THURSDAY May 23, 2024

The Reality of Hell

Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
Ephesians 4:8-10

When Jesus died on the Cross, before He ascended to heaven, He first descended into Hades––the place of the dead. The Greek word Hades in the New Testament is equivalent of the Old Testament Hebrew word Sheol. Many people do not realize this. According to the Scriptures, when Jesus’ dead body was taken from the Cross, washed, wrapped, anointed with perfumes, and taken to a tomb, during those three days and nights there, He descended into Hades to preach to the captives––all those who had died in the faith during the Old Testament times.

Understand, in Hades there were two different compartments––one for the righteous and one for the wicked. In between those two areas there was a large gulf that separated them. As Jesus ascended from Hades, He emptied the place of the righteous known as “Abraham’s bosom,” a place of comfort, leaving the unsaved behind incarcerated in torment.

Many people do not believe in a literal hell. Some people are falsely taught that they can pray for the dead––those held in purgatory. They believe their prayers can help the souls of the deceased to be cleansed and forgiven, that there is still a hope that they can be prayed into heaven––not so.

The truth is that once you die, you either go to heaven or hell. That is what the Bible teaches: And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment... (Hebrews 9:27). Hell is a real place. Jesus spoke more about hell than heaven. He warned people about the everlasting fires of hell (Matthew 25:41). In Revelation 20:14, we find that, Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire––hell.

God takes no pleasure in people perishing in hell. He sent His Son to die on the Cross so they can go to heaven (John 3:16). Why not repent of your sin and be converted to Christianity?

If you are still unconverted, thank God that you are still not in hell.
~Andrew Murray~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!