The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum OT saints

What happened to the OT saints souls after they died? I'm thinking their souls went directly to Heaven, just as NT believers. I've heard recently that OT believers had to wait until Christ's shed blood, otherwise, why would the blood be necessary.

I don't think it can be doubted that ALL true believers (the elect) are whisked immediately to 'heaven' upon their demise, that half-way station, if you will excuse the phrase, where they await Christ's second and final return... and then the consummation where all will receive their immortal bodies and live on the New Earth. The exception is, of course, those who are still alive on earth when Christ returns who shall not experience physical death, but nonetheless, are also taken into heaven on that final day.

Christ's atoning sacrifice was retroactive and since salvation has been eternally determined by God the OT saints were actually and completely redeemed (saved) when they put their Spirit-wrought faith in the yet-to-come Messiah; the Lord Christ. Although it is a parable, the pericope of "The Rich Man and Lazarus" does refer to Abraham being in heaven and that the beggar Lazarus was met by Abraham but the rich man was found in hell.

IF this was not true, then what happened to the souls of the OT saints when they died? Did this individual(s) propose some kind of purgatory or perhaps soul sleep (Advent Christian doctrine), or what?

A discussion on what was meant by 'Jesus descended into Hell'. A pastor who is quasi-Reformed ministering in the Evangelical Free Church made these comments:

The question as to whether the OT saints were actually saved before the crucifixion/resurrection of Christ is not really a debatable issue. The Bible is quite clear on the matter. One of the clearest statements that OT saints were in fact 'saved', 'justified' can be found in Romans 4:1-25. And James refers to the justification of Abraham and Rahab as well in James 4:21-26.

One is saved by abandoning any and all form of self-righteousness and relying wholly upon the righteousness of another; the Christ. The entire sacrificial system of the OT demonstrated the impossibility of anyone gaining a right standing with God through works of the law AND that one was to come from God who would accomplish all that was required in their behalf. One is saved through faith by grace in the PERSON of Christ, known either through types and shadows or by the inspired written record of Christ. All who believe in Christ are referred to as Abraham's children for they possess that necessary saving faith which Abraham had centuries before the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection. Abraham was no less justified at the very moment he believed God than someone who believed on Christ after His resurrection.