In our Christian faith and traditions, we honor Jesus's sacrifice on the Cross for us, and we celebrate His Resurrection. But how many of us know [or even have any interest in knowing] what happened during that interval that Jesus was in the tomb? Unfortunately, through the centuries, since that providential interval, the Church and various denominations have often stopped short of examining the importance of what Scripture tells us was going on.
Before we begin this discussion, we must understand that not only do we not study or teach about this subject from a Scriptural standpoint, but that lack of examination has led to confusion and an inadequate interpretation of what Scripture actually says. It's important that we realize that when it comes to the language in our modern Bibles, that we have inherited a conglomeration of various translations that have come to us through the ages. The Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek (the Septuagint), which was then translated into Latin by Jerome (with the assistance of other scribes); and then translated into English by such men as John Wycliffe and William Tyndale. And of course, we've had many recent translations in English since then.
Let me be clear .... this is not an attempt to disqualify our Bible as incomplete or in error. In fact, I believe that the Bible we have today can be interpreted through our relationship with the Holy Spirit and we can receive everything God intended us to know about His redemptive plan for mankind. The problem arises [regarding this topic of where Jesus was between His death and His resurrection] because too many in our modern age take their understandings of Science and Technology and try to force them into ancient texts.
Can you perceive that the Bible gives us a "story arc" by which to understand the history, plan and purpose in God's relationship with man and His gift of redemption? It's not every single detail of what's happened since Genesis 1:1, but shows us the development of that relationship; the conflicts, the resolutions, and God's intentions and will. I'm sure you can grasp the concept that everything about the history of God's interactions with mankind cannot be contained in 1500 pages. So we must study history and cultural precepts, as well as learn to "connect the dots" that God and the Holy Spirit reveal in the Word.
So, when it comes to this question I've presented in the title today, let's proceed with the acceptance that the Bible is not trying to answer our questions from today's scientific mindset, but simply trying to communicate to us the significant story arc of His gift of Redemption. We can begin by understanding that God, the Father, wants a family and relationship with us. Our free will choice to participate in Sin has destroyed that relationship, and Jesus is the answer and the instrument of our familial restoration.
This brings us to the question I ask in the title of this post, and the passage in the Bible that has led to controversy among modern-day Christians ... When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and He bestowed gifts to men. In saying, "He ascended", what does it mean except that He also had previously descended [from the heights of Heaven] into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the very same who also ascended far above all the heavens, that His presence might fill all things [the whole universe] -- Ephesians 4:8-10. So, do you believe that after His Resurrection, Jesus "descended to hell" (as the Apostles Creed states)?
This passage is telling us that after dying and being buried in the tomb, Jesus spent the time until His Resurrection in a triumphant descent into Sheol, preaching and bestowing salvation on the righteous dead held captive by Death since the beginning of the world. He then led this host of captives to Heaven, giving them the gift of Eternal Life. He then rose from the grave to His Resurrection, and for 40 days, teaching His Disciples God's plan to provide Eternal Life for all Believers from then on.
To help our understanding of what happened between Jesus's Death and His Resurrection [and the language the Bible uses to describe what occurred during that intermission, so to speak], we must grasp the three-tiered belief system of the After Life in the Old Testament. It can be very confusing, since some of these translated words appear to be interchangeable between languages. So let me try to give you the simplest definitions I can, hoping to reduce any misinterpretation or confusion.
SHEOL: This is a Hebrew term in the Old Testament that simply means "the place of the dead"; the shadowy realm where departed souls went. In Old Testament times, both the righteous and the unrighteous went to Sheol after death -- the righteous dead to a compartment (so to speak) known as Abraham's Bosom -- and the unrighteous dead to the section called Hades. The Bible also seems to indicate that Sheol seems to be a temporary place where souls are kept until the final resurrection.
HADES: This is the Greek word, most associated with our English word Hell, but in Old Testament language they are actually quite different (I'll explain more in a moment). As mentioned in the previous paragraph, Hades is the temporary holding place of the unrighteous dead in Sheol. The New Testament continues the teaching that Hades is a temporary holding place for departed souls. But after Jesus's Resurrection, Hades takes on a new meaning: new believers have the promise of going immediately into God's presence. "And He said to him (the thief on the Cross), Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise".
HELL (TARTARUS, GEHENNA): This is where it can get confusing. Hell is the English word for Tartarus (in Greek mythology it is the deep abyss below Sheol), and corresponds to the Hebrew word Gehenna (connoting the Valley [of the sons] of Hinnom, where the ancient Israelites sacrificed their children to the false god, Molech). In the Old Testament, it was a cursed place and carried implications of fire, filth, and horror. In the New Testament, Jesus carries over this graphic picture ... "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment... liable to the hell of fire" (Matthew 5:22). This image of fiery judgment is also presented in Mark 9:43-48, where hell is likened to "the unquenchable fire". This is where the Genesis 6 Fallen angels are imprisoned, along with all who are wicked and enemies of God; a place of final judgment; an eternal place of fire, darkness, and separation from God.
