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NASB | Matthew 27:52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 27:52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints (God's people) who had fallen asleep [in death] were raised [to life]; |
Bible Question:
I didn't realize my previous question had been asked so recently. I'm new to this and didn't know how to search it. Thanks to all for the responses now and before. Next question. Were OT saints, like Abraham, seen in Jerusalem when Jesus came out of the tomb on the third day? |
Bible Answer: Good morning from snowy Canada TGSmom: The miracle of the open tombs at the cross is one of seven miraculous events which occurred. I have listed them for your information. As you will have noticed each one of these events have great spiritual significance and are the fulfilment of many prophecies concerning him. 1. The awful 3 hour darkness starting at mid-day 2. The rending of the Veil in the temple 3. The earthquake 4. The opened graves 5. The undisturbed grave clothes of Jesus 6. The resurrection of some Old Testament saints. One very important distinction we must make is: That the graves were opened, but the saints did not rise until after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Notice how these events tie together: " Jesus, when he had cried 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 that slept arose, And came out of the graves AFTER his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many" Matt. 27:50-53 We see the power of that loud Triumphant Cry of the Saviour "Finished!" He then dismissed his own spirit. The veil which covered entrance to the holy of holiest was rent from top to bottom, a great earthquake occurred, graves were opened. However, we must remember there is order to resurrection. "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming" Christ is the first to rise from the dead with an incorruptible body and because he lives!, we who are his at his coming will be changed along with those who sleep in him. That is why "we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body" Phil.3:20b-21. After his resurrection, the bodies of the saints which slept arose, and appeared unto many. There graves were opened at the moment of the Saviour's cry exposing the bodies within, who arose after his resurrection. What a testimony to the power of God! Did these saints go back to their graves? We are not told. Were these saints raised in immortal bodies like unto the Lord Jesus? Levitcus 23:10-12 we read about the feast of firstfruits which is typical of resurrection. "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: It has been suggested that a sheaf implies plurality. The Lord Jesus is the single "corn of wheat" which fell into the ground at his death and buriel.(John 12.24) In his resurrection he is first in order, but according to Eph. 4 8-10 "when he ascended on high, he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men" It appears that those who slept in him were taken by Christ from paradise into heaven with him at his ascention. The question I ask myself is, did he allow the bodies of the few which arose to go back to the tomb or did he take them along bodily with the souls of all the saints of Heb. 12:23.? We know that he raised Lazaraus from the dead. However, Lazarus was not given an immortal body at that time, he eventually died and was buried again. However, if the saints which rose after his resurrection are the fulfilment of the wave-sheaf offering which was a sample of the greater crop, then these dear saints are a sample of what we look for at his coming; and are with Christ in resurected bodies. We are not told who they are except they are saints which slept in Christ. I cannot be dogmatic on this view and yet I feel in view of the victory of Christ that these people were the first to experience this glorious change. One day we will be able to ask them? I apologize for going on and on. However, this topic is difficult to cover without side tracking somewhat. We look for our Saviour from heaven! Robert Nicholson |