SUBJECT:  Eternal  Life

QUESTION:  Is the promise of eternal life spoken of in the Old Testament

ANSWER:

John 5:39

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

This verse was given when the only scriptures around were the Old Testament.

Notice the commentary…

In them ye think ye have eternal life - The meaning of this is: “Ye think that by studying the Scriptures you will obtain eternal life.

You suppose that they teach the way to future blessedness, and that by diligently studying them you will attain it.” We see by this:
 

1. That the Jews in the time of Jesus were expecting a future state.
 

2. The Scriptures teach the way of life, and it is our duty to study them.
 

The Bereans are commended for searching the Scriptures Acts 17:11; and Timothy is said from a child to have “known the holy scriptures, which are able to make us wise unto salvation,” 2 Timothy 3:15. Early life is the proper time to search the Bible, for they who seek the Lord early shall find him.

The Old Testament speaks to Salvation, Jesus Christ and eternal life.  Yes, those men and women knew because of this and the Holy Spirit in them. 

Notice all these Old Testament Scriptures:

Psalm 133:3

As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Psalm 21:4-5

4 He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.

5 His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.

Titus 1:2--New Testament scripture but speaking of something before the world began.

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Daniel 12:2

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Daniel 7:18

But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

Psalm 121:8

The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Isaiah 25:8

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

Psalm 23:6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 37:27

Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

Psalm 145:1

I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

Proverbs 14:32
The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

Ecclesiastes 12:7

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Isaiah 14:9

Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.

Isaiah 26:19

Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

Isaiah 38:18-19

18 For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.

Ezekiel 32:31

Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over all his multitude, even Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword, saith the Lord GOD.

Job 14:12-15

12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

Job 19:25-27

25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Psalm 16:9-10

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psalm 17:15

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Psalm 49:15

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

Daniel 12:13

But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

Hosea 13:14

I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

As you can see, they had more than enough information about eternal life.