Thank you for your detailed response and your insight. I have a few concerns though that I hope you can address:
Are you saying that the souls that were waiting under the altar are only referring to the OT saints in Abraham's Bosom?
I ask you this, because the "souls" are identified as those who were killed (martyred) who hold to the Word of God and the testimony of the Lamb, which they had.
Revelation 6:9 (WEB) 9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had.
Yes, I believe these martyred souls are Old Covenant faithful saints. Notice in Rev 6 there is no name of Jesus mentioned, as we find of the martyred saints in Rev 20. They knew of the Messiah foretold in the law and prophets who was to come, but they were not acquainted with the name, Jesus. They foretell only of the Messiah/Savior who was to come. or as WEB shows the Lamb. They were not witnesses of Jesus because they had heard only of a coming Messiah as a Lamb. They had not partaken of the first resurrection, which is the resurrection of Christ, nor were they yet physcially resurrected before the advent of Christ coming to earth a man.
Revelation 6:9-10 (KJV) And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Revelation 20:4 (KJV) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
These Old Covenant faithful saints, I believe could not ascend to heaven a spiritual body of believers until their fellowservants of Old and their brethren (Christ) were also killed as they were. After the advent of Christ's cross & resurrection, the next time these martyred saints are seen in heaven as living soul a spiritual body of believers, no longer waiting under the altar for the promised Messiah Lamb who would come to give His life for them and all who would believe in Him.
Revelation 6:10-11 (KJV) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Hebrews 9:15 (WEB) For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Now that Lord Jesus offered himself as the sacrifice for all sins, those OT saints who were waiting in Abrahams Bosom are now in Paradise in Heaven awaiting the resurrection - because the price for their sins was paid for in full.
Yes, exactly! All who are under the first Covenant, those who have part in the resurrection life of Christ, who is the "first resurrection", be grace through faith by the power of His Gospel and Holy Spirit have eternal life through Him. It is not yet immortal & incorruptible physical life, but eternal life through our spirit with His Spirit within you.
The spiritual body, at the resurrection, occurs at the last trump in a moment of time, in the twinkling of the eye.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (WEB) 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
So the souls under the altar cannot be resurrected OT saints, or OT saints who were in Abraham's Bosom.
The resurrection in an hour coming when the last trumpet sounds will not be for spiritual life. It will be for immortal & incorruptible physical life prepared for life on the new earth, where there shall be no more death, no more sin. Mankind is made of a body + spirit (breath of life) and together we are living souls. Why would our mortal body be resurrected immortal and incorruptible if we shall then be spiritual body? It is our flesh & blood body that cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. Which is why our body too must be resurrected immortal & incorruptible when the last trumpet sounds. Our new immortal & incorruptible body will once again be alive through our living spirits that return with Christ. The spiritual body of faithful saints in heaven, having died in Jesus will return with Him. Not to remain spiritual body, but to give life to our immortal & incorruptible physical body resurrected to life again.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 (KJV) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
The Old Covenant faithful saints who were waiting under the altar for the Messiah to come and redeem them from death ascended with Christ to heaven after His resurrection. Christ went to the lower parts of the earth, Abraham's bosom to take them with Him to heaven a spiritual body of believers. At the same time Christ set the captives free, He also gave gifts to the Church,
Ephesians 4:8 (KJV) Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Ephesians 4:9-10 (KJV) (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Ephesians 4:11-12 (KJV) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
The word for soul is "psyxḗ" and does not have to refer to the uniting of the body and the spirit; rather, it can refer to the unique personhood even if not in a body, in the same way "spirit" of a person is used - the context is our guide to what is meant.
5590 psyxḗ (from psyxō, "to breathe, blow" which is the root of the English words "psyche," "psychology") – soul (psyche); a person's distinct identity (unique personhood), i.e. individual personality.
4151 pneúma – properly, spirit (Spirit), wind, or breath. The most frequent meaning (translation) of 4151 (pneúma) in the NT is "spirit" ("Spirit"). Only the context however determines which sense(s) is meant.
Matthew 10:28 (WEB) 28 Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy [cut off spiritually from God's presence] both soul and body in Gehenna.
Do you have any thoughts about this?
I agree! The word translated 'soul' pertains to life. Complete mankind with body + spirit is in life a living soul. Those who are of faith in Christ before they die are still living souls or spiritual body of Christ in heaven, but without physical form. Because flesh and blood, nor corruption can enter the Kingdom of God.
Christ, speaking to faithful saints says we don't have to fear those who can take our life (physical/soul), but cannot destroy BOTH soul (spirit) and body. Man can kill our body, but man cannot take our eternal spirit life that we have in Christ when we live and believe in Him.
I hope I've written in a clear manner that you might be able to understand how I have come to understand death according to my study of the Word of God.
Edited 12:09 pm
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