Captives were Freed

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Eph. 4:8-9 “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?”

Before our Lord Jesus shed His blood on the cross to redeem us, before He was resurrected from the grave, all souls directly go to Hades (Hell) after a man’s physical death. This is because there is still no redemption yet. The Lord Jesus also taught there were two compartments to Hades – one for the unbelievers who experienced torment, and one for believers called ‘Abraham’s bosom’ (Luke 16:22).

At Abraham’s bosom, there the believers awaited the Savior. There they awaited their conquering King who would free them. The Bible tells us that many rose from the grave after the Lord Jesus’ resurrection (Matt 27:52-53). Once Jesus had conquered death itself through the resurrection, these believers were also freed and their spirits and souls are in Heaven today. All believers who die throughout the entire Church age go directly to be with the Lord (Luke 23:43, 2 Cor 5:6-8, Phil 1:21-24, Heb 12:23)