Question: Will Old Testament saints be resurrected?

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Question: Will Old Testament saints be resurrected?

The Berean Call

Oct 02, 2024

Transcript

On our website: https://www.thebereancall.org/content/question-will-old-testament-saints-be-resurrected

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Question: If only those in the church are resurrected and taken to heaven at the Rapture, when do Old Testament saints get resurrected? If at the Rapture, then wouldn’t they be in the church?

Response: Before Christ’s resurrection, the souls and spirits of Old Testament believers went upon death to “Abraham’s bosom” (Lk 16:22-23), where Christ’s soul and spirit went upon His death as did the believing thief crucified with Him: “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Lk 23:43). When Christ ascended to heaven after His resurrection, He took these believers with Him.

It cannot only be those who died in faith in Christ since His resurrection, but Old Testament believers as well, who are described as the “saints” who come back with Christ at the Second Coming to the Mount of Olives (Zec 14:4-5; Jude 14), “those who sleep in Jesus” (1 Thes 4:14) and “the dead in Christ” (v. 16) resurrected at the Rapture. If Abraham, who “rejoiced to see [Christ’s] day” (Jn 8:56) and David and Isaiah, who foretold the Crucifixion and Resurrection, are not raised from the dead at the Rapture, they never will be resurrected.

The only other mention of a resurrection of believers is of those who “were beheaded [by antichrist]…which had not worshiped the beast” (Rv 20:4), completing the “first resurrection” (Rv 20:5). Old Testament saints must therefore be resurrected at the Rapture, and are in the church.

All Jews and Gentiles who believe in Christ before the Second Coming are in the church. Those who (whether Jews or Gentiles) only believe when they see Christ return at Armageddon will continue alive into the Millennium as the earthly people.

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Discussion about this podcast

Get Biblical Understanding

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7

As a writer who addresses biblical topics, I’m constantly searching the Scriptures to find verses that help me understand what God’s Word says about a certain subject. That’s a life-long daily process for me and I would hope for everyone who is a believer in Jesus Christ.

I’ve been assembling verses for more than a dozen years that relate to certain biblical teachings in the belief that Scripture is the best interpreter of Scripture. I’ve majored in gleaning verses from the New Testament which I’ve read and reread carefully over the years for this venture. Along the way, I’ve added some Old Testament verses, and continue to do so from my additional study of God’s Word. The main focus, however, is on the New Testament.

I know there are relevant verses I’ve yet to include. Nevertheless, for me personally, it’s a joyful and incredibly edifying work in progress.

I’m blessed to share with you what I’ve found in the Scriptures that hopefully will help you get a better understanding of what God has communicated. His teachings and instructions seem all the more critical now that we are in a time when sound doctrine is not being endured (2 Timothy 4:3). My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will enable all of us through His Word and by His grace to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him.

Throughout the duration of “Get Biblical Understanding” we will select a specific topic with many of the relevant verses.

In Christ’s love and service,

T.A. McMahon

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