Question: I have wondered about Matthew 27:52-53 for a long time and have never heard or read an ...

Question: I have wondered about Matthew:27:52-53 [52] And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, [53] And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
See All... for a long time and have never heard or read an explanation. What do you think about these "saints" who came out of the graves in resurrected bodies and "went into the holy city and appeared to many"?

Response: We must accept at face value what is said and interpret it within the context of the rest of Scripture. The Roman Catholic Church was not yet in existence and had not yet begun the unscriptural practice of giving certain persons the title of "saint" years after their deaths. All believers, living or dead, are saints according to Scripture. The epistles are addressed to "the saints at Corinth...at Colosse...at Philippi," etc. The "saints" mentioned here were obviously Old Testament believers such as Abraham or Joseph. We are not told which ones. They could have been unknowns not mentioned in Scripture. It neither says nor implies a temporary resurrection with these people dying again. Therefore, it must have been a special foretaste of the resurrection of "the dead in Christ" yet to come. Note that they did not "come out of the graves" until "after his resurrection." We don't know how long they stayed in "the holy city" appearing to believers, but it sounds as though it was for only a short time.

These resurrected saints must have been taken to heaven by Christ in their glorified bodies soon after HIs resurrection. This probably occurred when He emptied that part of Hades known as "Abraham's bosom" (Lk 16:22) and took the souls and spirits of the believers waiting there to His Father's house (Ps:68:18Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
See All...; Eph:4:8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
See All...; Heb:6:20Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
See All...). Believers who die today go instantly to heaven: "absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (2 Cor:5:6-8 [6] Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: [7] (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) [8] We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
See All...).

Matthew:27:52-53 [52] And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, [53] And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
See All... is an unusual passage. It is also not a major one, not offered as proof of the resurrection, or we would read more about such appearances. It was a sign to those who saw these "saints," but not to us because we're given so little data. Then what is the value for us today? Their resurrection along with Christ, together with the clear indication in Hebrews:11:13-16 [13] These 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. [14] For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. [15] And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. [16] But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
See All... that the Old Testament saints are heavenly citizens of the new Jerusalem and share in the "perfection" we all experience (v 40), answers an important question. It would seem to indicate that Old Testament believers who looked forward to the cross of Christ ("Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad: - Jn:8:56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
See All...) are made partakers of the resurrection of Christ and will be raised with the New Testament saints (who look back to the Cross) at the Rapture and caught up into heaven at that time as part of the church. There is no indication in Scripture of any other time when they are resurrected.