We notice in the above that the holy men of old were acquainted with Christ and interested in what was going to take place in Jerusalem. According to our teaching today, Moses and Elijah would be reclining in their mansions, wouldn't they, not returning to earth to question Christ about His coming death in Jerusalem?

We receive the atonement by faith. As far as I know, the saints in the spirit realm receive the atonement and the other blessings of God by faith. Merely being in the spirit realm will not remove the need for faith. Satan was close to the Throne of God in Heaven, but Satan never has placed his faith and hope in God.

Notice in Ephesians that the ministries labor until we all come to maturity

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, To prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

Since it is obvious numerous believers die before they attain to unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity as measured by the whole measure of the fullness of Christ, it must be true therefore that the ministries continue after death; and shall operate until every member of God's elect stands perfect and complete in all the will of God.

It appears that we find much the same idea when the new covenant is defined:

This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, "Know the Lord," because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. (Hebrews 8:10,11)

Every member of the House of Israel, that is, all of those who belong to Jesus Christ, the true Seed of Abraham, will no longer need to be taught about the Lord. The new covenant will operate in our lives until we have attained to God's image in spirit, soul, and body.

There is to be a bride without blemish for the Lamb. The churches have not reached unblemished perfection as yet, so the works of sanctification and redemption must transcend our life on the earth.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her To make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, And to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:25-27)

Sanctification is the removal of all spiritual uncleanness from us.

Redemption is the restoration of man to the image of God.

To be continued.