BEFORE Jesus’ death, the Bible says the saints are in Sheol (Gen 37:35; 42:38; 2 Sam 22:6; Job 14:13; Psalm 88:3; Eccl 9:10; Isa 38:10; Jonah 2:2), which is ‘down’ in the earth (Gen 37:35; 42:38; 44:29; 44:31; Num 16:33; 1 Sam 2:6, etc.). In the New Testament the word Hades is used of Sheol, and before His death Jesus taught that the righteous went there (Lk 16:19-31, cf. v 23). b) AFTER Jesus’ death, the Bible says the saints are in Heaven with God (Heb 12:22-24, cf. v 23b; Rev 6:9), which is ‘up’ (John 6:33, 38; Acts 1:9-12; 2 Cor 12:2-3; Rev 4:1b, etc.).
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, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
If the spirits imprisoned in Hades were unconscious and “knew nothing,” then why did Jesus bother to go and preach to them? And further, how could Jesus Himself, whose body was dead, be conscious after death and preach to anybody?
So did the Spirit that quickened Jesus also quicken the dead to be preached to?
Matt 27:50-54 The Dead walked the Streets
Matt 27:50-54 “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 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; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 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.”
After Jesus Spirit is separated from his body (death) the first thing that happens is the veil is ripped.
The veil was a thick curtain that separated the holy of holies from the Holy place. (The veil was 60 ft by 30 ft high and it took hundreds of people to maneuver it in place.) All three gospels mention this (Mt.27:51; Mk.15:38; Lk23:45). The veil is rent from the top to the bottom, something only God could do thus signifying access is available to all because of the death of Christ. Heb.7:11-19 God does this to approve of His sacrifice.
This passage trips up alot of people. I have seen it over and over in debates.
Here is the verse:
Mt 22
24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
27 And last of all the woman died also.
28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
Did you notice anything?
Y'shua says the "resurrection of the DEAD"
Most people say "Well, if the resurrection came already in 70 A.D or after, then you're married now aren't you, Sir (or Madam)?..so that goes to show you there wasn't a resurrection yet!"
The risen Jesus appears in a locked room (John 20). He journeys with two of his followers for a couple of hours and is not recognized – and when he is recognized, he vanishes (Luke 24). He appears in both Jerusalem (Luke and John) and Galilee (Matthew and John). He appears to Stephen in his dying moments (Acts 7). He appears to Paul in or near Damascus as a brilliant light (Acts 9). He appears to John the Revelator on an island off the coast of Turkey in the first century (Rev. 1). Christians were “changed” (raptured) and the “spiritual body” is what you get when you die. The physical “shell” of the “seed” simply goes the way of the dirt.
A note about King David..Acts 2:34 speaks of David having not ascended into heaven.
Take a close look at that verse. I think it is referring to Christ as the one who was invested with Lordship and exhalted as seated at the right hand , so saying David has not ascended would be appropriate since David was only a type of Christ and ancestor.
Then later..
1 Corinthians 15:24
The Order of Resurrection
…23 But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him. 24 Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.…
If you have been following my posts you know about my inclinations toward fulfillment eschatology according to what I am noticing in the Word..
**IS THE 1,000 YEAR FIRST RESURRECTION IN REVELATION 20:4-6 FOR THE 24 ELDERS ON THRONES AND MARTYRS ONLY**??
Jesus promised to 12 Apostles who followed Him {Including Paul?} that they would be given 12 THRONES and the authority to **JUDGE** in Matthew 19:28 & Luke 22:30. In Revelation 4:4 Before the beginning of the Great Tribulation John saw exactly 24 thrones surrounding God's Throne in Heaven. The other 12 thrones were most likely given to 12 prominent OT Elders such as Abraham, Joseph, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Moses, Elijah, Samuel, Joshua, Noah and Enoch. One of these 24 Elders speaks in Rev 7:13-17 and after the 7TH angel sounds the 7TH and Last Trumpet in Rev 11:15. ONLY the 24 Elders state on the Last Day in Rev 11:16-18: “The time has come for **JUDGING** the dead and for rewarding your saints.”
