3.1 Key themes⤒🔗

• Already in the time of the Old Testament, believers went to heaven after they died.
• Old Testament believers knew about heaven, even if they used other words to speak about it.
• In the Bible there is progressive revelation. This means that God reveals his plan slowly over time.
• We must follow the example of Old Testament believers by trusting in God and hoping for heaven.

3.2 Psalm 17←⤒🔗

^17:1 LORD, consider my just cause! Pay attention to my cry for help! Listen to the prayer I sincerely offer!

^17:2 Make a just decision on my behalf! Decide what is right!

^17:3 You have scrutinized my inner motives; you have examined me during the night. You have carefully evaluated me, but you find no sin. I am determined I will say nothing sinful.

^17:4 As for the actions of people¾just as you have commanded, I have not followed in the footsteps of violent men.

^17:5 I carefully obey your commands; I do not deviate from them.

^17:6 I call to you for you will answer me, O God. Listen to me! Hear what I say!

^17:7 Accomplish awesome, faithful deeds, you who powerfully deliver those who look to you for protection from their enemies.

^17:8 Protect me as you would protect the pupil of your eye! Hide me in the shadow of your wings!

^17:9 Protect me from the wicked men who attack me, my enemies who crowd around me for the kill.

^17:10 They are calloused; they speak arrogantly.

^17:11 They attack me, now they surround me; they intend to throw me to the ground.

^17:12 He is like a lion that wants to tear its prey to bits, like a young lion crouching in hidden places.

^17:13 Rise up, LORD! Confront him! Knock him down! Use your sword to rescue me from the wicked man!

^17:14 LORD, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, from the murderers of this world! They enjoy prosperity; you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. They have many children, and leave their wealth to their offspring.

^17:15 As for me, because I am innocent I will see your face; when I awake you will reveal yourself to me.

© NET Bible

3.3 To Heaven or to Hades?←⤒🔗

We know that Jesus Christ came to give us eternal life. People who believe in Jesus will go to heaven when they die. But what about the people who lived before Jesus was born? What about Noah, Abraham, David, and the thousands of Old Testament believers? Where did they go after they died?

Some people say that Old Testament believers went to another place after they died. This place is called “Sheol” or “Hades” or “the underworld.” It is a place where Old Testament believers would stay until Jesus Christ would be risen from the dead.

But that is not true. In this lesson you will learn that Old Testament believers did go to heaven after they died. And they looked forward to it!

3.4 Progressive Revelation←⤒🔗

The Old Testament does not speak very clearly about life after death. In the Bible there is something that we call “progressive revelation.” What does this mean? It means that God reveals his plan slowly over time.

Over time God has revealed more and more truths to his people. That is why the New Testament speaks more clearly about heaven than the Old Testament. Revelation, the last book of the Bible, has the most to say about heaven.

But the people of the Old Testament still knew something about heaven! They only used other words for it. For example, they said that they would “see God” after they died (Job 19:26). They said that they were going to be “at Abraham’s side” (see Luke 16:22). They would also sing about God’s “right hand,” where there are “eternal pleasures” (Psalm 16:11, NIV).

When you walk in the street and look down on the ground, you will not see the trees and houses around you. You will see only their shadows. The Old Testament believers knew about heaven in the same way. They saw only “shadows” of it. Today we know more, because Jesus Christ has come. He has revealed heaven to us.

3.5 The Old Testament is there to teach us←⤒🔗

Yes, we know more than the people of the Old Testament. But that does not mean that we can put the Old Testament away. The Old Testament has much to teach us. For example, it teaches us to trust in God and to hope for heaven! Let us look at three examples.

The Sabbath day←↰⤒🔗

The Old Testament tells us of a sabbath day. The sabbath was a holy day of rest (Genesis 2:2–3; Exodus 20:8-11). It was a sign of the eternal rest and glory that is waiting for God’s people (Hebrews 4). In heaven we will experience this eternal, true sabbath.

Abraham’s Life←↰⤒🔗

Abraham was a very rich man, but he left everything behind to go where the Lord called him (Genesis 12). He did this because the Lord had promised him a new land and many blessings.

Abraham was not hoping for a better place to stay in here on earth. He never became the owner of the land Canaan. He always lived there as a stranger. And he even gave the best part of the land to his nephew (Genesis 13)! But Abraham was looking forward to an eternal city, built by God (Hebrews 11:10).

We know that Abraham (and every believer who has ever died) is alive today in heaven. That is also what Jesus told the Sadducees.

The Sadducees did not believe in life after death. But Jesus told them that they were wrong. To prove this, Jesus said, “Now as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, ‘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!” (Matthew 22:31–32).

Promises of a great reward←↰⤒🔗

All the Psalms remind us that there is a great reward for those people who trust in God.

For this lesson you have read Psalm 17, a prayer of David. When you were reading this Psalm, did you see the great danger that David was in? His enemies attacked and surrounded him like hungry lions (verses 9-12).

But David knew that there was a big difference between him and his enemies. His enemies were “of this world.” In this world they were still enjoying “prosperity” (verse 14). But one day their prosperity would come to an end.

David knew what would happen when he died: “As for me, because I am innocent  I will see your face; when I awake you will reveal yourself to me” (verse 15).

David knew that he would “awake” on the day of his death. On that day he would see God’s face¾because he would be with God!

3.6 Follow their example←⤒🔗

The Old Testament believers had only a little knowledge of heaven. They used other words to describe it. But they waited for it¾and that is where they went. Let us follow their example of faith! One day all of us, Old and New Testament believers, will be there together. We will meet them: Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and all the rest. Together we will rejoice in the fullness of God’s presence.