13-14, Ezek 31.14). There is not time and space to completely cover all this, but basically these children went to sheol is another way of saying they “died.” This doesn’t mean they went to hell for punishment, only thet they entered the abode of the dead. Sheol is where the unbeliever awaits his final judgment (Rev 6.8). It is to give up its dead (Rev 20.13) and then be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev 20.14).

Q. Can a believer lose his salvation?

A. No, it is impossible for a true believer to lose his salvation. Let me give some scriptures and some things to think about. John 17 says it is impossible for you to be snatched out of the Fathers hand. You enter into a relationship spiritually with the L-rd like a baby is born. Just like a baby cannot be unborn, it is the same spiritually. This covenant has G-d’s name in it and He will not go back on it, even if/when we fail. We are already positioned “in” Messiah. We can’t be lost again or Messiah would be lost because we a re “in” Him. We cannot save ourselves by works, good or bad. So, how can we keep ourselves “saved by works. Both are impossible.

The trouble is, most people think they are saved and aren’t, so this comes up. They misinterpret the scriptures in Hebrews and Peter and they get everyone all upset. Almost every person I have ever talked to that believes that also doesn’t keep the Torah, so according to their own definition they are lost. Not keeping the Sabbath is sin, Not keeping the biblical festivals is sin. Eating pork, catfish, shellfish, lobster and shrimp is sin, yet they want to believe they can lose their salvation id one sins. It’s all very confusing if you don’t know the L-rd.

You see, He is the one who keeps you, to lose your salvation means that you would have to remove the foundation, which is G-d, and He said He isn’t moving. If the L-rd can save us when we were sinners and His enemies (Rom 5.6-10), why can’t He keep His friends? You cannot return Yeshua to the “un-slain lamb” position and you can’t return yourself to the “unborn-again” position either. Quit thinking like men and look at this from the L-rd’s point of view. A baby can’t return itself to the womb again, and neither can you spiritually. There is a lot of bad teaching out there, but that is not surprising. These false teachers don’t know G-d or the scriptures. Most of them don’t even know what sin is.

They even go so far as to say things used to be sin, but they aren’t anymore. I don’t put a lot of stock in their opinions on this subject either. If you are a true believer, you will have a testimony of Yeshua and you will keep the commandments. Anyone who doesn’t keep the commandments but says he knows the L-rd is a liar and is not qualified to speak about this subject, or any spiritual subject for that matter (1Jn 2.3-4). So, if you are a true believer in Yeshua, rest assured that you are safe and follow Him, obeying His commandments as a rule and guide in your life.

And when you fall short, if you confess your sin, He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you (1Jn. 1.9). Remember, In Jn 13, Yeshua washes Peter’s feet Peter says “No” and Yeshua say’s if He doesn’t he can have no part in Him. Peter then says “wash my whole body. Yeshua says that once you have bathed(been born-again, regenerated), you only need the daily cleansing from sin. There is a difference between that initial judicial regeneration and daily cleansing.