It is completely obvious that the 1,000 year reign mentioned in Revelation 20:4-6 is for **24 ELDERS** on Thrones and **MARTYRS ONLY** according to God's Word in:
Revelation 20:4,5b,6a: "I saw Thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to *JUDGE* {The 24 Elders} and I saw the souls of those who had been executed {Or beheaded} because of their testimony for Jesus {NT Martyrs} and because of the Word of God {OT Martyrs}. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands {Tribulation Martyrs}. THEY {THE 24 ELDERS & MARTYRS} came to life and reigned with Christ for 1,000 years... This is the **FIRST RESURRECTION**... Blessed and holy are those who have part in the **FIRST RESURRECTION**. Rev 20:5a: “The rest of the dead {Those saints who are not martyrs or the 24 Elders on Thrones} did not come to life **UNTIL** the 1,000 years were **ENDED**.” Which, of course, would be the **SECOND RESURRECTION** at the 2nd Coming of Jesus. There are only TWO RESURRECTIONS for all saints mentioned in Rev 20:4-6: The **FIRST RESURRECTION** is for Martyrs and the 24 Elders **ONLY** and INCLUDES the Tribulation Martyrs. And therefore the **SECOND RESURRECTION** must come on the Last Day of the Great Tribulation and must include all saints {Both OT & NT} who are not martyrs or the 24 Elders on thrones.
God's word states that the Martyrs of the Great Tribulation will participate in the **FIRST RESURRECTION** while the pre-tribbers claim that the Rapture of the Church saints is the **FIRST RESURRECTION** **BEFORE** the Great Tribulation!!
**THIS ABSOLUTELY CONTRDICTS THE PRE-TRIB VIEW THAT THE **FIRST RESURRECTION** IS ONLY FOR CHURCH SAINTS JUST BEFORE THE GREAT TRIBULATION**!!
The Heavenly rewards for the faithful and courageous *MARTYRS* is one of the most important central themes in the book of Revelation. For they will reign with Jesus in Heaven during the 1,000 years before His 2nd Coming; and according to Revelation 7:14-17: They are **BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD** and God will spread His tent over them. They will receive White Robes washed in the blood of the Lamb. Never again will they hunger or thirst and God Himself will wipe every tear from their eyes. Jesus will be their Shepherd and will lead them to springs of Living Water.
At the Beginning of the Great Tribulation we read in:
Revelation 6:9-11: When He {Jesus} opened the 5th seal, I saw under the Altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the Word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, Holy and True, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" Then each of them were given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer untill the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were to be killed just as they had been! {And so the Martyrs are **AWAKE** and **TALKING TO GOD** with **HEAVENLY BODIES** **BEFORE** the 2nd Coming of Jesus when those who are not Martyrs or the 24 Elders will be awakened and receive their new heavenly bodies!
Then just before the 7 trumpet plagues in Revelation 8 we read in:
Revelation 7:9,13-15: There before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing **BEFORE THE THRONE and before the **LAMB**. They were wearing white robes... Then of the {24} Elders asked me, "These in white robes--who are they and where did they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the **GREAT TRIBULATION** {**MARTYRS**Like Jesus} they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the **LAMB**! Therefore, "They are **BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD** and **SERVE HIM** day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will shelter them with His presence!" {And so the Tribulation martyrs are also Awake before God's throne and **SERVE GOD** **BEFORE** the 2nd Coming of Jesus!!}
FOR EXAMPLE: Let us suppose that the that the 1260-day Great Tribulation begins June 6th, 2018; and would therefore end 1260 days later on November 17th, 2021. Then the continuous 1,000 year FIRST RESURRECTION for MARTYRS AND 24 ELDERS ONLY would take place from November 17th, AD 1021 to November 17th, 2021. The 24 Elders and all of the OT & NT saints martyred before November 17th, 1021 were awakened to reign with Jesus in Heaven and every Martyr martyred after November 17th, 1021 were and will be immediately awakened to reign with Jesus in the continuous 1,000 year FIRST RESURRECTION to be completed on November 17th, 2021 at the SECOND RESURRECTION when "The rest of the dead come to life when the thousand years are ENDED."
