Following his death on the cross, the Lord Jesus in his spirit proclaimed his victory over Satan and his minions (1 Peter 3:22). This proclamation was not an offer of salvation or some kind of second chance for salvation; rather, it was a declaration of defeat to spiritual forces of wickedness (1 Peter 3:18-21).
These imprisoned spirits are those "who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling." They are the "angels (who) sinned" and were "cast into hell" (ταρταρόω to cast into Tartarus). God "committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment" (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6-7).
Not all fallen angels are currently imprisoned awaiting final judgment; some are free to roam the earth and greatly dread being sent to that dungeon (Luke 8:30-31).
Jude quotes from the Book of Enoch (Jude 1:14-15, see the attachment for a photocopy of a fragment of this Pseudepigraphal book recognized as canonical by Coptic Christians).
Evidently, these imprisoned spirits are the B'nai Elohim (בְנֵי־הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙) of Genesis 6:2. (This expression always refers to angels in the rest of the Hebrew Bible.)
Their union with human females produced bizarre offspring: the heroes, giants (γίγαντες), nephilim (נְפִילִים) of Genesis 6:4.
Though it is contrary to their estate to marry, the Bible does not indicate that angels are genderless. Why is it that the two angels who ate with Abraham were objects of lust to the male population of Sodom? (Genesis 19:4-7)
But God determined to save the only creatures made in his image. That's why Noah's family is preserved (1 Peter 3:20), and the Lord Jesus came (Hebrews 2:14-18).
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After serving Grace Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Louisiana, Bob was honorably retired on Sunday, September 27, 2015, and given the title "Pastor Emeritus." This was forty years to the day after he became their pastor.
He now works for the Presbytery of the Gulf South as...
