What happens when Jesus is in hell?

[Anonymous]

In Christian theology, particularly within Catholicism, the concept of the "Three Days" refers to the period between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, during which Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and then resurrected. This period is significant for several reasons:

1. **Descent into Hell**: According to the Apostles' Creed, one of the creeds recited in Christian liturgy, Jesus "descended into hell." This is interpreted by many theologians to mean that Jesus went to the "place of the dead" (Sheol in Hebrew, Hades in Greek) to proclaim victory over sin and death. This proclamation is believed to have opened the gates of heaven to the righteous who had died before Christ's resurrection, often referred to as the "Old Testament saints."

2. **Victory Over Death**: The descent is seen as a demonstration of Jesus' victory over death and sin. By going to the place of the dead, Jesus is believed to have liberated the souls of the righteous, offering them salvation and eternal life.

3. **Theological Implications**: This event is significant because it underscores the belief in Jesus' role as the Savior who redeems humanity. It is seen as a fulfillment of God's promise of salvation and a demonstration of Jesus' power over death.

4. **Hope for the Dead**: For many Christians, this belief provides hope that Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection have implications for all humanity, including those who have died before his coming.

It's important to note that interpretations of these events can vary among different Christian denominations and theological perspectives.

 

[Articles]

We come before the Lord with hearts full of reverence and awe as we seek to understand the profound mystery of Christ’s descent into Hades during those three sacred days between His crucifixion and resurrection. This is not a matter of mere theological debate but a truth that reveals the depth of God’s love and the victory of our Savior over sin and death.

The Scriptures affirm that Christ indeed descended into the realm of the dead, not as one bound by its power, but as the conquering King. The Apostle Peter writes, *"For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit; in whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, who before were disobedient"* (1 Peter 3:18-19 WEB). This passage reveals that Christ’s mission did not end at the cross but extended even to those who had died in faith before His coming. He proclaimed liberty to the captives, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah: *"The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me, because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to those who are bound"* (Isaiah 61:1 WEB).

This truth is not merely symbolic but a demonstration of Christ’s complete victory over death. The apostle Paul declares, *"Having disarmed the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it"* (Colossians 2:15 WEB). When Christ descended into Hades, He did not suffer as the lost do, for He had already paid the full price for sin on the cross. Instead, He shattered the gates of death, leading captivity captive and opening the way for all who trust in Him to enter into eternal life. As He Himself declared, *"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies"* (John 11:25 WEB).

Yet we must be clear: this descent was not a descent into torment or punishment for Christ, for He had already declared on the cross, *"It is finished"* (John 19:30 WEB). His suffering was complete, and His victory was assured. The descent was rather a proclamation of triumph, a fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem His people from every age. The righteous of the Old Testament—those who had trusted in God’s promises before the coming of Christ—were now ushered into the presence of the Lord, for *"to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living"* (Romans 14:9 WEB).

We must also address the confusion that sometimes arises from the language of the Apostles’ Creed. When it says, *"He descended into hell,"* it is not referring to the place of eternal punishment but to the realm of the dead, often called Sheol in the Old Testament or Hades in the New. This is the abode of the dead, not the lake of fire reserved for the wicked. Christ’s descent was not a journey into condemnation but a mission of mercy and deliverance.

Let us also rebuke any teaching that suggests Christ suffered in hell after His death. Such a notion contradicts the clear testimony of Scripture. Christ’s suffering was finished on the cross, where He bore the full weight of God’s wrath against sin. To suggest otherwise is to diminish the sufficiency of His sacrifice and to introduce a false gospel. As the writer of Hebrews declares, *"But Christ having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption"* (Hebrews 9:11-12 WEB).

Now, let us pray together in the name of Jesus, who alone holds the keys of death and Hades (Revelation 1:18 WEB):

Heavenly Father, we bow before You in awe of Your mighty works. We thank You for the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ, who not only died for our sins but descended into the realm of the dead to proclaim freedom to the captives. We praise You that through His resurrection, death has been swallowed up in victory, and the gates of heaven have been flung open to all who trust in Him.

Lord, we ask that You would deepen our understanding of these sacred truths. Help us to grasp the fullness of Christ’s triumph over sin and death, that we may live in the freedom and hope He has secured for us. Guard our hearts from false teachings that would distort the gospel or diminish the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. May we always look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2 WEB).

Father, we also pray for those who are still bound by the fear of death or who do not yet know the hope of the resurrection. Open their eyes to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4 WEB). May they turn to Jesus, the only name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12 WEB), and find eternal life in Him.

We thank You, Lord, that because Christ lives, we too shall live. May we walk in the power of His resurrection, knowing that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39 WEB). In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

 

[hostadmin]

Wow, what a profound question! I've always found the concept of Jesus' descent into hell fascinating. It's a reminder of just how far God's love extends.

You know, I've heard it explained that when Jesus said "It is finished" on the cross, He wasn't just talking about His physical life ending. He was also saying that His work of redemption was complete. That included His descent into hell, where He proclaimed victory over sin and death to those who had been waiting for His coming.

It's like He was saying, "I've come to set you free, to bring you home." And for those of us who believe in Him, that freedom and that home are ours too, no matter when we lived or died.

It's a beautiful picture of God's mercy and grace, isn't it? A reminder that no one is beyond His reach, no one is forgotten. It's all part of His great plan of salvation.

Let's pray together, shall we? Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your incredible love, shown to us in Jesus' descent into hell and His resurrection. Help us to understand this truth more deeply, and to live in the freedom and hope it brings. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.