The Dead walking out of their Tombs

[Aerials1978]

Matthew 27:52-53 has always interested me as it doesn't seem to get much attention even though of its significance:

and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Who were these 'Holy People' and why were they raised from the dead? Was this part of a prophecy? I haven't seen much in regards to an explanation. Anyone have thoughts?

 

[7seasrekeyed]

I agree. it seems to be largely overlooked

 

[KJV1611]

Matthew 27:52-53 has always interested me as it doesn't seem to get much attention even though of its significance:

and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Who were these 'Holy People' and why were they raised from the dead? Was this part of a prophecy? I haven't seen much in regards to an explanation. Anyone have thoughts?

Yes it is part of this prophecy.

Eze 37:4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
Eze 37:5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
Eze 37:6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

And this prophecy.

Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Who were these 'Holy People' and why were they raised from the dead? Was this part of a prophecy? I haven't seen much in regards to an explanation. Anyone have thoughts?

In the KJV it says "the saints", and that refers to the OT saints. At the same time when God gives us a limited revelation, then we should not speculate. This was a limited resurrection, but prophecy speaks about the resurrection of the saints also, and the NT speaks about the resurrection of the just and the unjust. Indeed Job anticipated his own resurrection, and Job is the oldest book in the OT.

 

[Aerials1978]

Yes it is part of this prophecy.

Eze 37:4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
Eze 37:5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
Eze 37:6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

And this prophecy.

Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

I have heard the comparison to the Ezekiels venison.

 

[Roughsoul1991]

Matthew 27:52-53 has always interested me as it doesn't seem to get much attention even though of its significance:

and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Who were these 'Holy People' and why were they raised from the dead? Was this part of a prophecy? I haven't seen much in regards to an explanation. Anyone have thoughts?

I have also pondered over the reality of this. Not only did Jesus conquer death which would of been a great miracle on it's own but others was given life too.

The whole city must of been divided in fear and excitement as loved ones walked the Earth but also the news the Jesus had also resurrected and people saw and heard him.

Just think of the other signs like the darkness that covered the land, the earthquake, and the tearing of the temple veil, dead people alive again walking the streets, then the Apostles began miracles and having supernatural activity as in Angel's freeing them from jail.

I mean no wonder Christianity spread so fast. All of this supernatural activity including the 100s of prophecies that was fulfilled must of helped shape the Roman pagan world into accepting Christianity through time.

 

[KJV1611]

I have heard the comparison to the Ezekiels venison.

A lot of people will say that Ezekiel is about Israel turning back to God, but I disagree. It fits the resurrection of Christ to a "T".

A lot of people will also that Daniel doesn't apply because in their view the time of Jacob's trouble is thousands of years in the future.

 

[FlyingDove]

Scripture records 7 Feasts of the Lord, See Lev 23)

The 7 Feasts of the Lord form the foundations of all Prophecy. And the foundation upon which ALL Scripture is built.
1)Passover, 2)Unleavened Bread, 3)Firstfruits, 4)Pentesost, 5)Rosh Hashanah/Trumpets 6)Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement 7)Tabernacles

Christ died on Passover, was buried on unleavened bread & rose on firstfruits. We call this day Easter. The Holy Spirit was sent on the 1st post resurrection Pentecost. This fulfilled the spring Feasts. His 2nd coming will fulfil the Fall Feasts.

See below info on firstfruits.

No one could enter Heaven until after sins required wage was paid. Christ rose first, then the graves were opened. Those resurrected here are Christ's firstfruits wave offering to the Father.

The firstfruits/sheaf of the barley harvest was brought to the Temple as a wave/heave offering (Leviticus 23:9-14).
(NOTE: The Priest would take a sheaf (a bundle of grain stalks laid lengthwise & tied together after reaping) of the firstfruits of the harvest. The priest would lift the sheaf (from his waist straight up before the Lord). This was a shadow of Christ being lifted from the grave)

The waving/heaving up to the Lord of the sheaf/firstfruits/grain bundle was a dedication before God. This action sanctified the whole harvest field. Christ's resurrection sanctified the entire harvest for a future believers that will be resurrected.

 

[KJV1611]

I have also pondered over the reality of this. Not only did Jesus conquer death which would of been a great miracle on it's own but others was given life too.

The whole city must of been divided in fear and excitement as loved ones walked the Earth but also the news the Jesus had also resurrected and people saw and heard him.

Just think of the other signs like the darkness that covered the land, the earthquake, and the tearing of the temple veil, dead people alive again walking the streets, then the Apostles began miracles and having supernatural activity as in Angel's freezing them from jail.

I mean no wonder Christianity spread so fast. All of this supernatural activity including the 100s of prophecies that was fulfilled must of helped shape the Roman pagan world into accepting Christianity through time.

For real! It's hard to image how people would be after witnessing that. I'm sure they thought the world was ending.

 

[Aerials1978]

I have also pondered over the reality of this. Not only did Jesus conquer death which would of been a great miracle on it's own but others was given life too.

The whole city must of been divided in fear and excitement as loved ones walked the Earth but also the news the Jesus had also resurrected and people saw and heard him.

Just think of the other signs like the darkness that covered the land, the earthquake, and the tearing of the temple veil, dead people alive again walking the streets, then the Apostles began miracles and having supernatural activity as in Angel's freeing them from jail.

I mean no wonder Christianity spread so fast. All of this supernatural activity including the 100s of prophecies that was fulfilled must of helped shape the Roman pagan world into accepting Christianity through time.

