Thanks for your question. Many have thought Jesus went to hell during the three days between death and the
resurrection, since Peter quotes the the 16th Psalm in Acts 2:25-28 saying, "Because You will not leave my
soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption." The King James translation uses the
word "Hell" instead of hades. But the word in the original text is Hades and simply means the unseen realm
of the dead. Jesus told the thief on the cross, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in
Paradise." (Luke 23:43). He was therefore going to Paradise that day. His punishment for the sins taken on
Him was the cross itself with all of the pains and agonies and shame which went with it.
The second question about two women grinding at the mill and one is taken while the other is left is found in
Matthew 24:36-44. Jesus had been foretelling for them two major events to come. One was the destruction of
Jerusalem and the other was the second coming of Christ. Concerning the second coming, He said no one
knew the day nor the hour of the second coming, only the Father. In explaining the surprise which would be
there when He comes, He used the illurstration of two men in the field, one was taken and the other left. Two
women were at the mill. One was taken and the other left. His point was, "Watch therefore, for you do not
know what hour your Lord is coming." This was not intended to be a literal explanation of the second coming.
It is to show the surprise people would have. If people could have known when He was coming, they would not
have been going about the ordinary course of life. But they didn't know. No one knows. When He does come,
some will be ready and taken to heaven, while others are left to the ruin of hell.
When the second coming occurs all will be brought before the Lord at the same time
(John 5:28,29). Not
every text deals with all sides of the judgement. For example, I Thessalonians 4:13-18 talks about the
comparison between the righteous dead and the righteous living when the Lord comes again.
I hope this is helpful.
Leon Barnes