Hi Carol,
Was there any reward for the prophets in the OT? Many of them endured much. I thought they might be the elect too.
The prophets will not be in the first resurrection
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Dear Ricardo:
No, you aren't silly. Actually, your are correct: John the Baptist will not be in the Kingdom before us. And that goes for all the patriarchs of old. Heb. 11 proves that none of them received the promises to them and furthermore, it proves that they will come into the Kingdom only by and through US (See Verses 39-40).
God be with you,
Ray
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Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
v. 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
All will gain salvation, but it must be through Jesus Christ.
2Co 5:18 "And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ..."
Though the prophets did serve God, and Christ was the God of the OT, He was yet to be born as the Savior.
Rom 10:9 Because if you confess the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.
Act 4:12 And there is salvation in no other One; for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
But if any person has good works(gold, silver, or precious stones) in this life, and I think you could certainly say that about the prophets, it remains in them.
1Cor 3:11 For any other foundation can no one lay than the one being laid, who is Jesus Christ.
v. 12 And if anyone builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble,
v. 13 each one's work shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one's work as to what kind it is.
v. 14
If anyone's work which he built remains, he shall receive a reward. v. 15 If anyone's work shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss. But he shall be saved, yet so as by fire.
So when the prophets are raised with all the rest of humanity, they still have to go through the process of repentance, and receiving the Holy Spirit and living a righteous life. Those people in this life that developed good character traits will keep them and the wood, hay, stubble will be burned away, however long and however many stripes it takes. I would think the process may be very short for some, like John the Baptist.
Isa 26:9 With my soul I desired You in the night; yea, with my spirit within me I will seek You early; for when Your judgments are in the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.
mercy, peace, and love
Kat