Christ's death was a real death in that it put an end to his earthly human existence. But because of the union his body retained with the person of the Son, his was not a mortal corpse like others, for "divine power preserved Christ's body from corruption."[470] Both of these statements can be said of Christ: "He was cut off out of the land of the living",[471] and "My flesh will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor let your Holy One see corruption."[472] Jesus' Resurrection "on the third day" was the proof of this, for bodily decay was held to begin on the fourth day after death.[473]