THE COVENANT OF DEATH AND HELL
By Bibleman
The Bible talks about those who have entered the covenant of death and hell. The master of those who enter the covenant of death and hell is Satan the devil. All people who belong to the devil have entered the covenant of death and hell. Those who have entered into the covenant of death and hell will inherit the kingdom of hell unless they break and annul the covenant of death and hell that they have made with the devil and enter into the covenant of life in Christ Jesus. The devils purpose is to lead souls away from Christ and then trap them in one of his snares of death (Prov. 13:14; 14:27). The wages of sin is death and all who stay on that road will end up in hell. All who belong to the devil have made a covenant with death and hell by their own choices (1 Jn. 3:4-10). The good news is that anyone who has made a covenant with death and hell can call out to God and ask Him to deliver their soul from the pains of hell and death (Ps. 116:3-9). Everyone must choose which covenant they want to enter and who they want to serve.
The Snares of Death
The Bible tells us that the devil has many snares and devices designed to lead people into the covenant of death and hell. All who practice sin and ungodly lifestyles have been snared by the devil. Following the way of ones own heart can be a deceitful snare (Prov. 16:25; 2 Cor. 1:9,10). There are many ways that may seem right unto a man but are really just paths that lead to death and hell. Idolaters, murderers, fornicators, homosexuals, adulterers, and those who commit such sins are without question headed for hell (Rom. 1:21-32). All the unrepentant guests of sexual immorality who have fallen into this deadly snare of the devil are now in hell (Prov. 5:5; 7:27; 9:13-18). Those who do not keep the commandments of God have fallen into the snare of transgression (Ps. 107:17,18; Jam. 2:11). Another snare is the sinful pleasures of the flesh (Rom. 8:1,12,13). Those who love the world and the things of the world have fallen into a deadly snare that opposes the will of God (1 Jn. 2:15-17). The love of money is a covetous sin that has ensnared the souls of many. Over filthy lucre many have entered the covenant of death and hell and have been destroyed (1 Tim. 6:9,10). Backsliders are members of the covenant of death and hell (Prov. 14:12-14; Jer. 8:3-5). Hypocrites and false teachers who lead people astray will not be able to escape the damnation of hell (Mt. 5:19,20; 23:15,33). Wealth and riches can be a destructive snare that inducts one into the covenant of death and hell (Mt. 6:24; 19:18-24; Lk. 16:23). Apostates who have turned away from God and the true gospel have entered the covenant of death and hell. Their name has been blotted out of heaven and their new destiny is the fiery flames of eternal hell (Deut. 29:18-20; Ezek. 18:26; Jn. 6:66). Hell and destruction awaits all those who refuse correction and reproof (Prov. 15:9-12). All who reject Christ and His commandments to pursue evil lifestyles and walk in darkness are active members of the Covenant of death and hell (Prov. 11:19; Mk. 7:9; Jn. 12:46-50; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 1 Jn. 1:6; 3:4-10; Rev. 22:11-15).
The Law of Sin and Death
Why do so many people live contrary to God? Why are they always falling into the snares of the devil being held captive by sin? Why have so many made a covenant with death and hell? It is because of the fleshly sin nature that has been handed down to each of us. We are all born in original sin because of Adam. Man cannot overcome the old sin nature without the help of God. Even ones own good works or efforts cannot eradicate the desires of the flesh (Rom. 7:15-25). How then can we eradicate the fleshly sin nature in us that causes us to walk contrary to God holding us captive to the law of sin? The Apostle Paul gives us the answer to this question in Romans 8.
