Preaching To The Dead

[FineLinen]

1 Peter 3:18-20

Christ once for all died for sins, the innocent One for the guilty many, that He might bring us near to God, being put to death in physical form, but His spirit entering upon new Life.

By which He also went and preached to imprisoned spirits which sometimes were disobedient and refused obedience long ago when the longsuffering of God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the construction of the ark, wherein few, that is eight souls were saved through passing through the waves.

Questions:

1. What was the purpose of Jesus Christ ministering to disobedient dead upon His resurrection from the dead?

2. Who were these disobedient spirits?

3. What was the outcome of the ministry of Jesus Christ to the spirits of disobedience?

4. What did many of the earliest church fathers believe transpired when Jesus Christ ministered to these men of disobedience from the days of Noah?

5. What is Zao?

"Millions of hells of sinners cannot come near to exhaust infinite grace." -Samuel Rutherford-

[FineLinen]

The disobedient spirits refered to are not people, or persons.

Nonsense!

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometimes were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark...."

1 Peter 4:6

-New English Bible-

"Why was the Gospel preached to those who are dead? In order that, although in the body they received the sentence common to men, they might in the spirit be alive with the life of God."

-Ferrar Fenton-

"For this reason the good news was preached also to the dead; so that they might certainly be judged as men physically, but might live spiritually with God." 

-William Barclay N.T.-

"For the object of preaching the good news to the dead was that, although they had received the judgement of death which all men receive, they might yet in their spiritual existence learn to live as God wants them to live."

Concordant Literal

"For this evangel is brought to the dead also, that they might be judged, indeed, according to men in flesh, yet be living according to god, in spirit."

A.K.J.V.

"For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit."

A.S.V.

For unto this end was the gospel preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 

B.B.E.

For this was the reason why the good news of Jesus was given even to the dead, so that they might be judged as men in the flesh, but might be living before God in the spirit.

-Common.-

For this reason the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they might live in the spirit according to the will of God.

-J.B. Phillips-

For that is why the dead also had the gospel preached to them--that it might judge the lives they lived as men and give them also the opportunity to share the eternal life of God in the spirit.

-Darby-

For to this end were the glad tidings preached to the dead also, that they might be judged, as regards men, after the flesh, but live, as regards God, after the Spirit.

-I.N.V.-

For to this end was the Good News preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed as men in the flesh, but live as to God in the spirit.

-I.S.V.

Indeed, this is why the gospel was proclaimed even to those who have died, so that they could be judged in the realm of the flesh like all humans and live in the realm of the spirit like God.

-K.J.V.-

For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

-Murdock-

For on this account the announcement is made also to the dead, that they may be judged as persons in the flesh, and may live according to God in the spirit.

James Rotherham Emphasized

For, unto this end, even unto the dead, was the glad-message delivered,—in order that they might be judged, indeed, according to men in flesh, but might live according to God in spirit.

-Francis Weymouth-

For it is with this end in view that the Good News was proclaimed even to some who were dead, that they may be judged, as all mankind will be judged, in the body, but may be living a godly life in the spirit.

Youngs Literal

For this also to dead men was good news proclaimed, that they may be judged, indeed, according to men in the flesh, and may live according to God in the spirit.

-Emphatic Diaglott-

In order to this for also to dead ones was glad tidings announced, so that they might be judged indeed according to men in flesh they might live but according to God in spirit.

-James Moffatt-

"For this is why the gospel was preached to the dead as well, that while they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live as God lives in the spirit."

[FineLinen]

What Did The Earliest Church Fathers Believe Regarding St. Peters Words

The Lord Jesus Christ emptied hades according to many of the early church fathers. And, according to the Apostle St. Peter, preached zao life to the disobedient dead from the days of Noah "when once the longsuffering of God waited...while the ark was in preparation, wherein few, that is eight souls were saved through the water."

The two passages of the Ancient Words in 1 Peter 3 & 4 are some of the most difficult for those who cannot grasp our Lord's ongoing reconciliation on the other side of the veil.

