Hi Addison,
Here is an email reply from Ray regarding this scripture which should answer some of your questions:
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,86.0.html
Dear Cesar:
Those resurrected at the time of Christ's crucifixion were saints well-known in Jerusalem. Jesus had publically stated that He is the resurrection. The resurrection of these saints was proof of His statement.
These saints were resurrected physically, so that they could be seen by those who knew them and who knew that they had died. They were not given immortal bodies at that time, and hence, just like Lazarus, died again. In the resurrection to eonian life, the saints are given SPIRITUAL bodies and immortality, not physical life (I Cor.15: 44).
God be with you,
Ray
God post Rene.
Addison,
I will also add that to your quoting of paul, these verses:
Hebrews 11:13 These [The patriarchs of old, the saints?] all died in faith,
not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
I think its safe to say that the saints that were raised were not the fathers of the old testament that we know and all the prophets but rather saints of the time that people would have known in and around Jerusalem.
After Christ's resurrection we also have this in Acts of paul:
Acts 13:36-37 "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God,
fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:"
As for whether the saints ascended to heaven, no they did not. As ray said, they died and returned to the dust. THE resurrection of the dead has not yet happened.
2 Timothy 2:18 "Who concerning the truth have
erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some."
I also find this following train of thought another good reason for why no one is "in heaven" or "alive in heaven" or "ascended to heaven."
John 3:13 "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven."
While this statement was made before Christ was resurrected it appears from the scriptures that God will be coming to us. We will not being going UP, or ascending, to be with Him.
Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
While this is an entirely symbolic statement with much greater spiritual implications, I do believe it establishes a pattern for us to understand things through, including the coming millennial reign of Christ.
Luke 21:27 "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."
1 Thessalonians 4:17 "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
Revelation 21:3 "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."
Isaiah 26:9 "With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are
in the
earth, the
inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness."
2 Corinthians 6:16 "What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
Numbers 14:21 "But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord."
Habakkuk 2:14 "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."
So again, while many of these verses have multiple spiritual layers to them, i believe there is a pattern here that to me seems to indicate God is coming to us. He is coming to be with us (Yes, he is already here in us and making His home in us who have been called and chosen, but like I said, many layers of spiritual truth here). The same will be when Christ returns to this world to raise the dead. Those that overcome will be raised with glorious spiritual bodies and be like Christ to help Him usher in His new kingdom here on this earth. I don't think anyone goes up to some cloudy place or "heaven" area to be with God. Of course, I don't think we can even begin to comprehend what it means to be raised completely spiritual other than what Christ said about being invisible and powerful like the wind. That's how I see it right now. It makes sense too considering the vast majority of the world including the old patriarchs will be raised in physical bodies and undergo judgement. How could that happen if not the for the coming kingdom being set up here on earth?
God bless,
Alex