Captivity Led into the Paradise of God

Ephesians 4:8-10

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

From a Captive to Sin to Being Blessed with Gifts

“Wherefore He says, when He ascended up on high,
He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men.”
Ephesians 4:8

Leading “captivity captive” is a phrase easy to understand. Humanity has inherited a sinful nature, so every human being is captive to that sin. That sin causes people to do terrible things to each other. Through Jesus Christ, those terrible actions are held captive. Anyone who lives for Jesus Christ can say that our captivity to sin has been held captive. One day, all believers will ascend into Heaven to be with Jesus. Jesus Christ leads captivity captive by leading us into the New Jerusalem. In the New Jerusalem, each person will be given gifts such as the water of life, the leaves of healing, and eternal life.

When I walked into a humane society, I saw all the different cats and dogs held in captivity and waiting for adoption, or something worse. When an animal is adopted, it’s captivity is led captive. The animal goes from captivity of the cage to being a captive of the new owner that is driving it to a new home of freedom. The new owner is leading captivity captive as they ascend into their new home together. Many gifts are showered onto the new pet at that time. Jesus Christ has adopted us, led captivity captive, and showers us with gifts as He leads us to our new eternal home in the New Jerusalem.

The Place Where Jesus is From

(Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up
far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.)
Ephesians 4:9-10

Jesus Christ is from a place that is far above all heavens. This is a place where even the James Webb Space Telescope will not be able to get a peek inside. There will be no previews other than what God has given us to see through the Bible. When Jesus Christ came to this earth, that was an enormous descension from His heavenly home to the lower parts where earth is. This earth is so low that it murdered the one who came to redeem it from its fallen and miserable condition. Jesus Christ spent three days in the grave. The same Christ that descended to the low and miserable earth, is the very same person who was resurrected and ascended back to His home, which is far above all the heavens. It is far above the darkest heavens that we see hovering over the planets of the universe.

Today, Jesus Christ has left us the Holy Spirit who guides us through the lowly condition of life that is here on earth. This earth is so low that its government operates through the thing which forms what a person thinks, feels, and does. It enables the image of the beast to speak and live through people and fights against the redemption of the people on this earth. It tramples on the Holy Spirit and cannot lift its head any higher than to see the sun’s intense heat that is destroying the earth. Jesus Christ is from a place far, far above the Ozone layer, and is far above all heavens of the universe. It is only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ that humanity can be redeemed. Yet, those who govern by the mark of the beast seems to think it is all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present. With all the power it has over physiology, it doesn’t realize that it is earthbound and living in captivity to sin. With all of its satellite and space equipment and ability to form thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, it doesn’t realize that far above all of that is the Paradise of God.

For all of us who come to God through Jesus Christ, our captivity to this lowly earth, our captivity to sin, is held captive to Jesus Christ. He is returning soon to lead captivity captive. He will take His people away from this lowly earth to live eternally with Him in a place that is far above all heavens.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11