INTO HELL

"ALL HOPE ABANDON, YE WHO ENTER HERE." HELL, THAT IS, AS PERCEIVED BY DANTE IN HIS POETIC MASTERPIECE. THE DIVINE COMEDY. WHY THEN DID JESUS DESCEND INTO HELL AFTER HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS? GIVEN HIS EARTHLY MISSION, HOW COULD HE HAVE NOT? HIS 'VISIT' ESTABLISHED HOPE FOR THE REDEEMED AND OBLITERATED IT FOR THE DAMNED. BEFORE THE FULFILLMENT OF THE CRUCIFIXION, THE DECEASED WAITED IN THE UNDERWORLD, HADES, IN THE PLACE OF THOSE WHO HAD PASSED. WHEN JESUS ARRIVED, HE SENT THE RIGHTEOUS 'UP' TO THEIR HEAVENLY REWARD AND YES, THOSE HE KNEW TO BE EVIL, STAYED IN THEIR SELF-INFLICTED HELL. BUT STAY IS TOO RESTFUL A CONCEPT FOR THE DAMNED. WITHOUT HOPE, A SOUL WILL NEVER FIND ETERNAL REST.