Jesus’ death on the Cross is the greatest revelation of the nature of God there is and will ever be. His finished work done once and for all transcends space and eternity. But when He died 2000 years ago at Calvary, since He was carrying the sins of the world, did He actually go to hell?
Jesus’ atonement meant He not only became the embodiment of sin, but the recipient of the wages of sin as well. He wasn’t just a sin-carrier going to dump all the sins in the world somewhere else. No! He was the epitome of sin, thus putting sin to death by His Death and putting death to “death” by His Resurrection. …after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:21
Jesus endured physical death and while serving His “sentence” in hell, He preached the Gospel. I had always wondered what the fate of those born before the era of Jesus would be. On what basis where they going to be judged by God? But God in His infinite wisdom did not abandon them to their fate. Romans 3:25 tells us that,
For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,
ROMANS 3:25
Jesus announced emphatically the victory secured by God’s Love for humanity throughout all ages to these earlier generations.
He went and proclaimed God’s salvation to earlier generations who ended up in the prison of judgment because they wouldn’t listen.
1 PETER 3:19 MSG
On the third day, when Christ had completed His mission in Shoel, the Spirit of the Living God quickened His mortal body and He rose from the grave, thus conquering death, hell and the grave.
But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.
ACTS 2:24
The Bible is not vague when it comes to the things beneath the earth. In fact, Scripture uses six distinct words to describe different realms of the dead and imprisoned spirits. Let’s carefully walk through these biblical concepts, one by one, each with its own character, purpose, and destiny.
1. SHOËL / HADES – The Grave of the Dead
“For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.”
– Psalm 16:10
Shoël is the Hebrew word in the Old Testament, translated as Hades in the Greek New Testament. It is the grave, the place of the dead. Before the resurrection of Jesus Christ, both the righteous and the wicked were held here. Death was then the most powerful force, and it swallowed up all, whether good or evil. Shoël was not just one vast space; it had two distinct compartments: one for the righteous and one for the wicked. It was essentially a waiting place until redemption was made through the blood of Jesus. The Bible says that yes, Jesus went here. Psalm 16:10 is a prophetic verse about Christ’s resurrection, a beautiful promise that death would not have the final say.
2. PARADISE / ABRAHAM’S BOSOM – The Rest of the Righteous
“Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.” – Luke 16:22
Within Shoël, the compartment for the righteous was known as Paradise, also called Abraham’s Bosom. It was a place of comfort, peace, and rest for those who died in faith. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus reveals that while Lazarus was in Abraham’s Bosom, the rich man found himself in torment. Both were in the same realm, but separated by a great chasm. Though these two places were close or far enough for a conversation, none could cross from one to the other. After the resurrection, Jesus emptied this place, taking the righteous to heaven (Ephesians 4:8-10).
3. ABADDON / THE PIT – The Place of Destruction
“I will bring you down to the pit, to the people of old, and I will make you dwell in the lowest parts of the earth.” – Ezekiel 26:20
Abaddon, or the Pit, was the compartment in Shoël reserved for the wicked dead. It is a place of darkness, regret, and torment. While awaiting final judgment, the souls of those who died without righteousness were held here. The Bible uses the word Abaddon to speak of ruin, destruction, and hopelessness. The wicked had no peace here – it was a place of awaiting fearful judgment.
4. THE ABYSS – The Abode for Demons
“And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.” – Luke 8:31
The Abyss, also known as the bottomless pit, is distinct from Shoël. It is not for human spirits but for demons. When Jesus confronted the legion of demons in the Gadarene man (Mark 5:9-10), they begged Him not to send them back to the Abyss. Demons are occasionally permitted to move in and out of this realm, influencing or possessing human bodies, but it remains their prison. Revelation 20:1-3 describes how Satan himself will be temporarily bound here before the final judgment.
5. TARTARUS – The Prison for Demons
“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment…” – 2 Peter 2:4
Tartarus is a special section of the Abyss but for the angels who fell in the rebellion of Genesis 6. These beings crossed boundaries God had established, committing abominations on earth. God bound them in chains of deepest darkness, keeping them there until the great judgment. Jude 1:6 calls it “everlasting chains under darkness”. Unlike other spirits, these angels do not roam freely but are held securely, awaiting the decreed time. It is a place where any demon who crosses their boundary is sent. At another time, I will go into detail about how demons secure legality first in their diabolical escapades to prevent them from being locked up here.
6. THE LAKE OF FIRE – The Second Death
“Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
– Revelation 20:14
The final and most terrifying destination is the Lake of Fire. This is not yet populated. It awaits its eternal occupants after the Final Judgment. Both human souls who rejected God and rebellious spirits will be cast into it. Even Death and Hades themselves will be thrown in. This is called the Second Death. The Lake of Fire is eternal, irreversible, and reserved for all unrighteousness, whether human spirit or demonic spirit. Unlike Shoël (Abaddon, Paradise) and the Abyss (or Tartarus) – which are part of the first death – this is the second death.
Did Jesus go to hell after dying?
Yes! After Jesus died, He descended into Sheol (Hades), not to suffer, but to claim victory. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:8-10 that “when He ascended on high, He led captivity captive.” This means Jesus went into the waiting place of the dead, where the righteous awaited redemption, and liberated them, triumphing over death and the grave. Yes, even the faithful were held until the price of sin was fully paid and they too (Abraham, Moses, David etc) go to Heaven on account of believing in Jesus, who is God. Just as Hebrews 2:14 says, it is only by dying did He break the power of the devil who had the power of death. In Revelations 1:18, He proclaimed that He now had the keys of death. By rising from the dead, He became “the firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18), the first to conquer death in its entirety, making a way for all who believe in Him to follow. By resurrection, we also conquer death. Hallelujah!
I love you ❤
