The Spirits in Prison (2)

He Led Captivity Captive, Part 2

For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit. By whom also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; (1 Peter 3:18-19 KJ2000)

Just who were these spirits held in prison? The righteous? Of course not. Peter explains a little later, saying,

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (1 Peter 4:1-6 NKJV)

Pay particular attention to the pronouns in this passages. “They” who will have to give an account to God in verse 5 are “they” who partake of all the sinful behavior listed in verse 3. “They” are then likened to “those who are dead” in verse 6 to whom Christ preached before he ascended on high. Who are these dead sinners?

Well, Peter told us the identity of at least some of them back in chapter 3. He says there that Jesus went and preached to the spirits of those who had been disobedient in the time of Noah. Where were these spirits and where did Jesus preach? Peter says they were in “prison.” What do you think the name of this prison might be? For now just consider that a prison is a place of captivity. These spirits Jesus preached to were thus the captives of a particular captivity. Paul speaks of this to the Ephesians, saying,

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8Therefore 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.) (Ephesians 4:7-10, NKJV)

When one compares these Scriptures written by Peter and Paul it becomes clear that Jesus descended into the lower parts of the earth in order to preach to the captives in prison. In other words, he descended to hell (Greek=hades, Hebrew=sheol) in order to reveal himself to the prisoners there. Now it should also become clear that the spirits in prison, that is, the occupants of hell, did not consist merely of those who disobeyed in the days when Noah preached of God’s coming judgment upon sin. It would have included the spirits of all men who had walked in disobedience to God.

Now consider the state of these men and women. I do not believe that God was roasting them in a fire that singed their very beings. I do not think that he tortured them that way. But, I do believe that they were in “outer darkness” where there was “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And, further, I believe they were thrilled when their Creator actually stood before them, revealed who he was, and told them what he had done to free them.

Do you think they believed then? I do. Do you think they repented then of their many sins? I do? Do you think Jesus forgave them? Yes, and it was then that he freed them from their bondage and added them to his “train.” We might call this the leading of the captives captive into heaven, but I wouldn’t call it that.  I would call it the leading of the captives into freedom.

Neither do the Scriptures call this the leading of the captives captive. Psalms and Ephesians call it the leading of “captivity captive” or “capturing captivity.” This means nothing less than leading all of hell, all of Hades, all of Sheol, captive to obedience to Christ. This speaks of universal reconciliation, the restoration of all things! And this is the missing link in the Gospel we have heard all our lives.

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