Jesus Christ Holds The Keys Of Death & Hades

The Old Covenant

Isa. 9:2....Isa. 45:2,3...Isa. 49:9,25....Zech 9:11...Psl. 68:18....Psl. 69:33...Psl. 107:16

The New Covenant

1 Peter 3:21....Matt. 12:29....Phil. 2:9,10....Col. 2:15...Eph. 4:8,9

Primitive Witnesses

Acts Of The Apostle Thomas

"Christ, the Saviour of every creature, thou who wentest down even to hades. And didst bring out thence those shut in for many ages."

Origen Regarding Psl. 68:18

"Christ drew up and set free from the recesses of hades, the souls that were held in captivity."

Eusebius Of Alexandria

Christ will descend in order that all, both on earth and in heaven and in hades, may obtain salvation from Him.

Eusebius Of Caesarea 315 A.D.

"Christ, caring for the salvation of all, and bursting the eternal gates, opened a way of return to life for the dead bound in chains of death."

Saint Athanasius

"While the devil thought to kill one, he is deprived of all cast out of hades, and sitting by the gates, sees all the fettered beings led forth by the courage of the Saviour."

Basil Of Seleucia

"That which happened to the visible tomb of Christ (i.e. its being emptied on His rising), the same happened to hades the invisible."

St. Hilary 354 A.D.

"Christ ascended on high took (captured) those who had been captured by the devil."

M.F. Victorinus 360 A.D.

"The Saviour descends into hades by that passion of the cross in order that He may set free every soul."

St. Ambrose

"In the liberation of all, no one remains a captive; at the time of the Lord's passion he alone (the devil) was injured, who lost all the captives he was keeping."

St. Basil 370 A.D.

"The true Shepherd brought out of the prison of hades, and handed over to the holy angels, the sheep for whom He died."

St. Gregory Of Nazianzus 385 A.D.

"Until Christ loosed by His blood all who groan under tartarean chains."

Unknown Origin (From Christus Patiens)

"All of whom (the dead) Thou shalt bring forth as Thy spoils from hades...I believe Thou wilt bring forth from hades as many mortals as it has imprisoned."

St. Ambrose 375 A.D.

"The Lord descends to the infernal world, in order that even those, who were in perpetual abodes, should be set free from their perpetual bonds."

"Christ, when amongst the dead, gave pardon to those in the infernal abodes, destoying the law of death."

The Ambrosiaster

"Christ descending to the infernal abodes condemned death, taking from him those whom he was keeping."

"Christ snatched from hades all the devil, lost, together with Christ, all whom he was keeping."

"Christ went down to the depths of hell (Tartarus) and recalled the souls, bound by sin, to life, out of the devil's jaws."

Maximus Of Turin

"Hell (Tartarus) yields up those it contains to the upper world: the earth sends to heaven those whom it buries."

St. Jerome 378 A.D.

"Our Lord descends and was shut up in the eternal bars, in order that He might set free all who had been shut up."

"In the blood of Thy passion thou didst set free those who were being kept bound in the prison of hell."

"The Lord descended to the place of punishment and torment, in which was the rich man, in order to liberate the prisoners."

Caesarus Of Arles

"The eternal night of hell is illuminated as Christ descends the bonds of the damned, torn asunder, fell away every cry of the groaning still. The captive souls loosed from bonds go forth from hell (Tartarus), and the Apostle's words come true, i.e., in Jesus' name every knee bends of things in heaven, and earth, and under the earth."

Epiphanius

"Christ, like a swift-winged hawk, snatched away all that He had from the beginning, from the devil and left him deserted."

"Christ arose, and the prison of hades was emptied."

St. Chrysostom 398 A.D.

"While the devil imagined that he had got hold of Christ (in hades), he lost all in fact whom he was keeping.

Cyril Of Alexandria 412 A.D.

"Christ left the devil there solitary and deserted."

"Christ, wandering down even to hades, has emptied the dark, hidden, unseen treasures."

Maximus Of Turin

"Christ carried off to heaven mankind whose cause He undertook, snatched from the jaws of hades."

Theodoret 430 A.D.

To the devil Christ declares...."I mean to open the prison of death for the rest, but will shut up thee only. Thou wast justly despoiled of all thy subjects.

Proclus, Bishop of Constantinople 434 A.D.

"Today Christ emptied the entire treasury of death."

All the dead, wondering at His passion, cry for joy, we are healed by His stripes.

Saint Chrysostom- Cyril of Alexandria

In reference to 1 Peter St. Chrysostom wrote...

