Eph. 4:8

[micah7:9]

Just what does this verse speak of? Does this speak of setting a people free?  Ive always been told it spoke of people before the NT and salvation being set free. Now Im not so sure. If there is anyone of the brethern with some thoughts.  Thanks


Eph 4:8  wherefore, he saith, `Having gone up on high he led captive captivity, and gave gifts to men,' --

Doesnt this say that "captive" is led to "captivity" and that He gave gifts to men. The way I read it is something is captured, would this not be the enemy(which is captured by the Power of the Almighty) and now captivity(the enemy) is captive, He now can give gifts to men, for they are free from the enemy.  Could this be a legitiment reasoning?

[Nathan]

Letting Scripture interpret itself . . .
The fifth seal . . .5 being the number of grace . .

Revelation 6
9And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Everything is inwardly applicable.  How many times have you heard about how we're to "die" to our old man . . .our natural, carnality, our "soul" so that we not walk according to our soul, or our body, but we're to walk in the "spirit"  For me, these souls are those that have willingly laid their identities down, we are held as captives to the power of our "self" to which there is a death.  The death of these souls then takes us from being in captivity of our flesh and now, captivity lies beneath the altar of incense . . .they want out, but are given gifts . . .robes of white and instructed not to "wait" or be anxsious, but to "rest" a little longer until every knee bows and every tongue confesses . . .

By "grace" we are saved, the fifth seal indicates grace keeps our souls captive in robes of purity.