Luke 10:15 “And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.”
In what way was Capernaum exalted to heaven? Jesus ministered there. He Who is God Himself physically came to see these people. He was there, He spoke, He did miracles, He stayed there. Though we can speak of God’s blessings on people throughout history, this was indeed a special blessing, to have the Christ physically present.
So then what does it mean to be brought down to hades? Jesus here uses a word that would be widely understood. It referred to death and the grave, and more specifically what lies beyond it for the wicked. Regardless of what a person might have in mind, whether a dark underworld, hell, or the abode of the dead, this word matched it all.
Thus we can make two statements here about what Jesus was saying about the destiny of the wicked. First, He did not in any way deny the existence of hell. He didn’t minimize it or make it friendly. But, second, He didn’t get specific either. He didn’t here locate it for us, or give us exact specifics as to its nature. That was beside His point in this verse. He was simply letting Capernaum know that indifference to Him would not go without dire consequences.
Heavenly Father, thank You for telling us the truth! This world likes gods that lie. We want to hear stories and anecdotes that make us feel good. But the brutal facts are always the most useful things. We can know something when we have the facts. It gives us something to work with. Thank You for shining the light, regardless of the level of darkness. You alone are good! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.