Question: Did the Lord actually go down to the place of the imprisoned, antediluvian race, to preach to them (or announce) the accomplishment of salvation?
Answer: Read 1 Peter 3:19-2219By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. (1 Peter 3:19‑22). It was the same Spirit, that quickened Christ from among the dead, that in Noah preached to the anti-diluvians, and it is because they did not hearken to the preaching by Noah that they are ever since in prison.
The Lord Jesus, when He died on the cross, went to His Father to whom He commended His spirit. He was absent from His body, present with His Father. The ascension of Christ is when body and spirit, united in resurrection, ascended up to the Father, a glorified Man.
Answer: The disciples here are still the remnant of Israel, looking for the setting up of the kingdom.
When He comes to Israel as King, we will come with Him, and every eye shall see Him. He shall so come in like manner as they saw Him go; this is His appearing.
But the precious truth expressed here is sweet to each saved one—that is “this same Jesus,” the “Lord Himself,” whom we have known as our Savior, will come for us. He will not send an angel for us.
Answer: (1) This passage stands in remarkable and striking contrast to Philippians 2:1010That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (Philippians 2:10), and here, when it is a question of being compelled to bow, three orders of things are included, things celestial, terrestrial, and infernal. There, where it is a question of reconciliation (Col. 1:2020And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20)), and making peace by the blood, the things infernal are most pointedly omitted, and the expression “all things” is expressly limited to things celestial and terrestrial. The distinction is all important. What the reconciliation of earthly things means we know; that of heavenly things is more mysterious. In some way we know that Satan has access to the heavenlies, and there must be defilement where his presence is. Hebrews 9:2323It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (Hebrews 9:23) refers to the same subject. It is sufficient for us to know that there will be nothing in heaven or earth left that is not reconciled to God by the blood of Christ.
(2) In Ephesians 1:1010That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10), “all things” is again limited to things celestial and terrestrial. Here Christ is not the reconciler, but the head and center of all, even as He will be in the Millennial reign, when this passage will be fulfilled.
Answer: Psalms 16 is a breathing of the spirit of Christ, in the place of dependence upon God into which He voluntarily entered. “In Thee do I put My trust.” He speaks as the dependent man. As to Jehovah, He says, “My goodness extendeth not to Thee.” As to the saints, He says, “All My delight is in them.” It is our privilege, in our little measure, to breathe the same spirit of trust in God, and of delight in His people. In Jesus it was perfect. He, though God over all, blessed forever, yet so perfectly took the place of man that He could say to God, “In Thee do I put My trust” — “My goodness extendeth not to Thee” — “My flesh shall rest in hope.”