Originally posted by BobRyan:
The Bible symbols of souls "kept under the altar" in Rev 6 and the saints "all sitting in Abraham's lap" in Luke 16 are often brought up in this way.
They are symbols and parables - saints are not really being held under the altar in heaven nor are they all sitting in Abraham's lap.
Saints killed during the trib were not "believers" in Jesus. Pre trib, else they would have been rapture, pre trib, the "lamb's marriage supper" is occuring "in heaven" during the trib, yet those killed during the trib are not at the "lamb's wedding" but "under the altar", the "WEDDING CELBRATION" they attend is in the "THIRD DAY" in "CANA". (MK)
Christ did not say “our friend’s body sleeps I go that I may wake IT”
Matt 27[/b]
52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
The saints were the ones WHO sleep and they HAD bodies that were raised. It does not say "many bodies that slept were raised" - it is not the body but the person that sleeps and the person that HAS a body and it is not simply "a body walking into the holy city" but THE PERSON.
PRIOR, to Jesus's death/resurrection, the wages of sin had not been paid, Saints didn't not "go to heaven", but "Abraham bosom".
Jew understood the Body/soul to remain "in the grave" until "resurrected", ya see, "Jesus/church" was a mystery not revealed to them, their understanding of scripture OMITS the NT period and goes directly to the events and "Second coming" of the Messiah. (First resurrection)
The "Rich man/lazarus" were very much alive and aware of their previous life on earth, even their "families".
Lu 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Lu 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
After Jesus paid the wages of sin, Souls now go directly to heaven, souls no more "sleep in the dust" (grave) until resurrected.
How you ever consider, that since Jesus "resurrected" the OT saint, all their "Grave" are now "EMPTY", even "Joseph's Tomb"????