The First Men Born of The Dead

The First Men Born of the Dead:

Please bear with me on this article, for I do have to cover several areas in order to draw a conclusion. It’s a good study and may give you a great deal to think about. There is not much written on this subject. It appears that most commentators sidestep this subject.

Matthew 27:51-52-53, “The earth did quake, and the rocks rent (split;) And the graves were opened; and may bodies of the saints which slept arose. And came out of the graves after His (Jesus) resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”

Interesting three verses, they have always fascinated me. The reason for this article is to find out if there is any connection between those who were resurrected in Matthew 27, and the 144,000 servants of God in Revelation 7 and 14.

The question, “Is it possible that those Jewish saints who were resurrected in Matthews gospel be the same one’s spoken of in, Revelation 7 and 14?”

1. Who were these people that were raised from the grave?

2. What happened to them?

3. Where are they now?

4. And what future role will they play if any?

We must first examine a few words in the above three verses. The words may be a good start point to help resolve these questions. Also we must be sure each word means what we think it means.

1. “GRAVES.” A memorial, monument, hence a sepulchral monument, In N.T. Metonymically, a tomb, sepulcher. Examples follow.

1. Matthew 27:52, “the graves were opened,” with verse 53.

Matthew 28:8, “They departed quickly from the sepulcher.” So there are,

2. Mark 5:2, “the tombs of man.”

Matthew 23:29, “Tombs of the prophets.”

3. The tombs of the Hebrews were often caverns, Genesis 23:9, or were hewn by of rocks or in the sides of hills, in various forms and sizes, sometimes with several compartments. They were closed by a door or layer of stone, and the entrance was often decorated with ornaments and whitewashed.

“The graves were, OPENED:” Spoken of what is closed by a cover or door, and then opened.

1. Matthew 27:52, “Graves were opened,” the tombs were sealed by large stones, collectively with Matthew 27:60-66, 28:2. Mark 16:3-4.

“BODIES:” Dead bodies, a corpse. Generally,

Matthew 14:12, “His disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it.”

Matthew  27:52, “many of the bodies of the saints which slept arose.”

“The SAINTS:” Those who are consecrated, devoted, sacred, holy, as in set apart from a common to a sacred use. Consecrated as were the holy places; temples; cities; the priesthood; and men, etc. Saints as in,

1. Apostles, Ephesians 3:5, “His holy apostles.”
2. “An holy priesthood.” 1 Peter 2:5.
3. Of persons, Romans 11:16, “For if the firstfruits be holy the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.”
4. Of prophets, Luke 1:70, “As he spake by the mouth of His holy prophets.”

The saints, “AROSE:” As a metaphor, from death, of which sleep is the emblem among all nations. To raise the dead;

Matthew 10:7-8, “As ye go, preach, saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand, — heal the sick, — raise the dead.”

John 5:21, “As the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth (gives life to) them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will.”

Also to raise from the dead, seq. to rise from the dead;

John 12:1, “whom He raised from the dead.”

From the above description of the word, “arose,” we can gather that, those who were dead were brought back to life.

“CAME out of the graves.” To go or come out of any place, etc. Sept. every where for, “Came.” Of persons, to go or come forth.

“AFTER His resurrection.” Of succession in time, as with a noun of time. With a noun marking an event or point of time.

I did not find any surprises in the words used in Matthew 27. in describing the event that took place.

A summary of the above: These saints who had been raised from the dead were most likely Jews, having died under the Mosaic covenant. They had been buried near Jerusalem, are called saints, meaning they had been consecrated, or set aside from OTHERS, for a specific time and appointment. They having died in time past, but now raised from death unto eternal life.

An important aspect of this verse is that Christ was raised from the grave first, He being the firstfruits of the dead. Those which followed would be considered a part of the whole, as in the great harvest of the church, every man in his own order.

Rom.11:16, “For if the firstfruits (Jesus) be holy, the lump (His church) is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.” After the saints had been raised from their graves, they went into Jerusalem and appeared to many. Thus we have an eye witness account of this event.

We know through Scripture that while Jesus body remained in the tomb, He,

1 Peter 3:18-19-20, “being put to death in the flesh, but quickened (made alive) by the Spirit. By which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometimes were disobedient.”

