The Destiny Of Old Testament Believers

Q

In the book 7 Things you Need to Know to Understand Bible Prophecy, which I think is excellent, you say of post rapture Jewish believers, “Along with their Old Testament counterparts they’ll dwell in Israel during the Millennium (Ezekiel 43:6-7).”

I am confused with the “Old Testament counterparts” dwelling in Israel during the Millennium because I thought that the Old Testament believers are in Heaven with Jesus right now because they are part of “the Church” and will live in the New Jerusalem together with the gentiles who accept the Lord. Can you clarify this for me?

A

This is confusing to many people because they don’t understand that when believers die only their spirits go to Heaven. They receive new bodies at the rapture or resurrection and then go to their assigned places for the duration of the Millennium.

The Church Age began at Pentecost and ends with the rapture. Only Church Age believers go to the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:27) The spirits of Old Testament believers are in Heaven now but at the time of the 2nd Coming they’ll receive resurrection bodies (Daniel 12:1-2) and will dwell in Israel. This was God’s promise to them all along (Ezekiel 43:6-7).