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Jesus' Other Sheep

Overview

Jesus Preached to His Other Sheep:
John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me — 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

Above is the verse that the Mormons use to support their belief that Jesus came to the American continent and appeared to Joseph Smith. But who does the Bible say these "other sheep really are?"

Ephesians 4:7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." 9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

Who died, then descended to the lower regions, then ascended higher than all the heavens?
Who were these captives who trailed behind Him as He ascended into heaven?


1 Peter 3:18 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, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also — not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand — with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Christ Jesus is the One who died (1 Peter 3:18 above) and descended.
Christ Jesus is the One who preached (1 Peter 3:19 above).

Jesus preached to the spirits in prison (1 Peter 3:19 above) — to the spirits of people who were dead (1 Peter 3:20 above). Since they disobeyed in the days of Noah they were already dead because Noah's day was hundreds of years before Jesus' said this. So if they were dead, their prison had to be the grave, into which Jesus descended (Ephesians 4:9 above).

If they are "in prison" (1 Peter 3:19 above) then they are "captives." Christ Jesus is the one who has gone into heaven (1 Peter 3:22 above). Those among the dead who believed the message that he preached were led by Him to heaven: "I must bring them also" (John 10:16 above). "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train" (Ephesians 4:8 above).



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