Between Death and Eternity: Christ’s Reign over the Underworld

Title

“”

Primary Text: Revelation 20:14-15 (ESV)

Abstract

This sermon examines how Scripture—and the work Journey to the Underworld—presents the intermediate realms (Sheol / Hades, the Abyss / Tartarus), Christ’s descent and proclamation, and the final eternal destinies. Four points guide us: (1) the nature of Sheol / Hades as a waiting place; (2) the Abyss / Tartarus and spiritual judgment; (3) Christ’s descent as an act of victory and liberation; and (4) the eternal consummation: New Creation versus eternal punishment. The message reassures believers that death is under Christ’s authority, encourages living in light of eternity, and proclaims the gospel to those still in spiritual darkness.

Opening Prayer

Gracious and Sovereign God, You are the Lord of life, death, and all the realms beyond our sight. As we delve today into the Word’s teaching about unseen realms, grant us wisdom, boldness, and faith. Let the Holy Spirit illuminate what is mysterious, comfort our fears, and strengthen our hope in Christ’s victory. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Sermon

Introduction (≈ 3 min)

Many Christians today struggle with what happens after death. Does Scripture teach a single “hell,” or a more nuanced geography of the afterlife? The article Journey to the Underworld helps us see that the Bible uses multiple terms and categories—Sheol, Hades, the Abyss, Gehenna, Paradise, etc.—to portray a dynamic journey from death into eternity. Understanding these distinctions is not mere speculation; it shapes how we grieve, hope, evangelize, and live now.

We will walk through four vantage points on death and eternity, each pointing us back to Christ.

Point 1: Sheol / Hades — The Intermediate Abode

• In Old Testament thought, Sheol is the realm where the dead dwell (e.g. Psalm, Job passages).

• It’s often depicted as a place of quiet, shadowy existence—not yet the fullness of reward or punishment.

• In the Septuagint, Sheol is translated as Hades, carrying forward the notion of the unseen world.

• Over time, Jewish and Christian thinking introduced compartments: a place of rest or comfort for the righteous (e.g. Abraham’s Bosom) and a place of suffering for the unrighteous, separated by a fixed gulf (Luke 16:19–31).

• Crucially, this realm is temporary; it is not the final judgment seat but an interim state before resurrection and eternal

Application: When we lose loved ones, this doctrine helps us grieve with hope: their present “place” is not final. We live in anticipation of resurrection and reunion.

Point 2: The Abyss / Tartarus — The Prison of Disobedient Spirits

• Scripture introduces a deeper domain reserved for fallen, disobedient spirits.

• The Abyss (Greek abyssos) is seen as a “bottomless pit” where demonic beings fear to be cast (as in exorcism narratives).

• Tartarus appears in 2 Peter 2:4, used for angels who sinned, placed in chains in darkness awaiting judgment.

• This realm is distinct from the human underworld—it is a holding place for spiritual rebellion, not for human souls.

• In eschatological passages, the Abyss may temporarily release its prisoners before final condemnation (as in Revelation).

Application: This reminds us that Christ’s authority is cosmic—He reigns not only over humanity but over spiritual evil. We can pray confidently, resist demonic influence, and trust that no power in darkness is beyond His reach.

Point 3: Christ’s Descent — Liberation, Proclamation, & Reign

• The article emphasizes that after His death, Christ descended into Hades to perform two great acts: liberating the righteous dead and proclaiming judgment to the spirits in prison.

• He released those in Abraham’s Bosom, bringing them into union with Him, fulfilling God’s redemptive plan.

• His proclamation to spirits was a declaration of authority and judgment over disobedient powers—not an offer of mercy to them.

• After His resurrection and ascension, Christ holds “the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:18), meaning He exercises sovereign control over all realms.

Application: Because Christ entered death’s realm and triumphed, believers are delivered from fear of death. In life, we live in the power of His reign, not in the shadow of dread.

Point 4: Eternal Consummation — Judgment, New Creation, and Eternal Destiny

• The distinction between temporary and eternal realms is vital: Hades is not final, but Gehenna (Jesus’ term) is the eternal place of punishment.

• The Lake of Fire (in Revelation) is where Death and Hades themselves are cast (Rev 20:14), signifying the end of the intermediate realm.

• Eternal punishment is described in the same Greek word aiōnios used for “eternal life,” indicating unending duration.

• On the other hand, Paradise and ultimately the New Heavens and Earth represent the eternal destiny of the redeemed—full fellowship with God in a renewed creation.

• In the final state, death and the realm of the dead vanish; there is no more mourning or separation.

Application: This dual reality should shape our urgency in evangelism, our holiness in living, and our worship in hope. Our choices have eternal weight. Let us live with the resurrection in view, the judgment in mind, and the new creation before us.

Invitation / Challenge (≈ 2 min)

• If you do not yet trust Christ to carry you through death into eternal life, receive Him today.

• If you are a believer, live in light of eternity: invest in what endures, witness boldly, and let your life reflect the hope beyond the grave.

• Let us not live with a vague belief in “heaven,” but with clarity about realms, judgment, and the new creation that Christ offers.

Closing Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ, You entered the realm of death, broke its chains, and rose victorious. Teach us to walk in the light of eternity, free from fear, bold in faith, and urgent in witness. May our lives echo the reality that You reign over all realms—seen and unseen—and may we live in anticipation of the new creation where You dwell with us forever. In Your name we pray. Amen.