Subject: Did Jesus go to hell? |
Bible Note: The FIRST section, which in Luke, is called Abraham’s bosom. This section was also referred to as paradise by Christ. Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Before Jesus paid the price for sin, man could not go into the presence of a Holy God with sin only “covered up”, as it were. Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Those sacrifices were only a covering until the Lamb of God could be offered for a perfect sacrifice that would take sin away. The dead that trusted God for their salvation were held captive in a place called paradise until their sin could be taken away completely. John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. After Christ’s death he went to HAIDES and rendered the captives free to go with Him to Heaven. Ephes. 4:8-10 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) The SECOND compartment in HAIDES, mentioned by Jesus, was a place referred to as torments. It is a place of suffering for all those who reject God’s plan of salvation through the perfect sacrifice, Christ. There is fire and suffering connected with this section as was told by the rich man. Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. Though the rich man’s body was someplace else he still had some sort of an interim body with many of the same senses still functioning. It should be pointed out that the rich man could see over to the section of bliss where Abraham was along with all the true believers, yet there was no way for the rich man to get there. While on the topic notice that the rich man wasn’t enjoying the comfort of his friends while in this place of torment as some so smugly say that they will do when they depart this life and go to hell. The THIRD and final compartment or section in HAIDES is what’s called, a great gulf fixed. Luke 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. This is a chasm or an abyss that can’t be crossed and it is the great separation between the extremes that God established, there was no second chance or purgatory; once there your time to trust in God’s salvation plan in Jesus, is over, eternity has been fully activated. I hope this helps when one reads that Christ went to HAIDES, which should be translated to the place of the departed souls. Actually even the section called torments, that is in HAIDES, isn’t the final abode of the wicked, it to will be emptied out one day for a worse condition, just as paradise was emptied for a better condition. Rev. 20:13-15 (NKJV) The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. It is interesting to note that they were judged according to their works. i.e. They (weren’t) trusting in the work that Jesus Christ did for them on the cross, they (weren’t) believers, they are depending on their own good deeds or works, not Christ’s, they have rejected Jesus and were found lacking according to God’s standard which is perfect righteousness. 2 Cor. 5:21 For he (God) hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Have a great day, CDBJ |