Departed Christians&Old Testament Saints

Today's Question: Are departed Christians and Old Testament saints really alive, not merely asleep in the grave as Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists, and some others assume?

The Answer: Departed Christians and Old Testament saints are really alive. Here are some Bible passages that may help.

(Matt. 17:1-5) "Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, ‘Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ "

(Mark 12:26-27) "As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, [the] God of Isaac, and [the] God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are greatly misled."

(Luke 15:7) "I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."

(Luke 16:19-20, 22-24) "When the poor man died, he was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. . . and he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames."