Did Jesus Go Preach in Hell?

Summary

Summary prepared by Acts 2:38 Life from the transcript below — the preacher’s words follow in full.

Terms: Hades, Gehenna, and the Intermediate State

• The question posed: what does the scripture say about that period between the death of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of Jesus Christ — that interval of time when Jesus died, and when Jesus rose from the dead? Some passages seem to indicate that during that interval he entered the place of the dead, and one of them speaks of Christ preaching to the spirits in prison. So what happened during that interval of time?
• Well, let me establish some terms here. We're talking about the intermediate state: what happens when a person dies. And there's some things we don't know; there's probably more we don't know than what we do know. So let's talk about what we do know. Now, first of all, when you talk about hell in English, there are two primary words in the Greek New Testament. One is Hades, which means the place of the dead. It was used in Greek religion or mythology, where people go when they die. It is used as the translation, when the New Testament quotes the Old Testament, of the Old Testament term Shiel — also the same meaning, place of the dead. The Old Testament did not have a detailed understanding, but it was basically understood that when people die, they go to this place called Shiel, or Hades. Some of the later passages of the Old Testament do speak of a resurrection; and of course the New Testament is very clear that there's a resurrection. But it seems both testaments at least talk about an intermediate state, that when a person dies, their body goes to the grave and decays; their soul goes to a place of waiting. It's seen as not the ultimate place, because there's eventually going to be a resurrection, where the soul is reunited with the body, in a glorified body. So the New Testament is clear that we will live in eternity in a glorified human body, as a whole integrated human, with the Lord Jesus Christ. He's the first fruits of the resurrection. So he also will live in eternity as God manifest in the flesh, but in a glorified human body, like ours will be. So when we die, we go through this intermediate state. Jesus was truly human, like us in every way except for sin. So when he died — of course, the spirit of God is everywhere present — but as a human, he would have gone to this intermediate state.
• Now, the other main term used for hell in the Greek New Testament is gehenna, which is talking about the lake of fire, the permanent destiny of the unrighteous. So that's not what we're talking about. We're not talking about Jesus going to the lake of fire; we're not talking about Jesus going wherever the devil is; we're not talking about him suffering in flames of torment. That's not what we're talking about.

Acts 2: The Prophecy of the Resurrection

• But you do point out: in Acts 2, there's a prophecy quoted from Psalms, which says — speaking of God and the Messiah — you, God, will not leave his soul, the Messiah's soul, in Hades. So there's a statement that you will not let his soul stay in that place, but you're going to resurrect him. And so it's a prophecy that the Apostle Peter uses, preaching from the Psalms, saying this is a prophecy: David wasn't speaking of himself, because his tomb is still here in Jerusalem; he's still dead. He was speaking of the Messiah, that his soul would not be left in the place of the dead, but he was resurrected. That same Jesus that you crucified, God has raised him up; he's the Lord; he's the Messiah. So the Apostle Peter used this to demonstrate the resurrection. So that still begs the question that you've raised: so what happened? What did Jesus do? So we know we didn't go to the lake of fire. We do believe, as with all humans, he would have gone to the place of the dead.