As you can see, it is no wonder that it is difficult for Christians to come to a consensus regarding what happened between Jesus's death and His Resurrection. At this point it is to your benefit to do some comprehensive research and deep-dive studies in the Bible to develop your own Biblical worldview. What I'm sharing is where I'm currently at in my understanding, always willing to be corrected by the Holy Spirit.
But here is where I think we can all agree and clear up some of the controversy and confusion ... In the Old Testament, if you were a righteous person and died, you went to Sheol (specifically Abraham's Bosom), where judgment was based on your adherence to the Law of the Old Testament. And Jesus, who was still under the Old Testament covenant and its Law when He died, would have gone to Sheol. He didn't take any short cuts, if you will!
Remember the New Testament covenant doesn't begin until His Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven. During the three days His body lies in the Tomb, Jesus goes down to Sheol to where the righteous dead have been held, awaiting the long-promised Messiah. There He identifies Himself and proclaims the Gospel, effectively tearing down the gates of Hades and declaring His victory! Notice I said "the gates of Hades", not the gates of "Hell". At this point, we need to do a little deeper dive.
This is where the words that have been in translated in our English Bibles can cause some confusion. In 1 Peter 3: 18-19, the Bible speaks about Christ after His death; that "He was made alive in the spirit" and "He went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison" which were those who "disobeyed in the days of Noah". He descended to the place of the dead (Sheol)-- not to the place of the eternally condemned (Hell and the final destination of the devil, his fallen angels, and all who refused to submit to Jesus Christ and whose names are not found in the Book of Life after the final judgment).
NOTE: It is my opinion [and it is very important] that we make clear that Jesus did not descend into hell, but He did descend into Sheol and Hades. And this is purely speculative, but I believe it's possible that these wicked, who are imprisoned in Hell, were able to hear Jesus preaching the Gospel in Sheol and heard His victory shout!
Again, in the case of our English translation, we find Jesus blessing Peter in Matthew 16:18 ... And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I think the original meaning is best preserved in the Greek ... I tell you, you are Peter (petros, a detached but large fragment of rock), and upon this massive rock (petra, Christ) I will build My ekklesia and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Can you see that He is referring to Hades and not Hell?
Now look again at what I wrote just a couple of paragraphs above ... Jesus (still under the Old Testament covenant), goes to Sheol, identifies Himself as the Messiah, proclaims the Gospel (God's redemptive plan for mankind), effectively tearing down the gates of Hades -- the apparatus that kept the unrighteous dead imprisoned, with no hope of redemption or victory over Death and their Sin. He takes the righteous dead to Heaven and returns to earth to His Resurrection. Now there is a new covenant offered by God to all men ... "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loos on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19).
We now have the ability [through our free will] to choose to use the keys of the Kingdom to unlock those prison doors where we've been bound to our sin, and be set free [through faith in Jesus Christ]. So, can you now see why it is important that the Church make these distinctions and teach the truth of Scripture? In these times of waning faith and lukewarm believers, it is more important than ever that we discern the Truth of Scripture and not fall for the lies and misconceptions of both the secular and the Church cultures.
Don't believe that "a loving God would never send people to hell". Yes, God is love. But He's also holy and just. He doesn't abandon His justice for the sake of His love. In fact, He has given us the solution to keep us out of hell -- Jesus's sacrifice on the Cross. But if someone chooses to reject His offer of a solution, a loving and just God will not force them into heaven. Don't buy the lie that hell is just a myth or simply allegorical. Jesus, Himself, said, And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. But never forget this: the same Bible that tells us about hell, also tells us Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved -- SAVED: rescued, delivered, safe.
It's important to know what happened during those three days between the grave and the Resurrection. Understanding the fullness of what took place has eternal meaning for you and for me. Through the centuries, so much has been lost of the context between our Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and English translations. Without full and true comprehension, it is too easy to fall for the misconceptions and miss what God is trying to reveal to us. In my opinion, we must have discerning spirits -- seeking knowledge from history and the ancient writings, but always vetting them against the Word and the counsel of the Holy Spirit. Satan's workers of iniquity are too happy to lead us astray through false teachers. Be mindful, and on your guard -- seek the Lord on questions you have about any teaching, including this blog. It is the desire of God's heart that you seek His Truth. I urge you to do that in these momentous times. God bless you!
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.
