Eph 4:8; Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives,And He gave gifts to men.”
Eph 4:9; (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10; He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)
A major doctrine of Christianity says that Jesus went to sheol, but He didn't stay long.
(Verses 9 and 10 are not in many of the original manuscripts and are added by the translators)
However, as there are no "captives" in heaven, and Jesus led the captives to heaven, where did they come from?
These were the saints of the old testament that couldn't go to heaven yet, ( Jesus hadn't redeemed anyone yet )
John 3:13; No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.
No one had gone to heaven before this time (except Jesus, and possibly Enoch and Elijah)
Now I could stop here, but many take the following passage to say Jesus went to hell/hades as well.
2Cor 2:14; having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
2Cor 2:15; When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
The thought here is, Jesus went to hell and disarmed the rulers and authorities there. Then He paraded through hell and said you guys are no longer in charge here.
I have the keys to hell now.
Rev 1:18; and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
But of course this didn't happen until after the crucifixion.
Matt 28:18; And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
I would only disagree on one point. That being that in order to
see the kingdom one must be born again spiritually. That not so sure happens for dead folk. But in order to
enter the kingdom it requires much tribulation. Not too sure about any tribulation for the dead.
That said there is a second death period where some ( a group) carved out by God will
see the kingdom, be born again, and eventually enter in through the similar much tribulation that we
who are striving to enter now, suffer through.
This is why the beast, the false prophet, death, the grave etc... are tossed into the lake of fire for their maturation during the second death. Consider it a crucible for the second born sons.
We being the first born sons. and Jesus the first born Son.
Most never will see these things as they are part of the hidden manna and they are not allowed to see it until they overcome whatever issue must be overcome to receive that reward.
Similar to walking to town then sitting down under a shade tree half way there and saying I'm good right here, I like this place so I'm gonna stay for who knows how long.
You see hidden away in the Old Testament are clues that are not even written about in the New. One such example would be that Jesus has seed. Has to be spiritual seed.
And that seed of His also has seed which is a spiritual seed as well. This cannot happen until after the 1000 yr reign. Inside the Bible where we are told that eye hath not seen nor ear heard the things that God hath prepared for them that love Him. Paraphrased a bit. So in knowing that nothing shall be impossible to us according to Jesus, is it possible that we who are
the first born sons, whom received of Jesus' overcoming spirit, are able to pass this along to another group? Keep in mind that it is the Spirit of God that makes one born again spiritually
but the overcoming of the world is done because one has received a seed of life from another overcoming spirit namely Jesus Himself. God did not need to overcome the world. Jesus,
for maturity and perfectings sake did. This is why we are referred to as His seed, but still sons of God for all who are partakers in the kingdom are born of Gods Spirit, including Jesus.
The really hard to swallow part is that what is termed our seed also has seed suggesting even a third death period.
But why talk about second or third death periods while still in the first? Because of the reward. No greater love hath any man than to lay down his life for his friends. This is what Jesus did
and we see His reward in being able to give life to those whom the Father has given Him. He tells us that we shall sit in His throne with Him if we overcome just as He overcame and
is sit down in His Fathers throne. Is it possible that one day we who will be called kings and priests unto God shall give of the live that we have received to others. Bible suggests
just that, but it cannot happen until the beginning of the second death period.
Hope to not gone too far astray but the really good stuff is great once it's revealed.