First of all, wages of sin is death. In other words, punishment for living a life of sinfulness without repentance and salvation is surely death. The death spoken of here is also referred to in Scriptures as "second death." The meaning of word "death" is a separation. (The meaning of word "death" in secular world means an ending of life, or that person has ceased to live.) In physical sense, death is separation of spirit of person from physical body. This is first death. The "second death" is eternal separation of spirit of a person from presence of God. In as much as God is our Creator - both as a human race and as an individual - it is our desire for our spirit to return to God upon physical death to be able to live with Him for eternity. However, due to sin - or more specifically a life of sinfulness without remission of sin and salvation - one will experience "second death" which is eternal separation of spirit with God.

If one is eternally separated from God, then where will his spirit be? "But cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is second death." (Revelation 21:8) "And I saw dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is Book of Life. And dead were judged according to their works, by things which were written in books. The sea gave up dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up dead who were in them. And they were judged, each according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into lake of fire. This is second death. And anyone not found written in Book of Life was cast into lake of fire." (Revelation 20:12-15) "In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from presence of Lord and from glory of His power." (2 Thessalonians 1:8,9)

These Scriptures paint a grim picture for those who refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and strive to live a life pleasing to Him. This picture is one of a spiritual separation from our Creator. It is also a picture of eternal suffering in "lake of fire."

The Bible does not give us a great amount of detail as to place we call Hell. Perhaps it is to protect us from knowledge of that awful place. It is possible that very knowledge would destroy us. (No Scripture for this, just my opinion.) But Bible does give us a glimpse of what it will be like. Jesus tells us of rich man who went to hell in Luke 16:19-24. In this passage, verses 23 and 24 say, "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." How severe torment must be if a single drop of water would be desired to bring whatever slight relief it could. There is no way on earth that we can even begin to imagine torment that awaits unrepentant sinner.

The good news (no, great news) is that a sinner can be forgiven. "For God so loved world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into world to condemn world, but that world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16,17) "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

Many uninformed Christians believe that Jesus Christ "appeared" on scene in book of Matthew and that New Testament is about Christ and His teachings. They also believe that Old Testament is an account of history and laws of Jewish people before time of Christ. They do not see or recognize relationship between two testaments. The relationship is Christ.

As early as Genesis 3:15 we see Christ in Old Testament. The Old Testament is replete with prophesies about coming Messiah, and God begins to tell His people these in first book of Bible. In Genesis 3:15 we see that Christ is seed of woman; in 4:25 we see that He is from line of Seth; in 9:27 we see that line continues through Shem; in 12:3 line continues through Abraham; in 21:12 line continues through Isaac; in 25:23 through Jacob; and in 49:10 we see that Christ shall be of tribe of Judah.

Another way we see Christ in Old Testament is through types. A "type" is a historical fact that illustrates a spiritual truth. For example, Adam is said to be a type, "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to likeness of transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come." (Romans 5:14) How is Adam a type of Christ? Both entered world through a special act of God as sinless men. We think of Adam as being head of first creation, physical creation of man. Jesus is head of new creation. Through Adam, sin was introduced to world, through Jesus sin is made null and void.

There are also what I like to call "pictures of Christ" in Old Testament. An example of this is Abel's acceptable offering of a blood sacrifice which points to or "pictures" Christ as being acceptable blood sacrifice for all mankind's sin. In like manner, Cain's murder of Able pictures death of Christ; both were a result of jealousy.

Joseph is also a type of Christ. Both Joseph and Christ were objects of special love by their fathers, both were hated by their brothers, both were rejected as rulers over their brothers, both were sold for silver, both were condemned though innocent, and both were raised out of their humiliation to positions of glory by power of God.

Not all Old Testament books contain direct messianic prophecies. Some books which may not have direct prophecies will be full of types and/or pictures of Christ. Let's take a look at each Old Testament book following Genesis to see what of Christ we can see in each of them.

EXODUS: Exodus has no direct prophecies but is full of types. Some of these types are: Moses, Passover, seven feasts, exodus, manna and water, tabernacle, and high priest.

LEVITICUS: Leviticus is also brimming with types and allusions of person and work of Jesus. Some of more important are: five offerings, high priest, and seven feasts.

NUMBERS: In Numbers there are several pictures of Christ. Some of these include: a bronze serpent on a stake (a picture of Crucifixion), rock that quenches thirst of multitude, daily manna, pillar of cloud and fire, and six cities of refuge.

DEUTERONOMY: The most obvious picture of Christ is found in 18:15, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear." Also we see Moses as a type of Christ as described above. Also note that Moses and Christ were only ones to fill three offices of prophet, priest and king (remember that Moses was never named a king, but fulfilled duties of a king as ruler of Israel).

JOSHUA: Joshua himself is a type of Christ. Joshua led Israel into their promised land, and as such he pictures Christ as One who will bring "many sons to glory" (see Heb. 2:10). Joshua succeeded Moses and realized victory which was unattainable by Moses, and in like manner Christ realized victory which was unattainable by law. The "Commander of army of Lord" which we see in 5:13-15 is evidently a preincarnate appearance of Christ.

JUDGES: The judges fulfilled two roles, that of spiritual savior and political ruler. These two roles picture role of Christ as our Savior and King. The seven judges also functioned individually somewhat differently. Some are warrior-rulers, some priests, and one (Samuel) was a prophet. These different functions all picture three offices of Christ as our Prophet, Priest and King.

RUTH: The book of Ruth shows redemption of Ruth by her kinsmen. This kinsmen-redeemer relationship is a picture of relationship which Christ has with us. Also, Ruth was Great-Grandmother of David and therefore a blood relative of Christ.

I & II SAMUEL: Samuel is a type of Christ as he holds offices of prophet, priest and judge. However we see more of Christ in life and person of David in these two books. David is born in Bethlehem, serves as a shepherd, and rules as king of Israel. David is forerunner of messianic King, and New Testament calls Christ "seed of David according to flesh" (Romans 1:3) and "the Root and Offspring of David." (Revelation 22:16)