Quote:
1 Peter 3:18-19 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits IN PRISON who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently
1 Peter 4:6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those WHO ARE NOW DEAD
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This was a special exception for those dead before and during Jesus' time. No one who lived prior to Jesus' time had a chance to hear the gospel. Contrary to what Witness Lee taught, I believe Jesus took the souls who were in Paradise / Abraham's bosom in Hades and brought them up to heaven with him (Eph 4:8-10, 2 Cor 2:14). Back then every soul was in Sheol/Hades, though there was a chasm between paradise and "that other place you didn't want to be in" (Luke 16:19-31), but after Jesus' official sacrifice, God had the right to take these souls with him to heaven (Rev 1:18). After Jesus's death, those of us who pass on from this world who belong to God go to be with the Lord in heaven (2 Cor 5:8), rather than Paradise in Hades.
Ephesians 4:8-10
Therefore it says,
“
When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
Jesus is no longer preaching the gospel to the dead in hell, he is in heaven and leaves this duty to men on earth via the great commission. With Jesus' death, God raised the standard and commands men everywhere to repent and receive the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist foreshadowed this urgency as he proclaimed that the kingdom of God was near, and folks needed to repent ASAP (Mark 1:15).
Acts 17:30 NLT
"God overlooked people's ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.
Judgment comes after we die. We only have one chance to turn to God and it's in this life, hence why Jesus was so urgent concerning the gospel.
Hebrews 9:27
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
Luke 9:60
And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
I will address the other verses later, and have to leave now.