“阴间”在旧约希伯来文是“示阿勒”，在新约希腊文是“哈底斯”，乃是人死后灵魂所去的地方（创三七35，伯七9，传九10，启二十13）。阴间分两部分，安乐的部分和痛苦的部分。
阴间的乐园—是义人的灵魂所在的地方
阴间里的第一部分，是安乐的部分，就是阴间的乐园，也就是义人死后，灵魂所在的地方。路加十六章给我们看见，亚伯拉罕和那讨饭的拉撒路，死后都是在这个地方。这个地方虽然也是阴间的一部分，却是叫人的灵魂得安慰的地方。那讨饭的拉撒路，死后灵魂就是在这里得到安慰。他的灵魂乃是被天使带到亚伯拉罕的怀里。“怀”乃是一个叫人得安慰的地方，所以阴间里亚伯拉罕的怀，就是阴间这一部分，乃是叫人得安慰的一个地方的象征。
阴间是专为死人的灵魂预备的，是死人的灵魂在复活以前，一个时期的居留所，人死了之后，灵魂必须到阴间这里等候复活（所以圣经常是把阴间和死亡联在一起来说）。属神的义人死了，按理他们的灵魂也必须到阴间里。但他们是神所称义的人，又不该到阴间里受痛苦。所以神的智慧就为他们在阴间里开辟了乐园一部分，叫他们在这里先得安息，等候将来复活的时候，就是主再来的时候，也就是千年国度之前，再从这里出来，复活起来，穿上复活的身体，被提到天上，与主永远同在。
阴间的乐园—是主耶稣死后三日三夜所在的地方
读经：“耶稣对他说…今日你要同我在乐园里了。”路二三43。“人子…要…三日三夜在地心中。”太十二40原文。“祂…不撇在阴间。”徒二31。
阴间的乐园，也是主耶稣死后三日三夜所在的地方。当主在十字架上要死的时候，曾对那求告祂的强盗说，那天他要同祂在乐园里。徒二章给我们看见，那就是在阴间里。这叫我们知道，主一死了，当天就进到阴间的乐园里，并且照太十二40的话看，祂是在那里三日三夜，直到祂从死里复活的时候。
阴间的乐园在哪里？“在地心中。”太十二40原文。照这里的话看，这个乐园是在地心里，因为这里所说的“地心中”，就是路二三43所说的“乐园里”。这个乐园，乃是在地底下，就是地心中的阴间里，虽然在地底下，地心中的阴间里，但仍是一个乐园，因为义人的灵魂在这里能享到安乐。
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Hades and the Third Heaven (1) — Acts 2:27
In the Old Testament Hebrew, “Hades” is “Sheol”, and in the New Testament Greek is “Hades”, a place where souls go after death (Gen. 37:35, Job 7:9, Ecc. 9:10, Rev. 20:13). Hades is divided into two sections: the pleasant section and a torment section.
The Paradise of Hades – A Section Where the Souls of the Righteous Reside
The first section of Hades is the pleasant one known as the Paradise of Hades, where the souls of the righteous go after death. Luke 16 shows us that after death, both Abraham and the beggar Lazarus were in this section. Although this section is part of Hades, it is a place where souls are comforted. After death, Lazarus’s soul was comforted here. His soul was carried away by angels to Abraham’s bosom. The “bosom” is a place of comfort, and thus Abraham’s bosom in Hades typifies the section of Hades that provides comfort.
Hades is specially prepared for the souls of the dead. It is a temporary dwelling place for souls before resurrection. After death, the soul must wait in Hades for resurrection (which is why the Bible often relates Hades to death). When the righteous people of God die, their souls must also go to Hades. However, since they are justified by God, they will not suffer in Hades. In His wisdom, God opened up a section of Hades as a paradise for them, where they can rest while waiting for the resurrection which will occur upon the Lord’s return. Before the millennium, they will rise from this place, be resurrected, and be taken to heaven to be with the Lord forever.
The Paradise of Hades – A Section Where Jesus Stayed for Three Days and Three Nights After His Death
Scripture: “Jesus said to him… today you shall be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43) “The Son of Man… be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matt. 12:40) “He was neither abandoned to Hades” (Acts 2:31).
The Paradise of Hades is also where Jesus stayed for three days and three nights after His death. When the Lord was about to die on the cross, He told the criminal who called upon Him that very day he would be with Him in Paradise. Acts 2 shows us that it was in Hades. After Jesus died, He immediately entered the Paradise of Hades. According to Matthew 12:40, He remained there for three days and three nights until His resurrection from the dead.
Where is the Paradise of Hades? It is the heart of the earth (Matt. 12:40) According to this verse, the “heart of the earth” mentioned here is the same as the Paradise mentioned in Luke 23:43. This Paradise is beneath the earth, in the Hades of the earth’s core. Although it is underground, located in the Hades of the earth’s core, yet it is still a paradise where the souls of the righteous find comfort.