Came Out of the Graves

[eternalmatters]

In Matthew 27:52-53

52And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Why is this overlooked?
Where did these saints go after going into the holy city?

[homer58w]

Many even overlook the fact that they came out of the grave AFTER His Resurrection, but to answer your question - they were the gleanings, the firstfruits after Christ The First Fruit of Resurrection. People and preachers overlook alota things in the Bible, especially if they can't explain it.

Where did they go afterwards? Eph 4:8-10 He that ascended up on high first descended into the lower parts of the earth and led captivity captive. He took the first fruits that came out of the grave after His Resurrection up to Heaven with Him, just as He took everyone in Abramham's bosom from the lower parts of the earth up to Heaven where all believers now go until the Rapture or until the Resurrection of the Saints (depending on which gospel dispensation they were in). Their souls are resting, waiting for their glorified bodies.

[thepep]

Good question. So does this mean that Jesus is not alone in the heavenly city? The spirit beings (OT saints) are with him and the angels?

[homer58w]

In Revelation, where are the Trib saints gonna be after they are killed - around the Throne, yes? Where did Paul go after being stoned and left for dead - to the 3rd Heaven where he heard things unlawful for him to repeat, yes? And, the souls of the believers who have died - they return to the air with Christ and their glorified bodies join their souls, then we who are alive and remain receive our glorified bodies and meet Christ in the air also, yes? Isn't Bible study so wonderful, especially rightly divided!

[eternalmatters]

OK...I'd love more input. I know I heard a teaching that Jesus is not with any saints right now.

[homer58w]

I can't comment on that as all I know is that Christ is in HIS Glorified body seated at the right hand of GOD. The souls of the believers are resting somewhere in Heaven - a spirit can't do much without a body. I do know that some preachers try to say things that aren't what the Bible says, like the believers or angels are rejoicing every time a sinner is saved. Luke 15:10 says there's joy in the presence of the angels of GOD - since Christ said that during HIS earthy ministry, then I would believe the Godhead is doing the rejoicing. How's about kicking up gold dust running down the streets of gold??? The city four square is the New Jerusalem reserved for the New Earth. Speaking of which, can you imagine how big the new earth is going to be for a city 1,500 miles wide & high to set on it? There is more in the Bible about the Kingdom of Heaven (here on earth) than there is about the Heaven on high where God dwells. Remember, the Bible was written mostly for the Jews, except for Paul's Epistles. In fact, Heaven is a mystery, Paul stated that if we knew what its like we'd all wish we were dead so we could be there! Totally opposite of hell and the lake of fire - where unfortunately most of mankind will be at. Even the soul of the rich man was in torment! Can you imagine being a worm in the lake of fire, and never dying???

[homer58w]

I was WRONG, TOTALLY WRONG!!! No where in Paul does it state that the souls of the Body of Christ is in Heaven! Their souls are sleeping. The OT saints that were in the heart of the earth Christ took with HIM to Heaven if I understand Paul right when he wrote about Christ going to Heaven, but that HE first went to the center of the earth and took the saints up on high. Again, there is no mention of us, we are waiting for the hope, for the calling out, to no longer be naked, but clothed with that eternal body. The more I hear other Grace teachers & preachers and study to see if those things are so, the more I realize that I still have alota religious nonsense to clear outta my head!