Christ Proclaims to Spirits in Prison

Two readings of this verse have competed for centuries. One says the spirits are the people who died in the flood, and Jesus went to give them a second chance. Heiser rejects that, and says so plainly: "I am in agreement with Dalton that the imprisoned spirits are not the people who died in the Flood, and that 1 Peter is following the story of the sin of the Watchers from 1 Enoch."
That changes what the proclamation is. If the audience is the bound Watchers, this is not evangelism. It is a verdict delivered in person - an announcement to the imprisoned that the thing they set in motion has failed, and that the one announcing it has broken the power they served.
Scripture links:
- 1 Peter 3:19-20 - "he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey... in the days of Noah."
- Jude 6 - The same prisoners, in Jude's letter.
Peter is not describing a rescue mission. He is describing a declaration to inmates.