What was on each side of the place that Abraham parted?
On one side of that parted place was torment, and on the other side was paradise. A great gulf was fixed between them, with no crossing over possible. These were within Sheol, also called Hades or hell, where the separated dead waited.
Les explains that all these were in Sheol, Hades, or hell—the place that was parted. On the one side was torment, and on the other side was paradise. A great gulf was fixed, so Abraham said he could not come over and dip his finger in cold water. Jesus also told the thief, 'Today thou shalt be with me in paradise.' After the atoning blood was shed and Christ died, He spent three days and three nights in paradise, not torment, and then ascended, leading captivity captive.