What does the Bible say about the fate of those who died before Jesus' resurrection?

The question of the fate of those who died before Jesus' resurrection is a profound and complex one, touching upon the nature of salvation, the justice of God, and the unfolding of divine revelation throughout history. To address this question, we must delve into various scriptural references and theological interpretations that span both the Old and New Testaments.

The Bible provides insights into the fate of the righteous and the wicked who lived before Christ's resurrection. The Old Testament often speaks of Sheol, a place where the dead reside. For instance, in Psalm 16:10, David expresses confidence that God will not abandon his soul to Sheol, nor allow His Holy One to see corruption. This verse is later understood in the New Testament as a prophecy concerning Jesus' resurrection (Acts 2:27).

Sheol, in the Old Testament context, is somewhat ambiguous. It is often depicted as a shadowy place where both the righteous and the wicked go after death, lacking the clear distinctions of heaven and hell that are more developed in the New Testament. Yet, amidst this ambiguity, there are indications of a hope for the righteous. For example, in Job 19:25-27, Job expresses his hope in a Redeemer and in seeing God after his death:

"For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!" (ESV)

This hope for a future vindication and resurrection reflects an early understanding of life beyond death, even if it is not fully fleshed out.

When we turn to the New Testament, the picture becomes clearer. One of the pivotal passages is found in Luke 16:19-31, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. In this parable, Jesus describes a rich man who, after death, finds himself in torment in Hades, while Lazarus, a poor man, is comforted in "Abraham's bosom." This imagery suggests that there was a distinction in the afterlife between the righteous and the wicked even before Christ's resurrection. The righteous, represented by Lazarus, were in a place of comfort and rest, while the wicked, represented by the rich man, were in a place of torment.

Another significant passage is 1 Peter 3:18-20, which speaks of Christ preaching to the spirits in prison:

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water." (ESV)

This passage has been interpreted in various ways, but one common interpretation is that, after His death and before His resurrection, Christ proclaimed His victory to the spirits of the dead, affirming His lordship over all creation, including those who had died before His coming.

Additionally, Ephesians 4:8-10 speaks of Christ descending into the lower parts of the earth and leading a host of captives:

"Therefore it says, 'When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.' (In saying, 'He ascended,' what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)" (ESV)

This passage is often understood to mean that Christ, in His death and resurrection, liberated the righteous dead, leading them to their eternal reward.

Theologically, the fate of those who died before Christ can be understood in light of God's timeless plan of salvation. Romans 3:25-26 speaks of God's forbearance and His righteousness being demonstrated through the sacrifice of Christ:

"God put [Christ] forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (ESV)

This passage suggests that the sacrificial death of Christ retroactively covers the sins of those who lived before His coming. God's forbearance, or patience, allowed Him to pass over the sins of the Old Testament saints, knowing that Christ's atoning sacrifice would ultimately provide the means for their salvation.

Hebrews 11, often referred to as the "Faith Hall of Fame," provides a list of Old Testament figures who lived by faith. The chapter concludes with these words:

"And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:39-40, ESV)

This indicates that the Old Testament saints, though they lived by faith and were commended for it, did not receive the fullness of God's promises until the coming of Christ. Their perfection, or completion, awaited the redemptive work of Jesus.

Furthermore, the concept of God's justice and mercy is paramount in understanding the fate of those who died before Christ. God, as a just and merciful deity, provided a way for the righteous to be saved even before the full revelation of His salvation plan in Christ. This is evident in the covenantal relationship God established with figures like Abraham, Moses, and David. In Genesis 15:6, we read:

"And [Abraham] believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness." (ESV)

Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness long before the coming of Christ. This principle of faith leading to righteousness is foundational in Paul's argument in Romans 4, where he discusses the justification of the ungodly through faith, using Abraham as a prime example.

In summary, the Bible indicates that those who died before Jesus' resurrection were not left without hope. The righteous among them were in a place of comfort, awaiting the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ provided the means for their salvation, retroactively covering their sins and leading them to their eternal reward. God's justice and mercy ensured that the faithful were not abandoned, even as they awaited the coming of the Messiah. Through faith, both the Old Testament saints and New Testament believers are united in the salvation provided by Jesus Christ, the ultimate Redeemer.