Did Old Testament Saints Go to Heaven When They Died?
The question of what happened to Old Testament saints upon their death is one that has intrigued believers for centuries. Did they immediately ascend to the glorious presence of God, or was their destiny different from that of New Testament believers? Understanding this requires a careful examination of the King James Version of the Bible, tracing God’s unfolding plan of salvation from Genesis to Revelation. While the Old Testament often speaks of a general destination for the dead called "Sheol," the New Testament sheds further light on the specific fate of the righteous who died before Christ's atoning sacrifice.
The Old Testament Concept of Sheol
In the Old Testament, the primary term used for the realm of the dead is "Sheol" (often translated as "grave," "hell," or "pit" in the KJV). Sheol was understood as the common abode for all who died, both righteous and wicked. It was generally depicted as a shadowy, silent place, cut off from the land of the living. However, it was not a place of extinction, nor was it depicted as a place where God was absent.
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
While a general abode, there appears to have been a distinction within Sheol. The righteous were often described as going "to their fathers" or "to their people," suggesting a peaceful gathering. For example, Jacob expected to go to Sheol to mourn for Joseph (Genesis 37:35), and David spoke of going to his child (2 Samuel 12:23). This suggests a conscious existence, albeit one of waiting.
The New Testament provides further clarity on this distinction within Sheol/Hades (the Greek equivalent). Jesus' parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 clearly illustrates two distinct compartments within Hades:
- Paradise (or Abraham's Bosom): A place of comfort and rest for the righteous, where Lazarus was.
- A Place of Torment: A place of suffering for the wicked, where the rich man was.
The Old Testament Hope of Resurrection and Eternal Life
Despite the shadowy nature of Sheol, Old Testament saints held a profound hope for a future beyond death, often tied to the concept of resurrection and a life in God's presence. Their faith was not merely in an earthly blessing but in an eternal one.
Consider the powerful declaration of Job:
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
Daniel likewise prophesied a future resurrection for both the righteous and the wicked:
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.
The psalmist also expressed confidence in being received by God:
Nevertheless thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Jesus Himself affirmed the living state of Old Testament patriarchs when confronting the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection:
But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
This statement implies that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were, in some sense, still alive and in God's presence, even before Christ's resurrection.
Christ's Descent and the "Leading Captivity Captive"
The pivotal event that changed the destiny of Old Testament saints waiting in Paradise was the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that after His death, Christ descended into Hades/Sheol.
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
While the exact nature of this "preaching" is debated, it is clear that Christ's descent was a triumphant proclamation of His victory over sin and death to those who were held captive. The most significant aspect of this descent for the Old Testament saints is found in Ephesians 4:
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.(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.)
The phrase "led captivity captive" is understood by many theologians to mean that Christ, having conquered death and hell, emptied Paradise (Abraham's Bosom) and led the Old Testament saints who were waiting there into Heaven. They were "captivity" in the sense that they were held in the grave, awaiting the full payment for sin and the opening of the way to God's immediate presence. Christ's resurrection was the ultimate triumph, making it possible for them to enter Heaven.
The Opening of the Way to the Holiest
Before Christ's sacrifice, the way into the holiest place, representing God's immediate presence in Heaven, was not yet fully opened. The Tabernacle and Temple system, with its veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, symbolized this truth.
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
However, at the moment of Christ's death on the cross, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom (Matthew 27:51). This physical act symbolized the spiritual reality that Christ's blood had now opened a new and living way into the very presence of God.
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
It is in this context that the Old Testament saints, whose sins were covered by the sacrificial system (pointing to Christ), could finally enter the full presence of God in Heaven, having been released from their temporary holding place by the triumphant Redeemer.
Biblical Evidence of Old Testament Saints in Heaven
Several passages in the New Testament confirm that Old Testament saints are indeed in Heaven, having been brought there by Christ.
Conclusion
Based on a thorough examination of the King James Bible, the answer to "Did Old Testament saints go to Heaven when they died?" is nuanced but ultimately affirmative. While they did not immediately ascend to Heaven upon death in the same way New Testament believers do, they were held in a temporary, comfortable holding place within Sheol, often called Paradise or Abraham's Bosom. This was a place of conscious rest, awaiting the work of the Messiah.
Christ's death, descent into Hades, and triumphant resurrection marked the pivotal moment. He "led captivity captive," releasing those righteous souls from their waiting place and ushering them into the glorious presence of God in Heaven. His blood opened the way into the holiest, making full fellowship with God possible for all who believe, whether before or after His earthly ministry.
Therefore, Old Testament saints are indeed in Heaven, having been brought there by the victorious work of Jesus Christ. Their journey from Sheol to Heaven beautifully illustrates the progressive revelation of God's redemptive plan and the singular efficacy of Christ's sacrifice for all who trust in Him, across all ages.