What is meant by spirits in prison in the Bible?

The poor man died and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom.

The rich man died and was buried; in hell, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment.

The sleeper now awakens, that is, he becomes truly conscious of his surroundings—he knows both what he is and what he has been, and his true psychic life begins.

He enters into that state, which may be said to be the immediate result of his earthly life—

He now reaps what he has sown—

He enters into the possession of the treasure that he has laid up—or he finds himself naked and poor.

In what manner do they suffer?

When the affections of the soul are cold and almost dead, then it cannot bear the heat of the heavenly atmosphere full of love and pity, which surrounds it—

It is a hell of fire, and between them is a great gulf fixed.

This gulf is not one of place nor of time—

It is no artificial barrier, but simply the great gulf, which separates for a time those who are not one in spirit.