No, Jesus did not descend into hell fire, but did descend into the paradise side of Hades (sheol/hell) after His death.
According to Les Feldick, the Apostles' Creed's phrase 'descended into hell' refers not to the place of torment, but to the compartment called 'paradise' where Old Testament believers waited. Jesus told the thief on the cross, 'Today shalt thou be with me in paradise' (Luke 23:43), and He was in the heart of the earth for three days and nights (Matthew 12:40). At His resurrection, He took paradise to heaven.
Matthew 12:40 — Jesus Himself connected His death to being 'three days and three nights in the heart of the earth,' indicating a descent into the lower parts.
The Bible indicates that after His death, Jesus descended into the lower parts of the earth. In Matthew 12:40, Jesus compares His upcoming death and burial to Jonah's three days in the whale's belly: 'For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.' This shows a descent into the earth's interior, not a physical burial alone. In Luke 16, Jesus describes a place with two compartments—paradise (Abraham's bosom) and a place of torment—separated by a great gulf. The thief on the cross was promised, 'Today shalt thou be with me in paradise' (Luke 23:43). Finally, Ephesians 4:9 (implied) says He 'descended first into the lower parts of the earth,' and David in Psalm 16:10 (implied) declares, 'Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell.'
Les Feldick teaches that the Apostles' Creed's statement that Jesus 'descended into hell' is a misunderstanding. He explains that the Bible uses three words—Sheol, Hades, and hell—for the same general place, which had two sides: one for the torment of the unsaved and one for the comfort of believers, called 'paradise.' During the Old Testament, believers could not enter heaven because atonement had not yet been made, so they went down to paradise. Jesus, after His death, went to the paradise side, not to the fire of hell. At His resurrection, He emptied paradise and took it to heaven, so that now to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Les also emphasizes that the graves of saints opened 'after His resurrection' (Matthew 27:53), not at His death, to confirm the timing.
Les teaches that in the Old Testament, the believers' destination after death was down in the heart of the earth, in a compartment called 'paradise.' This was not the place of torment but a separate side for the righteous, as shown in Luke 16 with Abraham and Lazarus. The rich man was in torment, but Lazarus was comforted in Abraham's bosom, with a great gulf fixed between them.
Les explains that Christ emptied paradise at His resurrection and took it to heaven. Therefore, after the resurrection, believers who die are immediately present with the Lord, as Paul teaches. But in the Old Testament, this was not the case because no atoning blood had been shed for their sins.
Les points out that Matthew 27:52-53 records that many bodies of the saints arose, but they came out of the graves 'after His resurrection,' not at His death. This confirms that paradise was not emptied until the resurrection, when Jesus led captivity captive.
Old Testament Paradise Location
Les explains that in the Old Testament, paradise was in the heart of the earth, and Jesus' three days in the earth (Matthew 12:40) align with that location.
Apostles' Creed Clarification
Les addresses the Apostles' Creed's phrase 'descended into hell,' noting that Jesus went not to the fiery hell but to the paradise side of Hades.
Christ's Descent and Paradise Emptied
Les shows that Christ descended into Hades/hell/paradise side, and after His ascension, He took paradise to heaven.
Saints Raised After Resurrection
Les highlights that the graves were opened and saints arose after Jesus' resurrection, not at His death, tying to the emptying of paradise.
Timing of the Resurrection
Les points out that the saints came out of the graves 'after His resurrection' (Matthew 27:53), correcting a common misunderstanding.
After Resurrection
Les emphasizes that the saints arose after His resurrection, confirming the sequence of events.
Paradise and atonement
Les explains that Jesus descended into the paradise side of Hades, and at His resurrection He took paradise to heaven, enabling believers to be present with the Lord.
Redemption Explained: From Law to Grace (Romans 3 & 6)
We have died with Him. But now let's go one step further. I probably haven't got that straight. But anyway, when they took Christ from the cross, what did they do with Him? Where was He placed? In the sepulcher, in the grave. He was buried. Then after the third day and the third night, what happened? He rose from the dead. Now we've got to carry this identification all the way through.
Matthew 12:40: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Jesus foretells His death and descent into the heart of the earth.
Luke 23:43: And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Jesus promises the thief that they will be together in paradise that day.
Ephesians 4:9: (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Paul references Christ's descent into the lower parts of the earth.
No, Jesus did not go to the hell of fire and torment. Instead, He descended into the paradise side of Sheol/Hades, where Old Testament believers waited, and He took them to heaven at His resurrection.
According to Les Feldick, paradise was a compartment in the heart of the earth for the righteous dead in the Old Testament, as depicted in Luke 16 where Lazarus was comforted in Abraham's bosom, separated from the rich man's torment.
Because no atoning blood had been shed for sin until Christ's sacrifice. So they waited in paradise until His resurrection, when he took them to heaven.
Watch the Teaching: What Happened to Paradise After the Cross? (2 Corinthians 12)