Christ, he asserts, not merely opened, but broke in pieces the gates of brass, in order to make the prison useless, where there is neither door, nor bar, whosoever enters is not detained. What God destroys, who can set up again? Earthly kings indeed set free prisoners, yet leave untouched the prison gates; but Christ broke in pieces the gates of brass. Christ went to the utterly black and joyless portion of hades, and turned it into heaven, transferring all its wealth, the race of man, into His royal treasury. In this, too, Christ surpasses kings, for they send messengers, but He went in person to set the captives free. So again, he says: "Our Lord, when He was in hades, set free all who were kept prisoners by death.

Cyril Of Alexandria 412 A.D.

"The devil was deprived of all power of being able to do anything for the future. The souls of men who had been caught in his toils to their ruin, came out of the underground gates, and, leaving the hiding-places of the pit escape"

Traversing the lowest recesses of the infernal regions, after that He had preached to the spirits there, He led forth the captives in His strength. For when death devoured Him who was the Lamb on behalf of all, it vomited forth all men in Him and with Him. Now when sin has been destroyed, how should it be but that death, too, should wholly perish?"......On the death of Christ, "all iniquity stopped its mouth, and the rule of death was destroyed, all sin (tes hamartias, sin generally) having been taken away, so, then, the sin of all having been taken away, we can justly say, 'O death where is thy sting?

Theodoret, the Blessed, 423 A.D.

Theodoret became Bishop of Cyrus (Cyrrhus), in Syria...he wrote of the liberation of every soul from hades....

I shall shut up thee only..."Thou," says Christ to satan, "art justly despoiled of all thy subjects. Thou shalt vomit forth all that thou hast already swallowed. I shall free all from death for I paid the debt for the race. As the debt has been paid, it is right that those confined on account of it should be set free from their prison.

[FineLinen]

Question # 5 = What is Zao?

Zao=

John 5:25

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall zao.

amhn amhn legw umin oti ercetai wra kai nun estin ote oi nekroi akousousin thV fwnhV tou uiou tou qeou kai oi akousanteV zhsousin

John 6:51

I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall zao for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

egw eimi o artoV o zwn o ek tou ouranou katabaV ean tiV fagh ek toutou tou artou zhsei eiV ton aiwna kai o artoV de on egw dwsw h sarx mou estin uper thV tou kosmou zwhV

John 6:57

As the living Father hath sent me, and I zao by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall zao by me.

kaqwV apesteilen me o zwn pathr kagw zw dia ton patera kai o trwgwn me kakeinoV zhsei di eme

John 6:58

This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall zao for ever.

outoV estin o artoV o ex ouranou katabaV ou kaqwV efagon oi patereV kai apeqanon o trwgwn touton ton arton zhsei eiV ton aiwna

John 6:69

And we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the zao God.

kai hmeiV pepisteukamen kai egnwkamen oti su ei o agioV tou qeou

John 7:38

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of zao water.

o pisteuwn eiV eme kaqwV eipen h grafh potamoi ek thV koiliaV autou reusousin udatoV zwntoV

John 11:25

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the 'zwhv' (zoe): he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he zao.

eipen auth o ihsouV egw eimi h anastasiV kai h zwh o pisteuwn eiV eme kan apoqanh zhsetai

1 Peter 4: 5,6

Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they may be judged according to men in the flesh, but zao according to God in the spirit.

oi apodwsousin logon tw etoimwV krinonti zwntaV kai nekrouV

eiV touto gar kai nekroiV euhggelisqh ina kriqwsin men kata anqrwpouV sarki zwsin de kata qeon pneumati

1 John 4:9

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might zao through Him.

en toutw efanerwqh h agaph tou qeou en hmin oti ton uion autou ton monogenh apestalken o qeoV eiV ton kosmon ina zhswmen di autou

1 Peter 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a zao hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

euloghtoV o qeoV kai pathr tou kuriou hmwn ihsou cristou o kata to polu autou eleoV anagennhsaV hmaV eiV elpida zwsan di anastasewV ihsou cristou ek nekrwn

1 Peter 2:5

You also, as zao stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.

kai autoi wV liqoi zwnteV oikodomeisqe oikoV pneumatikoV eiV ierateuma agion anenegkai pneumatikaV qusiaV euprosdektouV qew dia ihsou cristou

Heb. 4:12

The word of the Lord is zao, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.....