Let me touch on Peters comments.

1. Did Christ die in the flesh? Yes.

2. Did His soul and spirit die? No.

3. Did His Spirit go to be with the Father upon His death? Yes. His spirit was commended to His Father, Luke 23:46.

4. What happened to His soul? Jesus soul went to Hades. His descent had to proceed His assent into heaven. He preached to the spirits in prison, was then resurrected from the grave. Death and hell (the grave) had no hold on him, because He was without sin.

David and Isaiah spoke of this event in Psalms 132:11, Psalms 16:10, and Isaiah 53:10, quoted in,

Acts 2:30-31, “He would raise up Christ to sit on His throne; He — spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was NOT left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption.”

Ephesians 4:9-10, “Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.”

Christ’s death must have had an immediate effect on both the saved and unsaved in Hades. The godly did suffer some form of confinement before Jesus resurrection.

So the question is, “Were all the Godly souls that were in Hades, now brought immediately into paradise from Hades?” The idea of going immediately into paradise agrees with Jesus promise to the thief on the cross, “This day thou shalt be with me in paradise.”

If this is correct, the saved who were in prison, had their spirits and souls taken directly from Hades into paradise, they resting in the bosom of Abraham. Their souls and spirits are to be united in the future with a new and glorified body.

But those spoken of in Matthew 27, (the saints who were raised from the dead) their souls and spirits are now united with a new and glorified body, they having been brought to the earth from Hades by God for a specific purpose and service to Him.

This event fixed forever that great gulf that separates those awaiting the final judgment in Hades, the ungodly, from the godly who are now in paradise with father Abraham.

The final resurrection of believers will occur before the tribulation period when Jesus returns to catch away His bride. This is supported in Scripture by,

1 Thessalonians 4:16, “The Lord himself shall descend from heaven — and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them (those who had died) — so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 15:52-53, “the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

1 Corinthians 15:23, “Every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.”

In the parable of the rich man, poor man, the communication between Abraham and the rich man, was a spiritual one. The three had no physical bodies, they being buried in tombs. The conversation was spiritual, we know this because the rich man asked Abraham to let Lazarus return to his brothers, in order they themselves may be save from the suffering he was having to suffer.

We are also given a taste of another spiritual conversation, when Jesus is seen with Moses and Elias on the Mount of transfiguration. This was a miracle and a sign to mortal men. Moses Elias stood with a glorified Christ, seen in their spirit forms, and heard speaking to each other by the apostles.

Another area that needs to be discussed are the Jewish feasts, those written in the law. This may help tie two ends together in order to supply answers to my four questions.

The Jewish offerings; but first an overview.

All offerings were related directly to conventional religion, the basic principle of which was obedience. Each sacrifice was a reminder of human depravity and of Divine provision for sinners. Without obedience and faith, the offerings were valueless.

1. The Peace offering.

This symbolizes a right spiritual relation with God. A lamb, bullock, or goat, either male or female was to be offered. The blood of the sacrificed animal was sprinkled at the base of the sacrificial altar.

2. The wave offering.

A worshiper was required to provide it from His own peace offering. It could consist of the sheaf of the firstfruits, a lamb, bullock or goat. This portion of the wave offering was holy, and was a priestly prerequisite. The offering was done in a waving movement with the hands, symbolizing the presentation of the sacrificial portion to the Deity and its return with God’s approving to the priest who represented the offering.

3. The harvest of the first-fruits.

The people were to bring a lamb without spot or blemish and given into the hands of the priest. A sheaf of the firstfruits of the harvest was waved before the Lord, the offering would be accepted.

4. The heave offering. The Heave offering comprised the RIGHT THIGH of one of the many animals offered, or one cake, both coming from the whole offering of the peace offering.

In the Old Testament touching the right thigh by the giver and receiver of blessings was a custom. To put one’s hand under the thigh of another was to enhance the sacredness of an oath. In Genesis 32:25, Jacob was wrestling with a man, and prevailed not. The man touched Jacob’s thigh and put it out of joint. Instead of struggling, Jacob now was clinging. Jacob asked the man for a blessing.

