The Narrow Path Ministries

Matt. 27:52-53 The bodies of dead saints arise and go in force in the city.

Can anyone explain or comment on this?

This is just my guess but i think these guys are the firstfruits after Christ and that they are the 24 elders in Revelation.

Soar with Eagles wrote:Matt. 27:52-53 The bodies of dead saints arise and go in force in the city.

Can anyone explain or comment on this?

I think they are just as it says, after the resurrection there were some (who probably had recently died so they could be recognized) raised to show the power of Christ's resurrection. It could also be said to fulfill prophecy. It's kinda like the resurrection of Lazarus, just on a larger scale to point to the validity of Christ.

I think I agree with Sean. This was possibly a sign to others that something significant and miraculous had happened, the centurion and his men thought so.

Matt 27:53-55
54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"
NKJV

Matt 27:53-55
54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

True that this event convinced the centurion and those with him. However the resurrected Christ walked the earth for 40 days yet He spent very little actual time with people so it seems his goal was not to convince as many people as possible but only to appear to a select group of people. He could have appeared to the entire nation of Israel if He wanted to validate His resurrection but He chose not to. So i think this resurrection was for another reason and since nothing further is said about these people i think they ascended into heaven with Christ and are indeed the elders in heaven.

I think I do agree with you Steve7150 - We don't know for sure how many were resurrected but I believe they were Christs First Fruits and that they very well could have been the renowned men and women of old who were prophets and kings.

STEVE7150 wrote:Matt 27:53-55
54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

True that this event convinced the centurion and those with him. However the resurrected Christ walked the earth for 40 days yet He spent very little actual time with people so it seems his goal was not to convince as many people as possible but only to appear to a select group of people. He could have appeared to the entire nation of Israel if He wanted to validate His resurrection but He chose not to. So i think this resurrection was for another reason and since nothing further is said about these people i think they ascended into heaven with Christ and are indeed the elders in heaven.

That may be true but the original question was about "Matt. 27:52-53 The bodies of dead saints arise and go in force in the city."

It seems that the only reason for them to return to the city was to show others that they were raised from the dead. Unless they were just hungry? I don't know. Just a guess.

That may be true but the original question was about "Matt. 27:52-53 The bodies of dead saints arise and go in force in the city."

I think Ephesians 4.8 confirms he led these saints to heaven where they may have become the 24 elders "When he ascended on high ,he led captive a host of captives ,and gave gifts to men"

Now it was his death and resurrection that spritually freed captives from sin not his ascension therefore it seems to me this reference to his ascension and leading captives is a literal description of where the dead saints ended up. As to why they went into the city ,it must have been to appear to certain people.

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (KJV)
(20) But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
(21) For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
(22) For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
(23) But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

That seems to make the firfuits theory a little off the mark. I think these verses are suspicous.

Another verse that contradicts any theory that Old Testament believers got up from the dead in their new and everlasting bodies and then shortly ascended to heaven, is that John 3:13 affirms that when the book of John was written (perhaps 80-90 AD), no one was in heaven but Jesus.

John 3:13 (KJV)
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

http://www.truthortradition.com/modules ... le&sid=586

Jesusfollower wrote:
Another verse that contradicts any theory that Old Testament believers got up from the dead in their new and everlasting bodies and then shortly ascended to heaven, is that John 3:13 affirms that when the book of John was written (perhaps 80-90 AD), no one was in heaven but Jesus.

John 3:13 (KJV)
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

http://www.truthortradition.com/modules ... le&sid=586

Although I don't know what kind of body he has, where is Enoch?