RECAP: The Bible mentions in Revelation 9
and 20 an abyss or bottomless pit, as the location of the confinement of
locusts that sting like scorpions that will be let loose upon the earth during
the tribulation period. The bottomless pit is also where Satan will be cast and
bound for the thousand-year millennial reign.
BRING UP-TO-DATE:
Revelation 1:18
(NIV)
18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Did
Jesus Go to Hades?
Let’s look at the book of Luke: At the crucifixion of Jesus, we see, that the
thief went directly to the part of Hades known as Abraham's Bosom, or Paradise,
immediately after he died. Further, Jesus also went there in His
spirit, and was three days and nights in Hades, before His resurrection, preaching to the Old
Testament saints, and preaching to the non-believers ("the wicked") on the other side of the chasm between the two,
while His physical body was in the tomb (above ground).
• Luke 23:32-43 "And two others also, who were
criminals, were being led away
to be put to death with Him. And when they came to the place
called The Skull,
there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right
and the other on the left..........and one of the criminals who were hanged
there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, 'Are You not the Christ? Save
Yourself and us!' But the other
answered, and rebuking him said, 'Do you not even fear God, since you are under
the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what
we deserve for our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.' And he was saying
to Jesus, 'Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!' And Jesus
said to him, 'Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.'
LOCATION of PARADISE
- No one's soul or spirit could go directly into the presence of God BEFORE
JESUS opened the way. God could not open the way to heaven until Jesus paid for
the sins of the world, and that is what the veil (curtain) in the temple being
torn in two from top to bottom symbolizes - God opening the way into His
presence. Then, after His resurrection, Jesus went first with a glorified
resurrection BODY into the presence of God the Father, because Christ is the
"first-fruits" of the resurrection and "firstborn from the
dead" (Colossians 1:18, I Corinthians 15:20). See also John 14:1-6,
Hebrews 11:32-40, Hebrews 9:8-14, Hebrews 10:19-23 - Jesus had to go FIRST and
PREPARE the WAY for us to come into the Father's presence. Therefore, Jesus
went into Hades for the three days between His death and His resurrection (Matthew
12:40) and, after His resurrection, took out all the spirits (souls) of
those who had died believing God and trusting in Him, and took them up to
heaven (Ephesians 4:8-10). Hades is the place of the dead, located in the center
of the earth. It is called Hades (Greek) in the New Testament, and Sheol
(Hebrew) in the Old Testament. Hades was divided into two parts: (1) a place of
torment for the unbelievers; and (2) a place called "Abraham's bosom"
(Luke 16:19-31) which was a place of comfort for Believers. When Jesus said to
the thief on the cross, "Truly, I say to you, today you shall be with Me
in Paradise," He was referring to Abraham's Bosom. Then, three days later,
after His own bodily resurrection, Jesus emptied out Paradise, and brought all
of those saints to heaven.
• Ephesians 4:8-10
"Therefore He says, 'When He (Jesus) ascended on high He LED
CAPTIVITY
CAPTIVE, and gave gifts to men.'
….to be cont’d
In Christ,
Janet Irene Thomas
Playwright/Screen Writer/Director
Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer
FOUNDER/CEO
Bible
Stories Theatre of
Fine
& Performing Arts
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