Where did Good People go Before Christ Died on the Cross?

[Hong Xiuquan]

My father was a pastor for 10 years and later left Christianity. He read books for 4 hours per day throughout my childhood. He knew the Bible well and explained to me the answers to any questions I had. One question was the one I put as the title of this thread. My father gave me an answer. Throughout my life, I have listened to hundreds of sermons but this topic never came up. My question to Christians: What were you taught about this in your church? My question to others: What were you told when you asked this question? And did you ever ask it?

 

[Star Garden]

I have often asked the same question to Christians. If Jesus Christ is the only pathway to salvation, then what became of those who lived before Jesus was crucified? And what about those people living today who have never heard or learned about Jesus? The answer I usually get is some convoluted variation of "God works in mysterious ways".

I believe all people, regardless of when they lived or what religion they follow, are going to end up in the same place.

 

[rusra02]

My father was a pastor for 10 years and later left Christianity. He read books for 4 hours per day throughout my childhood. He knew the Bible well and explained to me the answers to any questions I had. One question was the one I put as the title of this thread. My father gave me an answer. Throughout my life, I have listened to hundreds of sermons but this topic never came up. My question to Christians: What were you taught about this in your church? My question to others: What were you told when you asked this question? And did you ever ask it?

The Bible answer is that good people (and most bad people) go to mankind's common grave. I believe what Ecclesiastes 9:5,10 says; "For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing at all, nor do they have any more reward...Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might, for there is no work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave, where you are going." Happily, the Bible also promises "that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." (Acts 24:15)

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

all people - good and bad - will be waiting in the grave until Jesus returns. then it will be decided what will happen after that

 

[Hong Xiuquan]

The Bible answer is that good people (and most bad people) go to mankind's common grave. I believe what Ecclesiastes 9:5,10 says; "For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing at all, nor do they have any more reward...Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might, for there is no work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave, where you are going." Happily, the Bible also promises "that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." (Acts 24:15)

Do you believe that Christians still wait in the grave now until the rapture or that Christians go directly to Heaven after they die? I've heard both views. I believe that Christians can go directly to Heaven after they die. I believe the rapture is for Christians still living when Christ returns.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I was taught they went to Hell, until the harrowing and Christ taking the righteous back with him.

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

there is nothing in the Bible that says anyone has gone to Heaven or will go the Heaven. in fact it says "no man has ascended into Heaven"

 

[Unification]

My father was a pastor for 10 years and later left Christianity. He read books for 4 hours per day throughout my childhood. He knew the Bible well and explained to me the answers to any questions I had. One question was the one I put as the title of this thread. My father gave me an answer. Throughout my life, I have listened to hundreds of sermons but this topic never came up. My question to Christians: What were you taught about this in your church? My question to others: What were you told when you asked this question? And did you ever ask it?

My church is my own body. "God" doesn't dwell in temples made with hands. The only place "God" dwells in within me, my own temple.

People go where they always go. Birth and death are the same things. Into another body somewhere.

Jesus and the disciples discussed reincarnation with zero denial.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

This was one of the points made by the Greek Celsus. If the incarnation made a difference, then it was unfair to those born before it. And if it didn't, then what was the point?

 

[Desert Snake]

Well, they went to heaven, of course. The fact that Jesu incarnated, does not change the good/evil paradigm. For those who don't believe in direct ascension, it makes no difference, as there is still judgment. The materialistic interpretations are a later addition to the religious thought, they are not part of what would be a 'true' Xian understanding, imo.
Jesu, when He said that the only way to know the father, was through Him, was de-facto stating that the previous ''good'' people /no one is sinless/, were under the same rules as Xians. There isn't a 'timeline', here, if there were, Jesu would have been condemning people before an incarnation on earth, which wouldn't make sense.

 

[Nada]

all people - good and bad - will be waiting in the grave until Jesus returns. then it will be decided what will happen after that

For some of the dead,it has already been decided that they will not inherit everlasting life.Also,some of them are part of the first fruits, and will be brought up first.Not all go to heaven.There is no hell of torment either where people will be tortured in fire forever.The earth is where those who follow Gods plan will reside forever after all is complete.Those who will walk with Jesus Christ will reside in heaven where Gods government resides.

 

[Twilight Hue]

all people - good and bad - will be waiting in the grave until Jesus returns. then it will be decided what will happen after that

It's a typical bureaucracy. Take a number.

 

[Awoon]

all people - good and bad - will be waiting in the grave until Jesus returns. then it will be decided what will happen after that

A bunch of them came out of their graves and walked around Jerusalem when Jesus died. Where are they now and how come their story isn't written anywhere outside the Bible?

Matthew 27: 52, 53

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

disciple says they went to heaven. I have asked several times for anyone to give one single Bible verse that uses the word heaven and says anyone has gone there or will go there. no one has yet quoted one

 

[Servant_of_the_One1]

This is good question.

If Trinity is really from Christianity then what about the generations before birth of trinity(after Jesus pbuh?

 

[Domenic]

My father was a pastor for 10 years and later left Christianity. He read books for 4 hours per day throughout my childhood. He knew the Bible well and explained to me the answers to any questions I had. One question was the one I put as the title of this thread. My father gave me an answer. Throughout my life, I have listened to hundreds of sermons but this topic never came up. My question to Christians: What were you taught about this in your church? My question to others: What were you told when you asked this question? And did you ever ask it?

Very good question. We all go to the grave, and yes Jesus is the only way to salvation. Not all people will be saved. Adam, and Eve, and all others who died at a judgment from God will not be saved. The off springs of the fallen angels will not be saved. At the end of the 1,000 year rule of Jesus, those who join Satan when he is released will not be saved. What is death like? It is sleep with no thoughts, thus there is no time. Jesus said from the second we die to when he brings us back will seem like just walking through a doorway. Jesus said all who believe in him will be given life...but that live won't start until we pass our final test...stay true to God, and don't join Satan's rebellion.

 

[Xenosaga Dragonzord]

in islam faith people who never heard about islam..........will enter al-araf (border between hell and heaven) in afterlife.....

 

[Ingledsva]

Where did Good People go Before Christ Died on the Cross?

My father was a pastor for 10 years and later left Christianity. He read books for 4 hours per day throughout my childhood. He knew the Bible well and explained to me the answers to any questions I had. One question was the one I put as the title of this thread. My father gave me an answer. Throughout my life, I have listened to hundreds of sermons but this topic never came up. My question to Christians: What were you taught about this in your church? My question to others: What were you told when you asked this question? And did you ever ask it?

First - we don't even know that the Abrahamic doctrine is correct, or real.

However, since you seem to ask from a Christian perspective, - Tanakh says ALL people both good and bad wait in Sheol.

They wait for the promised MESSIAH, whom is to bring about the END, and Final Judgment of ALL.


*

 

[psychoslice]

Jesus dying on the cross made no difference what so ever, nothing has changed, people still do what they always have done.

 

[Bunyip]

Wouldn't they go to the same place the Christian dead go now? The grave. There to await resurrection.