WHY CHRIST WENT TO HELL AFTER RESURRECTION: Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide.

EVERY WORD OF GOD FOR DAILY LIVING

BY PASTOR PAUL RIKA
(Int'l Director Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide)

DATE: 
FRIDAY JANUARY 24, 2020.

TEXT: 
Matthew 27: 51-53

KEY VERSE:
1 Peter 4:6 for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

After the resurrection, Christ went to paradise, which is in a place called hell under the earth. Note that hell at that time was not the same as “hellfire.” He went there to lead captivity captive; to liberate the souls of the righteous people that had died right from the time of Adam to the time of His death. These are people whose souls went down to the lower parts of the earth in paradise. 

Christ went to loose them from there and took them to the presence of God in heaven. From thence, paradise was no more underneath the earth. It was no more the second compartment of hell because it was relocated to heaven after Jesus had made a perfect atonement for mankind with His own blood and sprinkled it in heaven to open the gateway for saints to enter. 


Paradise is now synonymous with heaven. By His death and resurrection, He declared to all the righteous saints that were waiting for him in paradise compartment of hell, “I have settled it for you, you can now go right into the presence of My Father; you can see Him and enjoy a relationship with Him. So, heaven is now opened for you.”

When Jesus died, He descended into the lower part of the earth (that is hell, which was the abode of the dead), but that was the paradise side. Some people said that Jesus Christ went into hell fire. No! Righteous people don't go to hell fire. Jesus Christ died the death of the righteous. His spirit was connected to the Father, so He could not have gone to hell fire. Hell fire is the place of punishment for sinners. 

Christ only went to paradise, which was in one compartment of hell (the other compartment was hellfire). There in paradise, the souls of the dead righteous ones were waiting for Him. He went to declare the gospel message to them. He went to preach the gospel of peace to them. He went to preach the gospel of victory that “I have overcome; My children come let's go!” 

You will recall from scripture that after the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, dead saints came out of the grave and were seen alive for a brief period of time on the streets of Jerusalem. These were the Old Testament saints whom Jesus had set free from the lower part of the earth and were on their way to heaven. Praise the Lord!

Thought of the Day:
Jesus did, and still doing great works of salvation in the lives of men.

Song of the Day:
Jesus died on the cross, saving me from my sins, Alleluia He arose.....

Bible reading for the Day:
Exodus 7-8; Matthew 17.