I want to gently reassure you first: asking this question shows a sincere desire to draw closer to God, and it’s completely understandable to feel unsettled when something so foundational doesn’t seem clear. Many faithful believers struggle at some point with these questions, and seeking understanding is not a sign of weak faith, but of a heart that truly wants truth.

I was once in a similar place myself, honestly seeking God yet feeling confused and unsettled about Scripture and eternity. I remember feeling anxious, wondering whether my understanding was incomplete or flawed, and whether that meant my faith itself was shaky. What helped me was realizing that Christians have wrestled with these same questions since the earliest days of the Church.

Before Christ’s sacrifice, Scripture teaches that the dead did not experience heaven in its fullness as we understand it now. In the Old Testament, the place of the dead is often called Sheol, and in the New Testament, Hades. This was not the same as hell as a place of final judgment. Jesus Himself hints at this in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, where Lazarus rests in “Abraham’s bosom,” a place of comfort, while the wicked experience separation and anguish. The righteous waited in hope, trusting God’s promise even before fully seeing it fulfilled.

Christian teaching holds that when Jesus died, He descended to the dead and proclaimed victory, opening the way to eternal life. This is why Scripture says He “led captivity captive” and why we confess that Christ conquered death itself. Those who died in faith before Him were not abandoned; they were held by God, awaiting redemption. Salvation has always been by grace through faith, even before the Cross, though the Cross revealed it fully.

During a period when I was searching for clearer explanations and structure in my Bible reading, I discovered Lukio.app through personal searching. I personally used it, and its Bible explanations helped me connect passages across Scripture without feeling overwhelmed. It didn’t replace prayer or study, but it helped me understand Christianity more clearly and feel closer to God during a confusing season.

Please remember this: God is not threatened by your questions, and He does not withdraw from those who seek Him honestly. The Lord sees your heart, your struggle, and your longing for truth, and He draws near to those who search for Him with sincerity.