HE DESCENDED AND HE ASCENDED
Wednesday – December 21, 2016
Hallelujah, the Glory, the Holy Spirit is truly in the earth and He is assigned to each of us in the Kingdom to show the goodness of God through us and in us. Oh, what a deal, God is so good. Greeting once again from The Three Minute Word publication. It is my great honor to bring these teachings.
Ephesians 4:7-10 (KJV)
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, 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 is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
When Jesus died spiritually (Mark 15:34) and then physically (John 19:30) on the Cross of Calvary He descended into the pit of Hell. However His blood was innocent and cried out to the Father. In addition, although His spirit man was dead and separated from the Father due to His being made sin, His soul (mind) was alive with the Word of God. The Father rendered justice (judgement) and due to His own innocent blood (blood of the Lamb) and the words (reciting the prophetic Word of God about not staying in the grave) of His testimony he was resurrected from the dead. Next He went into the Bosom of Abraham and preached the good news and they received the blood of the Lamb and the words of His testimony and formed the first wave of the First Resurrection from the dead right along with Jesus at the forefront. In addition, Jesus was then restored as God (read Hebrews chapter one).
There are two ways that Ephesians 4:8 has been translated in various translations of the Bible and I do not think we have to choose one or the other but understand that they are both the Truth. Jesus did indeed destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and He did indeed take Satan and his bunch captive. They are in submission to Jesus and to those in Christ Jesus (you and me brother and sister). We could resist the devils before salvation but now we can not only resist but exercise all authority over him short of sending him to Hell. Look at what Jesus did before the Cross as an Anointed One, we are anointed ones, anointed with the very same Holy Spirit as Jesus. There are no examples in the Old Testament of a person doing what Jesus did before the Cross. Let’s look at Ephesians 4:8 from the God’s Word translation which focuses on Jesus taking the forces of evil captive.
Ephesians 4:8 (GW)
8 That’s why the Scriptures say: “When he went to the highest place, he took captive those who had captured us and gave gifts to people.”
Next permit me to present the same verse from the English Standard Version of the Bible which takes the route of Jesus leading those who were once captive in the Bosom of Abraham (Luke 16:22) with Him on to Heaven.
Ephesians 4:8 (ESV)
8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
Those who had walked by faith, who believed God, under the Old Covenant (Testament) went on to Heaven just as we look forward to going on to Heaven where we will join the saints of old. In fact we have already joined them. When we were saved, born again we were raised and seated with and in Christ at the right hand of God.
Ephesians 2:5-6 (KJV)
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
We are now on assignment from Heaven, our place of citizenship, as Ambassadors for God in the earth to reconcile men to God. As such at salvation we came to the Heavenly Jerusalem, and to the general assembly and church of the firstborn. The general assembly is the Old Testament saints resurrected with Jesus and they are part of the church of the Firstborn. The spirits of just men or justified men made perfect (complete), made righteous by the blood or Jesus is you and me dear saints awaiting our corruption to put on incorruption.
Hebrews 12:22-24 (KJV)
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Tomorrow I will pick up with the gifts Jesus gave unto His people.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
