SPELLING EDITED V-12. WHAT DOES EPHESIANS 4:10 TRULY MEAN?
Let us begin this study in God’s word by reading Ephesians 4:10 to refresh our memory.
Ephesians 4:10.
“He that DESCENDED is the same also that ASCENDED up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”
Some Trinitarian Christians interpret this verse to mean that Jesus DESCENDED from heaven down to the earth as the SAME God yesterday, today, and forever that ASCENDED BACK up into heaven. In other words, Trinitarian Christians interpret Ephesians 4:10 to mean that God the Son descended down from heaven and became flesh BUT yet REMAINED the fully Almighty God having TWO natures at the SAME time. And then the SAME God the Son ascended back up into heaven to await his second coming. That is how they interpret Hebrews 13:8 which says, Jesus is the SAME today, yesterday, and forever. Please read the study “WHAT DOES HEBREWS 13:8 TRULY MEAN?” But for now, please know that the CONTEXT of Hebrews 13:8 is speaking of the TEACHINGS of Jesus as being the same today as they were when Jesus first taught them and the will remain the same forever. So then, if Ephesians 4:10 does NOT mean that God's Son descended down from heaven to become flesh then what does this verse mean? The first rule of interpreting the Scriptures correctly is to keep them in their CONTEXT. So let us read a little context to see the TRUE meaning of Ephesians 4:10 in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
Please read Ephesians 4:8-10.
“Wherefore he said, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10. He that descended (Into the heart of the earth for three days and three nights) is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”
Please take a look at Matthew 12:40, which PLAINLY tells us this fact.
“For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the HEART of the earth.”
The main point that I want you to see right now is that right after Jesus died, even before his body taken down off the cross and was placed in the grave or tomb, the INNER man or the soul and spirit of Jesus DESCENDED into the LOWER PARTS of the earth that is also called the HEART of the earth. This is NOT speaking of the grave! But rather, the HEART of the earth is referring to the UNDERWORLD or the holding place of all the dead DURING the Old Testament times. And again, that holding place was separated into two parts. There was a side for the souls of the wicked dead and another side for the souls of the righteous dead. And Jesus DESCENDED FIRST into the lowest parts of the earth for three days and three nights to preach the Gospel to the spirits of the dead Old Testament saints. 1 Peter 3:19.
“By which (Referring to by the power of the Holy Spirit) also he (Referring to Jesus, as in, his inner man, which is made up of soul and spirit) went and PREACHED unto the SPIRITS (Speaking of the SPIRITS of the dead saints of the Old Testament who were being kept by the law of righteousness unto the age of grace and the first resurrection for only the righteous in Jesus. Jesus went to PREACH the GOSPEL to the SPIRITS who were) in prison.”
Now, when I myself first read this verse, while I was thinking about Jesus going to “PARADISE”, I thought to myself that the word “PRISON” used here in this verse does NOT sound like PARADISE to me. So, I was impressed to look up the word “prison” in my Strong's exhaustive concordance. And when I looked up the Greek word translated as “prison” I found that this word translated as the English word “prison” has several meanings in the original Greek language. This Greek word also means a holding place or a place where something is kept watch over. In other words, in the original language, these spirits in this holding place of the RIGHTEOUS dead were being PROTECTED and kept. The righteous souls were being watched over. A little further on in this study you will learn that these spirits of the righteous dead were even being COMFORTED in the bosom of Abraham in the LOWEST PARTS of the earth. But just who were these spirits Jesus preached to in this holding place? And why were they being kept watch over? We ALREADY KNOW the reason WHY they needed to hear the PREACHING of the gospel. Again, that reason why everyone needs to hear the Gospel was so that these spirits of the righteous dead men, who died both before and also during the Old Covenant times could be saved under the NEW Covenant by the name of Jesus. For you see, Jesus is the ONLY name given among men whereby we MUST be saved. Also, please look at 1 Peter 4:6 which compliments the reason of WHY these dead souls or spirits being watched over in the HEART of the earth NEEDED to HEAR the message of the GOSPEL.
1 Peter 4:6.
“For this cause (Or for this very reason) was the gospel preached ALSO to them that are dead (Speaking of the spirits of those Old Testament saints who DIED and who were being kept in the holding place of the righteous dead called PARADISE which used to be in the heart of the earth during the Old Testament times. This was where Jesus descended for three days and three nights) that (Or so that) they (Speaking of the spirits of dead MEN) might be judged ACCORDING to men in the flesh, (That is to say, in order that these dead saints from the Old Testament might be judged in or judged with the SAME MANNER as men that are presently alive in the flesh) but (Who) live according to God in the spirit (Or in other words, in order for ALL of mankind to be judged the SAME, then ALL of mankind NEEDED to hear the PREACHING of the GOSPEL).”
