Expert: Kaylan - 8/22/2004

Question
Jesus Christ rose on the third day. Before he rose where did he go to. Some people say to hell to take away the keys from the devil. Others say he just went to heaven and came back. Too many have told me he took away the keys from the devil. I believe he went to hades to take away the keys. Where can I find where he went in the bible. They also say he went to the abyss. I looked for abyss in my bible and could not find it. I have the regular King James version. All help is greatly appreciated. God Bless Everyone!

Answer
As we declare what we believe in, by reciting the Apostles Creed at Mass (Catholic Church), we say:
"He descended into hell"

This "hell" mentioned means "Sheol" in translation. A priest on ewtn.com answers this question well:

http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showresult.asp?RecNum=401417&Forums=0&Experts=0&Day...

Excerpt:

This hell is not the hell of the damned but rather is better translated as "lower regions", "Sheol", or place of darkness. The Scriptures describe the fact that no human went to Heaven before Christ died and so these good people had to wait, not in pain and agony, but in some place till the Death of Jesus accomplished their deliverance.

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http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showresult.asp?RecNum=393894&Forums=0&Experts=0&Day...


Another priest mentions the Old Testament teaching of this "place of waiting".....


The "Bosom of Abraham" is a biblical expression meaning...Those who died in sanctifying grace in the Old Testament had to await the Death and Resurrection of Christ until they could experience the glory of heaven.

Scripture related to this:

The Gospel of Saint Luke records:
16:19 "There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 16:20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Laz'arus, full of sores, 16:21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 16:22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; 16:23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Laz'arus in his bosom. 16:24 And he called out, —Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Laz'arus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.' 16:25 But Abraham said, —Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Laz'arus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 16:26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' 16:27 And he said, —Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, 16:28 for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' 16:29 But Abraham said, —They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' 16:30 And he said, —No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 16:31 He said to him, —If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'"


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More on this "Limbo"


http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09256a.htm