Everybody died. And that meant you had to make your life worth living.”
–John Deacon (The Provider 2)
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.”
–Revelation 21:4 (HCSB)
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I apologize right from the beginning for a longer devotion, but I want to look this morning at another one of those mysterious Scriptures. Dr. Bernard Rossier states, “Theologically, this is probably the most difficult pass in Ephesians to interpret.” That being said, let’s take a look and see if we cannot glean a few things.
8 — Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”
9 — (Now this, “He ascended”–what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10 — He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) (NKJV)
One of the many views as to the interpretation of these verses is that Christ, as the conqueror, was leading those He conquered. In ancient times it was customary to take foes conquered and make a public display of them while at the same time throwing gifts to the people. He would ride in a chariot leading the conquered foes as captives. (Lloyd-Jones) There is much to discuss in this concept, but the short of it is that it would mean Jesus would be leading death, hell, and the grave.
A second, major view is that Jesus “freed the multitudes of captives” (Rossier). In this we have to be careful of not expounding, as some have, a “second chance theology” or an idea that there is salvation after death. Jesus did not go and evangelize those in Hell (Gehenna). This being said, the descent of Jesus was to Sheol, the place of the dead (Hades in the Greek). We know that Jesus died, therefore we conclude that He went to Sheol. This is not hell (Gehenna) the place of eternal punishment.
“For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” –Psalm 16:10(NKJV)
“For You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” –Acts 2:27 (NKJV)
To understand this better we need to look at Luke 16:19-26. The rich man died and went to Hades (Sheol) as did the beggar Lazarus. We see the rich man “tormented in this flame (16:24); while Lazarus was “carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom (16:22) which is often referred to as “Paradise.” Recall also, the words Jesus spoke to the thief hanging on the cross next to Him, “…Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43, NKJV). Somehow, some way–part of the mystery–there was a division in Hades (Sheol). There was a place of comfort, and a place of torment. There seems to be communication, both verbally and visually, between the souls that inhabit the two. Abraham, though, informed the rich man, “…there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.” (16:26, NKJV)
Who were these captives then? One writer said it was those “who awaited Jesus’ (the Messiah) sacrifice now would have access to heaven.” Rossier states, “At that time the Lord apparently transferred paradise, or Abraham’s bosom, into heaven itself, so this accounts for the freeing of multitudes of captives.” This is the promise believed by Old Testament saints, and possibly others.
Imagine the scene. Jesus walking through the corridors into the great hall of the dead, stopping first to see His friend, Abraham, who declares, “You were the ram–the sacrifice.” Turning, He sees Moses, perhaps winking at Him, “remember the I AM of the bush that burned, now you can see me face-to-face.” Abel, Noah, Daniel, and a host of others gather around. Jesus puts His hand on the shoulder of Jonah, “now you understand the ordeal of the great fish.” Looking at the crowd, seemingly able to see all of them at once, Jesus declares, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” (Revelation 1:18, NKJV) And I will note that here Hades is more literally rendered, the “unseen realm.”
David, somehow reaches the forefront and bows before the Lord and proclaims, “you are my Shepherd, and my throne is Yours.” Others, possibly Naaman, Darius, Xerxes who would have been influenced by Esther, and Nebuchadnezzar to whom Jesus says, “remember the fourth Man in the furnace.” Go ahead, add others to the scenario, make it real in your mind what might have taken place.
WOW! What a scene that must have been! Jesus–the promise given, now fulfilled. He grabs Abraham by the arm, waves at the others, “Come on, let’s go to the city made by My Father.” In closing this somewhat speculative and lengthy devotion, let me point out perhaps another mystery that took place. “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” (Matthew 27:52-52, NKJV).
————————————
I apologize right from the beginning for a longer devotion, but I want to look this morning at another one of those mysterious Scriptures. Dr. Bernard Rossier states, “Theologically, this is probably the most difficult pass in Ephesians to interpret.” That being said, let’s take a look and see if we cannot glean a few things.
8 — Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”
9 — (Now this, “He ascended”–what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10 — He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) (NKJV)
One of the many views as to the interpretation of these verses is that Christ, as the conqueror, was leading those He conquered. In ancient times it was customary to take foes conquered and make a public display of them while at the same time throwing gifts to the people. He would ride in a chariot leading the conquered foes as captives. (Lloyd-Jones) There is much to discuss in this concept, but the short of it is that it would mean Jesus would be leading death, hell, and the grave.
A second, major view is that Jesus “freed the multitudes of captives” (Rossier). In this we have to be careful of not expounding, as some have, a “second chance theology” or an idea that there is salvation after death. Jesus did not go and evangelize those in Hell (Gehenna). This being said, the descent of Jesus was to Sheol, the place of the dead (Hades in the Greek). We know that Jesus died, therefore we conclude that He went to Sheol. This is not hell (Gehenna) the place of eternal punishment.
“For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” –Psalm 16:10(NKJV)
“For You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” –Acts 2:27 (NKJV)
To understand this better we need to look at Luke 16:19-26. The rich man died and went to Hades (Sheol) as did the beggar Lazarus. We see the rich man “tormented in this flame (16:24); while Lazarus was “carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom (16:22) which is often referred to as “Paradise.” Recall also, the words Jesus spoke to the thief hanging on the cross next to Him, “…Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43, NKJV). Somehow, some way–part of the mystery–there was a division in Hades (Sheol). There was a place of comfort, and a place of torment. There seems to be communication, both verbally and visually, between the souls that inhabit the two. Abraham, though, informed the rich man, “…there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.” (16:26, NKJV)
Who were these captives then? One writer said it was those “who awaited Jesus’ (the Messiah) sacrifice now would have access to heaven.” Rossier states, “At that time the Lord apparently transferred paradise, or Abraham’s bosom, into heaven itself, so this accounts for the freeing of multitudes of captives.” This is the promise believed by Old Testament saints, and possibly others.
Imagine the scene. Jesus walking through the corridors into the great hall of the dead, stopping first to see His friend, Abraham, who declares, “You were the ram–the sacrifice.” Turning, He sees Moses, perhaps winking at Him, “remember the I AM of the bush that burned, now you can see me face-to-face.” Abel, Noah, Daniel, and a host of others gather around. Jesus puts His hand on the shoulder of Jonah, “now you understand the ordeal of the great fish.” Looking at the crowd, seemingly able to see all of them at once, Jesus declares, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” (Revelation 1:18, NKJV) And I will note that here Hades is more literally rendered, the “unseen realm.”
David, somehow reaches the forefront and bows before the Lord and proclaims, “you are my Shepherd, and my throne is Yours.” Others, possibly Naaman, Darius, Xerxes who would have been influenced by Esther, and Nebuchadnezzar to whom Jesus says, “remember the fourth Man in the furnace.” Go ahead, add others to the scenario, make it real in your mind what might have taken place.
WOW! What a scene that must have been! Jesus–the promise given, now fulfilled. He grabs Abraham by the arm, waves at the others, “Come on, let’s go to the city made by My Father.” In closing this somewhat speculative and lengthy devotion, let me point out perhaps another mystery that took place. “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” (Matthew 27:52-52, NKJV).