Why did God raise dead Christians from their graves at the time of Jesus Christ's crucifixion and resurrection? What happened to these saints?
Answer:
Matthew 27:51-53 tells us what happened right after Jesus Christ died: "Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many."
This resurrection of several believers was one of the phenomena accompanying the resurrection of Jesus Christ to underscore that monumental event. These saints came back to physical life. (In the Bible, the word saints means those who are sanctified or set apart as holy, meaning all of God's true followers.) We know from such scriptures as 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 that God has resurrected no one to eternal life as an immortal spirit yet—except Christ.
For example, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 says: "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
These references teach us that God will change the righteous dead along with living Christians to immortal beings when Jesus Christ returns.
After God brought the people mentioned in Matthew 27:52-53 back to life, they undoubtedly went back to their homes, where many acquaintances saw them. It's hard to imagine how utterly startling such an experience would be for their relatives and friends!
The Bible says nothing further about these people God resurrected at Christ's death, leaving us to conclude that they eventually died (again) and their families buried them (again). Along with all other saints who died, they await in their graves their resurrection to spirit life.
"The Bible says nothing further about these people God resurrected at Christ's death, leaving us to conclude that they eventually died (again) and their families buried them (again). Along with all other saints who died, they await in their graves their resurrection to spirit life."
I would not conclude that "...they eventually died (again) and their families buried them (again)...." Hebrews makes it clear that men only die once, and then the judgement.....
Hebrews 9:27
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"
My guess is those resurrected saints were either raptured when the Son of man came in his kingdom - Matthew 16:28 - "Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."
Or perhaps they are still on the earth in their resurrected bodies awaiting Christ's future return.
I am writing in response to the point made regarding those who were resurrected at Christ's death,that suggests that they did not die again because Hebrews 9:27 says "it is appointed to men to die once."
This passage states a general rule, not necessarily a limitation on how often a person can die. Lazarus is another example.
On another point, Matthew 16:28 was not an actual event of Jesus coming into His Kingdom. The parable of the pounds (Luke 19) clearly teaches that the Kingdom was not going to be established at that time. The so-called "transfiguration" was merely a vision, as verse 9 clearly states, "Matthew 17:9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead."
To suggest that they are still on earth "in their resurrected bodies" cannot be supported scripturally.