The Harrowing of Hell.
The Harrowing of Hell is an event in Christianity where Jesus Christ descended into Hell before being resurrected in order to visit the realm of the dead to save those who came before his earthly ministry.
Description[]
The “descent into hell” meant that during the three hours on the cross, Christ’s soul descended into the hell of damnation, and was subjected to torments there from the wrath of God, the fear of eternal damnation, and the devil’s power.
Overview[]
Jesus' descent into Hell in order to rescue the souls who were unjustly damned would have the taint of Original Sin remedied for the dead. This allowed Jesus to defeat Satan and throw open the doors of Hell for all eternity, allowing the souls of the faithful to ascend to Heaven.
The doctrine has a twofold usage: first, it refers to the idea that Christ descended into Hell, as expressed in the Creeds, and, secondly, it includes the rich tradition that developed in later centuries, asserting that he triumphed over infernos, releasing Hell's captives, particularly Adam and Eve, and the righteous men and women whose stories are recorded in the Septuagint. However, these medieval versions come more from the Gospel of Nicodemus.
History[]
Descent into Hell[]
It is revealed that during the three hours of his death on the cross, Christ's soul actually descended into Hell and was subjected to torments there from the wrath of God, the fear of eternal damnation, and the devil’s power. Confused, and horrified, Jesus was once again met by Satan who taunted the messiah and told him that this was how it was going to play out from the beginning for despite having the essence of the Holy Spirit, the weakness and tainted flesh of man is what will draw him and all his flock down here. Jesus attempted to rebuke Satan only to experience the sins of the world overcoming and tearing into him. Satan tells him that what he is feeling is not of the Devil's will but by the free actions of man, and to die for their sins is to be dragged down where the sinful go. It was all set by God from the beginning and Jesus was a but mere pawn in His game.
As he was dragged into the pit by the damned, Satan took Jesus and bound him to a makeshift cross (some say a chair or a 'throne' to mock Jesus' proclamation as a king) fashioned out of flesh and bone where he made him witness the people he was meant to save fall into darkness and despair despite taking all their sins into him. The more they fall into darkness, the more it consumes Christ. Jesus was told by Satan that despite the efforts, even one who is the "Son of God", mankind will never change no matter what is preached to them or what is taught to them. They will learn how to take what is taught to them and warp it using their own idealistic views to benefit their own leisure. Satan continues to curse Jesus, saying that he is but a mere man in the domain of a god who rules over the damned and the Earth and all its elements. He will feel his hatred towards man, he will hear and see their blasphemies towards God, and "nothing will be hidden from him". Afterward, he was met by Judas who confronted him over knowing that this was always how it was going to end and he did not stop him to which Jesus confirmed as the truth. Judas, knowing he was but another villain in the tale of God, declared that he did not betray Jesus, but Jesus betrayed him.
Ascending with the Faithful[]
Despite this declaration, Jesus held no anger or contempt towards Judas, admitting to him that he was blindly following the will of his Father to where he had forgotten to follow the words of his own mortal heart and spirit. As such, this blindness led him to damning millions, including Judas himself. He has to come to terms with the flaws of his mortal self, and his flaws are what makes him human among the mortals and his will to persist against the harshness of the world was by his own will and not that of God's. The revelation would free Jesus from the clutches of Hell, overcoming death, the world, but more importantly himself, as breaks the gates of Hell from his ascension. Before he ascends, he tells Judas that no matter what happens, he will forgive him, and hopes that one day Judas forgives him in turn.