The Law of the Spirit of Life
It is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus that delivers us from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2)! God has provided a better way for man under the New Covenant. Through Christ we can be free from the law of sin and death. We can revoke the covenant of death and hell and receive the covenant of life in Jesus Christ! The unregenerated man is under the covenant of death and hell and needs to be redeemed from them by Christ. Through the new birth experience a repentant man is baptized into Christ whereby he can walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-5). The old sin nature with its fleshly desires and carnal mind is to be buried in the waters of baptism or crucified with Christ. Baptism in water represents the burying of the old life to rise up out of the water a new man in Christ. It’s the blood of Christ that washes away the sin and the Holy Spirit that sanctifies and regenerates the heart and soul. When man receives the indwelling Holy Spirit through the new birth his life of sin is over and he is to now live a righteous life (Rom. 6:4-23; 8:1-14). It is the indwelling Holy Spirit in ones life that enables him to mortify the sinful deeds of the flesh, overcome the world and fulfill the righteousness of the law (Rom. 8:4,13; 1 Jn. 5:1-5). All who have annulled the covenant of death and hell through repentance and the new birth no longer walk in darkness. They now have a personal relationship with Christ and live a life of holiness (Rom. 6)
Israel’s Covenant with Death and Hell
The Bible talks about a time in Israel’s history when her priests, prophets, and spiritual leaders all made a covenant with death and hell. Israel’s spiritual leaders made a covenant with death and hell because of their bondages to sin. They were guilty of pride, drunkenness, teaching false doctrines, spiritual blindness, scornfulness, falsehood, uncleanness, and unrighteousness (Isa. 28:15-27). These wicked leaders lacked spiritual knowledge and wisdom and were very immature spiritually. First repentance was needed to sweep and wash away all the filth of their sins. Then they needed to build upon a good and solid foundation that would allow them to weather the storms of life. They needed to desperately hear and hearken to the Word of God. They needed to learn to walk in righteousness and avoid the snares of the enemy that they had fallen into. What they needed was some serious discipline from the staff and rod. Because of the rebellious Egyptian Pharaoh’s attitude in releasing the Israelites from bondage the staff of Moses brought curses and judgment. The staff and rod in the Bible have been the symbols of correction, discipline, and judgment. Sometimes the Lord lovingly sends discipline in the form of some type of punishment to turn us around when we are on a path that leads to death and hell.
The Keys of Death and Hell
It is the Lord Jesus Christ who holds the keys to hell and death (Rev. 1:18). By the shedding of His blood Jesus Christ can rescue the repentant soul from spiritual death. By his resurrection Christ defeated and gained the victory over physical death. Christ went down into hell, after his death, to bring out the souls of His saved people who were once located in a compartment of hell called paradise. He brought paradise and the people that were there, out of the heart of the earth, to be with Him in heaven. Christ was able to do this because he had the keys to hell (Mt. 12:40; Acts 2:31; Eph. 4:8-10). No man has a key to overcome death or get out of hell on his own. Jesus Christ is the only one who can release the captives snared by the devil who are headed for death and hell. If you want to be released from the covenant of death and hell you must repent and be converted to Christ…for there is no other way out ((Ps. 25:11-22; Jer. 8:5,6; Jam. 5:20). If you want to avoid death and hell you must believe in and obey Christ (Jn. 5:24; Heb. 5:9). The wages of sin is death and the fate and destiny of those who have made a covenant with death and hell is curses, judgment, damnation, and eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Deut. 28; Ps. 78:49-51; Mt. 11:23; Jn. 5:29; Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:14). Because Jesus Christ has the keys to death and hell He can free you from spiritual death and release you from the bondages that would sentence you to hell. You must choose in this life where you want to spend eternity.
The Great Tribulation
Because so many people today have made a covenant with death and hell the world has become a very evil place. Since the world continues to get worse and worse and evil is exploding exponentially the Lord will soon bring judgment. There will be worldwide tribulation and disaster coming to the earth and its sinful inhabitants. We read about these terrible judgments and disasters in the Book of Revelation. When the four horsemen of the apocalypse begin to ride over the earth billions of the earths inhabitants will die. Something interesting about the last horseman is that he has a rider named death and hell (Rev. 6:8). This rider will take the lives of one fourth of the population of planet earth who have made a covenant with death and hell. The retribution for their evil deeds will come through war, famine, pestilence, plagues, and by the wild beasts of the earth ((Rev. 6:8). During the tribulation period all who receive the Mark of the Beast will enter forever the covenant of death and hell. The covenant of death and hell cannot be annulled once the mark has been willfully taken (Rev. 14:9-11). Eventually all who have made a permanent covenant with death and hell will be judged by God and cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14,15).
Entering the New Covenant
All who want to annul their covenant with death and hell must believe in Jesus Christ and come to repentance. Christ is waiting to have a personal relationship with all who repent and invite Him into their lives to be their Lord and Savior (Rev. 3:19-22). The Lord has provided a plan for mankind to be redeemed from death and hell. Through the atoning sacrifice that Christ made with His own shed blood He has purchased and redeemed all who enter His New Covenant via the new birth (Jn. 3:3). Under the New Covenant God is at work changing and transforming the hearts and lives of His people. God desires to perfect and purify his people until they become like Christ. Such a transformed life is only possible by the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who have been saved. Through the Holy Spirit Christ lives in the hearts of His people guiding them and directing them into the ways of righteousness and holiness. The New Covenant requires that we overcome all sin and darkness, walk in holiness and remain faithful to God. Those who have been redeemed from death and hell will inherit eternal life in the kingdom of God. The redeemed will dwell with God forever in a state of endless happiness! For the redeemed who have entered the covenant of life and holiness offered by Christ, there will be no more hardships, pain, evil, sorrow or death (Rev. 21:3,4)! Amen!
