1. The Lord wants His people to grow in the knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3:18). 2. Searching the Scriptures is the key to achieving this growth (John 5:39). 3. In this lesson we are concentrating on key passages that reveal the information that the Lord wants us to know about "Hades."
Discussion:
I. LET US FIRST CONSIDER THE LORD'S TEACHING
A. When Jesus answered the Sadducees' question about the resurrection He quoted Exodus 3:6 to show that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were alive somewhere (Matthew 22:31-32). B. In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus showed what happened to a rich man and Lazarus. 1. These 2 men were quite different, but they had something in common -- they both died. 2. (vs.22) When Lazarus died, the angels carried him into Abraham's bosom where he was comforted (vs.25). 3. (vs.23) When the rich man died, he went to "torments" in Hades where he was tormented by a flame. 4. (vs.26) A great gulf is fixed between these locations where Lazarus and the rich man went to await the resurrection and the judgment. C. Jesus stated in Matthew 16:18 that "the gates of Hades" would not prevent Him from building His church.
II. LET US ALSO CONSIDER WHAT HAPPENED TO CHRIST
A. About 1,000 BC, David wrote about God's Holy One (Psalm 16:8-11). 1. Concerning God's Holy One,: a. His soul would not be left in Hades b. He would not "see corruption" c. He would be shown "the path of life." 2. Since David wrote in the first person, one might assume he was writing about himself, but we will see that he was writing about Christ. B. Before we allow Peter to explain David's prophecy, let us note that: 1. Jesus died on the cross (Luke 23:46) 2. before He died, Jesus said He would be in "paradise" that day with the thief who repented (Luke 23:43). C. Peter showed in Acts 2:22-32 that David had prophesied about the resurrection of Christ in Psalm 16:8-11. 1. Peter emphasized the fact that the Lord's soul was not left in Hades (vs.31). 2. This implies that His soul went to Hades, the place of departed spirits. 3. On the third day after He died, His spirit was reunited with His body, and He was raised.
Conclusion:
1. Hades is the temporary abode of departed spirits. 2. In Hades,: a. there is a place of comfort where the souls of the righteous await the resurrection b. there is a place of torments where the souls of the unrighteous await the resurrection. 3. At the resurrection Hades will deliver up the dead in it (Revelation 20:13-14). 4. The spirits will be reunited with their bodies. 5. God will give a spiritual body that pleases Him (1 Corinthians 15:38, 44).
