Just pondering
OT saints are they saved in believing in God ? as we do in Jesus
Did they not have a salvation plan for a resurrection ?
What is in their resurrection that is going to be any different from future resurrections ?
Will they not have part in the first resurrection just like the NT saints ?
If they are in the first resurrection, then their salvation was good under the OT Laws. ?
What was better for the NT saints that the OT saints, as pertaining to be saved ?
Did they not both qualify for the resurrection ?
Jesus told us the parable of the rich man and the beggar, Lazarus how Abraham's bosom could be seen across the great gulf from hell, thus alluding to being beneath the earth.
We find that the former and displaced King Saul had used a medium to contact the spirit of Samuel because God would not answer him and so he went to Samuel to bring him up for some answers.
1 Samuel 28:10 And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. 11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. 12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. 13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. 14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
Some will say that it wasn't really the spirit of Samuel, but the medium was afraid of him and that spirit of Samuel prophesied Saul's doom accordingly. Also Isaiah 8:19 considers this an abomination as people should seek answers from the Lord rather than from the spirits of the dead even though Isaiah 8:19 was written later on after this event.
So when Jesus said to the thief that this day he will be with Him in Paradise, which is to say Abraham's bosom, that was where He and that thief went that day because He had to descend to preach to those in "prison".
1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient,...
Why? 1 Peter 3:18 cites why this had to be done because only Christ can bring the spirits of those saints to Heaven to live with God forever.
John 3:13
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
So the saints in the O.T. had not received the promise of eternal life of living with God yet, but they were in holding in Paradise beneath the earth.
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
After His resurrection, they were too for a short time;
Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
That was Him leading the captivity captive so that when He had ascended, He took them and Paradise with Him to God above.
Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Now Paradise is located in Heaven.
2 Corinthians 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 How that he was
caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Paul was talking about the apostle John when he was taken up to Heaven to bear witness for what he was to write in the Book of Revelations.
So that when a believer dies, they go there to await the resurrection, but present with the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven.
2 Corinthians 15:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
So how we run that race which is by faith in Jesus Christ, looking to the author & finisher of our faith to help us lay aside every weight & sin so we can be received by Him as a vessel unto honor in His House or else we become disqualified to attend the Marriage Supper in Heaven when the Bridegroom comes, and wind up left behind to be resurrected later on as vessels unto dishonor in His House for not departing from iniquity.
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
Hebrews 12:1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway.
2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
That verse above applies also to those that get left behind, but better to look to Him now for help to discern & depart from iniquity than to be left behind for Him to do it then where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for missing out on the firstfruits of the resurrection. The prodigal son may have given up his inheritance for wild living and can never get it back, but he is still son.
So it all goes to which resurrection "last" day a believer wants to have; the one before the great tribulation or afterwards, because He will lose nothing of all the Father has given Him, even for those that just believe in His name?
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
