Introduction: There are many questions about what happens after death, as well as questions about what happened to the Lord Jesus after his death. God through his word teaches us and with simplicity of heart guided by the Holy Spirit we will not only learn about it but we will be strengthened in our faith, because the resurrection of Christ is a column of Christian faith…
JESUS DESCENDED TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH
1) Events before the death of the Lord Jesus:
A) There are three hours of darkness over all the earth, Matthew 27:45-46.
Comment: This darkness began twelve noon and it was until three in the afternoon “over all the earth”. The word “darkness” is translated from the Greek term “skótos” which is generally related or used in a bad way. It also means: world of evil, darkness, blindness, abode or realm of evil spirits; then they are darkness that refer to the results of sin: death and the dominion of evil.
b) The natural world and the spiritual world react to the death of the Lord Jesus, Mt. 27:51-54.
Comment: We can see in cEvery reaction a message from God for us:
a) “The veil of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom”: With the death of Jesus, a new path is opened to go to the Father, a new path for the new priesthood, and from top to bottom indicating that God acts with mercy towards men.
b) “The earth shook and the rocks split” (this was an earthquake): the earth strongly moved from side to side, it shook strongly. The Bible teaches us that the earth knows who steps on it, who tills it, knows the blood that is spilled on it (we see this in the case of Cain), it groans according to the Letter to the Romans, and before the death of the One I think she reacts.
c) “The graves were opened and saints arose”: it is most likely that these saints are faithful of the Old Testament who appeared to many in the city of Jerusalem giving testimony with this of the victory of Jesus Christ over the empire of death and also constitute an evidence of the future resurrection of the sons of God.
two) Jesus descends to the center of the earth:
A) The heart of our planet (Matthew 12:40).
Comment: Natural science teaches that the core of our planet is a central sphere, and it is the innermost part of those that make up the structure of the earth. This nucleus is basically composed of iron, nickel, and in smaller amounts sulfur and oxygen. Its radius is 3500 km (so the core of the earth is larger than the planet Mars).
The pressure in that interior is very powerful and its temperature exceeds 6700 ºC hotter than the surface of the sun. In the United States, a heat wave is considered when the average temperature exceeds 33 degrees Celsius for three days. In Europe, temperatures above 40º C produce numerous deaths of elderly people.
b) The Bible teaches us about Sheol – Hades: Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:31; Luke 16:22-26.
Comment: ANDhe Hebrew term in the Old Testament used to indicate the place of the dead was “Sheol” and in the New Testament in Greek it was “Hades”. The Gospel of Luke 16 teaches us several details of the place:
a) It was made up of two areas: Abraham’s bosom (place of the righteous) and the place of torment (place of the wicked).
b) Consciousness and memory are preserved (the rich man knew because he was there and recognizes Lazarus and Abraham).
c) In each place each individual is comforted or tormented (the body returns to earth, and here is the soul and spirit of the person).
d) A great abyss separated the two places (abyss, abyss, deep crack that cannot be crossed, no person could pass to the other side).
Comment: The word “Hell” is practically a synonym for Hades. The lake of fire is the final destination of eternal torment. The Lord Jesus Christ said: “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me, he has eternal life and will not go to condemnation.” Consider the graph (before Christ died and rose):
c) The Lord Jesus Christ ascended above all heaven (Ephesians 4:8-10)
Comment: The Lord JesusChrist descended first to the lower parts of the earth (from the Greek translates: “lower region”, this is the “heart of the earth” of Matthew 12:40). Paul tells us in Ephesians 4 that Jesus: “rose above all the heavens”, the Scripture tells us of at least three heavens, For example in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, the apostle Paul “was caught up to the third heaven ” and it also says “caught up to paradise” (we conclude then that when Christ rose, he carried Abraham’s bosom or “paradise” to the third heaven). That is why surely Jesus said to the thief on the cross: “Today you will be with me in paradise”.
Comment: Note that the version NIV says: “When he ascended on high, he took the captives with him”, then the Lord Jesus took those who waited for him and with them entered the third heaven, when Christ acts as priest and opens a new and living way for us That is why he said: “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me”.
D) The Lord Jesus announced the fulfilled prophecy (1 Peter 3:18-20)
Comment 1: the lord jesus descend to Sheol or Hades. These verses teach us that he: “preached” a word translated from the Greek “kerusso”, which also means: proclaim, announce, proclaim, preach, make known. This he did with “the spirits in prison” referring to the impious antediluvian generation and/or the angels who did not keep their dignity since ancient times. It was not a proclamation for salvation, but confirmation, the promised Messiah had come and those who hoped in him were saved, and those who did not believe would still be there in the place of torment.
Comment 2: Other Bible texts such as Jude 6, Revelation 20 and 2 Peter 2 tells us about regions and zones of hell: deep abysses, many prisons, the jails of darkness, pits of darkness and chains, etc. These zones have doors and keys, keys that Christ took when he was resurrected, that is why he said: “I have the keys of death and of Hades”, in these regions there are different beings: human spirits, fallen angels, and demons that one day will go to hell. final judgment to be sent to the lake of fire forever and ever… Christ has redeemed us from such a horrible fate! Jesus gave his life on the cross to rescue us, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Final reflection: The Lord Jesus, aware of that horrible destiny, shed his blood in a cruel death for the salvation of humanity. That great love makes him take care of you all the days of your life.
Written by Pastor Gonzalo Sanabria.