QUESTION: What happened to Old Testament believers who died before
Jesus’ death and Resurrection? I have
heard that Jesus descended into Hades
while His physical body was still in the
tomb.
ANSWER: Jesus indicated there were only two destinations for
a soul when he said, “These will go away
into eternal punishment, but the righteous
into eternal life,” (Mat 25:46). Before
Christ was crucified the situation was
a bit different, as recorded in Luke 16:19‑31.
Luke
refers to a temporary holding‑place
called Abraham’s bosom, which was separated
from the torment of Hades. Although souls
could hear one another, they were unable
to cross over to each other. Abraham’s
bosom was the place where Old Testament
believing souls were gathered, while waiting
for the sacrifice of Messiah to be accomplished.
Once Jesus’ blood was sprinkled upon the
mercy seat in heaven, full payment for
any sin ever committed on earth was provided.
Today, all one must do for eternal life
with God is welcome His resurrected Son
into his life. His blood cleanses all
sin away. (See Acts 20:28.) This is why
I believe it is easier to enter heaven
than hell. One must reject God’s Son and
continually fight against the Christian
Gospel to enter hell.That requires much
more effort. (See Acts 4:12.)
Between
the death and Resurrection, Jesus visited
this lower region, and led the believing
Old Testament saints to heaven. (See Eph
4:8‑9.) Remember the repentant thief
on the cross next to Jesus was promised,
“Today you will be with Me in paradise,”
(Luke 23:43). That very day the
necessary sacrificial blood was shed,
thus opening the way into heaven.
Regarding
1Peter 4:6 Matthew, Henry stated, “For
this cause was the Gospel preached by
Christ to all the faithful of old, who
are now dead in Christ, that they might
be taught and encouraged to bear the unrighteous
judgments and persecutions which the rage
of men put upon them in the flesh, but
might live in the Spirit unto God.” I
believe this message was delivered between
the death and Resurrection of our Lord,
as Messiah revealed Himself to those in
Abraham’s bosom, and led them home to
heaven.
Also
while in these lower regions, Jesus “spoiled
principalities and powers, and made a
show of them, openly triumphing over them,”
(Col 2:15). Webster’s New World Dictionary
defines “spoiled” as stripping the hide
from an animal. Humans are no match for
demons, but Jesus has already torn into
them in Hades. It was utterly impossible
for death or demons to hold Jesus. From
this hell, Jesus returned victoriously
with the keys of death and hell. (See
Rev 1:18.) What a mighty God we serve!
In
this case, man is truly the master of
his destiny.
So
choose you this day whom you will serve.
Psalm
107:16
Reach
Pastor Huck at calvarycorner.com