zwn gar o logoV tou qeou kai energhV kai tomwteroV uper pasan macairan distomon kai diiknoumenoV acri merismou yuchV kai pneumatoV armwn te kai muelwn kai kritikoV enqumhsewn kai ennoiwn kardiaV

Heb. 7:25

Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him, seeing He ever zao to make intercession for them.

oqen kai swzein eiV to panteleV dunatai touV prosercomenouV di autou tw qew pantote zwn eiV to entugcanein uper autwn

Heb. 10:38

Now the just shall zao by faith....

o de dikaioV mou ek pistewV zhsetai kai ean uposteilhtai ouk eudokei h yuch mou en autw

oJ de dikaiov (mou) ejk pistewv zhsetai -Dr. M. Vincent-

2 Tim. 3:12

Yea, and all that will zao godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

kai panteV de oi qelonteV zhn eusebwV en cristw ihsou diwcqhsontai

2 Tim. 4:1

...the Lord Jesus who shall judge the zao and the dead.

diamarturomai enwpion tou qeou kai cristou ihsou tou mellontoV krinein zwntaV kai nekrouV kai thn epifaneian autou kai thn basileian autou

Phil. 1:21

For to me to zao is Christ, and to die is gain.

emoi gar to zhn cristoV kai to apoqanein kerdoV

"to live is Christ" = to zhn Cristov

Gal. 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I zao; yet not I, but Christ zao in me; and the life which I now zao in the flesh I zao by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave himself for me.

cristw sunestaurwmai zw de ouketi egw zh de en emoi cristoV o de nun zw en sarki en pistei zw th tou uiou tou qeou tou agaphsantoV me kai paradontoV eauton uper emou

Gal. 3:11

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident; for, the just shall zao by faith.

oti de en nomw oudeiV dikaioutai para tw qew dhlon oti o dikaioV ek pistewV zhsetai

Gal. 5:25

If we zao in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

ei zwmen pneumati pneumati kai stoicwmen

2 Cor. 13:4

For though He was crucified through weakness, yet He zao by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall zao with Him by the power of God toward you.

kai gar estaurwqh ex asqeneiaV alla zh ek dunamewV qeou kai gar hmeiV asqenoumen en autw alla zhsomen sun autw ek dunamewV qeou eiV umaV

For this is why the gospel was preached to the dead as well, that while they are judged in the flesh as men, they may zao as God lives in the spirit. -James Moffatt-

http://www.greeknewtestament.com/

[FineLinen]

Taffy: This link never was intended for debate. Discussion, perhaps, but not debate. Why don't you move it back to the universal reconciliation section?  :happygrin:

[Taffy]

Taffy: This link never was intended for debate. Discussion, perhaps, but not debate. Why don't you move it back to the universal reconciliation section?  :happygrin:

Thanks for the explaination FL..sure will do so :icon_flower:

[FineLinen]

Taffy: In accordance with the laws of Ontario Canada, and the authority granted me by the Supreme One, you are hereafter promoted to Chief Moderator. Much thanks!

The manager of a large office asked a new employee to come into his office. "What is your name?," was the first thing the manager asked. "John," the new guy replied. The manager scowled. "Look, I don't know what kind of a namby-pamby place you worked at before, but I don't call anyone by their first name! It breeds familiarity and that leads to a breakdown in authority," he said. "I refer to my employees by their last name only - Smith, Jones, Baker - that's all. Now that we got that straight, what is your last name?" The new guy sighed and said, "Darling. My name is John Darling." The manager said, "Okay, John, the next thing I want to tell you..."

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: FL this post really blessed me. The joke was good  :thumbsup: too, LOL.......Blessings to you......

[chuckt]

Daaaaaaang.......very good stuff FL, thanks for all the info. :thumbsup:

chuckt

[Taffy]

"Darling. My name is John Darling." The manager said, "Okay, John, the next thing I want to tell you..."

(http://soleilimg1.free.fr/gifs/personnages/divers/diver118.gif)(http://soleilimg1.free.fr/gifs/personnages/divers/diver066.gif)

[FineLinen]

In the first Epistle of St. Peter chapter 3: 18-20 we are distinctly told that, when Jesus was put to death in the flesh, and descended in the spirit to that dim Hadean world in which, as the Jews held, the spirits of men await the Resurrection, and preached his Gospel "to the spirits in prison," to those who had been"disobedient" to the word of God, to that ungodly generation to which Noah had preached righteousness in vain, --a generation so disobedient and ungodly that it repented God He had made them, and compelled Him to sweep them off the face of the earth with a flood.

