Hades and Paradise

.... More than any other posting in this basic discipleship course, this one will abound in deep sayings and their obscure implications. For in it, we will use a time line to explore the realm of the dead and the changes that took place in this realm following the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

.... We have already described the original state of the dead, as shown by Jesus through the story of the rich man and Lazarus. This overall realm was called 'Sheol', and it was located in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40; Ephesians 4:9). Sheol was divided into two compartments: Hades, which was a place of torment; and Paradise, which was a place of rest and comfort; and between those two realms a great, impassible gulf was fixed. We also addressed the fact that Jesus, in His death, spent time in both of these realms. So in proving these points, let’s beging by considering the overall realm itself:

.... Jesus was known to be in the heart of the earth for three days (Matthew 12:40; Ephesians 4:9). During those same three days, we know He was in both Hades and Paradise (Acts 2:27; Luke 23:42-43, both quoted below). Therefore, we can be sure that both Hades and Paradise were in the heart of the earth. The term 'Paradise' seems to be synonymous with the term that Jesus had used in referring to "Abraham’s bosom" (Luke 16:22).

.... "For You will not leave My soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption" . . . this he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption."

(Acts 2:27,31)

.... Now let's discuss the part about Jesus being in Hades. To understand this point we must grasp the premise of the passage above. Basically, Peter is telling us that Jesus was in Hades, but that He wasn’t left there. And actually, the Old Testament prophecy foretold this event in rather graphic detail (Psalm 88). But we also know that Jesus was only there for a short period of time. In fact, before that very day was over, Jesus had crossed over into Paradise:

.... "Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

(Luke 23:42-43)

.... In His triumph in Hades, Jesus defeating the devil and bruised his head, as foretold in the very first prophecy that envisioned Him (Genesis 3:15). He also set free the prisoners from this terrible realm, if they believed in the gospel which He proclaimed to them (Isaiah 42:7; 49:8-9; Zechariah 9:11). Just as the Psalmist foretold:

.... "He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze, and cut the bars of iron in two."

(Psalm 107:14-16)

.... In Hades, the triumph of Christ became a one-time event for the sake of those from the ages that had preceded Him. But since that time, the situation in Hades has returned to it’s original state and purpose, as a holding realm of torment in the center of the earth. For the testimony of Christ has now been fulfilled, so there will be no further opportunities for those who have died and went to Hades in the days following the cross:

.... "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'"

(John 15:22-25)

.... Paradise was a compartment within Sheol, in the bowels of the earth, and other passages lend support to this concept. We know that Jesus came to Paradise on the same day that He died (Luke 23:43), but He also stated very specifically that He had not yet ascended to heaven during this time. Therefore, Paradise could not yet have been synonymous with heaven (John 20:17). But this would change. Through His ascension, Jesus would raise the entire realm of Paradise into a newer, glorified position in the heavenlies:

.... "You have ascended on high, you have led captivity captive; you have received gifts among men, even from the rebellious, that the LORD God might dwell there."

(Psalm 68:18)

.... The relocation of Paradise would exalt it into a compartment of heaven, rather than a compartment of the earth, that we might dwell in the presence of the Lord Himself (and not just in the bosom of Abraham). To prove this, please consider this passage from Paul and how he considers them synonymous:

.... "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-- whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows-- such a one was caught up to the third heaven . . . how he was caught up into Paradise . . ."

(2 Corinthians 12:2-4)

.... Those who die in Christ today are still removed to Paradise, though Paradise itself has now been exalted into the Lord’s presence. There, with their future assured, they await the final judgment and reward of their deeds on that Day when Jesus returns. For further information, please see the notes in the ‘comments’ section.

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Daily Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 4