The Other Place

Is Hell closed?

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. - Colossians 1:15-20

We don't talk much about Hell anymore.  That may be due to our hope that it is no longer valid, that the death and resurrection of Jesus has resulted in salvation for all, closing the gates of Hell for good.

Revelation tells us that those who were locked away in Hades will be called up along with the living to be judged, but there are some who believe Jesus may have already released those souls who were locked away.

During the three days when he was dead, Jesus descended to the dead, possibly to free those souls in Hades.  That would make the story much more interesting, wouldn't it?

If everyone is saved through Christ, does that mean it doesn't matter what we do or what we believe?

I don't think so.

If Jesus did free the souls in Hell, they might still have go be brought to judgment along with the rest of us, but that raises a whole bunch of questions.

If the souls of the dead can be judged, could they change that judgment after death, or are they locked in once they die?

In other words, is death the end of our chances to be reconciled with God?  Or do we have time, even after death?

I don't know about you, but I don't think it would be wise for me to put my hope in that.

Now I do like the idea that Jesus would save all the sinners, alive and dead, but I don't know how to reconcile that with our need to do and be good, to love one another as a means of holding onto our hope of eternal life.

I guess I will just have to wait and see what happens.

And if there is still that other place where we can wind up, I am hoping it is closed when my judgment time comes.

More to come...