One might wonder what 'Prayer' and 'Hell' have in common ... Wonder no More! 'Hell' is a very B-I-G word. It means so much more than what its' 4 letters seem at first glance to express.
It can be used as a Curse or Curse Word. It can help to slander, someone. Or ... it can refer to a Place. But even here it is too often misunderstood. Even Bible professing 'believer's' can be found misunderstanding 'Hell'.
There are a number of Old Testament words used to define 'Hell'. They are; Sheol, the Grave, and ... the Pit. But in the New Testament that definition is refined even more.
The word 'Hell' takes on a personality of its' own. There is Hades - which simply refers to the Place of Departed Souls. It is often understood as an Underground Retreat for all of Mankind awaiting the Day of Judgment.
This does not refer ONLY to those outside of the realm of Faith but includes those who have died IN Faith. It is simply a 'holding place' until the 2nd Resurrection. (And will become the holding place for those who will partake in the 1st Resurrection.)
Within the confines of Hades, there are two very separated regions. Call them 'Underworld Continents' if you so choose. They may be Vast in size or they may be Minuscule in physical measures. After all .. what height, width, length, or breadth of space is required to 'house' a spirit? How LARGE or small is the soul (spirit) of a Man or Woman?
What does it weigh? Is physical space even relevant? Without a doubt, it is relevant at least to the degree that it is confined WITHIN Creation. But I remember hearing years ago, that within a single Atom there can very well be an astonishing, even fascinating 'World' within the 'World'.
If Man ever reaches the far-distant Planets ... He still will have only just begun to understand the substance contained in the hand-grasp of air that is before him. (Back to Hades ...)
Within Hades, there are 2 known (or revealed) 'Places'. These individual realms happen to also be defined by a Condition. This Condition is significant to the Comfort or Lack of Comfort to the Spirit of Mankind.
There is Abraham's Bosom and there is Gehenna. Comfort is the Condition of those who are held in Abraham's Bosom. Discomfort is very present continually with those who are bound in Gehenna's Fire.
Everyone IN Hades understands the existence of the other places and the other conditions. And according to the statement of Jesus ... they can 'see' the other and can still be moved with such care as to 'pass-over' to the other to bring comfort or to escape discomfort ... IF it were possible. And ... it is not. Separating these two distinct regions is an Impassable Divide.
I understand the limits of the physical body ... A locked Door can be impassable. A closed Window can be impassable. A High Wall can be impassable. A deep Pit can be impassable.
But I presently lack understanding as to what divides the Spirit of a Man, or the Soul of a Man from passing over, except that I know that Light and Darkness cannot be co-joined. There is no possibility of a 'hand-in-glove commonality' in the Realm of the Spirit.
I do know ... that when I am released from this body of flesh (the sooner the better) ... my understanding will be greatly enlarged - IMMEDIATELY.
From my readings, within Scripture, I am fully assured that departed souls 'Pray'. And it does NOT matter if they are in Abraham's Bosom OR in Gehenna's Flames ... Prayer has become the necessity and the absolute practice of every individual who has passed from the Boundaries of the Physical Realm.
In fact ... Jesus declared clearly that the Rich Man IN Gehenna begged that help would come to him and to his brothers on the surface. He was PRAYING! And he was Praying Like those in Hell Pray!
IF GOD would allow YOU or ME to hear the prayers that a loved one was praying IN HADES (In either region of Hades) ... that would be enough to convince you and me to flee from every flirt with darkness for a lifetime!
If ... in truth ... I prayed like a Man or Woman in Hell ... my words and works would be convincing ... and my habits would be nothing less than Godly.
Pray for me ... that I would Pray Like a Man or Woman in Hell!
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