Brother Sage of 7 asked a question on our YouTube channel, and I have offered the answer here on the forum.

When did Jesus preach to the angels in Tartarus?

Let's look closer at 1 Peter 3:18-20.

The beginning of the nineteenth verse reads, "en ho kai." We translate this as, "in which also." These words are speaking of our Lord being in the spirit. So, therefore, it is saying, it is in the spirit form of our Lord, in which Peter is speaking of.

To continue on: "tois en phylake pneumasin poreutheis ekeryxen." This part of the verse is translated as such, "he went and preached unto the spirits in prison." These appear to be the same spirits Peter speaks of in 2Pt 2:4, "For if God did not spare the angels having sinned, but having cast them down to Tartarus, in chains of gloomy darkness, delivered them, being kept for judgment."

Now, here is the important part to pay attention to. The verse goes on to read, "apeithesasin pote." Translated usually as, "having disobeyed at one time." Peter changes the time period he is talking about right here. He goes from speaking about the spirits that are currently in prison, to discussing the time period in which they were disobedient. We know this because of Peters continued discussion.

"hote apexedecheto he tou Theou makrothymia en hemerais Noe." This section of the verse reads, "when God was waiting in longsuffering in the days of Noah." Therefore, what Peter is saying is: Jesus, as a spirit, went and proclaimed/preached to these angels when they were sinning during the time of Noah. Peter only mentions the fact that they currently are in prison, before ultimately going on to discuss the time in which they were disobedient. Therefore, in fact, what this scripture discusses is, Jesus' prehuman existence as a spirit. The context of time Peter is speaking of tells us that it was not into the prison in which Jesus went and preached, but that he preached to these spirits at the time in which they were disobedient.

Now the verses go on to tell us just how long the pre-human Jesus preached unto the spirits of Noah's day, "kataskeuazomenes kibotou." Translated as, "of the arks construction." There is no way around the fact that the original Greek, along with Genesis 6, intends to tell us that the time period in which God "waited," was while the ark was under construction. There just simply is no text to indicate otherwise. It says he waited for the construction of the ark, and there's nothing to indicate this was before it's announcement.

So, with this in mind, here is a more accurate translation of 18-20.

"Having been put to death indeed in the flesh, however, being made alive in the spirit, in which also to the spirits in prison he went to preach when they were disobedient; while God was waiting in longsuffering in the days of Noah for the ark's construction." (Joshua Stone)

"Pote apeithesasin," is translated here properly as, "when they were disobedient." Pote can also be read as, "in times past," or "formally." Pote is a time period something happens, as seen here: "But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luk 22:32)

This actually makes since now, and answers all of the paradoxes. Once they were imprisoned awaiting their death sentence, there simply is no reason to speak to them. No courtesy would be paid to them; but, instead were warned of their coming judgement before the flood. That was Jesus' message to them.

Moses was known as a preacher, "and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly." (2Pt 2:5) So therefore, there would have been a preaching work leading up to the flood, just as there is today. And it was our Lord who had the lead in that preaching work among mankind, during the building of the ark.

In Genesis 6, the 120 years were the time period given to build the ark. Therefore the ark had begun to be built twenty years before Noah's 500th year, and the birth of his sons. Therefore, the preaching work before the flood was 120 years.

As well, these spirits were not thrown into the abyss, they were thrown into tataroo, or tartarus, which carries the idea of being dejected from Heaven, in chains that cannot be redeemed. This was their sentence, and they received the death penalty at the time of their imprisonment. Therefore, they were not placed in an abyss of inactivity such as we know Satan will be thrown in. So, they would have already been aware that Jesus conquered the world. But regardless, Jesus conquering the world at His death had nothing to do with them, they were already condemned to death in the days of Noah. There would be absolutely nothing to declare to these angels after Jesus' resurrection. They were tried and given the death sentence at the flood, period. They have been awaiting the death sentence ever since.

Through all love in Christ Jesus, to you brothers.