Do you ask. "For what purpose, and to what effect, did He preach to them?"

St. Peter replies in the same Epistle chapter 4:6:

For this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

Now we know how this strange revelation made to St. Peter was interpreted by the primitive Church--and this is the point which those should mark who object to the late and modern date of the doctrine of Universal Redemption; for within a hundred years of the death of St. John there appeared a work of fiction, called the Gospel of Nicodemus, which professed to set forth all the details of Christ's descent into Hades. Of course this Fiction speaks to us with an authority no greater than that of the "Pilgrim's Progress," although, when it appeared, it was very widely received as an authoritative description of our Lord's ministry in Hades. But just as from Bunyan's great Allegory we might very safely infer what the Puritan conception of the Christian life was in the seventeenth century, so from this "Gospel of Nicodemus" we may very safely infer what conceptions the Christians of the second century formed of Christ's descent into Hades. And in this Gospel it is expressly affirmed, that, when He arrived, the gates of the Hadean prison burst open before Him, and the King of Glory, taking our forefather Adam by the hand, and turning to the vast multitude of imprisoned spirits, said...

Come all with me, as many as have died through the tree which he touched; for, behold, I raise you all up through the tree of the cross.

...words which, after all, are but a paraphrase of St. Paul's great saying, "As by one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall the many be made righteous."

This then was the faith of the early Church, before it became corrupted by heathen philosophies and heathen superstitions--

viz., that the good news brought to earth by Christ was also preached by Him in Hades, preached even in Gehenna; that on the bridge of his Cross even the worst of the spirits in torment were able to pass over the "great gulf" and enter into the joys of Paradise; that even the disobedient generation of Noah, though still dead in the judgment and censures of men, live unto God.

Why should it not be our faith too?

St. Paul held it as well as St. Peter; for in all those passages (Phil. 2:9-11), in which he speaks of the redemption of Christ extending to all who are in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, by those who are "under the earth," he signified the inhabitants of that vast subterranean kingdom in which, as he held, the spirits of the dead were reserved for the day of judgement. And St. John held it as well as St. Paul; for, in his Apocalyptic vision (Rev. 5:13) he too beheld "every creature in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth," i.e, in Hades, giving glory and power unto Him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

And if St. Peter held the faith that even the most disobedient spirits in prison were quickened into life by the preaching of Christ; if St. Paul held that every knee in the Hadean kingdom should bow to Christ, as well as every knee confess Him Lord, which yet no man can do but by the Holy Ghost: if St. John heard "every creature" in Hades as well as in heaven and on earth, singing the high praises of God and the Lamb,--why should not we also hold this faith?

Samuel Cox: -Salvator Mundi-

[martincisneros]

The manager of a large office asked a new employee to come into his office. "What is your name?," was the first thing the manager asked. "John," the new guy replied. The manager scowled. "Look, I don't know what kind of a namby-pamby place you worked at before, but I don't call anyone by their first name! It breeds familiarity and that leads to a breakdown in authority," he said. "I refer to my employees by their last name only - Smith, Jones, Baker - that's all. Now that we got that straight, what is your last name?" The new guy sighed and said, "Darling. My name is John Darling." The manager said, "Okay, John, the next thing I want to tell you..."

It could have genuinely been worse!  There are some last names out there!! :laughing7:

[Paul Hazelwood]

It could have genuinely been worse!  There are some last names out there!! :laughing7:

True story,   imagine being in the navy and having the last name guzzler.     I will say no more......

[FineLinen]

eiV touto gar cristoV apeqanen kai ezhsen ina kai nekrwn kai zwntwn kurieush

King James Version

"For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living."

American Standard Version

"For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living."

Bible in Basic English (BAS]

"And for this purpose Christ went into death and came back again, that he might be the Lord of the dead and of the living."

Darby's English Translation

"For to this end Christ has died and lived again, that he might rule over both dead and living."

Douay Rheims

"For to this end Christ died and rose again; that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living."

Noah Webster Bible

"For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living."

