Prior to Jesus dying on the cross every soul went to a place called Sheol when they died. Sheol means the abode of the dead. The abode of the dead consists of two parts, hell and paradise (AKA Abraham’s bosom). We can see a clear picture of these two separate compartments in the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke16:19-32). Hell is where the souls of the unsaved reside. Paradise is where the souls of the saved used to dwell before Jesus died on the cross. When Jesus rose from the dead, he set free the righteous souls that were in Sheol and took them up to heaven.
Scripture indicates that Sheol is in the lower parts of the earth (Ezekiel 26:20, Psalm 63:9, etc)
Jesus went to Sheol and ministered to the souls that were in the paradise section. I am confident he did not go to hell as some have speculated. Luke 23:43, And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
When Jesus went to paradise, he brought the good news that scripture has been fulfilled to the believers who were waiting for the Messiah. 1 Peter 3:18-19, For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison.
Once the final sacrifice was made by Jesus and not by the blood of animals, those that were waiting in paradise could now enter heaven. Job 33:24, and he is merciful to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom.
After Jesus rose from the dead all the Old Testament saints and the righteous souls waiting in paradise were set free and resurrected from their graves. Matthew 27:51-53, …The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
Ephesians 4:8-10, Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Paradise was emptied and is no longer a holding place of souls (Psalm 71:20, Psalm 86:13, 1 Samuel 2:6).