So then, these dead men or these spirits of dead men, speaking of the souls of those, who had died during the Old Testament times, to whom Jesus went to PREACH the gospel, where being kept in this holding place. And I believe that Jesus referred to that holding place of the dead where the righteous were being watched over as being PARADISE. So the TRUE sound Biblical meaning of Ephesians 4:10 is that Jesus DESCENDED first into the lowest part of the earth that was once called “PARADISE” during the time of the Old Testament and then Jesus ASCENDED out of the GRAVE leading the “captives” out of the OLD holding place of the dead to ASCEND up on high to move paradise under the altar in heaven. Let us read the context of Ephesians 4:10 again so you can see that WHEN Jesus ascended he led CAPTIVES with him. Please read Ephesians 4:8-10.
“Wherefore he said, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, (Or he captured or he carried off all the captives of the righteous and led them out of the lowest parts of the earth) and gave gifts unto men. (Or, according to the prophecy in Psalm 68:18, Jesus RECEIVED gifts in order to give to men. Jesus received a lot of gifts for his obedience to his God and Father to suffer and die on the cross for the sins of the whole world so that whosoever believes in Jesus might be saved. Let us finish reading this passage of Scripture and we will talk about some of those gifts that Jesus received) 9. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10. He that descended (Into the heart of the earth for three days and three nights) is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”
So then, the true meaning of verse 10 is that Jesus descended first INTO the UNDERWORLD of the earth and NOT that Jesus descended down from heaven as some Christians claim this verse means. Jesus captured or “nabbed” the Old Testament saints and led them to heaven to wait under the altar until the second coming of Jesus. And at the coming of Jesus, he will BRING those SAINTS WITH him. Now, some of the gifts that Jesus received for dying on the cross are as follows. God gave the Son of MAN, Jesus all power and authority to give eternal life to whomsoever he judges to be worthy to receive immortality. God gave Jesus the authority to baptize believers with the Holy Spirit along with all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And God also gave the Son of MAN, Jesus the authority to JUDGE which means that God has given Jesus the honor to execute the WRATH of God upon the wicked, as in, to GIVE the wicked what they DESERVE. God gave Jesus the Gospel of SALVATION so that the wicked who BELIEVE in God's so great a salvation do not HAVE to perish. In conclusion, let me say that when Jesus was raised from the dead many rose from the dead WITH Jesus. And those who rose or ascended up from the grave with Jesus are believed by many Christians to have also ascended up into heaven to await their new glorified immortal bodies of flesh and bone like Jesus has now AT the second coming of Jesus. Please read the study “WHAT and WHERE IS PARADISE?” There are other verses used by Trinitarian Christians such as John 3:13 to try and prove that Jesus pre-existed in eternity past as a literal separate divine eternal being who was with Almighty God the father at his side. To learn the TRUE meaning of John 3:13 please click on the link to the study called “JOHN 3:13 WHEN DID JESUS DESCEND FROM HEAVEN?” And below is a complete list of all the studies that I have which show WHY I no longer believe in the doctrine of the Trinity and why I can NEVER believe in the doctrine of Oneness. I assure you that every verse that SEEMS to be saying that Jesus pre-existed in eternity past has another meaning that does NOT contradict any other verses of Scripture in the entire Bible. Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you CONTINUE to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
Your Brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
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VERSES USED TO TEACH THAT JESUS PREEXISTED! To me, the best way to know the ONE true God in ONE person is to know who Jesus TRULY IS according to the WHOLE word of Almighty God so please read ALL the studies under the heading >>>WHO IS JESUS ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE?<<< and you will see that the Bible itself teaches us that Jesus was CREATED by his God and Father. And if you have any questions related to the correct meaning of certain verses of Scripture on this subject of who Jesus is please read all the studies under the two headings >>>A LIST OF STUDIES ON THE TRINITY!<<< and >>>VERSES USED TO TEACH THAT JESUS PRE-EXISTED!<<< These two headings have ALL the studies that I have on who Jesus truly is according to what the Bible itself teaches us in simplicity. I compiled these three headings to make it easy for my readers to send just one, two, or three links to those you desire to help understand what the Bible itself teaches concerning who Jesus is in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the whole word of Almighty God.
Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
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