Did Jesus Christ go to hell between His death and resurrection?

[George]

Did Jesus go to lead captivity captured?

 

The time frame between the cross and the resurrection was 3 days.  At the point when Jesus died on the Cross, the Bible speaks of Him going to lead "captivity captive".  We know from the parable of Lazarus, and the rich man, that there was a great gulf between paradise and the rich man in torments.  We also know that Lazarus was found in "Abraham's bosom."

 

Luke 16:19-28  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.   But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.  Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 

 

So what happened?

 

The Bible clearly says that Jesus went to the "prison" to preach -- 

 

1 Peter 3:19-20  By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;  Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 

 

He openly triumphed over the powers of darkness by the power of the cross!

 

Colossians 2:14-15  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 

 

Thus fulfilling the scripture,

 

Psalms 68:18  Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. 

 

So we see the "results" of his proclaiming victory over the power of darkness, nailing every sin of the "saints" at the cross, and we see that AFTER the resurrection, we see that the "Spirits" of the saints were walking around in Jerusalem.

 

Matthew 27:52-53  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 

 

Yes, Jesus went to lead the saints out of "Abraham's Bosom", proclaiming victory over the powers of darkness, grabbing the keys of hell and death -- and its final culmination coming at the time of His resurrection.

 

Thus the reason the Apostles included this aspect of descending into "hell" in their creed.

 

Portion of the Apostles creed: Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:The third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

 

I hope this answer the question adequately.

 

God bless,

 

George