Going into Hell

Going into Hell Question from on 05-17-2007:

Do we all as humans have to descend into Hell like Jesus did?

Answer by Fr. John Trigilio on 06-05-2007:

NO. Jesus did not descend to the 'hell of the damned' rather, He descended to the 'hell of the dead.' Before Jesus redeemed the world, heaven was closed and all good and just souls could not enter heaven until the Savior (Jesus) arrived. Hence, Adam and Eve, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rachel, Ruth, Esther, David, Solomon, etc. had to WAIT in a place of LIMBO or 'hell of the dead' until they could be released and enter Heaven. The damed in hell, however, can never and will never leave hell. Lucifer and the damned are in the 'hell of the damned' and they never saw Jesus for one second since He never visited that place. Humans can end up in hell if any one of us dies with mortal sin on our soul. Anyone who dies without an unforgiven mortal sin on their conscience, can go to heaven while most will go to purgatory first to cleanse themselves of temporal punishment due to sin.

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