Scriptures: Acts 2:27

The Rich Man and Lazarus — and What Jesus Changed

• Now, if you look at the story Jesus told of the rich man and Lazarus: some say it's a parable, but it identifies a specific person, Lazarus. And even if you maintain it's a parable, a parable is a true-to-life story. I tend to think it's a true story. But it talks about the rich man dying without God: he goes to a place of waiting, but it's a place of torment. Lazarus is saved: he goes to a place of waiting, but it's rest with Abraham — Abraham's bosom. And the two were separated by a gulf. Now, that would be a kind of a glimpse into what Hades would be like. However, many people feel — and I think there is some scriptural support — that Jesus changed all that. So all the Old Testament saints were saved, but in anticipation of the cross. So you could argue that until Jesus actually died and rose again, their redemption was not full. So they were saved by faith, but they waited in that intermediate state. But there's a good indication that something happened when Jesus rose from the dead.
• Ephesians 4:8, again a quote from Psalms: he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. And it talks about him giving gifts to the church. But this idea of leading captivity captive: there's a feeling that the Lord, when he went down to Hades — not only did he undergo the experience that all humans must undergo; so if he's a real human, he had to undergo that — but when he arose out of that, he took all the righteous souls out of that place, into the presence of the Lord. So that today, you would not see what the story of the rich man and Lazarus shows: the two compartments, so to speak, side by side, separated by a gulf. You would still see the unsaved people waiting in a place of torment and unrest, for the final judgment. But the saved people would no longer be waiting: they would be in the presence of the Lord. And the reason why we think that: not only Ephesians 4:8, but we also have some statements from the Apostle Paul — 2 Corinthians 5:8 and Philippians 1:23 — which indicate that when believers die, they're in the presence of the Lord immediately. Now, they're still awaiting the resurrection; so they don't have a glorified body, but their soul, or their immaterial part, is somehow waiting — but in the presence of the Lord. So that would have changed, apparently, if the way Paul is describing it is different from the story of Lazarus, and is different from the Old Testament statements of just kind of a waiting period, where you don't praise God, where you don't do anything, that's sometimes likened to sleep, but not in consciousness, there. They're there, but they're just kind of like a shadowy existence. But that's not what we see from the epistles. So it appears to me — I'm not making this as authoritative, but it appears to me — that when Jesus Christ descended to the place of the dead, which Hades in that sense would cover both compartments (so it's not just hell in our sense, but the place of waiting for all of the dead before the time of Christ), he took all the righteous souls out of that temporary waiting, and brought them with him into the direct presence of the Lord.

Scriptures: Ephesians 4:8; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23

1 Peter 3:19: Proclamation, Not a Second Chance

• Now, if you add to that, 1 Peter 3:19: Jesus preached to the spirits in prison. There's also another reference in chapter 4, that he preached through the spirit. So some have argued that, no, this was not a new thing: but when Noah preached to the people of those days — because that's who it's talking about, the people of Noah's day, that died in the flood — that that's how Christ preached to them: through the spirit, by anointing and inspiring Noah. So that, no: it's a reference back to Christ preached through Noah, to the spirits of the people who are now in prison, but they were there in real life, and he tried to preach to them before the flood. So that is one interpretation. But if you do take the interpretation that Christ actually preached at this time, where he descended to Hades, it's important to note that the word preached is not the normal word meaning preaching the gospel — normally, when you see the word preaching in the New Testament, it specifically means preaching the gospel, evangelizing. But this particular word is a different word, caruso, which literally means proclamation. So even if you take 1 Peter 3 as referring specifically to Jesus descending to Hades, and somehow addressing the occupants there, it is specifically not the word meaning preach the gospel. So there really is no hint that he's giving people a chance there to be saved. And of course that's another subject, of what God would do — but there really is no indication in scripture for that. Hebrews says it's appointed unto man once to die; after that, the judgment. So whatever plans God might have, there's no scriptural indication of anything like that.

Scriptures: 1 Peter 3:19; 1 Peter 4; Hebrews (book-only)

The Keys of Hell and Death — and the Easter Celebration

• But specifically, going back to that word: it would be proclamation. So then also, you could look at Revelation 1, in verse 18, where Jesus died and rose again, and he's alive: he took the keys of hell — Hades — and death. So you might say: that's what he did. So put all these together, here's what you could see: Christ descends to the place of the dead, as all humans do. But instead of just waiting there, he says: 'I've won the victory; I've conquered death; I'm taking over this place; I'm taking the keys of hell and death. Up until now, every human is subject to death, and every human is subject to going to Hades, and waiting here. But I'm changing that right now: all the righteous souls of all the ages, that had faith in God, obeyed him — I'm proclaiming: you're now free, and I'm taking you out of here.' And he led them out, into the presence of the Lord. So that would explain his proclamation; that would explain his descent to Hades; that would explain taking the keys of hell, or Hades, and death; that would explain leading captivity captive; that would explain why believers' spirits are waiting in the presence of the Lord. So that does tie all those passages of scripture together. And while there are some assumptions, or suppositions — which is why I try to be humble in this, saying there's more we don't know than what we do know — but it would all make sense. Yes, I believe Jesus underwent the experience of all humans, when they die, of going to Hades, but he rose out of Hades, in the resurrection. And I believe he brought victory to the believers at that time. And of course, that prefigures the victory that we will all have in the resurrection. And that's something to celebrate this Easter Sunday.

Scriptures: Revelation 1:18

Scripture index: Acts 2:27; Ephesians 4:8; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 1 Peter 3:19; 1 Peter 4; Hebrews (book-only); Revelation 1:18.