Weymouth New Testament

"For this was the purpose of Christ's dying and coming to life--namely that He might be Lord both of the dead and the living."

World English Bible

"For to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living."

Young's Literal Translation

"For because of this Christ both died and rose again, and lived again, that both of dead and of living he may be Lord.

Dr. Wm. Barclay New Testament

"The very reason why Christ died and came to life again was to make Him Lord of the dead and the living."

New English Bible

"If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Whether therefore we live or die, we belong to the Lord."

This is why Christ died and came to life again, to establish His Lordship over dead and living.

Rotherham's Emphasized Bible

"For to this end Christ died and lived, In order that both of dead and living he might have lordship."

Might be Lord (kurieush) Literally: might Lord it over . Justifying the term Lord applied to Christ in vers. 6, 8. -Dr. Marvin Vincent

Concordant Literal N.T.

"Then, both if we be living and if we be dying, we are the Lord's. For this Christ died and lives, that He should be 'Lord of the dead as well as the living."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbSnk1R31vg

[FineLinen]

"In the body he was put to death; in the spirit he was brought to life. And in the spirit he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits. They had refused obedience long ago, while God waited patiently in the days of Noah and the building of the ark, and in the ark a few persons, eight in all, were brought safely through the water."

And the conclusion of this proclamation?

"Why was the Gospel preached to those who are dead? In order that, although in the body they received the sentence common to men, they might in the spirit be alive with the zao of God."

I believe that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. I believe He is the Lord of the dead and the living. I believe He holds the keys of death and hell (deaths domain), and as the Master Locksmith knows precisely how to turn the keys!

Sing It HERE

[Taffy]

"In the body he was put to death; in the spirit he was brought to life. And in the spirit he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits. They had refused obedience long ago, while God waited patiently in the days of Noah and the building of the ark, and in the ark a few persons, eight in all, were brought safely through the water."

And the conclusion of this proclamation?

"Why was the Gospel preached to those who are dead? In order that, although in the body they received the sentence common to men, they might in the spirit be alive with the zao of God."

I believe that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. I believe He is the Lord of the dead and the living. I believe He holds the keys of death and hell (deaths domain), and as the Master Locksmith knows precisely how to turn the keys!

Sing It HERE

Yo FL... :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower:
moving from Death To Life.....yehaaaaaaa! thats worth loads of flowers :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower:

[SQ]

Thanks Taffy for bringing this thread back, I had a similar thread but this one is better and easier to understand. :icon_flower:

[SQ]

 OOPs, I noticed after reading entirely that Fine Linen brought this thread back up, Thank you Fine Linen!  :HeartThrob:
This really helped me.

[peacemaker]

"WE ARE ONE IN SPIRIT, AS WE BELONG TO THE LORD EVEN IN HIS/OUR DEATH!"

If we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. (Romans 14:8)

Now He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for all live to Him. (Luke 20:38)

According to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. (Philippians 1:20)

Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. (1 Thessalonians 5:10)

And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'"
"Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them." (Revelation 14:13)

Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed. (1 Timothy 5:25)

He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.  (Proverbs 10:9)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (darkness), I will fear no evil (harm), for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  (Psalm 23:4)

Before I go, and I shall not return, To the land of darkness and deep shadow, the land of utter gloom as darkness itself, of deep shadow without order, And which shines as the darkness.  (Job 10:21-22)

He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their bands apart. (Psalm 107:14)

O LORD, surely I am Your servant, I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid, You have loosed my bonds. (Psalm 116:16)

For long ago I broke your yoke And tore off your bonds; But you said, 'I will not serve!' For on every high hill
And under every green tree You have lain down as a harlot. (Jeremiah 2:20)

'It shall come about on that day,' declares the LORD of hosts, 'that I will break his yoke from off their neck and will tear off their bonds; and strangers will no longer make them their slaves. (Jeremiah 30:8)

So now, I will break his yoke bar from upon you, And I will tear off your shackles. (Nahum 1:13)

And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan (the adversary) has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day? (Luke 13:16)

And behold, an angel (messenger) of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter's side and woke him up, saying, "Get up quickly " And his chains fell off his hands. (Acts 12:7)

And suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. (Acts 16:26)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbSnk1R31vg&feature=player_embedded

peacemaker

[peacemaker]

(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/jbsohana/IMG0020_itA_011.jpg)


                    And just before the Sunset ...in Kauai!

peacemaker

[FineLinen]

OOPs, I noticed after reading entirely that Fine Linen brought this thread back up, Thank you Fine Linen!  :HeartThrob:
This really helped me.

