In the last blog I described the miraculous events that occurred on the day Jesus died, and the day He rose from the dead, as seen by the Roman soldiers. I left you with the question, "Is there Old Testament prophecy that confirms what I shared? What did the saints who came out of the graves say, when they appeared in Jerusalem?"
Before we study the answers to those questions, let's stretch our imagination a bit. If there had been a local newspaper in Jerusalem at this time, the headlines may have boldly declared: JESUS CRUCIFIED...WALKING DEAD MEN SIGHTED BY ROMAN CENTURION. Wouldn't this have sent shock waves throughout the country?
The text may have explained: After Jesus died, a Roman centurion and his soldiers saw ancient graves open, ejecting all of the dead. But wait...they also saw these dead men come to life, because they saw them trot off to Jerusalem, looking very human, where they appeared (witnessed) to all the people in the city.
I'm sure the story would have supplied the sensational conclusion: Three days later the soldiers personally saw a dazzling supernatural angel with otherworldly strength, remove the enormous boulder that closed the grave of Jesus, revealing His empty tomb - but where did Jesus go?
What Old Testament scripture confirms this event? Your dead shall live; together with My dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead...Isaiah 26:19. These are the firstfruits of salvation that Jesus Christ presented to His Father in Heaven - described in Rev. 14:1-5.
Sheol is the place of the dead which Jesus referred to as Abraham's Bosom...Luke 16:22. It is these saints that were seen that day, resurrected from the dead, to be the first to enter Heaven after sin had separated mankind from his Creator.
And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised...and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many...Luke 27:52-53. After the graves were opened, the saints of old appeared in Jerusalem to many people.
The word appeared in the original Greek language is emphanzio meaning: exhibit in person or disclose by words - signify. Saints coming out of the ancient graves was a sign - a witness - to the believer and the unbeliever that a 700 year-old prophecy had just been fulfilled. Prophecy of scripture is understood when it is fulfilled.
While scripture doesn't record the words of these saints, it is obvious that this event was not only historical, but spiritually pivotal. Imagine the citizens of Jerusalem going about their daily affairs, when suddenly a horde of 'walking dead people' appear on the scene - alive and well. I can imagine the look on their terrified faces as they watched. Could these saints have shouted loudly through the streets of the holy city, "He has risen - repent and be saved from the judgment to come?"
Their living presence in the city of Jerusalem must have attested to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, because our reference in Isaiah says...together with My dead body they shall arise. After these dead saints witnessed to the people of Jerusalem - puff - they were whisked away by Jesus to Paradise, leaving a stunned populous to wonder what just happened!
This foundation of understanding of what Jesus did on the earth, explains the happenings in Revelation chapters 4 & 5 more clearly, as we begin our tour of the Throne Room of Heaven.
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven...and the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with men, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this"...Rev. 4:1.
The first question I have after reading the first verse of this scripture is, "After what? What event just happened that causes everything else John is shown to follow - take place after? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
No comments:
Post a Comment