What do we know about Hell and Paradise?

Paul said: “(What does ‘he ascended’ mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)” Ephesians 4:9-10 This means that Jesus descended to the underworld and Hell to save sinners and free them from the sin of Adam and Eve. However, Jesus himself said: “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’ 42 Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ 43 Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” Luke 23:39-43 Answer What is the relationship between Hell and the text you provided? In any case, we first need to explain the term Hell, then the text, and its relation to Jesus’ words. Thus, there are three parts to your question that we should arrange and place in one context, if possible, to arrive at the correct answer. Is Hell the same as Paradise for you? Referring to the Biblical Encyclopedia, Hell is mentioned only in the New Testament, appearing thirteen times, and in all these places, the word refers to the place of eternal punishment for the wicked, associated with final judgment. Hell is associated with fire as a means of torment. “For I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:22) “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” (Matthew 5:29) “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” (Matthew 5:30) “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.” (Matthew 18:9) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” (Matthew 23:15) “Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:33). Thus, Hell cannot be the Paradise that Jesus spoke of to the repentant thief. The New Testament does not mention once that Hell is Paradise. Therefore, after his death, Jesus was in Paradise, not Hell. Jesus himself said to the repentant thief, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). This brings us to the second part of your question, regarding Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, chapter 4. Let me present the text to you, dear reader, so we can understand it together. “Therefore it says, ‘When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.’ 9 (In saying, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)” The text begins with a simple phrase, “Therefore it says.” So who says it? By looking at the quote, we will find that it is a citation from the Psalms of David. What did David write about this? In Psalm 68:18, David says, “You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.” This psalm describes the victorious king returning from his victories, ascending the steep road to the Mount of Olives to reach the streets of Jerusalem, with captives bound behind him, and people begin to give him gifts. Paul paints a similar picture in the text before us. But the difference is that he gave gifts to people. Instead of taking, he gave. He clarifies that the one who ascended had first descended. Some interpreted the descent here as into the grave, while others interpreted it as to the earth itself by incarnation. In either case, the meaning does not change because, after descending to our earth incarnate, he also descended to the lower regions of the earth, which is the grave, to then ascend victoriously. So what happened after his victory? He gave gifts to people. He is now above all the heavens, reigning over everything, victorious and sovereign. His kingdom has no bounds, as prophesied by the ancients. This is what Paul wanted to say. So what is the relationship between this and Hell, and why did you interpret Hell as the lower regions of the earth? How do you even know where Hell is? The last section a human body reaches is the grave, so do not stretch the meaning beyond its true intent. I believe my words are clear now. “That Jesus descended to the underworld and Hell to save sinners and free them from the sin of Adam and Eve… except that Jesus himself said: ‘…today you will be with me in paradise.’” There is confusion between the underworld and Hell. The underworld is not Hell; it is a place of waiting for the dead. It is divided into two sections: the Paradise where the righteous of the Old Testament are, and the torment section where the wicked of the Old Testament are. The Old Testament here refers not only to the Jews but to all people who lived before the coming of Christ. God does not leave himself without witness in any people! Christ was very clear in identifying the place he would go to upon his death, which is Paradise. Christ decided and died at the time he determined for himself, and the repentant thief immediately went to Paradise, opening the way for all the righteous of the Old Testament in Paradise to enter the kingdom prepared for these victors.