(image Copyright 2003)
Christ in Hell
Copyright © 2003
by Robert L. Cheek Jr.
Introduction
1 Peter 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1 Peter 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
Peter tells us that the Old Testament prophets searched the Scriptures diligently trying to understand the coming of their Messiah. They did not understand that His coming would be in two separate events. The O.T. Scriptures were silent about the church and the two-thousand years between the sufferings of Christ (first Advent) and the glory that should follow (second Advent). They knew that both His suffering and His glory would take place, but they lacked the understanding of how God would do it.
When we think about the sufferings of Christ, we might think of His mistreatment by the elders of Israel, or the scourging He received from the Roman soldiers. We certainly think of His greatest earthly suffering on the cross of Calvary. But the sufferings of Christ were far greater than anything He suffered in the flesh. Jesus also went to hell and suffered spiritually to make the eternal payment for sin that God required.
In this study, we want to consider the subject of Christ in hell. We want to examine the Scriptures to learn more about the Lord’s spiritual suffering. We will see from the Scriptures that Jesus indeed went to hell for us. The Scriptures are quite clear on the matter.
It is amazing how many people have never been taught about the suffering of Christ in hell. Perhaps the reason they have not heard the teaching is because preachers are not dealing with the subject. Whatever the case, it behooves us who are Bible-believers to present the facts from the Word of God on this subject of Christ in hell, that we not only appreciate more what Jesus did for us, but that we might also share this with others who do not know the price that was paid for their eternal salvation.
Our method of discovery in this study shall be to ask and answer seven important questions pertaining to Christ and His descent into hell. This study shall not attempt to be exhaustive in content. Rather, its goal is to scratch the surface of this Bible fact that those who read might have the desire to dig a little deeper into the things of God.
Some of the conclusions made in this book are admittedly speculative. We have tried to admit speculation when speculation is made. If the reader disagrees with our conclusions, that is perfectly acceptable. The goal was to examine the Scriptures and glean what we could from them about this subject. Speculations only increase our desire to know the truth as much as we can. To that end, we hope we have been at least a little successful.
