Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.
Several times lately, I have been asked a variation of, “How much did the Old Testament people understand about Heaven and Hell? Did they understand about eternal life?
My first response for a long time has been to refer them to the one Old Testament passage everyone knows, the 23rd Psalm, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER.”
There are numerous other passages that give hints that they knew life and death were more than the physical. Ezekiel says the soul that sins shall die. Well everyone, good and evil, dies physically so, obviously, something more is referred to as when he says the sinner who repents shall live.
But, more, I have been thinking about the purposes of the stories of Enoch and Elijah, lately. Eight times in Genesis 5, God inspires Moses to record, “and he died.” In stark contrast, “Enoch walked with God: and was not; for God took him.” Where was Enoch? He was not in the grave with his fathers or sons. He was with God. From the earliest pages of scripture, God made clear the hope of the faithful.
Elijah, Elisha and all the prophets knew that God would take Elijah that day (2 Kg2). As they walked and talked, a fiery chariot parted them and Elijah was taken to heaven in a whirlwind. Any who say he was just caught up in a tornado like Dorothy’s witch must contend with the 50 strong men who searched for 3 days without finding a body. They knew that Elijah was with God.
God made heaven clear in order that they would walk by faith while looking forward to being with him. They had the same hope and home as we, for "They looked for a city" (Heb 11:16).
Some glad morning when this life is o'er
I'll fly away
To a home on God's celestial shore
I'll fly away
When the shadows of this life have grown
I'll fly away
Like a bird from prison bars has flown
I'll fly away
Just a few more weary days and then
I'll fly away
To a land where joys shall never end
I'll fly away
When I die,
Hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away
Keith Ward
Several times lately, I have been asked a variation of, “How much did the Old Testament people understand about Heaven and Hell? Did they understand about eternal life?
My first response for a long time has been to refer them to the one Old Testament passage everyone knows, the 23rd Psalm, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER.”
There are numerous other passages that give hints that they knew life and death were more than the physical. Ezekiel says the soul that sins shall die. Well everyone, good and evil, dies physically so, obviously, something more is referred to as when he says the sinner who repents shall live.
But, more, I have been thinking about the purposes of the stories of Enoch and Elijah, lately. Eight times in Genesis 5, God inspires Moses to record, “and he died.” In stark contrast, “Enoch walked with God: and was not; for God took him.” Where was Enoch? He was not in the grave with his fathers or sons. He was with God. From the earliest pages of scripture, God made clear the hope of the faithful.
Elijah, Elisha and all the prophets knew that God would take Elijah that day (2 Kg2). As they walked and talked, a fiery chariot parted them and Elijah was taken to heaven in a whirlwind. Any who say he was just caught up in a tornado like Dorothy’s witch must contend with the 50 strong men who searched for 3 days without finding a body. They knew that Elijah was with God.
God made heaven clear in order that they would walk by faith while looking forward to being with him. They had the same hope and home as we, for "They looked for a city" (Heb 11:16).
Some glad morning when this life is o'er
I'll fly away
To a home on God's celestial shore
I'll fly away
When the shadows of this life have grown
I'll fly away
Like a bird from prison bars has flown
I'll fly away
Just a few more weary days and then
I'll fly away
To a land where joys shall never end
I'll fly away
When I die,
Hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away
Keith Ward
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