by Timothy W. Burnett
Matthew 27:50-53, "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost...And the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."
This scripture is popularly interpretted to mean that Old Testament saints were actually resurrected from the dead and visited many people.
The above verse includes the word "appeared." It was a translation of the earlier known Greek word emphanizo, which meant to exhibit, reveal, make known. In the passive tense it meant to appear.
In the King James Companion Bible, E.W. Bullinger provided more information for emphanizo as follows, "to cause to be manifested or shown plainly and clearly. Used of causing that to be seen (or known) which would not otherwise have been cognizable by the unaided eye (or mind)."
It is appropriate to not rule out the possibility that the people could have seen a clear vision of a future event that likely did not literally happen at that time. A brief study of God's word concerning the resurrection and the holy city should help in our study.
The same Greek word is used in Hebrews 11:14, "For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country." To declare plainly is emphanizo, make known or reveal. What kind of country?
Verse 16, "desire a better country, that is heavenly...for He has prepared for them a city." This verse is not talking about a earthly city, but a heavenly one. It says they seek a heavenly city. According to Matthew 27:53, the bodies went into the physical city of Jerusalem and were seen by many people. Even though it was built by men's hands, it was still counted by God as a holy city.
Go back to Hebreww 11:13, "...these all died not having received the promise." Hebrews was written after the event of Matthew 27:53. The saints of the Old Testament died and are still dead today.
Let's check out Revelations 21:1-4 where it says, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband..."
John was given a vision of a future event. The present earth that we live on will pass away, and God will establish a new earth also known as paradise. This should not be confused with the new heaven that will also be established.
Daniel was another man who received a great deal of visions by revelation from God. Here's some information given to Daniel for us to consider, "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2).
When God gives a vision, it is with a purpose. It says that the bodies arose after Jesus' resurrection. Considering that the period of time recorded in Revelations has not yet begun, the best possible conclusion is that the vision of the bodies rising from the graves was meant to emphasize what would ultimately result from God's loving resurrection of His beloved son Jesus Christ.
Home