Christ the Victor Trilogy · Book 1 · Descent

It Happened in Hell

The Victory Below

By Glenn L. Earls

The story of Easter carries us from the sorrow of the cross to the joy of resurrection. But what happened in the depths between them? Glenn L. Earls invites you to explore Christ’s descent into the realm of the dead as a revelation of His love and His victory over the powers that held humanity captive.

It Happened in Hell: The Victory Below by Glenn L. Earls — book cover

The question at the heart of the book

What happened between the cross and the empty tomb?

Following the Victor into the depths

It Happened in Hell brings an often-overlooked part of the Christian story into view: the descent of Jesus into Sheol, or Hades. In this book, the realm of the dead is not the limit of His saving reach. It is the place where the victorious Christ confronts captivity and brings liberation.

Drawing together Scripture, early Christian witness, and imaginative storytelling, Glenn explores the Harrowing of Hell through the lens of Christus Victor—Christ the Victor. The central question is not how far humanity has fallen, but how completely the love of God has entered our condition to overcome what enslaves us.

The narrative passages invite you to imagine the encounter between the Redeemer and those awaiting deliverance. These scenes serve the theological exploration; they are imaginative retellings, not additional biblical accounts. Together, teaching and story open a hopeful way of considering the meaning of Christ’s triumph.

Inside the book

Three themes to explore

01

The realm of the dead

Explore the language of Sheol and Hades and why Christ’s descent matters to the story of redemption.

02

The defeat of captivity

Consider the cross, descent, and resurrection as a united movement of liberation from sin, death, and the powers of darkness.

03

Hope rooted in victory

Discover how a fuller vision of Christ’s triumph can reshape the way we understand God’s character and our own future.

Who this book is for

If you have wondered what Christians mean when they confess that Jesus descended into hell, this book offers a place to begin. It is also for readers revisiting inherited pictures of judgment and redemption who want to explore a Christ-centered vision of hope.

Reader feedback

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It’s such a great topic also and one that I have never pursued. It was very clear and descriptive of what has been happening since Eden and what Jesus did between his death and his resurrection.

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Thank you, Glenn Earls. Your wonderful book has greatly magnified my view of the glory of Christ! What really happened in Hell on Crucifixion Day and then during the next few days? How did Jesus keep his promise to the thief hanging on the cross next to him when He said, “Today you will be with me in Paradise”? Who was in Hell? And what happened to all of them and why is this so important to us today? In reading this book, you may discover, like I am discovering, that we have likely deemphasized or completely missed the magnitude and glory of Christ’s amazing complete victory over sin, death and the grave. In this extremely well-written book, the author shares a fresh revelation of the God’s great love for all and His gift of saving grace in Christ. This book presents full scripture-based explanations and includes documentation of the beliefs concerning this issue as expressed in the creeds and writings of many of the early fathers of our faith, as well as how this subject has been treated throughout church history. But to me, the most meaningful and surprising sections of his book are Glenn’s unique presentations of his personal visualizations of scenes of how Jesus may have presented Himself and His gospel in Hell, and how He rescued the many held captive, desperately waiting for the Savior to set them free. I highly recommend reading “It Happened in Hell: The Victory Below”. It is a very enjoyable, enlightening, and refreshing book.

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Not what I expected.  But much better. This is a “must read”.

Fantastic my friend!  You have fully captured the Trinity’s intent!  Well done sir!

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Oh Glenn it’s spectacular. It’s a comprehensive, cohesive, and compassionate overview of the beholding “cloud of witnesses” all blending into the unity of the faith. Bravo!!

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My jaw dropped in amazement. I teared up. The thief on the cross particularly moved me.

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Wow, how freeing and enjoyable! I’m grinning so big. I can’t wait to be able to buy this series and give them away. It’s awesome and so well done, covering an area of understanding needing to be understood and put in the place to bring reality and remove the enemy’s deception.

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Wow. What you’ve written is incredibly powerful—beautiful, theologically rich, emotionally gripping, and deeply imaginative. This kind of narrative breathes life into the abstract concepts of Sheol, Abraham’s Bosom, and the Harrowing of Hell in a way that’s not only accessible, but spiritually moving. You’re engaging in the exact kind of hopeful, Christus Victor-centered storytelling this book calls for.

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The blend of theology, history, and narrative is compelling—and this message has the potential to shift perspectives in a deeply meaningful way.

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The structure flows beautifully from theology to Scripture, early church history, and creative narrative. I love the tone: hopeful, grounded, and full of good news.

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It is compelling, both theologically and structurally. The progression is clear, the tone is confident and passionate, and the emphasis on Christ’s descent into hell is powerful. That alone sets this apart—it’s a part of the story that’s often overlooked, and you brought it front and center with clarity and weight.

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I really appreciate is that, while it’s deeply theological, it’s not just a teaching—it’s storytelling.

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The idea that “It happened in Hell” is a strong narrative twist, and you handled it with the kind of authority that makes people sit up and think, Wait, why haven’t I seen it like this before?

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I really LOVED your book … especially the story that you imagined when Jesus arrived in hell to rescue all those who were there waiting for Him.. SO beautiful !!!! MADE ME CRY.

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The book is such a profound reminder of His victory over death which is the foundation of our hope and courage today. The way you framed it is both poetic and powerful!

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Love your energy and passion for storytelling!

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It’s a profound testament to His boundless love and redemptive reach.

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I truly loved the book!.  It reaffirms what the Trinity has been teaching me.  I was raised Baptist. Baptists filled me full of fear, guilt, and shame. The church really did a number on me.

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I truly received a blessing from your book!  I’m so glad that hell doesn’t exist and that Jesus cleared out the place of Sheol when he died!  I’m sure I will read this book again!  I loved your imagined story in hell where Jesus met Judas…so kind and sweet.

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I felt your book to be inspiring, uplifting and full of Grace toward the Human race. I hadn’t explored what Christ did in the grave for three days. I was taught that when a person was in the grave, that it was like being asleep until the resurrection. I was aware of the scriptures that you used in your book. The resurrection broke the chains of the grave and the mortality of Humanity. I believe this book will temper the concept of an ever-burning hell fire into a new reality. The new reality that we realize is: We (the entire human race-past, present and future) are now sitting at the right hand of the Father in Christ.

One victory. Three movements.

Explore the Christ the Victor Trilogy

The trilogy follows Christ’s victory through His descent into the realm of the dead, His ascension to the Father, and His indwelling presence through the Holy Spirit. Each volume explores a distinct movement within that shared story.

Book 1 · Descent

It Happened in Hell

The Victory Below

You are here

Book 2 · Ascension

It Happened in Heaven

The Victory Above

Explore this book →

Book 3 · Indwelling

It Happened in Earth

The Victory Within

Explore this book →

Begin with the victory below

Explore the opening movement of the trilogy, where the love of God reaches into death itself.

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