Question: Following the crucifixion of Christ what happened to the
spirit of Christ during the three day time period until his body was risen from the
dead?
by Rev. Jack Barr
Subject: Re: question
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 18:52:19 -0500
From: Jack Barr yourcomm@panama.gulf.net
To: XXXXXX@xxxxxxxx
Hi Again
You asked the question:
Question: Following the crucifixion of Christ what happened to the spirit of
Christ during the three day time period until his body was risen from the dead?
And could you please provide your sources of information in order that I might
study the same.
Now I do not believe that there was any kind of tremendous conflict with Satan as you
have heard, as Jesus Christ is the Boss and Satan knows it.
For your answer:
The Prophecy of what would happen on the death of Jesus Christ was given in the Book
of Isaiah.
Isaiah 61:1 ".......To proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound."
Jesus gave a parable (Lk. 16:19-31) about the rich man and the poor beggar Lazarus,
where both of them die. The beggar Lazarus is carried by the Angels into "Abraham's
bosom (also called Paradise). The rich man went to hell. This shows that hell itself was
divided into two sections. In one there was torment, in the other, there were prisoners
being held without torments. It is to these prisoners that Jesus would appear during those
three days between death and rising from death.
From the time that Jesus was hanging on the cross until He rose from the dead, the
following events happened. (I believe in the following order.)
Luke tells us that Jesus told one of the thieves that he will be with him (Jesus) in Paradise
that day. Jesus does not say heaven, he says Paradise which we saw above is in a part of
hell.
Lk. 23:43 "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt
thou be with me in paradise."
Jesus dies.
Mt. 27:50 "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the
ghost."
Then:
The Vail of the temple is torn in two from the top to the bottom - - there is an earthquake
where rocks split -- Taken in the order given, the tearing of the Vail, which was very
thick, opened the Holy of Holies to man. We no longer have to have a priest to approach
God for us, We are now allowed to go before God ourselves. And then there was an
earthquake which opened the graves.
Mt. 27:51 "And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the
top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent."
There were graves that were opened up in readiness for the saints to come out of the
graves AFTER Jesus rose from the dead.
Mt. 27:52 "And the graves were opened;..........."
Jesus went into hell.
Eph. 4:9-10 "(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.)"
Jesus then preached to those being held in prison (Paradise or Abraham's bosom).
1 Pe. 3:19 "By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison."
1 Pe. 4:6 and Jn 5:25 makes it clear that these prisoners Jesus is preaching to
are the dead.
All those who truly worshipped God. They were unable to enter heaven because It is
ONLY through Jesus that anyone can enter heaven, and then not until after Jesus died to
atone for our sins. Therefore all of the Old Testament worshipers of God could not enter
into heaven until they could accept Jesus Christ. They were held prisoner in hell, sheol,
paradise, Abraham's Bosom. (Take your pick, they are all the same place.)
Acts 4:10-12 "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that
by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the
dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which
was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is
there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved."
1 Pe 4:6 "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."
Jn. 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 live."
In quoting David (Psa 16:10), tells us that Jesus, even though he goes into hell, that his
soul will not stay there, and his body will not see corruption (decay).
Acts 2:27,31 "Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou
suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (31) He, seeing this before, spoke of the
resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell , neither his flesh did see
corruption."
Jesus took the keys of death and hell away from Satan, meaning that Satan could no
longer cause the death of anyone and could only bring someone into hell with the
permission of Jesus Christ.
Rev. 1:18 "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for
evermore, Amen, and have the keys of hell and of death."
Now Jesus rises from the dead
Mk. 16:9 "Now when Jesus had risen early on the first day of the week, he
appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils."
Lk. 24:6 "He is not here, but is risen! Remember how he spoke unto you
when he was yet in Galilee."
The saints who were dead now come out of their graves and walk in the city.
Mt. 27:52-53 "......and many bodies of the saints that slept arose. And came
out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto
many."
I believe this will give you the answer to your question.
May God Continue to lead you into all Truth.
Rev. Jack Barr
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