The Saints’ Rest Below

So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.' "Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.' "

(Luke 16:22-31)

 Many people mistakenly assume that all Jews under the old covenant were saved and that all Gentiles were lost. However, this is not the case. As we noted in the previous section, very few Jews were actually saved. Likewise, not all Gentiles were lost, for under the old covenant, salvation was available to anyone who believed.

For example, both the people of Nineveh and the queen of Sheba believed and were therefore saved (Luke 11:31–32). Job, along with his family and friends, was also saved, and the list could continue. Indeed, many Gentiles under the old covenant came to salvation, for there were people from every nation who feared God and practiced righteousness. All that God required was faith in Him.

Regarding the Old Testament saints, when they died physically, their spirits did not enter heaven. The reason is that their spirits had not yet been born again and were therefore still spiritually dead. Consequently, they could not enter heaven, for Jesus taught that unless one is born again, he cannot see or enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3–5). So where did these saints go when they died?

This passage reveals that the spirits of the Old Testament saints went to a place Jesus referred to as “Abraham’s bosom.” This place was located beneath the earth, as Hades is, yet distinct from it. Abraham’s bosom was situated above Hades, with a great gulf fixed between the two that none could cross.

The unbelievers who went to Hades were subjected to torment in flames of fire—a torment that continues to this day—while the saints rested in comfort within Abraham’s bosom. From this same passage, we learn that both saints and unbelievers could see one another across the gulf. This only added to the anguish of the unbelievers, as they watched the saints being comforted while they themselves endured torment in the flames of hell.

But what does Scripture mean when it describes the saints as being comforted in Abraham’s bosom? In this context, the word comfort carries the sense of contented well-being. Some translations render it as the saints experiencing peace.

Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" And he said, "Bring up Samuel for me." When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, "Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!" And the king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What did you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth." So he said to her, "What is his form?" And she said, "An old man is coming up, and he is covered with a mantle." And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down. Now Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" And Saul answered, "I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do."

(1 Samuel 28:11-15)

The passage of Scripture referenced above confirms that Abraham’s bosom was located beneath the earth, for it describes Samuel as “ascending out of the earth.” This account records the moment when Saul sinned against God by consulting a medium to summon Samuel’s spirit from the dead.

Before Jesus went to the cross, mediums could indeed call up departed spirits, for Satan—who was their god—held the power of death and possessed the keys of Hades and Death. However, while mediums could summon individuals from Abraham’s bosom, they had no authority to bring anyone up from Hades. God Himself decreed that none who enter Hades may depart until the Lord Jesus summons them on the Day of Judgment.

Satan no longer holds the keys of Hades and Death. When our Lord Jesus was raised from the dead, He stripped Satan of that authority and took the keys for Himself (Revelation 1:18). As a result, mediums today can no longer bring forth the spirits of the departed, for their god has been divested of that power.

Those who continue to practice this form of witchcraft are deceived by demons who impersonate the deceased. Just as Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light, so his demons can take on the likeness of those who have died (2 Corinthians 11:14).

It is also important to note Samuel’s displeasure at being summoned. When the Old Testament saints departed this life to enter Abraham’s bosom, they entered their time of rest. By calling Samuel up, the medium had disturbed his rest, which explains Samuel’s annoyance at being brought forth.

Michael E.B. Maher

Resurrection of the Dead

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