Prison Break

“It's the long, dark night of the soul,

Where you find the light . . .

It's six feet deep where you've got to go,

To come alive . . .”

– Judah Akers & Brian Victor Macdonald, “Long Dark Night,” Judah & the Lion, 2024

The hour has come for Jesus to go and get Adam: To bring eternal life to the first man and the first woman. Imagine the rumblings in Sheol: Adam a prisoner of war who waited century upon century, slowly sees the plan of salvation unfold. Slowly, he is told.

It starts with the righteous amongst his family line. As they come to Sheol, they report to Adam of the earthly activity of the Divine. The patriarchs and prophets profess of God’s great deeds. Unsure what may come, through staying rooted in truth, they tend to each other’s need. Then come the kings, David and his line, chosen by God. Hope begins to stir up in Sheol, perhaps one day they will break free from death and sin’s façade. Slowly but surely, news trickles in for Adam and his family to hear. Sometimes rapidly, sometimes after centuries, they take in every sliver of hope. Suddenly it becomes easier and easier to ignore Satan’s jeers.

Then comes Joseph, the quiet humble king with no outward sign of crown or ring. He tells Adam of God’s miraculous, precise entrance. He tells Adam of his own dreams. John the Baptist then comes to the ancient bride’s home. He proclaims that the bridegroom has sprung fast on the scene! Earth is being renewed by their God, the righteous in Sheol await their King. Adam takes in the news, with his bride Eve by his side. He stands at awe and amazed at what happens next, his God has died and eternally shifted the tide.

The familiar Divine and Holy Face comes to Sheol to release them from death. The prisoners of Sheol break out, the bride of the righteous begin to sing. They ride to heaven with their bridegroom: Wedding bells ring! Dancing and rejoicing, Adam and the righteous fall on their knees to worship the lamb of God on his throne. Death is no match for their King.

The present world has passed away, a new one enters upon humanity this day. Elijah, Moses, and Enoch greet them and usher humanity into the feast. Adam and Eve watch speechless as the joy and delight of the garden is restored. Their life there was once perfect, but the glory of heaven even more.

The army of angels relish in the victory, amazed by their God and commander’s great risk and gift. His thirty-three- year campaign on earth has brought home his earthly creation. The angel’s preparation of fighting and inspiring has finally become triumphant. Arms are thrown up in celebration. They lift their angelic leaders Michael and Gabriel up. What jubilation!

Much work must still be done of course to increase heaven’s margin of victory, so more souls may enter into the eternal domain. But just for this moment all rest on this holy of all sabbaths: Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.

The reality of Easter Sunday in heaven can be caught through the glimpses of what many couples experience on their own wedding days. The gathering of families, the celebration of God’s great love for the couple, their speechlessness at the story he has written and all he has done. These are the graces Adam and Eve experience on Easter Sunday. They are the graces we can glimpse on this earth when God brings a couple into the grace of the resurrected life.