Hades, Paradise and the Descent of Christ

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Adapted from a Facebook reflection by Maina P Kiromo.

HADES

1. “He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?” — Ephesians 4:9

2. “Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” — Luke 23:43. Jesus promised one of the 2 people who were crucified next to him.

These 2 verses have left many people asking where exactly did Jesus go after He was crucified and died on the cross and just before he resurrected?

He promised the thief beside Him that “today” they would be together in paradise. Yet the scripture also reveals that His spirit descended into the “lower parts of the earth,”.

So which is it?...

There is a place called Hades.

Hades is where souls went after death. And so it was called the Realm of death.

Hades is divided into two distinct regions: a place of comfort (paradise or Abraham’s bosom) and a place of torment (Hell)

The story of Lazarus and The Rich man illustrated this clearly.

“And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments… And he cried and said, Father Abraham… send Lazarus… that he may cool my tongue… for I am tormented in this flame.” — Luke 16:23–24

Clearly the rich man could see the other side (paradise) from hell.

Whatever separates these two regions cannot be crossed. But they are both in Hades (that place where all souls go to as they await Judgement).

When Jesus died, His body was laid in the tomb, but His spirit entered Hades. Yet He did not go there to await judgment. He was on a mission.

“…he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.” — 1 Peter 3:19

Then on the Third day he rose again.

Jesus descended into the paradise side of Hades, exactly as He promised the thief.

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