“I have been told that as Jesus entered the prison of the condemned in the spirit world, a murmur of greeting welcomed Him.  It was timid and faint at first, but it increased in volume and force until it became a shout.

“’Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors.’”

“‘Hail, hail, to the Lord.’”

“‘And the King of Glory shall come in.’”

“‘Who is the King of Glory?’”

“‘The Lord, strong and mighty.’”

“’The Lord, will not cast off forever; but though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion, according to the multitude of His mercies.’”

“‘I will not contend forever, neither will I be always wroth.’”

“’Come and let us return unto the Lord:  for He hath torn and He will heal; He hath smitten and He will bind us up.’”

“’I will heal their back slidings, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away.’”

“’Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity.  He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy.’”

“’Say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, show yourselves.  I am He that liveth and was dead; and behold I am alive forevermore, anew:  and I have the keys of hell and death.’”

“And thus the gates were lifted, and the King of Glory entered.  And what a radiance shone in the gloom!  The shades of darkness fled, the chains of error dropped asunder, the overburdened heart found glad relief, for the Lord brought the tidings of great joy to the spirits in prison, offering them pardon and peace in exchange for their broken hearts.”

“Then they sang: 

  ’"Hark, ten thousand thousand voices
    Sing a song of Jubilee! 
  A world, once captive, now rejoices,
    Freed from long captivity. 
  Hail, Emanuel!  Great Deliverer! 
    Hail, our Savior, praise to thee! 
  Now the theme, in pealing thunders,
    Through the universe is rung;
  Now in gentle tones, the wonders
    Of redeeming grace is sung."’

“For three days, as counted by earth-time, the Redeemer ministered in this spirit world, preaching the gospel, giving instructions, and making plain the way of His servants to follow.  Joy and gladness filled many hearts.  Then, when the time had fully come, the great Captain of Salvation led the way against the enemy of men’s souls.  He laid low the Monster that had for ages kept grim watch at the Gates of Death.  He broke through the grave to the regions of life and light and immortality.  The Hope of Ages thus went forth conquering; and those who followed Him through the resurrection from the dead sang: 

  “’Death is swallowed up in victory!  O, death, where is thy sting?  O
  grave, where is thy victory?’”

II.