What happens to the people who lived before Jesus, how can they be saved?

Question

They didn't have opportunity to accept him, are they all damned?

I write slowly and hope this makes sense. There were multitudes of people all over the world the lived and died before Jesus was born. Many lived in places that never heard of the Torah, hence the prophecy of a Messiah. These people had no expectation of salvation or deliverance. Are they going to hell?

Answer 1

Hebrews 11 says that those who were saved, were saved by looking ahead in FAITH at the coming of the Savior. Read it.

Today we look back at the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Salvation was, and always will be, still by faith alone.

Answer 2

People Who Lived Before

Answer 3

Since they were not with the new covenant that Jesus made with his present deciples or (Christians) (1 cor 11:25, Matt 26:28, Luke 22,29.) The New Covenant was made for those during Jesus ministry and After his death... however those that was before his death , like Moses, David, Ruth, Isaac etc. Will still be resurrected according to the scriptures, John 5:28,29--Acts 24:15.
The ones with Jesus new covenant has the hope of going to heaven to rule with Jesus as kings & priest Rev 5:9,10.
The rest have the earthly hope mentioned in Isaiah 65:17,
2 Pet 3:13 & Psalms 37:29 Rev 21:1
But the wicked however the Lake of Fire which is the 2nd and last death.Rev .20:14,15.

Answer 4

Hardly. Why do you suppose God instituted the system of sacrifices adhered to by the people of the OT? If you read the NT, you would know that He 'descended into Hell' to 'take the keys', and set the captives of Hell free.

Basic stuff, really!

As to the people who never knew about Salvation, THEY are the reason I believe in reincarnation. I think people keep coming back until they get an honest chance to accept or reject the Saving Work of Jesus.

Answer 5

Here's what happened. Prior to Jesus coming to the earth, people were judged by their actions. When Jesus died, the Bible says he descended to the lower parts of the earth, or the place of the dead. In the parable of the rich man and lazarus, you see that the place of the dead was divided into two sections, one for the righteous, where Abraham and lazarus were and one for the unrighteous, where the rich man who wouldn't help lazarus was. When Jesus descended, he preached the gospel for three days, making converts of the righteous dead, so that they too could have resurrected bodies at the time of Christ's return. You can't go to heaven unless you accept Christ as your savior. So after He died, the provision had been made, and all that was needed was for someone to share the gospel with the righteous dead. Notice that when Jesus was talking to the thief on the cross next to him, he said, 'today you will be with me in paradise', not 'today you will be with me in heaven' because they are two separate places for two separate purposes. I hope this helped.

Answer 6

NoBody had to Accept Jesus BEFOR HE died on the Cross.

That is what "Ratifying" the New Testament is all about.

Jesus did away with the Old Testament when HE died on the Cross bringing in the New Testament (Contract with Mankind for Salvation).

Plus, the Holy Spirit has been on the Earth a Long Time (Great Spirit!).

Answer 7

Hello His4life,


Quite simple. All those who would be saved are written into the book of life as is mentioned in Revelations. Christ had one and God the Father had one such book. It seems likely that the Holy Ghost had one also, but that is not mentioned in the Bible. Certain sins could result in your name being scrubbed out of that book, otherwise, if you kept "your nose clean", and your name is in the book then you would be saved. The rules that gouverned whether or not your "nose was clean" changed when Christ appread on the scene. Before that then the 10 commandments basically applied.

Nobody should lose sight of the fact that is given in the Bible that those who would be saved were known before the Universe was even created! This has great significance.


John the Seeker

Answer 8

Jews, Christians, and Muslims all believe in the same god (the god of Abraham). Could be wrong but I think that before Jesus (from a Christian view) the Jews were the chosen people. Everyone in the old testament was Jewish, then when Jesus came into the mix, Christianity replaced Judaism.

Answer 9

After Jesus was crucified and died in the cross he descended into heads and restore father Adam and all his children from that place. Heb. 9:15,
Heb.11:13-16, 39,40
Rom 11:25-31.

Answer 10

That is where the prophecy at John 5:28,29 comes in. There will be a resurrection of all dead to life on earth where they will have an opportunity then to come to know Jesus and his Father.

Answer 11

read the first half of the 19th psalm I hope that will help you understand God. If anyone were too look around at nature and the sky and listen to the truth in his heart saying "One great God made all of this, and made you as well" and had faith in that God, knowing that he is certainly nowhere near as good as that God must be, and called upon that God for mercy, then God would grant him the mercy due him according to the plan of grace. However, it's much more likely that one would believe if they were taught the scriptures, afterall, that's God's prefered choice. More people get saved by being exposed to the word of God then those who are left to figure God out on their own.