The importance of spiritual preparedness has always been manifested by the reality of death. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, always being mindful that life under the sun has a limit that only God can determine must prompt every man and woman to diligently seek Him before it is too late. However, the question that lingers once death is pondered upon is, where does the soul go after it leaves its physical body? Does it go directly to heaven or hell as some believe? Does it remain here on earth in the form of a ghost or a roaming spirit as others have suggested? This question reveals, arguably, the main reason man chooses to shy away from the reality of death. The uncertainty of what happens after a man perishes allows a dreadful sensation to take hold of his heart and prompts him to stop pursuing an acceptable answer. However, as it has been established several times in our God’s word, it is irresponsible for man to neglect his preparation for life after death. Seeking the answer to this question naturally follows when man accepts that dying is an inescapable part of life. Once this truth is embraced, man begins his mission of spiritual preparation. To begin to understand the answer given by God, let us establish biblical principles revolving around this subject. It has already been confirmed that all men must die as a result of sin (Romans 5:12). Death (Greek word thanatos) is defined as the separation of body and soul (Genesis 35:18, Luke 23:46). Therefore, when man dies his soul leaves the body and he is no longer in this world. The body left behind is no more than an empty shell that returns to the earth from whence it came (Ecclesiastes 12:7, 1st Corinthians 15:35-49). Having established the foundation concerning the physical part of death, it is only logical for man to proceed his attempt to search for the appropriate answer to our question. Let us begin to decipher this enigma by recalling the Master’s own experience after He passed from this life, as prophesied by David: “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption” (Psalm 16:9-10). Inspired by the Holy Spirit, David speaks of the place holding the Holy One’s soul and calls it Sheol. In Hebrew, this word refers to what in the English tongue can be interpreted as the world of the dead. Sheol refers to a realm that can only be accessed via Death (Hebrew word mâveth); it is the realm that man’s soul enters when he has left this world and waits for the Judgment Day. On the day of Pentecost, when the apostle Peter “opened” the gates of the kingdom of God, he cited this same prophecy (Acts 2:23-28). However, in writing about Peter’s sermon, Luke uses the Greek word Hades for the Hebrew word Sheol. It is well known that in Greek mythology Hades was believed to be the god of the underworld where all the dead arrived. This word quite literally means the unseen, but it also refers to the place of departed souls (Strong, G86). Therefore, we are able to establish that the Hebrew word Sheol and the Greek word Hades are the same word, but in different languages. This also enlightens us more as to what happens to the soul when it separates from the physical body. According to the apostle Peter’s first sermon, when Christ was resurrected this proved that “His soul was not left in Hades” (Acts 2:31). What the apostle reveals is that Jesus, as a man, died; as all men who die, His soul went to Hades/Sheol. Therefore, we begin to understand that what immediately follows death is Hades; the place of departed souls. Another way of understanding this realm would be comparing it to one, huge waiting room filled with all the souls of men. In John’s revelation, the Master tells him that “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forever more. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (Revelation 1:18). His reference of having the “keys” of Hades proves that it is a place (more than a person) that is meant to keep hold of all the souls that have crossed over through Death. Once more, all men die and therefore all souls of men arrive to Hades after they have crossed over from life. However, it is wise to try and understand this place more accurately. To fully understand this lesson is dire because in confirming that all souls arrive to Hades after death also illuminates the following truth; both righteous and unrighteous are waiting in Hades. Although this new information is undeniable, let us not make the mistake of concluding that they are in the same vicinity. It is true that all souls are directed to Hades when they depart this world, but they are not all directed to the same sector of Hades. If this were not true, then it would be confirming that the pure soul of the Master was mixed in with the corrupt soul of Herod. Our Master Himself explains the blueprint of Hades in His teaching of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). In it, He details how two men that knew each other passed from this life on to the afterlife. In speaking about the events that transpired immediately after perishing the Lord states, “So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried” (Luke 16:22). If it were true that all souls are mixed together in Hades, why was only the beggar “carried” by the angels? The Master does clarify that both men died and that both men were in Hades, since the rich man was able to see Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:23). Notice that this rich man was able to perceive this image while “being in torments in Hades.” This was the exact place where David prophesied that the Holy One’s soul would be after His death and was later confirmed by the apostle Peter, inspired by the Holy Ghost, in his sermon. Therefore, what we are able to learn is that Hades does contain both the souls of the righteous and the unrighteous, but not in the same area. We are able to identify this by contrasting the peaceful state of Lazarus and Jesus’ souls in Hades with the tormented and agonizing stay of the rich man. Both souls of men were in Hades, but “now [Lazarus] is comforted and you [the rich man] are tormented” during their wait for the Final Judgment (Luke 16:25). With this spiritual insight of what follows after death, it should amplify the diligence with which man should be preparing his spiritual life for. A brief observation of how the rich man reached this predicament is taught in Abraham’s response as to how he lived his entire life while on earth (Luke 16:25a).