Ephesians 4:8-10

Ephesians 4:8-10 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) The is a passage that has a controversial interpretation. And I hold to this interpretation. Scripture is clear, you must believe in the name of Jesus Christ in order to go to heaven. So what about those who died before Jesus lived? What about the Old Testament believers like King David, Abraham, and Moses? We have a glimpse into the question in Like 16 when the rich man went to hell and Lazarus went to “Abraham’s bosom”. Lazarus we near to the rich man, but one was in torment and the other was comforted. I believe that before Christ died, the wicked people who died went to Hades, God’s jailhouse, and the believers went to Abraham’s bosom, another compartment in the center of the earth. When Jesus died, he went down into the lower parts of the earth and preached deliverance to those captives in Abraham’s bosom, and all of them trusted in Christ as their Savior. That is because they were already believers in God, they just didn’t know about Jesus just yet. And Jesus led them up to their heavenly reward. As our verse says, Jesus led captivity captive. But those lost souls in Hades had to stay there. They could not get a second chance. Remember the rich man couldn’t get out of hell. Now today, when a saved person dies, they go immediately to heaven. One day, according to Revelation 20, God will bring those wicked souls up to be judged who are in Hades. That will be the Great White Throne Judgement. The wicked will stand trial, be found guilty, and will be cast into the Lake of Fire, the second death. That is God’s final prison; God’s permanent lock up. I have heard it said, “If you are born once, you will die twice, but if you are born twice, you will only die once.” If you are born again into God’s forever family, you will only die once. But if you do not trust Jesus as your Savior, you will die physically and then you will die spiritually. How sad. But I am glad that I am saved, aren’t you?