The dead before Christ

[Kendall Crawfor]

Coworker and I were talking about salvation and he questioned what about those who died before christ or hearing of christ. Are they condemned to hell?

[Jesus is coming]

Coworker and I were talking about salvation and he questioned what about those who died before christ or hearing of christ. Are they condemned to hell?

No,When Christ was dead those 3 days he went to paradise to preach and when those in paradise accepted him they went to Heaven so they are in Heaven ..well in there spirit until the rapture :):
The rest of them that wasnt in paradise are still in Hell

[MidnightCry]

According to Mark Hitchcock (and it coincides with other teachers, but I don't remember who all now), the spirits of Old Testament believers will be reunited with their bodies at the end of the tribulation (Dan 12:1-3).

When an unbeliever dies, their spirit goes into Hades (Luke 16:19-31). At the Great White Throne, the bodies of all the lost will be joined with their spirits to be judged (Rev 20:11).

So:
Deceased OT believers -- bodies asleep now, will be resurrected at Second Coming. Spirits in heaven now to be joined with glorified bodies.

Deceased NT believers -- bodies asleep now, will be resurrected at Rapture. Spirits in heaven now to be joined with glorified bodies at Rapture.

All Deceased unbelievers -- bodies asleep now, will be resurrected at the end of the Millenium. Spirits in Hades now to be joined with resurrected body at Great White Throne Judgement.

[HeIsEnough]

Coworker and I were talking about salvation and he questioned what about those who died before christ or hearing of christ. Are they condemned to hell?

I have heard the above explanations....and maybe a few more, but my understanding is that Christ only 'spoke' to those who died before the flood.


1 Peter 3
18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19through whom[d] also he went and preached to the spirits in prison
who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,


After the flood, it is unclear to me about those who died outside of the faith. (Those in the place of torments) The above Peter quote could include those saints who died between Noah and Christ I suppose, but Peter didn't allude to them specifically.

[warrior-child]

This also came up in conversation last evening.

I stated that the Bible states that folks are without excuse, that all have an opportunity ... even nature testifies. I do not remember the verses though.
Insight? Just different degrees of torment?