The **24 ELDERS** are mentioned 12 times in Revelation 4:4,10; 5:5,6,8,11,14; 7:11,13; 11:16; 14:3 and 19:4. The **MARTYRS** are mentioned over 20 times in Revelation 6:9-11; 7:9-17; 12:11; 14:1-5,13; 15:2-4; 16:6; 17:6; 18:24 an 19:2!! The **24 ELDERS** and the **MARTYRS** like Jesus are the **ONLY SAINTS** mentioned who are awake, before God's throne, talking to God and have their eternal heavenly bodies in Revelation. All the rest of the saints are asleep in Jesus until the **SECOND RESURRECTION** at the Second Coming of Jesus when they will be awakened and receive their new heavenly bodies. And their is absolutely no mention of all the **CHURCH SAINTS** that were supposedly raptured **BEFORE** the tribulation according to the pre-trib fairy tale!!
I Corinthians 15:50-52 I declare to you brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, . Listen I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep {Since the **24 ELDERS & **MARTYRS ARE AWAKE**} but we will all be changed --in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the Last {7TH} trumpet. For the {7TH & LAST} trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed!!
Since all the saints will receive new heavenly bodies and all the unsaved will be sent to hell as per Matthew 25:31-46, there would no one left to inhabit a future 1,000 year Millenium!!
This seems to contradict John 6:40: Jesus says, “EVERYONE who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life and I will raise him up at the LAST DAY.” However, the LAST DAY RESURRECTION could last 1,000 years for in 2 Pet 3:8 we read: “With the Lord a DAY is like 1,000 years, and 1,000 years are like a DAY!!
Revelation 12:11: They triumphed over him {666} by the blood of the **LAMB** and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death!
Revelation 2:10: Jesus promised, "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of **LIFE**!!"
NOW THE PREMILLENIEST BELIEVES THAT DURING A 1,000 YEAR REIGN OF CHRIST **AFTER** THE LAST DAY THE LORD JESUS WILL REIGN IN THE EZEKIEL TEMPLE MEENTIONED IN EZEKIEL CHAPTERS 40-48 WHERE THERE WILL BE ANIMAL SACRIFICES TO MAKE ATONEMENT FOR SINS**???
**BUT WHAT DOES GOD'S WORD SAY**??
Isaiah 1:11: "The multitude of your sacrifices--what are they to Me?" says the Lord. "I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats!"
Jeremiah 6:20: The Lord says, "Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please Me!!"
Hebrews 10:8-10: First He said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor were You pleased with them," although the law required them to be made. Then He said, "Here I am, I have come to do Your will." He sets aside the first **TO ESTABLISH THE SECOND**. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ **ONCE FOR ALL**!!
Hebrews 9:22; 26-28: The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood **THERE IS NO FORGIVENESS**.... But now He has appeared **ONCE FOR ALL** at the end of the ages to do away with sin **BY THE SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF**!! Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, and Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people, and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him!!
Depending on the punctuation between you and today ... The thief on the cross may have been the first believer to go directly to Heaven, without having to first stop in Hades. Up until the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, every single person who had ever died, both righteous and wicked alike, went to Sheol/Hades But just moments before His death, Jesus indicated the dawn of a new age, saying to the thief on the cross beside Him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in PARADISE” (Luke 23:43 ). Paradise is in Heaven, not Hades Thus, Jesus’ death was the end of the Hades holding tank for believers; there would be no more in-between stage for God’s people – from that point on, whenever a believer dies, he/she goes straight to Heaven and into the presence of God.
I do know that Stephen when he was being stoned to death saw Christ before he died .
Acts 7:54-60 Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 and said, >>>Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God<<<<. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 and cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, >>>>Lord Jesus, receive my spirit<<<<<. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, >>>>Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep<<<<
But the good news is ...
When he died, Christians fled and spread the Gospel to other part of the world.
And Saul became Paul and was converted.
Stephen makes me cry reading about him sometimes.
He was a Hellenistic Greek and decon who , being one of the seven men who made sure food got to widows . (I can relate to that very much)
Acts 6:1-6
Another passage that makes me smile with teary eyes is :
Acts 6
15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Christ came to fulfill the prophecies, not defer or put them off. Judgement, “at that Day” was required to bring vengeance upon those who persecuted God’s people, especially those who killed His Son. Not only is this spoken about in the “according to their works” language, also “every knee shall bow” language – Romans 14:11 and Philippians 2:10. This is a citation of Isaiah 42:23. It’s important that we read, starting a verse 17 and ending at verse 25 to gain context).