Considering everything that occurred within the city, the darkness, earthquake, dead coming back to life, look at how the people still reacted to the Gospel. Utter contempt.

That kind of hardening heart makes me think of this passage:

The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
Revelation 16:10-11

 

[Roughsoul1991]

For real! It's hard to image how people would be after witnessing that. I'm sure they thought the world was ending.

Exactly. We just read over it sometimes without thinking about the emotion or the reality of what just occurred. And the reality will always be hard to imagine because these events are not set on the natural order of the universe but a supernatural change within the natural order aka a miracle. The rare event that cannot be explained by natural explanations. Just thinking of all the man hours, equipment, concrete, and the constant repairs to keep a dam to hold back a wall of water. It took Moses commanded by God just to use his staff and the power of God held the walls of water in their place.

 

[KJV1611]

Exactly. We just read over it sometimes without thinking about the emotion or the reality of what just occurred. And the reality will always be hard to imagine because these events are not set on the natural order of the universe but a supernatural change within the natural order aka a miracle. The rare event that cannot be explained by natural explanations. Just thinking of all the man hours, equipment, concrete, and the constant repairs to keep a dam to hold back a wall of water. It took Moses commanded by God just to use his staff and the power of God held the walls of water in their place.

That's one of the most revealing stories in the bible about the resurrection and most people just ignore it.

 

[Roughsoul1991]

Considering everything that occurred within the city, the darkness, earthquake, dead coming back to life, look at how the people still reacted to the Gospel. Utter contempt.

That kind of hardening heart makes me think of this passage:

The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
Revelation 16:10-11

Well throughout Acts many people did believe and respond as the Apostles reported their numbers would often double. Plus all the churches that started on their own that eventually we hear about as Paul wanted to reach them and encourage them. Even a few accounts of the Pharisees and Sadducees came to believe in Acts.

But yes many did reject the Gospel as obviously the majority of response came out of the Gentiles. It is still amazing to read such passages but then see the rejection.

It is often crazy to me to realize even after the Israelites walked through the Red Sea, had Manna from Heaven, a pillar of fire by night, and all the plaques within Egypt that they began to doubt and rebel. The same generation that saw this, ended up wondering in the wilderness for 40 years until they all died.

May have something to do with we have the Spirit living in us that is a huge help.

 

[Roughsoul1991]

That's one of the most revealing stories in the bible about the resurrection and most people just ignore it.

It takes a fool to ignore something like that. Someone so rich in evil that Jesus could literally appear to them and they would still deny him.

 

[KJV1611]

Well throughout Acts many people did believe and respond as the Apostles reported their numbers would often double. Plus all the churches that started on their own that eventually we hear about as Paul wanted to reach them and encourage them. Even a few accounts of the Pharisees and Sadducees came to believe in Acts.

But yes many did reject the Gospel as obviously the majority of response came out of the Gentiles. It is still amazing to read such passages but then see the rejection.

It is often crazy to me to realize even after the Israelites walked through the Red Sea, had Manna from Heaven, a pillar of fire by night, and all the plaques within Egypt that they began to doubt and rebel. The same generation that saw this, ended up wondering in the wilderness for 40 years until they all died.

May have something to do with we have the Spirit living in us that is a huge help.

They were the way they were because of a heart condition, not a mind condition. And yes, I agree it has to do with the Spirit that guides us.

 

[Aerials1978]

It takes a fool to ignore something like that. Someone so rich in evil that Jesus could literally appear to them and they would still deny him.

Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear
Jeremiah 5:21

 

[JaumeJ]

Matthew 27:52-53 has always interested me as it doesn't seem to get much attention even though of its significance:

and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Who were these 'Holy People' and why were they raised from the dead? Was this part of a prophecy? I haven't seen much in regards to an explanation. Anyone have thoughts?

This is a wonderful teaching which I certainly cannogt say I truly understand. I do understand the Jesus is the Resurrection, the Firstborn of it. Perhaps it occurreed to demonstrate what was to come for all who believe Jesus, Yeshua. I would not doubt it. No matter, I believe it is fatual and true. As for who they are, this is our Father's affair, and it is enough to know they were holy people for me.

 

[JamOn]

I don’t think scripture was written at the moment things happen,. some believe it happened right after Jesus died because that is mentioned at that time, yet it’s a statement about the power of the resurrection the saints were risen as well.

Mt28:2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
Mt28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
Mt28:4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
Mt27:52 The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
Mt27:53 They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

 

[KJV1611]

This is a wonderful teaching which I certainly cannogt say I truly understand. I do understand the Jesus is the Resurrection, the Firstborn of it. Perhaps it occurreed to demonstrate what was to come for all who believe Jesus, Yeshua. I would not doubt it. No matter, I believe it is fatual and true. As for who they are, this is our Father's affair, and it is enough to know they were holy people for me.

We know who it was, it was the saints that slept, the one's in Abraham's bosom.

 

[garee]

The time of reformation had come. The veil was rent. The earthquake and eclipse. It signaled the opening of the ressurection gates in the new Jerusalem ,witnessed by many angels .The trial as the judgment seat of Christ must of been complete. You could say the tens of thousands of Old tesetemmt saints where in a temporal holding cell until the judgment seat of Christ demonstration was complete..

Blue...the many metaphors used in the parables giving us the signified unseen understanding.

And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.Luke 23:44-46 (KJV)

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. Mathew 27:50-54