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Colossians 2:15
15 And having spoiled [apekduomai] principalities [arche] and [kai] powers, [exousia] he made a shew of them [deigmatizo] openly [en], [parrhesia] triumphing over [thriambeuo] them [autos] in [en] it. [autos] KJV-Interlinear
15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. NASB
Paul had written this letter to the Colossians in the early-mid 60’s A.D. About ten years earlier, in the early 50’s A.D., Paul had written two letters to the Corinthians.
In 2 Cor. 12, Paul related an experience in which he was allowed to visit both Heaven and Paradise. Likewise, in Ephesians 4, Paul related the story of Christ descending down into Hades, and into Paradise specifically, and leading all of the captives contained therein (Old Testament believers), out of Paradise, and up into Heaven.
2 Cor. 12:1-4
12 Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I know how such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows —
4 was caught up into Paradise, and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. NASB
Eph. 4:8-10
8 Therefore it says, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men."
9 (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) NASB
Psa. 68:18
18 Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captive Thy captives; Thou hast received gifts among men, Even among the rebellious also, that the Lord God may dwell there. NASB
Here, Paul ties these events together, in the greatest procession, parade ever held in history.
Paul was witness to the empty Paradise, and to the presence of all of the believers, once held in Paradise, now in Heaven.
And here Paul tells us that this procession, totally disarmed Satan, and all evil powers, policies, ideas, etc., that have ever existed.
This is a military word, ‘apekduomai,’ which refers to the total control that a victor possesses over the defeated enemy.
Once the Cross had concluded, once the death and burial (and announcement of victory to those resident in all of Hades) had concluded, once Christ had risen in resurrection, He went down into the bowels of the earth, without any hindrance, objection, or resistance, and retrieved all of the Old Testament believers who had been held captive in Paradise (because of Satan’s objections throughout history), until the events and victory of the Cross had been accomplished.
So, in full public view (from heavens perspective), Christ led the largest, and longest, and most dramatic victory parade in all of history, into Heaven.
In over four-thousand years of history, from Adam to the time of the Cross, there could have easily been several trillions of believers held in Paradise. Combine that with possibly unknown trillions more of angels, the party and celebrations held along the way, and in heaven itself had to have been one beyond imagination.
We probably cannot even begin to imagine the singing and joy and happiness and celebrations that all of those people experienced at that time. Not only was it a phenomenal event in history, but they actually participated in it.
One day, we, who are, and will, and have lived in this dispensation, of the Church Age, will have our parade, when the Rapture occurs. And as with our initial reaction, all knees bent, all heads bowed, they too most likely had that same initial reaction. And then the party began …..