The man said, “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. From Jacob loins came the twelve (12) tribes of Israel. Only God changes names. Keep this in mind.

The thigh offered in the Heave offering was always set before the honored guest. It held special meaning.

Again: Of the whole offering of the peace offering to God, ONE PART was to be offered as a Heave offering unto the LORD and it shall be the priest that sprinkled the blood of the lamb on the base of the sacrificial altar.

Leviticus 10:14. Like the wave offering, the heave offering was essentially sacred and belonged to the officiating priest. The Hebrew term, “Heave,” comes from a root meaning, “to be high.” “to be exalted,” which indicates a portion removed from a larger quantity. It was a token offering separated wholly to the service of God.

Can we draw a comparison between the heave offering, and those raised from the dead in Matthew 27? The saints that were raised from the dead, represent the heave offering, (the first part of the whole) being given to the High Priest. In this case Jesus Christ, for He is our High Priest. He would then offer it to the guest of honor, in this case, the Father.

To seal this, Jesus offered His death, burial and shed blood as a covenant between the Father and man. Jesus was the subject and the object of the atoning sacrifice, and as High Priest He offered Himself, the Lamb of God, as proof. The Father accepted His Son’s offering, and the covenant was sealed. And there was a sealing of the thigh, as in Jacobs case.

The following verse may help support this thinking,

Revelation 20:16, “Speaking of Jesus, “On His vesture (robe) and on His THIGH a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.”

Who gave Jesus this new name that was written on His thigh? Of course it was His Father. Again, the story of Jacob helps support this. Jacob being touched on the thigh, blessed by God, and given a new name, “Israel.”

Back to the original questions:

1. Who were these saints that had been raised from the dead?

These had to be Jews, for the church was not yet born. And the Gentiles had no part in the Jewish law, not in the early church until Paul was established. Also the Gentiles were considered as dogs.

These particular Jews must have dedicated their lives to the service of God. For this God blessed them. How? He released them from prison, gave them a glorified body, sent them into Jerusalem at this specific time in history, in order to serve Him for His own purposes.

1 Cor.15:20, “Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”

Verse 22, “every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming.”

So the next harvest, will be that great harvest of the raptured church, this when Jesus returns.

Those who rose from the graves after Christ’s resurrection represent the Heave offering, this being the first part, the first picking, the part that was set aside to be offered unto the Father. This offering of resurrected saints was presented by our High Priest, Jesus Christ.

2. What happened to them? I know that these saints did not die again. Why? Because,

Hebrews 9:27, states, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” These were Jews, raised from the dead, having gone into Jerusalem on the day of the great feast of Passover, and seen by many. These must have had a special appointment by God in His wonderful plan of redemption.

3. Where are they today? If they will not see death again, nor does Scripture tell us that they were taken into heaven, so the only place they can be is here on earth. I personally believe this. They now possessing an incorruptible body, and have the power to do signs, wonders, and miracles before the unsaved in order to draw them to the Lord. They may be working hand and hand with the church to spread the Gospel throughout the world, and with the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Not sure, but the following verse may give a further hint.

Hebrews 13:1-2, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

The heave offering is a foreshadowing of the resurrected saints. This offering was given to the guest of honor to be used for His pleasure. The Father’s pleasure was to give all things to His Son. This gift was a part of the whole inheritance.

John 16:15, Jesus said, “All things that the Father hath are mine.”

4. What future role are they to play.

They may have begun their work for the Lord in,

Acts 1:10, “Two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven. They returned they unto Jerusalem –.” Note the word “men,” is used to describe them.

There are many documented cases where men dressed in white garments, came to, and gave aid to Christians, and Jews around the world. This may be them????

Also, they may be the 144,000 Jews, who will represent the twelve tribes of Israel, having been sealed of the Father in their foreheads. They with the two witnesses will preach the Gospel message to a fallen world, this during the seven years of tribulation. After the tribulation period is finished, they will be gathered together on Mt. Sinai, and “follow the Lamb wheresoever He goeth.”

Well these are my thoughts. I am not in any way being dogmatic, but it may be something to consider. What do you think?

Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com