RESURRECTION !
When HE+ had received the vinegar HE+ cried with a LOUD VOICE,
" FATHER, INTO YOUR HANDS I+ COMMIT MY SPIRIT."
Having said this HE+ bowed HIS+ Head and released HIS Spirit and Descended into the Heart of the Earth, leaving HIS+ tired Body on the Cross.
And the Earth SHOOK and the rocks were sheared and the Veil of the Temple was torn in TWO... from TOP TO BOTTOM !
Where did JESUS go during the Three days and Three nights?
The Scripture states plainly from our LORD'S own lips that HE+ would be Three Days and Three Nights in The Heart of the Earth., the Realm of the departed human soul and spirit, called in the Hebrew sheol.
One thing we DO know is where JESUS our LORD+ went when HE+ left the CROSS and HIS Crucified Body there because HE+ said so HIMSELF+.
Also... we can KNOW that HE+ went there as a Victor and a Conqueror! HE+ did not go there as some cults, some groups, and yes, witches' covens, teach to be tortured by satan.
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
NO! On HIS+ CROSS HE+ Broke satan's back and broke his head as well! JESUS said, "IT IS FINISHED!" HE+ went into "sheol" in HIS+ FATHER'S STRENGTH, to the TERROR and HORROR of the Unclean rebel spirits. ( Genesis 3:15 )
What did HE+ do during the three days and nights?
.... WHATEVER HE+ WANTED TO DO !
HE+ was CHRISTUS VICTOR!
CHRIST the VICTOR !
Taking down the gates of Hell from the area called in Scriptures, Abraham's Bosom ... only the dead could enter the realm of the departed human soul and spirit, but THIS ONE TIME... the Crucified , SECOND ADAM+ entered into it!
For GOOD REASON Abraham "rejoiced to see HIS+ Day... He saw it ... and was GLAD !
GLORIOUS LIGHT FLOODED SHEOL!
Here are some quotes from Scripture from the Ancient Pre-Nicene Church Writings. They had the same Scriptures we do, and they knew how to use them and TO LIVE BY THEM.
...The LORD DESCENDED INTO THE REGIONS BENEATH THE EARTH PREACHING HIS+ ADVENT THERE ALSO AND DECLARING THE REMISSION OF SINS RECEIVED BY THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM+...
ANF vol 1, pg. 499, Irenaeus Against Heresies, chapter 27, section 2
Preaching Salvation to the Righteous Dead. The Patriarchs, the Prophets, the Ninevites who repented at the preaching of Jonah
( ANF vol 1, pg 7, chapter 7, First Epistle of Clement )
From I Peter ...
3:18 ....
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but Made Alive by the SPIRIT:
3:19 By Which ( HOLY SPIRIT/RUACH ha KADOSH,) also HE+ went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
1 Peter 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.
3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST:
( To the Ancient Church, baptism was not a "symbol" or an afterthought, but a SUPERNATURAL event of Rebirth into Light.) The SPIRIT of GOD, The Water ,and The BLOOD of The LAMB+ MESSIAH, agree to the ONE THING! ( 1 John 5:8 )
3:22 Who has gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Leading Captivity captive, away on HIGH, ...THOU didst not leave His+ soul in Hell...
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psalm 16:10
Preparing HIMSELF+ to raise His Earthly Body as a GLORIFIED BODY, being the Second Adam, as The prototype of The NEW BODIES THAT ALL WHO TRUST IN HIM+ and OBEY HIS+ Voice shall have in the RESURRECTION unto Eternal Life with HIM+.
As our LORD+ JESUS said,
"NO man can take MY+ Life from ME+;
I+ have Power to lay down MY+ Life,
and I+ have Power to TAKE IT UP AGAIN!
This Commandment
I+ have received from MY+ FATHER"
John 10:18
This is part of what our Precious LORD+ was doing in the Three Days and Nights in the Heart of the earth!
HE+ also took with HIM+ those Righteous dead ones from the area of Abraham's Bosom, and brought them with HIM+ after HIS+ Resurrection, and sent them into Jerusalem to appear unto many there.
Ancient writings state that what they said to many in Jerusalem was that: "YESHUA of Nazareth who was Crucified and rejected by the religious leaders, IS THE MESSIAH! We are only her for a very short time to tell you this. We must leave and go with HIM where HE+ carries us.
JESUS then assembled these dead ones to HIMSELF+ and ascended on HIGH, taking and leading the formerly captive ones away from the earth completely, and giving gifts unto the children of Adam who had died and waited in sheol/hades for HIS+ appearing. ( Ephesians 4:8 )
Our LORD+ then CAME OUT OF THE TOMB ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, TOTALLY ALIVE AND TOTALLY GLORIFIED!! BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT!
HE+ IS THE LIGHT IN THIS DARK WORLD!
NOTHING WILL EVER BE THE SAME AGAIN!
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!
AMEN
+ + +
