The souls of the just were detained in Limbo because they could not go up to the kingdom of heaven till Christ had opened it for them.
Before the redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ, Heaven was not yet opened to humanity. Although the righteous of the Old Testament lived and died in God's friendship, they still awaited the coming of the promised Messiah who would conquer sin and death. Because of Adam's fall, mankind could not enter the full vision of God until Christ completed His saving mission. When Jesus died on the Cross and descended among the dead, He announced His victory and led the just into Heaven. This teaching highlights the central role of Christ in God's plan of salvation. No one reaches Heaven apart from Him. The patriarchs, prophets, and all the faithful of the Old Covenant were ultimately saved through the merits of Christ, even though they lived before His earthly life. His redemption transcends time and reaches both those who came before Him and those who come after Him.
By his death and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has opened Heaven to us. Jesus descended into the abode of the dead and opened Heaven's gates for the just who had gone before him. Christ is risen from the dead, opening for us the way to a new life.
Hebrews 9:15
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.
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