Where were Old Testament saints kept before the cross and what were they waiting for?
Before the cross, Old Testament saints were held in Hades, hell, or Sheol on the paradise side. They were waiting for the atoning blood, which had now been shed. When Christ descended into paradise before ascending to glory, He took those captives with Him, confirming paradise had moved from below into glory.
Les teaches that believing Old Testament saints were held in Hades, or hell, or Sheol on the paradise side, waiting for the atoning blood that had now been shed. In the Ephesians 4 passage, Paul puts the capstone on it: before Christ ascended to glory, He descended first into the lower parts of the earth, into paradise, and took those who were captive. The same One who descended also ascended far above all heavens. Les then points to II Corinthians chapter 5 as confirmation that paradise is no longer down as it was but is now in glory. That is the lot of the present-day believer when they die, ever since Christ ascended.