SQ you are welcome. If this thread has helped you, who cares who resurrects it from the dead.

[FineLinen]

Yo FL... :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower:
moving from Death To Life.....yehaaaaaaa! thats worth loads of flowers :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower:

Taffy: we on this board continue to hold you (and your family) before the Lord of Life. I myself had a near death experience last year that introduced F.L. to six long months in hospital, 4 operations, and the net cost of nearly 2 million dollars U.S. But God!

[FineLinen]

"WE ARE ONE IN SPIRIT, AS WE BELONG TO THE LORD EVEN IN HIS/OUR DEATH!"

If we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. (Romans 14:8)

Luke 20:37, 38

"But now, as to whether the dead will be raised--even Moses proved this when he wrote about the burning bush. Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, he referred to the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. So he is the God of the living, not the dead, for they are all alive unto him."

[Tony N]

The title of this thread I think it not correct: "Preaching To The Dead." It should be "heralds to spirits."

The title "preaching to the dead" gives the false impression that people are alive while dead. The bible is quite clear that the dead really are dead and cannot be preached to.

Now then, there is the figurative dead in Christ's day: "Let the [figurative] dead [who are dead to God] be entombing the [literal] dead."

There is the widow who, though living, is dead. How is she dead while living? She is dead to God:

1 Timothy 5:3-6 CLV  Widows be honoring, who are really widows."  (4)  Now if any widow has children or descendants, let them learn to be devoted to their own household first and reciprocate by paying their progenitors, for this is welcome in God's sight."  (5)  Now one really a widow, and alone, relies on God and is remaining in petitions and prayers night and day."  (6)  Yet she who is a prodigal, though living, is dead."

In verse 6 "Yet she who is a prodigal" can be written: "Yet she who is prodigalling". In the Keyword Concordance under "prodigal" it says "See squander," so under "squander" we have: "spend freely and foolishly."

Do you see the difference between the figurative dead widow and the other one? The widow who is alive to God "relies on God and is remaining in petitions and prayers night and day." The widow who is dead [to God] has no need of God. She has her money and just goes through live spending freely and foolishly. Those it looks like she is living [to God] in actuality, she is dead [to God.] In Peter 1:4-6 an evangel went to people just like her. It went to those dead [to God]:



1 Peter 4:1-6 CLV  Christ, then, having suffered for our sakes in flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same thought, for he who is suffering in flesh has ceased his sins,  (2)  2 by no means still to spend the rest of his lifetime in the flesh in human desires, but in the will of God."  (3)  For sufficient is the time which has passed by to have effected the intention of the nations, having gone on in wantonness, lusts, debauches, revelries, drinking bouts, and illicit idolatries,  (4)  while they are thinking it strange of you not to race together into the same puddle of profligacy, calumniating you;"  (5)  who shall be rendering an account to Him Who is holding Himself in readiness to judge the living and the dead.  (6)  For for this an evangel is brought to the dead also, that they may be judged, indeed, according to men in flesh, yet should be living according to God, in spirit."

Do you see how those Jews in Peter's day were dead [to God]? The evangel was brought to them so they "may be judged" or "set right" as to their improper living and so that, once set right, "should be living according to God, in spirit.

No one preached to the literal dead in their tombs.

Jesus was dead and in the tomb for 3 days and nights. It was after He was vivified in spirit that He heralds to the spirits in prison (not dead humans).

Tony

[sheila]

well, that depends on how you look at it,Tony.

  SPIRIT AND TRUTH ARE JUST THAT,ON ANY AND EVERY PLANE

   suffice it to say;HE PREACHED TO THE DEAD AND

   RESURRECTED THEM...whether they be spiritually

   dead,or physically dead..LAZURUS COME OUT!

.when the dead hear His voice THEY LIVE.

   COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE! {proverbs 2;18] For her house

leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead.


   Rev 18 she has become a home for demons,and a haunt for

every evil spirit,a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.


  IN HER HEART SHE BOASTS,

     I SIT AS QUEEN,

  I AM NOT A WIDOW