Posted by cav on January 11, 2005 at 06:49:19:
In Reply to: Christ in the realm of the dead posted by giveawayboy on January 11, 2005 at 04:24:25:
I always thought of Hades and Sheol as two languages for the same concept. I always viewed the Lake of Fire as the term for the place or state of eternal suffering for those condemned at the final judgement.
However, the teaching of Jesus descending to anywhere, as far as I know is not explicitly scriptural. It comes from the Apostles Creed. I found one verse that indirectly indicates that he might have ministered to "spirits in prison" in 1 Peter. This could be interpreted as going to the place of the dead.
Jesus did say the criminal on the cross would be with him in paradise, but that could mean many other things beside the traditional church teaching. I'll defer to the Biblical scholar on this from this point.
As for my personal belief, I understand that Jesus' death allowed all souls, past present and future to have means of reconciliation to God, but I have trouble with many of the ancient imagery because it seems to fall flat in light of modern experiences and understandings...I mean that to my present era mind, I find it hard to hold to such simplistic imagery of "spirits" going to "places", etc. And at risk of sounding a little wacky, my limited experience in spiritual affairs indicates that there is a distinct lack of space in the spiritual realms. My implication, without going into too much detail is that these descriptions express truths for which words fall flat. Especially words available at the time of the writing. Now with such experiences as virtual reality, and understandings produced by quantum physics, and the like, it is easier to understand a world that operates without physical space.
: How do any of you understand the Christian belief that Christ went to the abode of the dead?
: 1) Christ went to Sheol and led out souls who were to be saved.
: 2) Christ went to Abraham's Bosom and led out souls who were to be saved.
: 3) Abraham's Bosom and Sheol are the same.
: 4) Christ went to Hades.
: 5) Hades is the Lake of Fire.
: 6) Hades is Sheol.
: 7) Hades is Hades.
: 8) There is no Hades, just Sheol and the Lake of Fire.
: 9) other, elaborate: ____________________________.
: Thanks, just wanted to here your thoughts. Someone asked me, and although I have my own belief on it, I thought I'd get some vibes from you all too.