Occasionally, the issue of “Heaven” and “Hell” has come up. Statements have been made that prior to Christ; the Jews had no concept for either.
In the bible, the place of the dead is called Sheol. Many translations replace Sheol with Hell, but that is incorrect. We do know Sheol is a temporary place were the righteous and the unrighteous await their resurrection in Christ.
On death, according to the First Testament, the righteous “rest with their fathers” or are “gathered to their families”. While many details are left blank, the righteous will somehow recognize and commune with those they love. It is described as a peaceful place where the righteous are protected forever by YHWH himself. Psalm 37:38: “For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved forever”.
The fate of the unrighteous is less clear. There are multiple bible passages indicating Sheol has separate levels for the righteous and the unrighteous. What is clear in both testaments is the division of believers from non-believers.
Consider the words of God to Hosea in 13:14: “I will ransom them (the righteous) from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?” In this First Testament passage, redemption from death establishes both heaven and the grave as separate entities.
Consider Daniel 12:2: "Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace." Here, the contrast of eternal life and everlasting disgrace is established.
The First testament statement in Psalm 23:6: “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” is a foreshadow of Revelation 21:3 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”
Isaiah states in 25:8: “…he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.” This was repeated in Revelation 21:4: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Finally, in Luke 16:22 Jesus himself presents a petty clear vision of Sheol before His resurrection. He uses the term “Abraham’s Bosom” as a place of rest and peace for the righteous, distinct from the fate of the wicked. For a first testament believer, Abraham’s Bosom can only mean resting with his fathers.
The concepts of heaven and hell were clearly identified by First Testament believers. Even more, the path to each was marked; and this well before the birth of Christ.
In the bible, the place of the dead is called Sheol. Many translations replace Sheol with Hell, but that is incorrect. We do know Sheol is a temporary place were the righteous and the unrighteous await their resurrection in Christ.
On death, according to the First Testament, the righteous “rest with their fathers” or are “gathered to their families”. While many details are left blank, the righteous will somehow recognize and commune with those they love. It is described as a peaceful place where the righteous are protected forever by YHWH himself. Psalm 37:38: “For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved forever”.
The fate of the unrighteous is less clear. There are multiple bible passages indicating Sheol has separate levels for the righteous and the unrighteous. What is clear in both testaments is the division of believers from non-believers.
Consider the words of God to Hosea in 13:14: “I will ransom them (the righteous) from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?” In this First Testament passage, redemption from death establishes both heaven and the grave as separate entities.
Consider Daniel 12:2: "Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace." Here, the contrast of eternal life and everlasting disgrace is established.
The First testament statement in Psalm 23:6: “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” is a foreshadow of Revelation 21:3 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”
Isaiah states in 25:8: “…he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.” This was repeated in Revelation 21:4: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Finally, in Luke 16:22 Jesus himself presents a petty clear vision of Sheol before His resurrection. He uses the term “Abraham’s Bosom” as a place of rest and peace for the righteous, distinct from the fate of the wicked. For a first testament believer, Abraham’s Bosom can only mean resting with his fathers.
The concepts of heaven and hell were clearly identified by First Testament believers. Even more, the path to each was marked; and this well before the birth of Christ.
