Where does a believer go when they die now that Christ has ascended?
Scripture teaches that the present-day believer, at death, goes to paradise in glory. Before Christ ascended, paradise was in the lower parts of the earth, where Old Testament saints waited. Since Christ ascended, paradise is no longer down but in glory, and that is the believer’s lot.
Les explains that believing Old Testament saints were held in Hades, hell, or Sheol on the paradise side, waiting for the atoning blood that had now been shed. When Christ descended first into the lower parts of the earth and then ascended, He took those who were captive. Paul puts the capstone on it: before ascending to glory, Christ descended into paradise and took those captives. This confirms that paradise is no longer down as it once was, but is now in glory. That is the lot of the present-day believer when they die, ever since Christ ascended.