After the crucifixion Christ descended into "the lower parts of the earth" according to Ephesians and according to 1 Peter he "preached to the spirits in prison" from the times of Noah and the preparation of the ark.
That portion of hell where these spirits were imprisoned is called the limbus or border, of hell.
12 posted on 10/06/2006 11:32:58 AM PDT by wideawake
("The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten." - Calvin Coolidge)