WHAT HAPPENED FROM THE CROSS TO THE THRONE (PART 2) - CHRIST'S DESCENT INTO HADES

                  CHRIST'S DESCENT INTO HADES
Luke 16:19-31 At death the soul and the body separate > The body sleeps in the grave, the soul is awake in its place  - Here we see the reality of the departed, one in Paradise, the other in torment.  > Christ slept the sleep of death!!! > Christ's promise to the thief on the cross!

Matthew 12:38-40 Jesus Himself foretold of His descent into Hades. Jonah was a type of Christ, foreshadowing the sojourn of Jesus into Hades. Jesus descended as a Conquerer through the Cross, not as a victim!!! (Jonah 1:17-2:10)

Ephesians 4:9,10 St Paul reveals the mystery of what was happening with Christ between "the Cross and the Throne". There was 40 days between the Resurrection of Christ, where he raised up the Old Testament Saints from the graves(Matthew 27:52,53), and the Ascension of Christ where he ascended on high taking the saints with Him. Acts 1:2,3

                   Sts. Peter and Paul Proclaim the Gospel
Acts 2:22-32 St Peter's sermon on Pentecost Sunday reveals that Christ fulfilled the Old Testament Messianic prophecies. Jesus divine body did not, could not, see corruption(Acts 13:37). And Jesus soul could not, was not, left in Hades(Psalm 16:10) The Lord's body would undo the laws of corruption and would prove death powerless.

1 Peter 3:18-20; 4:5,6 Upon His death on the Cross the soul of Christ went immediately to the souls held in prison in Hades, and He preached to them the gospel of salvation.



Easter Hymn > "Lord, you descended into the lower parts of the earth, into the grave, to preach there your salutary gospel. There, as a powerful and omnipotent king, you crushed and broke the bonds of death and Hades that had kept in bondage for ages the souls of those who were dead. But after three days you rose from the grave, just as Jonah had come out of the belly of the whale in three days".