Ahab

[John81]

Ahab, king of Israel, husband of Jezebel. Will he be spending eternity with Christ or is he eternally condemned?

[Seth Doty]

Ahab, king of Israel, husband of Jezebel. Will he be spending eternity with Christ or is he eternally condemned?

"1 Kings 21:20-29 And Ahab said to Elijah, hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee; because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat. But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house."

He obtained a small measure of mercy, or at least delayed judgment, because he humbled himself before God, but I don't think there is much doubt that he did not repent unto salvation.

[John81]

"1 Kings 21:20-29 And Ahab said to Elijah, hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee; because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat. But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house."

He obtained a small measure of mercy, or at least delayed judgment, because he humbled himself before God, but I don't think there is much doubt that he did not repent unto salvation.

So perhaps he only truly repented of the incident with Naboth and turned to God for mercy but did not have a heart repenting of other matters nor of fully reaching out to God?

[John81]

Along these same lines, were the people of Nineveh who repented at the preaching of Jonah heavenbound after this or not?

[Seth Doty]

So perhaps he only truly repented of the incident with Naboth and turned to God for mercy but did not have a heart repenting of other matters nor of fully reaching out to God?

Perhaps, but looking at the scripture passage I don't even think he "repented" of that per se. If you look at what happened Elijah basically told Ahab that he was in serious trouble with God and that God was so fed up and provoked by him that he was going to destroy both him and his line after him. Although Ahab did not follow the Lord and was not saved he did have a fear of God of a very general sort and believed what Elijah had said would happen. I believe the fear of God Ahab showed here is more akin to this NT passage than to real repentance. "James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." Even so since he at least had enough sense to take God's promise of judgement seriously and humbled himself before God after the word of the Lord came to him through Elijah God delayed his judgement of the house of Ahab through Jehu for while. If he had not humbled himself suspect he himself would have died at the hand of Jehu. Instead Joram his son died at the hand of Jehu while running away like a coward and Ahab died in battle. Seemingly in a fairly heroic manner from 2 Chronicles 18:34. That Ahab did not really have a change of heart leading to true repentance though can be seen by the fact that he did not stop any of his wicked deeds. Just look 2 Chronicles 18 and the events leading up to his death. Then if there is any doubt at all, look at the next chapter, chapter 19 verse two, and what the Lord said to Jehoshaphat because he helped Ahab in the battle.

"2 Chronicles 19:1-3 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD. Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God."

Ahab was such a wicked king that Jehoshaphat, who was generally a good king, was falling under the wrath of God just for being associated with him. Indeed, Jehoshaphat almost got killed in the same battle Ahab died in and likely would have been killed except it is specifically mentioned that the Lord "helped him" in spite of his foolish choice to help Ahab. Even in Jehoshaphat's foolishness God had mercy and caused those who were chasing him to realize he wasn't Ahab and leave him alone. Edited April 5, 2011 by Seth-Doty

[Seth Doty]

Along these same lines, were the people of Nineveh who repented at the preaching of Jonah heavenbound after this or not?

As to that one, I would say not enough scriptural information to know with certainty, but my my "guess" would be yes, at least many of them. If for no other reason than Matthew 12:41 and Luke 11:32 which seem to rather strongly imply it.

[Wilchbla]

Along these same lines, were the people of Nineveh who repented at the preaching of Jonah heavenbound after this or not?

No, they didn't go to heaven. They went to Abraham's Bosom. Even then they may have had to respond to the preaching of Jesus Christ (I Peter 3:18-20). Nobody went to heaven before the cross of Christ because the way had not be made open yet by his efficacious atonement. Edited April 5, 2011 by Wilchbla

[Seth Doty]

No, they didn't go to heaven. They went to Abraham's Bosom. Even then they may have had to respond to the preaching of Jesus Christ (I Peter 3:18-20). Nobody went to heaven before the cross of Christ because the way had not be made open yet by his efficacious atonement.

True, although that was not really the discussion yes OT saints could not go directly to heaven. On the other hand if you wish to be even more technical John said "heavenbound" and those in "Abrahams bosom certainly were "heavenbound" although they did have to wait for Christs death before they could actually go there. We knew what he meant.

[John81]

True, although that was not really the discussion yes OT saints could not go directly to heaven. On the other hand if you wish to be even more technical John said "heavenbound" and those in "Abrahams bosom certainly were "heavenbound" although they did have to wait for Christs death before they could actually go there. We knew what he meant.

Good reply Seth. Indeed, I used the term "heavenbound" specifically. I agree with the rest of what you said concering those of Nineveh.

As to Ahab, we seem to be in accord there as well. While there seems to be some indications that from the time of God's triumph through Elijah on Mount Carmel that Ahab may have recognized that God is truly God, and that God seems to have reached out to Ahab, it does seem Ahab never actually "embraced" God.

As you so well put forth, like the devils, Ahab came to believe that God was real and true, but not to the point of actually turning to Him. Actually a very sad thing to consider.